Norma 10mm factory ammo at the gun show

[asilcot]

I ran across a 20 round box of Norma 10mm 200 FMJ ammo at the gun show this weekend. I am curious about the stamped markings on the primers. The last time I saw a box of this was in 1987 but I do not remember these markings. Appears to be "NP". Is/was all Norma ammo marked this way?

Anyway, I thought it would make a nice display with some of the 10mm guns.

 

[s&wchad]

I have seen Norma primers marked like that before, but it’s not typical. I just looked at a bunch of different caliber factory boxes dating from 1964 to 1979 and only one has the “Norma Precision” mark on the primers. The boxes came out of the estate of a former gun shop owner and he marked most everything with a purchase date.

My mid-1960’s boxes did include a small paper guarantee sheet. Norma ammo is really good stuff and is fairly hot. I haven’t shot any of these flat point jacketed .44 Mags, but I suspect they’ll pack a wallop at close range!

This box of .30 Carbine has marked primers, but it didn’t come out of the estate and isn’t hand dated. I don’t know how to decipher Norma lot codes, so I refrain from speculating. 15 cents per round retail does give you an idea how old it is!

This box has near identical packaging, but lacks the child safety warning that was mandated by the US government in 1962. The primers are not marked.

I also checked a number of factory Weatherby boxes, ranging from the 60’s through about 2000. None have NP marked primers.

 

[asilcot]

Thanks for the interesting information. So maybe I have 10mm Bench Rest ammo? Like CCI stamps their BR4 primers.

The only thing I remember about the Norma 10mm from the 80's was that it was a small, expensive box and like today, when I pulled the trigger it was often the last time I saw that brass.

It may be interesting to chronograph a few rounds of this ammo through my Banshee. I have seen results from others clocking it from a 5" barrel and it seems to come up short of spec. Maybe the 8" barrel can bump it up a bit.

For reference the lot number on this box is 009625. No guarantee enclosed. Just a Packed by #xxx.

 

[s&wchad]

From what I’ve read, 10mm wasn’t introduced until 1983. Interesting that your box doesn’t have a child safety warning. Did you check the end flaps?

 

[asilcot]

From what I’ve read, 10mm wasn’t introduced until 1983. Interesting that your box doesn’t have a child safety warning. Did you check the end flaps?

Yes it has a child safety warning on the side. I was saying mine does not have the paper guarantee insert. Just the inspector number.

I don' know why this picture is inverted. It is correct on my computer.

 

[usedkid]

All of my vintage Norma 10mm ammo has the 'NP' marking.

 

[asilcot]

All of my vintage Norma 10mm ammo has the 'NP' marking.

The seller said that he had several boxes at the start of the show but that was the only one he had left. I would have bought a couple more of them but there is no way to know whether they would have been from the same lot number.

 

[tndrfttom]

I was told NP stood for NORMA PROJEKTILFABRIK but have no way to substantiate this. I don't know when the primer marking was started/stopped but agree it was on Norma cartridges from the 1960s and 70s - maybe later too.

 

[asilcot]

I was told NP stood for NORMA PROJEKTILFABRIK but have no way to substantiate this. I don't know when the primer marking was started/stopped but agree it was on Norma cartridges from the 1960s and 70s - maybe later too.

Must have made it to at least 1983 when they introduced the 10mm loads. At least some calibers. It may have been like now. Go with whatever you have on hand.

 

[oldman10mm]

I guess I'll have to check my stock.

 

[RCL-09]

I ran across a 20 round box of Norma 10mm 200 FMJ ammo at the gun show this weekend. I am curious about the stamped markings on the primers. The last time I saw a box of this was in 1987 but I do not remember these markings. Appears to be "NP". Is/was all Norma ammo marked this way?

Anyway, I thought it would make a nice display with some of the 10mm guns.

I have seven boxes of the Norma 10mm and all have the primer marked NP

 

[cmj8591]

Norma always made great ammo that was about twice the price of anything else. They also make some odd ball calibers. I have some of their 220 Swift brass that I have been loading since the 70's. I'd be torn about shooting that 10mm not because it's really scarce but just because of the coolness factor.

 

[asilcot]

Norma always made great ammo that was about twice the price of anything else. They also make some odd ball calibers. I have some of their 220 Swift brass that I have been loading since the 70's. I'd be torn about shooting that 10mm not because it's really scarce but just because of the coolness factor.

I am thinking the same thing as far as shooting it. It makes a good prop for pics. Norma does have some oddball loadings. That is why I ended up with that first two boxes I bought with my Delta Elite.

I also have a box of 100 Norma 10mm 170 gr HP bullets that are marked $7.95 and maybe 200 once fired Norma brass. Next time I go out to the loading shed I will check to see whether any of those cases have the stamped primers, If I can find them.

 

[Walter Rego]

I have a couple of boxes that I bought at a gun show a few years ago. The primers have the NP stamp. I have heard mixed reports of the velocity. The boxes say 1200 fps for a 200 grain truncated FMJ but I understand that chronograph tests show that it may have been reduced a bit after early lots proved to be on the very hot side.

Here is a link to an interesting article about the Norma ammo:
https://rangehot.com/original-10mm-ammo-made-ffv-norma-ab-·s-670-40-amotfors-sweden/

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

NORMA

No loaded ammo here but did run across a box of bullets one time. Put then aside for special hunting loads. My loads using 800X will equal or surpass original factory loads. Only fired in Ruger or AMT Long slide these days. Nice thread!!

 

[cmj8591]

Here is a link to an interesting article about the Norma ammo:
https://rangehot.com/original-10mm-ammo-made-ffv-norma-ab-·s-670-40-amotfors-sweden/

Good article. That powder looks a lot like IMR4227. Interesting.