How Great is Norma Brass ?

[Rw 7mm]

500 rounds of brass
100 rounds weighed after > primer pocket uniformed and all cases cut to length .

Standard deviation = 0.389 or 3 tenths , on 100 cases .


Amazing ! Don't think it gets any better ... Rich

 

[Shrek]

Not very when the primer pockets are gone in three moderate loadings. Your results may vary.

 

[CJ6]

I have some 6 mm Rem Herters brand (Norma made) brass from the late 60's-early 70's that's still holding up very well, yes I've culled some over the years but less than other brands I've used (Rem,Win.)

 

[jimbires]

I have good luck with the 7mm-08 brass . when I need brass for another rifle I'll try norma for these too .

 

[Brians356]

Not very when the primer pockets are gone in three moderate loadings. Your results may vary.

Is the implication that Norma brass is too soft below the midriff? That should be verifiable using an Ames hardness gauge.

 

[dkhunt14]

Not very when the primer pockets are gone in three moderate loadings. Your results may vary.

I have had good luck with Norma. It has been accurate and in WSM I have had 15 plus firings. Usually when you lose pockets it is a hot load or too big of chamber. They are not as hard as Lapua but still very good. Matt

 

[Laurie]

Bought some Norma 6.5 Creedmoor new brass just before Christmas. It has the most consistent neck thickness values I've seen in any new cases including umpteen Lapua lots in half a dozen cartridges. We'll have to see about case-head strength, although I don't intend to load particularly 'hot' - in this catridge anyway.

Norma acquired a reputation for 'soft heads' a few years back, but seems generally fine now. I've run very warm loads with Norma 308 Win and got good life from the cases. You can't run them as hot as the Lapua Palma small primer brass, but then again, you can't run any competitor at its feasible pressures.

 

[Brians356]

Norma acquired a reputation for 'soft heads' a few years back, but seems generally fine now. I've run very warm loads with Norma 308 Win and got good life from the cases.

I wonder if a few firings with moderate loads would work harden the head a bit and permit hotter loads (assuming they even are soft to begin with - I'm not convinced that's true, and it doesn't seem plausible to me.)

 

[Rust]

Generally Norma isn't too bad, but when a bad batch comes along it's really bad. I got about 107 good cases out of 500 6.5 X 284s a few years back. Made the price about eight bucks per good case, couldn't return them. Did send samples back to the Norma factory and they admitted to bad QC on that batch but otherwise no satisfaction.

The Norma .416 Rigby cases were just fine though. Still, if Lapua made Rigby cases....

 

[Ketosan]

Generally Norma isn't too bad, but when a bad batch comes along it's really bad. I got about 107 good cases out of 500 6.5 X 284s a few years back. Made the price about eight bucks per good case, couldn't return them. Did send samples back to the Norma factory and they admitted to bad QC on that batch but otherwise no satisfaction.

The Norma .416 Rigby cases were just fine though. Still, if Lapua made Rigby cases....

Had a problem with a box of 308 Norma about two years ago--had excessive headspace--sent samples to Norma and they agreed the brass should have never made it out of the factory. Midway was very good about taking the brass back. Still use Norma but guess their QC process did not work well in this instance.

 

[Raythemanroe]

I have had good luck with Norma. It has been accurate and in WSM I have had 15 plus firings. Usually when you lose pockets it is a hot load or too big of chamber. They are not as hard as Lapua but still very good. Matt

Mine lasted the season with no calls, primer pockets feel good and tight.. I however will start this next season with fresh brass, wouldn't want them to give up in the middle of the season.. Three firings seems very, very odd..


Ray

 

[Damon555]

I've got some Norma 6XC brass that's been reloaded 10 times....stout loads too. Primer pockets are fine.....Such good stuff that I bought more.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

I've got some Norma 6XC brass that's been reloaded 10 times....stout loads too. Primer pockets are fine.....Such good stuff that I bought more.

What do you consider a 'stout' load in 6XC? Bullet weight, speed, and barrel length please.

I'm asking because I have experienced weak primer pockets with Norma brass as well. Specifically 358 Norma Mag brass. I now form my 358 Norma Mag cases from Winchester 300 Win Mag brass and primer pockets hold up much better.

In my 6XC, I have achieved 2980 fps with 105gr bullets and a 22" barrel using brass formed from Winchester 308 Win cases. No primer pocket issues.

 

[Damon555]

What do you consider a 'stout' load in 6XC? Bullet weight, speed, and barrel length please.

I'm asking because I have experienced weak primer pockets with Norma brass as well. Specifically 358 Norma Mag brass. I now form my 358 Norma Mag cases from Winchester 300 Win Mag brass and primer pockets hold up much better.

In my 6XC, I have achieved 2980 fps with 105gr bullets and a 22" barrel using brass formed from Winchester 308 Win cases. No primer pocket issues.

105 Amax pushed by 40 grains of H4350...Running a tad over 3150 FPS out of a 28" 8 twist Criterion Pre-fit Savage barrel....These number were measured with birdog's (another forum member) Magnetospeed.

 

[Ledd Slinger]

105 Amax pushed by 40 grains of H4350...Running a tad over 3150 FPS out of a 28" 8 twist Criterion Pre-fit Savage barrel....These number were measured with birdog's (another forum member) Magnetospeed.

Thank you for that clarification. And glad to hear the Norma brass is holding up

My poor experience with Norma primer pockets was back in 2007 and I haven't used their brass since. I'm sure things have changed since then.