300 Norma Mag

[jaybigboy34]

Has anybody had any real world research or experience on the 300 norma mag having inconsistant pressure spikes and velocity changes when shooting at an angle due to the case fill rate not being enough?

 

[Kurz]

I haven't had any problems to report because I use powders which fill the case, avoiding any inconsistencies mentioned. We learned that 50 years ago shooting benchrest.

 

[Zero333]

Use RL-33 and forget this topic.

 

[Mr.Knowit all]

I heard that was why the 300PRC won the contract with the Navy and the 300 NM did not. I am not sure what he deal was that bc everyone I know loves the 300 NM. I think the 300 PRC is a more efficient round-meaning it can get similar speeds with less powder. IMO

 

[Lannister]

Flatter than a 338, less recoil. The brass until this week has been the weak spot. Hoping Lapua brass lasts longer than Norma. First it doesn't compete with a 308. I'd prefer it over a 300 wm. I've heard Hornady is releasing 300 Norma factory so if you don't reload thats still an option w/o paying a lot for AB ammo.
The cons has been no factory offering, 1k round barrel life, suspect brass life
pro: less recoil than a lapua with most the power, better ballistics than a 300wm,
There is a lot more but a few basics.

 

[Sniper338]

I heard that was why the 300PRC won the contract with the Navy and the 300 NM did not. I am not sure what he deal was that bc everyone I know loves the 300 NM. I think the 300 PRC is a more efficient round-meaning it can get similar speeds with less powder. IMO

I think a deciding official has hands in the pockets of others and any decision made is a decision that benefits someones pocket book or gives kick backs. What do I know though.

 

[Kurz]

"...the .300 Norma Magnum was adopted as the US military’s Advanced Sniper Cartridge “for extra long ranges beyond 1 500 meters”.

"The 300 Precision Rifle Cartridge (PRC), released by Hornady earlier this year, was tested and selected by the Department of Defense for its extended long range sniper program..."

There is only one thing that counts when it involves the military, budget money. Every part of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LIES, CHEATS AND STEALS to feather bed it's employees and departments and this includes the military of course. Given a new shot at another testing program and then the potential for buying yet more ammunition, the DoD jumped all over this.

Part of the blame can be laid at the feet of Norma, who willfully developed the final load with a less than adequate fill percentage which led to the compromise of the performance when shooting at angles. This (low fill) is done by most ammunition makers in order to reduce the cost of manufacturing. In this situation, it will apparently cost them several millions of dollars (understatement) in lost contractual manufacturing.

This move saves the Feds (us, the taxpayers really) a ton of money which would have been spent on converting or replacing existing rifles to handle the larger rim size of the Norma Mag.

The upside is that an American manufacturer is now in the driver's seat for a large government/military contract. Federal ammunition contractors don't reload once-fired brass so the obvious argument regarding the poor quality of Hornady brass is mute. It's all single use. It also means that because this is now an accepted military cartridge, the lifespan of the cartridge is increased significantly. Since the DoD is currently fielding the .300 Win. Mag. there is no conversion to the larger rim, just new barrels which are in the programs anyway.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

If theres extra room in a case, you go to a slower powder.

 

[rhovee]

I have been playing with my 300 NMA that Alex built for me. H1000 has good accuracy but the case had some room. I have been playing with IMR 8133. It’s not a very dense powder so it fills the case up well. There is a node with 215 around 3100-3120. A standard Norma should get there around 87-89 grains. I am at 91-91.4. AB tested 8133 for temp stability and came up with .1-.2 FPS per degree.