factory ammo

[dropmdead]

Short of stripping down factory ammo and hoping the powder matches what is available, does Norma ammo use their own off the shelf powders?
I have a 6XC and would like to replicate their cartridge

 

[Mungo]

Could you not just measure the speed, then use Quickload or similar to find any suitable powder that gives you that speed?

 

[Laurie]

You can rarely match factory loads exactly as ammunition manufacturers use bulk powder lots which vary and adjust charges for each batch to achieve the desired pressures / velocities. Canister powders should (don't always in practice for some makers and grades, eg Hodgdon VarGet) remain close lot to lot.

There is another rather more practical issue in that we cannot get Norma powders in the UK. The then importer RUAG Ammotech UK imported a single large lot four or five years ago covering the entire Norma range at the time REACH came into effect, but made little to no effort to promote them so the powders didn't sell well, then sold its residue off to one or two large gunshops at a bargain price, and lost interest in powders. Not that it makes any difference now as the manufacturer (Eurenco Bofors in Sweden) hasn't supplied handloading powders to anybody since 2022 and the start of Ukraine war, also Sweden joining NATO and placing large weapons and ammunition orders.

On the basis of the Norma canister grades' characteristics, if the ammunition side of the business uses Bofors/Norma brand powders, factory cartridges most likely use bulk equivalents to Norma URP or 204 for 100-107gn bullets. However, it may not use propellants from this source anyway being a member of the German/Swiss RUAG multinational and therefore having ties to Swiss manufacturer Nitrochemie Wimmis which is half owned by RUAG and makes Reload Swiss canister powders. Alliant Re17 / Reload Swiss RS60 has a formidable reputation for small groups and exceptional MVs in the XC with heavier bullets. When I shot the cartridge in 600/1,000 yd benchrest competition, this is what I ended up using. Sadly, I discovered, as did others, that this grade soon beats the stuffing out of barrels with full-house loads.

 

[dropmdead]

Could you not just measure the speed, then use Quickload or similar to find any suitable powder that gives you that speed?

Yes, but i think its approx 3200fps with a 105gr bullet, and would prefer to keep it as per factory load if possible for consistent burn and pressure.
I'm sure i could try to replicate it unsure of the ability to keep it "safe"

 

[dropmdead]

You can rarely match factory loads exactly as ammunition manufacturers use bulk powder lots which vary and adjust charges for each batch to achieve the desired pressures / velocities. Canister powders should (don't always in practice for some makers and grades, eg Hodgdon VarGet) remain close lot to lot.

There is another rather more practical issue in that we cannot get Norma powders in the UK. The then importer RUAG Ammotech UK imported a single large lot four or five years ago covering the entire Norma range at the time REACH came into effect, but made little to no effort to promote them so the powders didn't sell well, then sold its residue off to one or two large gunshops at a bargain price, and lost interest in powders. Not that it makes any difference now as the manufacturer (Eurenco Bofors in Sweden) hasn't supplied handloading powders to anybody since 2022 and the start of Ukraine war, also Sweden joining NATO and placing large weapons and ammunition orders.

On the basis of the Norma canister grades' characteristics, if the ammunition side of the business uses Bofors/Norma brand powders, factory cartridges most likely use bulk equivalents to Norma URP or 204 for 100-107gn bullets. However, it may not use propellants from this source anyway being a member of the German/Swiss RUAG multinational and therefore having ties to Swiss manufacturer Nitrochemie Wimmis which is half owned by RUAG and makes Reload Swiss canister powders. Alliant Re17 / Reload Swiss RS60 has a formidable reputation for small groups and exceptional MVs in the XC with heavier bullets. When I shot the cartridge in 600/1,000 yd benchrest competition, this is what I ended up using. Sadly, I discovered, as did others, that this grade soon beats the stuffing out of barrels with full-house loads.

Thank you Laurie for this information.
I have a sneaky feeling it may not be their off the shelf powder given the speeds etc

 

[finbar]

Out of curiosity last night pulled a 17 hornet bullet 20 grain
To see what weight powder was in bullet 11.6 grains came the result
Powder was like fine iron fillings
The N110 am planing to use as reloading powder is 8 grains to 8.8
Getting a pound of N110 of me mate
If a Carnt get good results will buy N120