Norma 9mm 115 grain FMJ - I am concerned

fuzzymcnab

fuzzymcnab

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Could not find reviews of this stuff, so hoping one of you find gentlemen has an experience to share. I am quite familiar with Norma's top quality components, but have never purchased their loaded ammo. I felt little risk with the Norma name, but what I rec'd concerns me.

For starters, it is made in Hungary. That surprised me. Also, the box indicates 1214 fps at 378 ft/lbs of energey. Norma's website only lists one 115 grain fmj laoding, and those specs are nowhere close.

One last odd thing, the box indicates "Contains 19.5 grains of smokeless powder". I can't imagine any powder that would fit almost 20 grains into a 9mm case.
Nonetheless, if you used this ammo please let me know.

thanks in advance, fuzzy
 
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Wow, I may try and track some of that ammo down for my carbine.
 
Are you asking about 115 gr FMJ (not JHP)? Here is a correct link to the Norma website about this load, which sounds fairly tame:

Norma 9 mm Luger 115 gr FMJ | Norma

Don't know about where it is made, but the company has a stellar reputation and I doubt they would not have the same high standards at a factory outside of Sweden.
 
Norma Quality

I think Norma is the way to go if you want a super reliable load for European made .380 semi autos.Years ago I tried some Norma .357 ammo in a S&W Model 19. The load was so hot that primers backed out and extruded into the hammer nose hole in the frame, requiring a whack on the cylinder with a 2X4 to shear the primer material and open the cylinder.

I've used their rifle ammo with good results. Could be I had a bad batch of .357 ammo.
 
Hey murphydog, great to be in a thread with you again. Also, you correctly note that diyj98's link is for the JHP when my stuff is the fmj. It is interesting that the data for the jhp are the same numbers that are printed on my box. Also, I agree, Norma does have a stellar rep, which is why I did not hesitate to order.
Federali, your experience is interesting as I feel a factory hardball 9mm over 1200 fps is definitely on the warm side.
Obviously I will not be able to identify the powder, but I am going to pull one bullet and measure the charge. I can't imagine it will weigh 19.5 grains. Will post results a little later.
May God keep you and yours safe,
fuzzy
 
I almost bought that ammo

fuzzymcnab said:
Could not find reviews of this stuff, so hoping one of you find gentlemen has an experience to share. I am quite familiar with Norma's top quality components, but have never purchased their loaded ammo. I felt little risk with the Norma name, but what I rec'd concerns me.

For starters, it is made in Hungary. That surprised me. Also, the box indicates 1214 fps at 378 ft/lbs of energey. Norma's website only lists one 115 grain fmj laoding, and those specs are nowhere close.

One last odd thing, the box indicates "Contains 19.5 grains of smokeless powder". I can't imagine any powder that would fit almost 20 grains into a 9mm case.
Nonetheless, if you used this ammo please let me know.

thanks in advance, fuzzy
Click to expand...

I almost bought that ammo online but the shipping charge was pretty heavy so I did not. I was mainly buying it for the norma brass that I would have after I shot it. With your review, I am glad that I did not buy it. Thank You. Ray
 
I may have the chance to try out some of this, and will let you know if it feels like just over 1000 or 1200 fps. :)
 
Nothing wrong with Norma ammo. Many years ago in the Super Vel days and before the +P ratings, Norma produced the hottest .38 Special ammo available. As I recall, pressure was around 27,000 CUP.
 
Being a Euro load that g...................

might be Grams instead of Grains?

I am another that will give this brand of ammo a thumbs up.

Works great in my 22/250 and 270.
 
Ray,
Just to clarify, I am not telling anyone not to buy it, I was hoping someone had tested it and could give an opinion.
Ed, grams would be a much smaller number. Less then 1.0
Weighed the charge, it was 4.4 grains. That sounds more like it.
I have emailed Norma to get some answers.
I will be on the range Wednesday and will chrono it. Won't have a chance to test accuracy, but at least I can give all the velocity data.
thanks again for all the input.
fuzzy
 
thank you

fuzzymcnab said:
Ray,
Just to clarify, I am not telling anyone not to buy it, I was hoping someone had tested it and could give an opinion.
Ed, grams would be a much smaller number. Less then 1.0
Weighed the charge, it was 4.4 grains. That sounds more like it.
I have emailed Norma to get some answers.
I will be on the range Wednesday and will chrono it. Won't have a chance to test accuracy, but at least I can give all the velocity data.
thanks again for all the input.

fuzzy
Click to expand...

Ok. I will wait for your range report. Thank You. I am a reloader and my go to charge for the 9mm is 5.0 gr power pistol with sierrra 125 gr fmj. The charge you mentioned just does not seem right to me. Thank you.Ray
 
Serger, thanks for the info. I am not familiar with the RUAG name. Other than my handloads, I shoot almost entirely Federal, Winchester, Remington, etc. Interestingly, I posted this on the Beretta net and one of the members said the foreign made Norma stuff was made by Geco, which he shoots a lot and likes. I know the name but have never fired any Geco.
Doug, good point. Much of the 9 from Europe is closer to NATO spec and no, it is not unreasonable.
I am afraid the range test will have to wait until next week. My schedule for tomorrow just get packed. Nontheless, I will report back.
thanks, fuzzy
 
So much of everything seems to be manufactured for, distributed by,etc. now days. In any case, I would trust the NORMA name. FWIW, the GECO 115 JHP has exactly the same ballistics. Since manufactured in Hungary, I would not be surprised to learn the NORMA and GECO head stamped 9MM were both manufactured in the same plant.
 
Rock,
I am such a putz, I never though to check the head stamp. It is indeed Norma. I must admit, when I pulled one bullet to check the powder load, the quality of the brass really impressed me. At least that part of the round is Norma quality for sure. I will be certain to pick it up when I shoot the stuff.
God Bless,
fuzzy
 
Ruag is the group that makes the RWS rimfire ammo. And it wouldn't surprise me that if the Norma 9mm is being made in Hungary, it is the same plant that makes some of the calibers for the Geco line.
I've shot several cases of Geco 9mm, no complaints at all.

I just bought some of the Geco 7.62 x 39 to try, and it is beautiful stuff.
Brass case, Boxer primed, reloadable and annealed neck.
fHk8GJ7h.jpg
 
Why shoot super hot stuff and beat the gun into then ground. Get a bigger gun if you want more energy to come out. I recall Norma 44 magnum a friend shot in a model 29 and the gun was basically out of time with endshake after a box full. No Norma anything for me. There is good critical defense ammo from Hornady, black hills etc.
 
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