Lindcott Armory Rifle · SAAMI
.338 Norma Magnum
SOCOM's heavy option in the Mk 22 ASR system.
- Caliber
- 0.3386″ · 8.6 mm
- Introduced
- 2009
- Case
- Rimless
- Parent
- .416 Rigby
- Primary use
- Long Range, Military, Anti-Materiel
- Status
- Active
- Introduced
- 2009
- Type
- Rifle
- Origin
- Sweden
- Inventor
- Norma
- Manufacturer
- Norma
- Standard
- SAAMI
- Status
- Active
- Availability
- Common
- Case capacity
- 106 gr H₂O
- Twist (typical)
- 1:9.4
- Primer
- Large Rifle Magnum
- Case type
- Rimless
- Max pressure
- 65,000 psi
- Eff. range
- 1500 yd
- Max range
- 2800 yd
- Recoil
- 15–22 ft·lb
Ballistics
Real trajectory computed from a representative load — DoubleTap ELD-M 300 gr, 2,756 fps, BC 0.485 G7 · 100 yd zero.
| Range | Velocity | Energy | Drop (in) | Drop (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 yd | 2756 | 5057 | -1.5″ | — |
| 100 yd | 2662 | 4721 | 0.0″ | 0.0 |
| 200 yd | 2571 | 4402 | -3.4″ | -1.6 |
| 300 yd | 2481 | 4098 | -12.1″ | -3.9 |
| 400 yd | 2392 | 3811 | -26.5″ | -6.3 |
| 500 yd | 2305 | 3540 | -46.9″ | -9.0 |
| 600 yd | 2221 | 3284 | -73.9″ | -11.8 |
| 700 yd | 2138 | 3043 | -107.8″ | -14.7 |
| 800 yd | 2056 | 2815 | -149.6″ | -17.9 |
Point-mass G7/G1 drag model, standard atmosphere — within ~2% of reference solvers to 1000 yd; real barrels and conditions vary. Open in Ballistic Compare →
Performance
Buy links open .338 Norma Magnum ammunition at Rivertown Munitions.
Dimensionscase measurements · scale drawing · size vs familiar rounds
Case dimensions — the scale drawing at the top of the page is built from these.
CIP TDCC · verified| Measure | mm | in | ✓ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet ⌀ | 8.60 | 0.339 | ✓ |
| Neck ⌀ | 9.40 | 0.370 | ✓ |
| Shoulder ⌀ | 14.50 | 0.571 | ✓ |
| Shoulder angle | 20.5° | — | ✓ |
| Base ⌀ | 14.87 | 0.585 | ✓ |
| Rim ⌀ | 14.93 | 0.588 | ✓ |
| Belt ⌀ | n/a | ||
| Rim thickness | 1.52 | 0.060 | ✓ |
| Neck length | 8.70 | 0.343 | ≈ |
| Case length | 63.30 | 2.492 | ✓ |
| Overall length | 93.50 | 3.681 | ✓ |
Size vs familiar rounds
Drawn at true 1:1 — every case is accurate relative to the others. Absolute size depends on your screen's pixel density, so measuring one against a real ruler may be off. .338 Norma Magnum is highlighted below.
Factory loads
In production — 34 active loads across 16 brands. Top 15 shown · see all 34 →.
| Brand | Load | Grain | Bullet | FPS | ft·lb | BC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NAMMO | Raufoss MP Match 250gr | 250 | OTM | 2,900 | 4,668 | 0.356 G7 |
| Hornady | ELD-X | 270 | ELD-X | 2,800 | 4,699 | 0.320 G7 |
| Hornady | ELD-M Match 285gr | 285 | ELD-M | 2,800 | 4,961 | 0.461 G7 |
| Hornady | ELD-X | 250 | ELD-X | 2,756 | 4,216 | 0.350 G7 |
| RUAG Ammotec | Swiss P Target 300gr OTM | 300 | OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Nosler | RDF OTM 300gr | 300 | RDF OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Federal | Gold Medal Berger OTM 300gr | 300 | Berger OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Federal | Gold Medal Berger | 300 | Hybrid | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| ADI/Thales | Match OTM 300gr | 300 | OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Norma | Diamond Line Match OTM 300gr | 300 | Diamond OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Berger | Elite Hunter | 300 | OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Lapua | Scenar-L HPBT 300gr | 300 | Scenar-L | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Berger | Hybrid OTM | 300 | OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| Berger | Hybrid OTM 300gr | 300 | Hybrid OTM | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.417 G7 |
| DoubleTap | ELD-M | 300 | ELD-M | 2,756 | 5,059 | 0.485 G7 |
Velocities are manufacturer-stated (test-barrel). Discontinued loads dimmed.
Suitable powders
11 reloading powders listed for .338 Norma Magnum, fastest to slowest. Cross-reference in the finder →
Reloading costestimate cost per round vs factory
Estimate your cost per round and how it compares to factory. Inputs are yours — nothing is stored.
Cost estimate only — not load data. Charge weight is your input; follow published manuals for safe charges.
Firearms chambered in .338 Norma Magnum
3 models in the database chamber .338 Norma Magnum. Browse all →
Lineage
ⓘ Direct parent is .416 Rigby (necked down + shortened); the .338 Lapua is a SIBLING, not its parent — both descend from .416 Rigby.
Connected reference
History
Introduced by Norma in 2009. Selected by SOCOM for the Mk 22 alongside .300 Norma and .300 PRC. Uses .338 Lapua bullets in a shorter case, optimized for the highest BC projectiles available.
FAQs
- What twist rate does .338 Norma Magnum use?
- .338 Norma Magnum typically uses a 1:9.4 twist rate.
- What bullet diameter is .338 Norma Magnum?
- .338 Norma Magnum uses a 0.3386″ (8.6 mm) diameter bullet.
- Is .338 Norma Magnum still in production?
- .338 Norma Magnum is active; typical availability is common.
- What is .338 Norma Magnum used for?
- .338 Norma Magnum is primarily used for long range, military, anti-materiel.
- What is .338 Norma Magnum based on?
- .338 Norma Magnum is derived from the .338 Lapua Magnum case.
- What are the best powders for .338 Norma Magnum?
- Reloading powders commonly listed for .338 Norma Magnum include N165, AR 2218, N170, Reloader 25, among 11 suitable options.
Sources & provenance
- StandardSAAMI — SAAMI cartridge & chamber drawing — .338 Norma Magnumarchived
- StandardC.I.P. — C.I.P. TDCC — Tables of Dimensions of Cartridges and Chambers
- SecondaryLapua — .338 Norma Magnum (manufacturer; confirms .416 Rigby is the grandparent) · parent_cartridge
- SecondaryWikipedia — .338 Norma Magnum (parent case: .416 Rigby; cites CIP 2010 certification) · parent_cartridge
- SecondaryWikipedia — .338 Lapua Magnum (confirms .416 Rigby parent, establishing sibling relationship) · parent_cartridge
Data & sources. Specs compiled from the Lindcott Armory reference; availability counted from 34 live factory loads; the trajectory is modeled (point-mass), not measured. See methodology. Spotted an error? Report it →