Did I Imagine Norma Ammunition...?

brokenprism

brokenprism

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In the 70s when I started shooting, I remember seeing boxes of Norma ammunition on shelves. At least I think I did. There were lots of brands I didn't see -- Magtech, Ultramx, Fiocchi, and pretty much anybody who wasn't Rem, Win, Fed, Western, Peters, CCI, or... Norma. Outfits like Black Hills were either not around yet, or too small to be on the national radar (which meant, written up in gun mags).

What happened to them? Did they stop doing business, or just stop doing it in the US? Did they sell a .44 magnum load here, and if so, what happened to it?
 
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Yes, there was Norma ammo, I remember back in the 70s and 80s. In .38, they made some loads not produced by US makers at that time, such as a jacketed 158 gr solid flat point (Steve McQueen has this round on his cartridge slide in the film Bullitt). Also a RED HOT 110 gr .38Spl, which bullet had a very small hollow point and probably would not expand well. But boy, was it hot, something like 1250 in a 4" bbl. There were other calibers, .25, .32ACP, 9mm. .44Mag??

I've seen another thread pertaining to Norma ammo somewhere, perhaps Google can help.
 
Norma continues to produce rifle and rimfire ammo. It's just prohibitively expensive to import their ammo. Norma is now a member of the RUAG Ammotec family.
 
Yes, Norma did make ammo in a variety of calibers. I used to stock it in my gun shop back in the '70s and '80s. Most of it was pretty hot by comparison to the big domestic manufacturers, even back then before the lawyers caused the dumbing down of ammo performance. They did have at least one .44 mag 240 grain jacketed load, and it was quite stout! I think I still have some around. BTW, Norma produced all of Weatherby's magnum rifle ammunition for many years (with a Weatherby head stamp), and I believe they still make most of their ammunition.
 
IIRC they made the first 10 mm and it was hot.
 
I see Norma ammo on Cabela's website. Not a lot of calibers.
 
Norma's .44Magnum had a mild steel jacket that was plated with brass or copper. It was considdered to be pretty hot.
 
kaaskop49 said:
Yes, there was Norma ammo, I remember back in the 70s and 80s. In .38, they made some loads not produced by US makers at that time, such as a jacketed 158 gr solid flat point (Steve McQueen has this round on his cartridge slide in the film Bullitt). Also a RED HOT 110 gr .38Spl, which bullet had a very small hollow point and probably would not expand well. But boy, was it hot, something like 1250 in a 4" bbl. There were other calibers, .25, .32ACP, 9mm. .44Mag??

I've seen another thread pertaining to Norma ammo somewhere, perhaps Google can help.
Click to expand...

I picked up a partial box of the 110 gr. 38 spl. a couple years ago at a gun show. Some firecrackers they are, for sure!

I would dearly love to know the powder type and charge. :cool:
 
Most of the Weatherby brand factory ammo and brass was made by Norma.

The original Herter's ammo and brass I have for my .401 Powermag was made by Norma.
 
Mack said:
IIRC they made the first 10 mm and it was hot.
Click to expand...

You are quite right. They made a 165JHP, 170JHP and 200FMJ-FP. I still have about 100 rounds of this ammo. Though I found it very erratic out of my M-1066, some had very stout recoil and others would have noticable less recoil from the same bullet weight and out of the same box yet no less.

If anyone ever finds their 158FMJ-SWC loads in 38Spl or 357Mag, pick it up! These bullets were made with very thick jackets and they punch holes in hard targets very easily!
 
I have some Norma ammunition in various calibers. I believe they still import ammo here. The cost of it is unbelievably expensive, and likely why you don't see a lot of it around.
 
Back when I first started shooting in the 1960's Norma ammo was the only loading available with soft point bullets suitable for hunting in Military chamberings such as 7.62 x 54, 7.35 & 6.5 Carcano, 7.65 Argentine, 7.7 Jap Arisaka and others. Yes they were pricey and still are.
 
brokenprism said:
In the 70s when I started shooting, I remember seeing boxes of Norma ammunition on shelves. At least I think I did. There were lots of brands I didn't see -- Magtech, Ultramx, Fiocchi, and pretty much anybody who wasn't Rem, Win, Fed, Western, Peters, CCI, or... Norma. Outfits like Black Hills were either not around yet, or too small to be on the national radar (which meant, written up in gun mags).

What happened to them? Did they stop doing business, or just stop doing it in the US? Did they sell a .44 magnum load here, and if so, what happened to it?
Click to expand...

I don't know what happened to them as I stopped following them when they stopped making the excellent full power 10mm Auto ammo - 200 grains at 1,200 fps. That was good stuff.
 
I still have about 15 rounds of Norma .44 Mag from the 60's. I use it in the Super Blackhawk I carry for short shots when I deer hunt. I was rummaging through a bunch of boxes from the 60's and 70's when I reloaded and found a dozen or so boxes of Norma .357 unprimed brass, and a couple of boxes factory loads. They're still so pretty it makes me want to start loading again. I shot Norma in my .243, .308 and all my pistols back then.
 
I have a small collection of 70s-era .44 mag and I'm missing Norma. Finally found some CCI yellow plastic box Sheriff from a member here, and a blue box of S&W .44, but I'm missing Norma. Bums me out.
 
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