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.338 Norma Magnum

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The .338 Norma Magnum is a cartridge first introduced in 2008 and came into production in 2009, designed by Norma of Sweden.

.338 Norma Magnum
Side by side comparison of the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge to the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge.
TypeRifle
Place of originSweden
United States
Production history
DesignerJimmy Sloan, Norma
ManufacturerNorma
Produced2009
Specifications
Parent case.416 Rigby
Case typeRimless, bottleneck
Bullet diameter8.60 mm (0.339 in)
Neck diameter9.40 mm (0.370 in)
Shoulder diameter14.50 mm (0.571 in)
Base diameter14.87 mm (0.585 in)
Rim diameter14.93 mm (0.588 in)
Rim thickness1.52 mm (0.060 in)
Case length63.30 mm (2.492 in)
Overall length93.50 mm (3.681 in)
Case capacity6.95 cm3 (107.3 gr H2O)
Rifling twist235 mm (1 in 9.25 in)
Primer typeLarge rifle magnum
Maximum pressure440.00 MPa (63,817 psi)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
19.44 g (300 gr) Sierra MatchKing 823 m/s (2,700 ft/s) 6,585 J (4,857 ft⋅lbf)
Test barrel length: 610 mm (24 inches)

Design history

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The .338 Norma Magnum was originally developed as a long-range sport shooting wildcat cartridge by the American sport shooter Jimmie Sloan with the help of Dave Kiff, owner of Pacific Tool and Gauge, who made the reamers and headspace gauges. Barrels were supplied by Rock Creek Barrel Inc. Various twist rates were tried with 5R rifling. It was designed as a way to optimize shooting the 19.44 grams (300.0 grains) 8.59 millimetres (0.338 in) caliber Sierra HPBT MatchKing projectile from actions and magazines that lack the length to handle cartridges exceeding 91.44 mm (3.600 in) in overall length. The 19.44 grams (300.0 gr) 8.59 mm (0.338 in) caliber Sierra HPBT MatchKing projectile was not available when the .338 Lapua Magnum was originally designed (it was optimized for shooting 16.2 g (250 gr) projectiles) and .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges intended for military use are generally loaded with shorter 16.2 g (250 gr) to 18.47 g (285 gr) projectiles. Later the design was purchased by the Swedish ammunition manufacturer Norma. The .338 Norma Magnum cartridge was C.I.P. certified on 26 May 2010 and thus became an officially registered and sanctioned rifle cartridge.[1]

The .338 Norma Magnum exhibits slightly reduced ballistic performance compared to the .338 Lapua Magnum on average, due to the .338 Lapua Magnum offering a variety of cartridges that use lighter bullets, and also due to the reduced case capacity of the .338 Norma Magnum. However, the performance of both cartridges are very close, making the .338 Norma Magnum a more efficient cartridge.

Cartridge dimensions

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The .338 Norma Magnum prior to C.I.P. certification had 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 (3.681 in) overall length. To achieve this the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge utilizes a shorter case (about 63.30 mm (2.492 in) with less taper and a slightly sharper shoulder angle with a slightly longer neck, resulting in about 6.5% less case capacity. However the cartridge overall lengths of the .338 Norma Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum were, as of 2013, determined at 93.50 mm (3.681 in) by the C.I.P. rulings for these cartridges.

U.S. government market survey and ammunition availability

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On June 17, 2008, the U.S. government issued a market survey to support a requirement for a Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) to possibly replace the currently fielded Bolt Action SOF Sniper Systems MK 13 (.300 Winchester Magnum) and the M40 and M24 (7.62×51mm NATO) chambered to safely fire factory produced "non-wildcat" .338 caliber ammunition.[2]

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 maximum cartridge overall length.

In long range precision sport shooting rifles, which 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).

In May 2017 the United States Special Operations Command, in conjunction with the United States Marine Corps issued a sources sought notice for 5,000 Lightweight Medium Machine Guns (LWMMG) chambered for .338 Norma Magnum polymer-cased ammunition. The aim is to identify a machine gun with a 24 inches (610 mm) long barrel weighing 24 pounds (10.9 kg) or less, which offers sufficient accuracy out to 2,000 metres (2,187 yd) to engage area targets and vehicles.[3]

In 2019 the U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Barrett Firearms Manufacturing a $50,000,000 contract, ordering the Barrett MRAD, designated MK22 Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR), chambered in .338 Norma Magnum (designated XM1162) as well as 7.62×51mm NATO and .300 Norma Magnum.[4][5][6]

In 2020 the U.S. Special Operations Command awarded SIG Sauer a contract, ordering the MG 338 machine gun chambered in .338 Norma Magnum.[7]

Chambering availability

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The .338 Norma Magnum chambering is offered for these factory rifles:

Bolt action rifles

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Selective fire

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Semi-automatic rifles

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  • Albert Arms ALR
  • S.W.O.R.D. International Mk-18 Mod 1 Mjölnir

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ This is a switch chambering and barrel sniper rifle that can also fire .300 Norma Magnum, .300 PRC, and 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges.[9][8]

References

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  1. ^ "338 Norma Mag" (PDF). Commission internationale permanente pour l'épreuve des armes à feu portatives. 26 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  2. ^ "Precision Sniper Rifle Solicitation Number: H92222-09-PSR". FBO. 17 June 2008. Archived from the original on 7 November 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Total Game Changer – USSOCOM & USMC Take First Steps Toward Adopting a .338NM Lightweight Medium Machine Gun". Soldier Systems Daily. 15 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  4. ^ "1305-01-669-1219 (1305-AC32, 13052432, 13072044) Data". Part Target. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  5. ^ "Contracts For March 11, 2019". US Department of Defense. 11 March 2019. Archived from the original on 27 May 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  6. ^ "MK22 Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR)". PEO Soldier. Archived from the original on 18 May 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  7. ^ "USSOCOM Completes Safety Certification and Purchase of SIG SAUER MG 338 Machine Guns, Ammunition, and Next Generation Suppressors". SIG Sauer. 15 January 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-01-29. Retrieved 2020-01-29.
  8. ^ a b "MRAD Operator's Manual" (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-06. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  9. ^ a b "Barrett 2019 Catalog" (PDF). p. 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-05-31. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  10. ^ "Remington Modular Sniper Rifle (MSR)". Archived from the original on 2009-06-11. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  11. ^ "TSAKO TRG M10)". 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2020-08-16.
  12. ^ Moss, Matthew (2019-01-22). "SIG Sauer's .338 Norma Magnum Light Machine Gun -". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  13. ^ Dynamics, Bruce. "Ohio Ordnance Works Introduces the REAPR". Ohio Ordnance Works. Retrieved 2024-02-16.
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