Anyone use Norma Whitetail 8x57mm 196 grain soft point.

[Beefboi99]

Looking at buying some new factory loads for a K98 Low turret rifle I had built. My goal is to hunt with this rifle.

I’ve been looking at the Norma Whitetail 8x57 196 grain soft points. I have not seen talk about this or how it performs. Looks like it has similar velocity as the original WW2 loads.

Anyone try this round?

 

[Muncher 1953]

Norma makes excellent ammo & components, but I have no exp w/this load. Too expensive for my personal taste, @ $2/rd, but thats typical for “match grade” rounds. You might also consider Sellier & Bellot ammo w/similar bullet, MV similar to norma & wartime specs. Try some PPU w/similar bullet, see how it performs for practice & range use. If I were headed to one of those Texas ranches where they grow huge whitetails & practically parade trophy bucks past you, then maybe the expensive stuff, But I’d rather use one of my own reloads to take a trophy. (but just for reference, the .50 cal muzzle load I took a doe with 2 years ago costs $3.75/rd today!) (Blackhorn 209 fake black powder, @$85/8 oz!!!)

 

[Birdogz]

I have not tried it but if you're currently weighing your options, Hornady makes 196 gr. match grade and also a load with a monolithic copper alloy bullet. It is known that Norma makes quality ammo and components. I can personally say that Hornady makes a quality product, I reload and have used many Hornady components over the years.