Our History

Norma is a Swedish ammunition manufacturer with more than a century of experience in precision and quality.

Norma is a Swedish ammunition manufacturer dedicated to precision, reliability, and performance for hunters and sport shooters worldwide. our reputation is built on advanced ballistic knowledge combined with careful, consistent manufacturing.

Founded in 1902 in Åmotfors, Sweden, Norma grew out of a strong industrial tradition supported by skilled craftsmanship and hydropower. From the start, the company focused on producing ammunition that performed flawlessly in demanding Nordic conditions. Over time, Norma became closely connected to Swedish hunting culture and international shooting sports, earning trust among elite competitors and dedicated hunters alike.

Throughout our history, Norma has balanced innovation with tradition. Product development has often been driven by close collaboration with shooters and hunters, refining performance generation after generation. Today, Norma remains one of Sweden’s most recognized firearms brands, shaped by more than a century of experience, heritage, and an unwavering commitment to quality.

to produce and provide shooters and hunters

worldwide with the perfect bullet and an equally perfect cartridge.

A Train Journey That Changed Everything

Our journey begins, as it so often does, with a train ride. On a warm and sunny morning in May 1902, the weekly train crossed the border from the neighboring country, Norway, and made its first scheduled stop in Sweden, specifically in the small town of Charlottenberg.

Among the passengers who disembarked from the train was Norwegian Ivar Enger from Oslo. He was in search of a manufacturing facility in Sweden, but the only available space that met the requirements of a factory was already occupied by a tobacco plant. So, Ivar had to board the train once again and travel to the next station along the line, which happened to be the small village of Åmotfors.

Fortunately, and crucially for the history we're recounting, he found a location with two rooms in a small building that marked the beginning of our centenary.

The Smokeless Powder Revolution

Towards the end of the 19th century, a new and more efficient type of gunpowder began to replace the old black powder that had been used in firearms up until then. The nitrocellulose-based "smokeless" powder generated significantly higher pressure and velocity, necessitating a redesign of bullets to prevent them from disintegrating in the barrel.

Now, soft lead cores were enclosed within a harder material, such as soft steel or copper, and this allowed for experimentation with the shape of the projectile itself.

The Birth of NORMA

With the introduction of a jacket, it became impossible for regular shooters to manufacture their own bullets, and the demand for jacketed bullets became very high. This is when the three Enger brothers, Johan, Lars, and Ivar, decided to capitalize on this opportunity. In 1894, they co-founded a company, coinciding with the shift of military forces in Scandinavia to the new 6.5x55 mm Mauser and Krag rifles.

There have been various explanations for why the company was named NORMA, but the real reason was quite simple. Lars Enger was a passionate opera enthusiast, particularly enamored with the Italian opera by Bellini bearing the name NORMA.

From Oslo to Innovation

After establishing the first manufacturing facility in Oslo, there followed a period of trial and error as they learned more about bullet production. It all began with jackets from Germany and lead wire from Raufoss, a Norwegian state-owned ammunition factory. Due to numerous production difficulties, they had to import bullets from Germany, initially a long 101-gram fully-jacketed blunt-nosed bullet and later the new spitzer bullet from German torpedoes.

Just before the turn of the century, the Enger brothers managed to obtain some of the secret designs for the Balle D projectiles, which served as a model for their own production. During this time, NORMA's ballistic engineer, Karl Wang, devised a process in which the bullet was turned on a lathe while pressed against a sturdy support, resulting in a very precise rear end, or "base," and simultaneously creating a slight angle, a boat tail.

This manufacturing process was something NORMA pioneered and proved to be a key to their highly accurate bullets, giving the factory an advantage over its competitors until World War II.

Expanding to Sweden

Around this time, roughly in the years 1900-1901, NORMA began exporting its jacketed bullets to the Scandinavian neighboring countries. In Sweden, the leaders of the Sharpshooter Movement were so intrigued that they invited the Enger brothers to establish a bullet manufacturing company in Sweden as well.

Recognizing the potential for increased business, the Enger brothers decided to send the younger brother, Ivar, to Sweden to find a suitable location for their Swedish venture.

Once they had made their decision and finalized the lease agreement for the house in Åmotfors, the Enger brothers hired Norwegian Gustav Hoff as the manager of the operation. They also employed a young local woman as a general assistant, and before the year was out, NORMA had four employees producing nearly a quarter of a million bullets.

To secure an early foothold in the market, NORMA began offering reloading equipment and primers as supplementary products. It's important to note that, initially, handloaders were NORMA's primary customer base.

In 1905, when Norway and Sweden were still clashing swords (as the former had declared the end of their 100-year "forced marriage" with Sweden), Gustav Hoff, who was a Norwegian citizen and conscripted into the army, occasionally crossed the border in full uniform to address issues at the Åmotfors facility. Talk about a conflict!

Building the Factory

In just a few years, NORMA made significant strides, prompting the construction of a proper factory. In 1911, the first company-owned factory was completed, providing space for more machinery and additional personnel. And in the same location, albeit in different buildings, NORMA has remained ever since.

From Bullets to Complete Cartridges

The next step forward came in 1914 with a decision to start reusing and reloading 6.5x55 mm brass casings. NORMA repurchased spent military casings, cleaned and refurbished them, and reused them in the factory. Up to this point, NORMA had still only been manufacturing the bullets.

However, as the business continued to grow, this model became impractical, and in 1917, NORMA began producing its own brass casings, starting with the military caliber, 6.5x55mm, which was also the caliber used by civilian target shooters.

Loading was still done by hand using simple mechanical machines, which, in combination with piece-rate pay and stressful tasks for workers, led to variations in powder weight from cartridge to cartridge. Production speed was also rather slow. Consequently, Enger sought solutions to eliminate errors caused by the human factor while increasing production capacity.

Modernizing Production

In 1922, Ivan Enger successfully purchased four ten-set loading machines from the German company Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken in Karlsruhe, two of which were placed in the new NORMA factory in Åmotfors.

Reaching World-Class Quality

Throughout this time, the Enger brothers worked toward their ultimate goal: producing complete cartridges, from bullet to casing, and at an affordable price. By the end of the 1920s, this goal had become a reality.

NORMA's ammunition had reached the same level as ammunition from the best factories worldwide, and during the 1920s and 1930s, world records and Olympic records were set using NORMA-manufactured ammunition.

The Turkish Order

The modern and automated "Karlsruhe" machines proved invaluable when the Norwegian government's ammunition factory in Raufoss received an order from the Turkish government for 40 million rounds of 8mm ammunition.

Raufoss realized that they lacked the production capacity to meet the customer's delivery schedule and reached an agreement to use NORMA as a subcontractor. This meant that the Åmotfors facility would produce not only casings and cartridges but also nickel-plated loading trays.

This large order tied up a significant portion of the total capacity for two years. It generated much-needed revenue for the owners and provided crucial know-how for both supervisors and workers.

Entering the Hunting Market

During several periods around the late 1920s and early 1930s, NORMA ventured into the production of hunting ammunition. German-made ammunition from DWM and RWS was what hunters were using during this time.

The Lean Years

During the 1930s, NORMA also felt the impact of the worldwide depression, and it hit hard. This period can certainly be considered the lean years in the company's history.

To cope with the situation at that time, the approximately 40 employees were set to work in shifts. They worked for two weeks and then had a week off. However, morale remained high, as exemplified by the pay routine.

Once a week, wages were paid out. The wages were placed in individual metal boxes, each marked with the employee's name. If someone was sick or absent for another reason, they could always come back on another day to collect their earnings, secure in the knowledge that no one would touch the money until its rightful owner retrieved it.

Recovery and Growth

Later in the 1930s, the situation began to improve. NORMA needed to expand its workforce to produce 6.5mm rifle ammunition, 9mm pistol bullets, and hunting ammunition.

It was also during these years that Bofors developed and manufactured its famous 40mm anti-aircraft cannon, and NORMA was commissioned to manufacture the brass casings.

NORMA initially faced significant challenges in manufacturing suitable casings for the new hunting calibers (which at the time included 8x57, 9.3x57mm, and 9.3x62mm). For a time, it was necessary to purchase casings of various calibers from RWS in Germany.

This was a business deal that the Germans were initially reluctant to engage in because they realized that once the casing issue was resolved, NORMA would undoubtedly capture a substantial share of the Scandinavian market.

The increase from 40 to 80 employees at the end of the 1930s was nothing compared to the situation when World War II broke out in 1939. In 1940, a substantial expansion was in order, which included the addition of ten new factory buildings.

To meet the mobilized army's demand for small arms ammunition, the Swedish government required that the NORMA factory must be in "war footing," which could loosely be translated as being of assistance during the war. If this condition couldn't be met, the facility would be expropriated, meaning taken over by the government. The production from NORMA's only competitor, Svenska Metallverken, was deemed insufficient for this situation.

This demand placed the Enger brothers in a tough spot because they realized that when the war eventually ended, they would be tasked with making significant reductions in the workforce, as well as in machinery and floor space. However, they were in agreement, and in just one year, the workforce increased from 150 to over 600 employees. Buildings were erected, and production machinery was delivered from the Swedish government.

An unintended consequence was that NORMA was also compelled to give up its proprietary bullet manufacturing process, which had provided NORMA with an advantage over its competitors since the turn of the century. Consequently, this technology became known to other factories, and many incorporated it into their own bullet production processes.

The End of the War

When the war came to an end in 1945, NORMA had a significant excess capacity in terms of both employees and manufacturing facilities. The machinery was worn out from running in extended shifts during the war and was specially designed for the production of military calibers.

In the years immediately following the war, it was still possible to manufacture military ammunition, primarily for the Swedish government. However, by the late 1940s, the orders for military ammunition began to decline, and it became evident that some radical measures were necessary.

Reorienting to Civilian Markets

The decision was made to reorient production more toward crafting hunting and target ammunition for the civilian market, as well as finding new markets beyond Scandinavia. In the late 1940s, about 80% of the production was for the military market, and 20% was for hunting and target shooting.

Efforts were also made to make NORMA more appealing as a serious partner for civilian shooters. One such initiative was to establish a gunsmith workshop in Åmotfors where shooters from all over the country could send in their rifles for rebarreling, bedding, trigger adjustments, and scope mounting. Over time, this shop became known as one of the country's best, staffed by extremely skilled gunsmiths.

The Three Pillars

All of these factors set the direction for NORMA and defined the three pillars upon which they would stand: target shooting, hunting, and the military. During the 1950s, there were approximately 2,300 rifle clubs in Sweden, whose members fired around 40 million shots per year, all within a population of just seven million people!

Amund Enger, who was then NORMA's CEO, hired resourceful and astute individuals to handle the different customer segments. Major Björn Zachrisson first took charge of ballistics and later became the sales manager responsible for the hunting market.

Established in the Hunting World

The dynamic NORMA engineer Nils Kvale initiated a series of significant events to establish NORMA in the hunting world in general and in the United States in particular.

The renowned author and reloading expert, the late Philip B. Sharpe, visited NORMA in 1954 for discussions about his 7mm Wild Cat. An agreement was reached for NORMA to manufacture casings for him and later also loaded ammunition under the NORMA brand.

NORMA also provided loading manuals for American shooters and handloaders. In 1957, the first issue of NORMA's Gunbug's Guide was published and received a very favorable reception.

In 1960 and 1961, NORMA introduced two new hunting bullets that soon became favorites among a large number of hunters and remained in the NORMA lineup for several decades: Silverblixt and Alaska.

The Silverblixt bullet was a dual-core design, with the rear lead core hardened to retain weight and the front core soft to allow rapid expansion. The Alaska bullet had a conventional design with a homogeneous lead core and a generous soft point. Both designs used NORMA's special metal-clad steel jacket, making the bullets incredibly durable and resistant to deformation.

As a complement to its regular lineup, NORMA began using Nosler-designed bullets in some of its factory loads, primarily those intended for American hunters.

Jaktmatch and New Cartridges

Then, in 1962, the first Jaktmatch in 6.5x55 was introduced. It was designed with a reduced load to use a lighter bullet than standard while still achieving standard velocity. This was important for shooters, both hunters practicing their skills and marksmen competing in moving target events.

Another interesting development in the 1960s was NORMA's involvement in the then-new .223 Armalite, which would later become .223 Remington or 5.56x45. NORMA developed loadings for this cartridge and managed to secure substantial orders for it while it was also accepted as a standard by the U.S. government.

Of interest to big game hunters and enthusiasts is that NORMA undertook the production of cartridge cases and loaded ammunition for some of the classic British cartridges for delivery to Kynoch through the IMI company.

Knowledge Sharing - Bullets, Powder, and Moose

In 1963, NORMA also published a new book for hunters and handloaders. The author was Nils Kvale, and the title was "Kulor, Krut och Älgar" (Bullets, Powder, and Moose). It was a goldmine for anyone interested in firearms, hunting, and ammunition. Some of the material from the book also appeared in later issues of Gunbug's Guide, targeted at the American market. A revised edition was published in 2009.

The Metallverken Era

In the early 1960s, the production of military ammunition had significantly decreased to about 20% of the total production, a stark contrast to the post-World War II situation. NORMA's sole Swedish competitor in the civilian market was Svenska Metallverket, but its efforts to produce and market hunting ammunition had not been very successful.

The two companies, however, initiated talks about possible collaboration or a merger to better utilize their combined facilities. Such a merger would reduce domestic competition but also invite new competitors into the Swedish market. Therefore, NORMA's sales force opposed such an action.

Discussions were held sporadically over a couple of years, and in 1965, these negotiations resulted in an agreement between the Enger family and Svenska Metallverken. Metallverken purchased 50% of the shares in NORMA Åmotfors, and the agreement included an arrangement where NORMA took over some of Metallverken's machinery and even part of the company's workforce.

Continued Innovation

During the 1960s, new calibers are introduced thanks to ballistic engineers like Nils Kvale, whose collaboration with American colleagues puts Norma on the world map as a manufacturer of top-quality rifle ammunition. Cartridges like Alaska, Vulkan, and later Oryx become well-known among hunters worldwide.

A new modern factory opens with 530 employees and capacity to manufacture 64 million cartridges.

1975

Hasselfors Bruk AB becomes the new owner of Norma, marking the end of the Enger family’s 73-year involvement in the company. Production reaches 65 million cartridges.

1979

FFV takes over ownership. The corporate structure is rationalized and military production moves to Vanäsverken.

1990

The German company Dynamit Nobel AG becomes the new owner, integrating Norma into larger European industrial networks.

2000

The Military World Championships, CISM, were held in Ankara, Turkey, where the 6 mm Norma BR once again demonstrated its excellence. Of 12 possible medals, 6 mm Norma BR shooters won 11.

2002

Ruag Ammotec AG (a Swiss defense and ammunition company) acquires Norma. This enables continued investment in precision manufacturing.

2011

Normas production reaches 30 million cartridges in 110 different calibers.

2013

Norma continues to grow globally and expands its product range in the American market and enhanced its distribution service in the USA, further solidifying its presence in the industry.

2017

Norma acquires the shotshell factory Gyttorp in Sweden, broadening the range beyond rifle ammunition.

2019

In the year 2019, NORMA outdid themselves with a bullet that has since proven to be one of the best products in the hunting market, the blue-tipped BONDSTRIKE. This hunting bullet was designed and developed in the NORMA factory in Åmotfors, Sweden, taking into account the rapidly growing interest, especially internationally, in long-range shooting.

Advancements have made it possible to take accurate shots at these distances, but many hunters tend to forget that standard ammunition is not adapted for this type of hunting. Many bullets lose their performance when they have traveled a distance of approximately a hundred meters. Moreover, the ballistic characteristics are often not optimized for precision and reliability over long distances. In contrast, BONDSTRIKE, with its streamlined design, polymer tip, boat tail, and unique bonding technology, exhibits extreme precision and ballistic properties that were previously only found in competitive shooting ammunition. Most importantly, it holds together well when hitting relatively short distances, when speed is high, while similar bullets from other manufacturers often disintegrate.

2021

The Åmotfors factory reaches a record 100 million manufactured cartridges per year.

2022

The Beretta Era Begins - Beretta Holding acquires Norma from RUAG Ammotec in July. In April of the same year, Norma establishes its U.S. headquarters, manufacturing facility, and distribution center in Chatham County, Georgia (Garden City, near the Port of Savannah). During 2021, Norma imported over 400 containers of ammunition from Europe while simultaneously manufacturing over 30 million cartridges in the U.S.

November 2022 - Major U.S. Investment - Beretta Holding announces a $60 million investment in a new 300,000-square-foot manufacturing, assembly, and distribution facility in Bryan County, Georgia. The project is expected to create 600 new jobs.

Currently

Norma now manufactures ammunition in one of the world's broadest ranges, with over 110 calibers for hunting, competitive shooting, and professional use. With over 125 years of experience, modern facilities in both Sweden and the U.S., and the support of Beretta Holding's 500-year industrial heritage, Norma continues to deliver high-precision ammunition to shooters and hunters around the world.