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Range Results with Norma 202

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britrifles View Drop Down
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    Posted: February 22 2020 at 4:30pm
Besides shooting my UF56 No. 4 Mk2 7.62 DCRA Conversion today,  I finally got to testing the Norma 202 powder loads that Goosic and a few others use.  Here is the load details:

Case DAC 1956 FL Sized
WLR Primer
40.0 gr Norma 202
174 gr Hornady BTHP .312 Match
3.05 in. OAL

Rifle: No. 4 Mk 1/3 Fulton Regulated 1943 Long Branch .3035 dia bore BSA 5 groove barrel, Mk 1 service aperture sight. 

All 10 shot groups shot prone with sling at 200 yards, no support under forend.  

I first shot two groups as a control with my regular match load (174 gr SMK, 40.0 gr Varget, WLR primer, 3.05 OAL) with following results: 

C-C Extreme Spread         Score on SR Target
    2.9 MOA                             100-2x
    2.9 MOA                             100-1x

Next, 4 ten shot groups of the Norma 202 load:

C-C Extreme Spread         Score on SR Target
    3.1 MOA                             99-2x
    5.5 MOA                             96-2x (case head separation caused one flier in 8 ring)
    3.0 MOA                           100-5x
    2.5 MOA                             90-1x (one shot cross fire at wrong target)

Several rounds had significant case head cracks, one with a part thru separation causing a flier.  These cases are tired, and will be discarded.  

Here is the third and fourth targets with the Norma 202 load:






This last group scarred the he!! out of the X ring, hits all around it but only one shot in it. 

The Norma 202 loaded bullets impacted slightly higher on the target as compared to my match load. One click down of the Mk 1 service rear sight brought the MPI to the target center. 

The load has promise, I have 8 lbs of Norma 202 and will do further experiments with both the .312 Hornady bullet and .311 SMK.  



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Pukka Bundook View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 22 2020 at 8:00pm
Well Simon, It seems to be working!
 
I believe Goosic uses magnum primers, as they are recommended by Norma, but the standard Winchester seem to be doing the job well enough.
 
Both yourself and Goosic really Can shoot!!
 
Congrats!
 
I wound up with a bunch of boat-tail bullets in.308"  (180 gr) and tried a few this morn from a tired 2-groove barreled No 4Mk 1.....V deadly at 100 yards, 'cos they all went through the target sideways!   :-)
 
Edited to add that I was using the same  powder and charge as in your post above. (40 gr Norma #202)
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 23 2020 at 5:03am
Yes, I will load the next batch with LR magnum primers.  But I’m a bit concerned with pressure.  I don’t know what cases Norma 202 loads were developed with.  Magnum primers equate to about an additional 1 to 1.5 gr of powder charger compared with standard LR primers.  Thicker military cases have about the same effect to increase pressure. 

The 40.0 gr of 202 took up a bit more case volume than 40.0 gr Varget.  

The Norma website lists 41.0 gr as max with a Hornady 174 gr round nose at 2608 fps.  Seems a bit fast. The table did not indicate the make of the case or type of primer used.  

Does anyone have a current Norma Reloading Manual?  

Has anyone Chrono’ed 40.0 gr 202, LR magnum primer, 174 gr HPBT? This load seemed to have a higher felt recoil than my 40.0 gr Varget Load (which chrono’ed at 2400 fps).  

I plan to run tests with 39.0, 39.5 and 40.0 with standard and magnum primers.  


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 23 2020 at 10:16am
According to Norma,they used a 1-10" twist 24" in length barrel and they used a Norma case and WLRM primers. 
Norma cases are comparable to Winchester or Frontier cases.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Zed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 23 2020 at 10:17am
I'll be following your progress with interest. Worth getting a chrono on your loads.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 23 2020 at 10:26am
I will be getting a chronograph this week and can give you the data i end up with. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote britrifles Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 23 2020 at 11:20am
I’ve got a chrono, but haven’t checked with the range yet to see if I can set it up.  If I get there early on a weekday, should be no one around.  The load does feel a bit hot.


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303 Hunter View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 303 Hunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 24 2020 at 10:17pm
Hay Pukka Bundook. where did you get your Norma 202 from?
The Lee Enfield is to the Canadian north what the Winchester repeater was to the American west.   Cal Bablitz
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Pukka Bundook Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 25 2020 at 6:25am
Hunter,
 
I just got it locally, but a few years back now.
(Sundre or Caroline)
 
I'll do some checking...
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Goosic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 25 2020 at 11:42am
I'm assuming that midwayusa will not ship it across the border? 
Western Powders Inc. is the US supplier. Give them a jingle...

For technical information and customer service: www.westernpowders.com

email: powder@midrivers.com

(406) 234-0422
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