The norma is a good fit for guys that don't want longer than a 26" barrel, want a repeater using the 300 gr bergers and don't mind getting 2800 fps or less with the 300 gr bullets. If you are going for velocity with the 300 gr bullets it will dissapoint you but if you are ok wit this limitation than its Great. I am hoping to push things a bit so I'm leaning towards an edge with n570 and hoping for 2900+ but I will be limited to single shot.
I was hoping for 2800 + with a 26 in tube. I won't be doing and ultra long range stuff practice out to a mile and hunt out to 1300. The 300 norma mag pushing 230's is also intriguing.
The norma doesn't benifit from the longer barrels like other calibers, the 26" seams optimal for it. I would say best case would be 2800 so if you would be dissapointed with less than that I would maybe look at something else like a 338 rum in a 28" barrel. I haven't really looked at the 300 norma so I can't say what to expect from it.
The Norma is a very nice round, but expect it to run a little slower than the 338 Edge or Lapua with the 300 gr bullets. My experience is the standard Edge and Lapua are pretty much a ballistic match with 300 gr bullets and both peak at about 2800 from a 28" tube with H-1000 or Retumbo. My testing also shows 20 to 25 fps per inch of barrel from 26 to 30" for all these chamberings. So for a 26" 338 Norma with 300 gr bullets I would think closer to 2700 and maybe 2725 is realistic. That is unless you push it harder.
I am interested to see what Ryan gets from the Norma with 570 and 33. But what ever it is I believe the standard edge or Lapua would be faster.
Yes it is. I sold it to my buddy Kelly. We had a rough go with her at first but we finally got her dialed in a couple weeks ago. It shot a couple really nice groups with RL33 @ 2810.