| .338 Norma Magnum | ||
|---|---|---|
Side by side comparison of the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge to the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge. |
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| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | Sweden Switzerland United States | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Jimmy Sloan, Norma | |
| Manufacturer | Norma | |
| Produced | 2009 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .416 Rigby | |
| Case type | Rimmed, bottleneck | |
| Bullet diameter | 8.59 mm (0.338 in) | |
| Neck diameter | unknown | |
| Shoulder diameter | unknown | |
| Base diameter | 14.87 mm (0.585 in) | |
| Rim diameter | unknown | |
| Case length | 63.50 mm (2.500 in) | |
| Overall length | 91.44 mm (3.600 in) | |
| Case capacity | 6.95 cm³ (107 gr H2O) | |
| Rifling twist | 236 mm (1 in 9.3 in) | |
| Primer type | Large rifle magnum | |
| Maximum pressure | unknown | |
The .338 Norma Magnum is a cartridge first introduced in 2008 and coming into production in 2009. It is designed by the Swedish ammunition company Norma which is part of the Swiss RUAG group.
Contents |
The .338 Norma Magnum was originally developed by the American sport shooter Jimmie Sloan as a long-range sport shooting wildcat cartridge. It was designed as a way to optimize shooting the 19.44 g (300 gr) 8.59 mm (.338 in) caliber Sierra HPBT MatchKing projectile from actions and magazines that lack the length to handle cartridges exceeding 91.44 mm (3.60 in) in overall length.[1] Later the design was purchased by the ammunition manufacturer Norma.
From the scarce and fragmented information available it appears the .338 Norma Magnum has a shorter cartridge overall length (91.44 mm (3.60 in)) compared to the cartridge overall length of the .338 Lapua Magnum (93.50 mm (3.681 in)). The .338 Norma Magnum loaded with 19.44 g (300 gr) .338 caliber Sierra HPBT projectiles will have these projectile less deeply seated compared to the .338 Lapua Magnum when both cartridges are loaded to 91.44 mm (3.60 in) overall length. To achieve this the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge utilizes a shorter case (about 63.5 mm (2.5 in)) with less taper and a slightly sharper shoulder angle with a slightly longer neck, resulting in about 6.5% less case capacity.
On June 17, 2008, the U.S. government issued a market survey to support a requirement for a Precision Sniper Rifle (PRS) to possibly replace the currently fielded Bolt Action SOF Sniper Systems MK 13 (.300 Winchester Magnum) and the M40 and M24 (7.62x51mm NATO) chambered to safely fire factory produced "non-wildcat" .338 caliber ammunition.[2][3][4] This means the .338 Lapua Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum or derivatives of these cartridges would be two likely candidates for the cartridge part of this market survey and winning future U.S. government contracts.[5]
The .338 Norma Magnum was designed to improve upon the .338 Lapua Magnum when loaded with 19.44 g (300 gr) Sierra very-low-drag bullets in magazines and actions that restrict the .338 Lapua Magnum's maximal cartridge overall length.
In long range precision sport shooting rifles, the .338 Norma Magnum cartridges were designed for, the chamber and throat area of the barrel are often custom made by a gunsmith for a particular cartridge, meaning the rifle (system) is consciously constructed for optimal use with a particular cartridge case and projectile combination. If projectiles with differing dimensions are to be used this will generally erode such a custom made system's accuracy potential. This makes objective comparisons between cartridges hard, since cartridges are essential parts of a larger rifle system.
Since the .338 Lapua Magnum can be loaded to its C.I.P. overall length or even somewhat longer, the practical difference between the two cartridges gradually becomes negligible. Some manufacturers of .338 Lapua Magnum actions, magazines and rifles have indicated that they intend to offer products that will allow the use of .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges that can handle overall lengths that exceed the current C.I.P. .338 Lapua Magnum maximal overall length standard of 93.50 mm (3.681 in).
As of February 2009, the .338 Norma Magnum is still a very new cartridge with little commercial availability. However, it is available for purchase.[6] If the .338 Norma Magnum or a derivative cartridge is chosen by the U.S. government for a military role, it may gain some civilian popularity amongst big game hunters and civilian long-range shooting enthusiasts. The .338 Norma Magnum is theoretically capable of taking down any game animal, though its suitability for some dangerous game (Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, white rhinoceros and elephant) is arguable, unless accompanied by a larger "backup" caliber: "There is a huge difference between calibers that will kill an elephant and those that can be relied upon to stop one."[7] Certain sub-Saharan Africa countries have a 9.53 mm (.375 in) minimum caliber rule for hunting the Big Five. Military use can become problematic in countries which ban civil use of former or current military rifle cartridges.
The .338 Norma Magnum chambering is offered for these factory rifles: