NORMA Silencer Series

In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards rifles with shorter barrels.

However, before embracing this trend, it is crucial to understand the consequences of shortening a rifle barrel. Here, we explore the effects of reducing barrel length on bullet velocity, efficiency, and precision in hunting scenarios.

Why Shorter Barrels Are Popular

Using a shorter hunting rifle in the woods provides better maneuverability and sometimes a quicker swing for rapid shots. But understanding how bullets behave in the air is a complex process. It involves considering various factors, including bullet design, weight, and velocity. Each of these variables affects the bullet's flight characteristics, and velocity is what enables the bullet to perform as designed.

What Happens When You Shorten the Barrel

A specific caliber is optimized to perform best with a barrel length that adheres to CIP standards. When you shorten the barrel, not all the powder in the cartridge burns completely before the bullet exits, resulting in a lower muzzle velocity. But how much does this affect velocity?

At NORMA, we have conducted tests where we gradually shortened a barrel in .308 Win caliber and carefully measured velocity, impact energy at 100 meters, and precision. Our studies show that with each centimeter reduction in barrel length, we measured an approximate loss of two and a half meters per second in bullet velocity. This also results in a decrease in impact energy. Precision is affected as well – in our tests with .308 Win, the group size increased from 5 mm C-C to 13 mm C-C when the barrel was shortened from the CIP-standardized length of 61 cm to 46 cm.

The NORMA Silencer Series Solution

It is these studies, among others, that underlie our latest release – the NORMA Silencer Series. It is a rifle cartridge with a special recipe that includes faster-burning powder, giving the bullet roughly the same velocity and impact energy in a 50-centimeter barrel as a standard cartridge has in a 61-centimeter barrel. This is achieved by allowing the powder to burn up inside the barrel before the bullet leaves the muzzle, reducing the size of the muzzle flash (hence the name "Silencer Series") and decreasing the load on the suppressor.

Make an Informed Decision

It is essential for hunters to carefully evaluate their specific needs and preferences before deciding on a rifle with a shortened barrel. While shorter barrels can offer advantages in terms of mobility and weight reduction for hunting in the woods, it is critical to understand the potential consequences for bullet velocity, efficiency, and precision. By comprehending the effects of shortening a rifle barrel, hunters and shooters can make well-informed decisions.

Optimized Effect and Precision for Short-Barreled Rifles

It's undoubtedly convenient to have as short a barrel as possible, especially during hunting on the move. However, shortening your barrel often comes at a cost. NORMA's ballistic division has found ways and solutions to address these issues. NORMA Silencer Series is a line of hunting ammunition optimized for rifles with short barrels and attached suppressors.

The Problem with Shorter Barrels

As the use of suppressors becomes increasingly popular, more hunters are opting for short rifle barrels to reduce the overall length of their hunting firearms. Additionally, a majority of factory firearms today come with barrels significantly shorter than the standard length for which hunting ammunition is required to be manufactured (61 cm) according to the CIP standard. Yet not all hunters are aware that when a rifle barrel is shortened, it leads to a decrease in velocity and, consequently, the precision of the standard ammunition used.

NORMA's ballistic division in Åmotfors has put in a lot of effort to understand and address this fact. The result is a new series of hunting ammunition optimized for firearms with shortened barrels and attached suppressors. The first release was Oryx Silencer, followed by the popular TIPSTRIKE and the lead-free favorite for big game, ECOSTRIKE.

How It Works

NORMA's standard ammunition is optimized for barrel lengths of 61 cm, while many barrels now measure around 50 centimeters. In reality, this means that the difference in length makes it impossible for the powder to completely burn before the bullet exits the muzzle, dramatically reducing the bullet's velocity and its effectiveness upon impact. Additionally, an enlarged muzzle flash results from the incompletely consumed powder, along with significantly higher muzzle pressure at the barrel, which adds to the wear and tear inside the suppressor.

The new Silencer Series largely compensates for the loss of effectiveness due to the shortened barrel. These cartridges also reduce muzzle pressure, ultimately extending the lifespan of your suppressor.

Benefits Beyond Suppressors

If you have a shortened rifle barrel without a suppressor, you will naturally benefit from all the advantages of NORMA Silencer Series. And if you hunt at night, there's yet another advantage. During the day, a muzzle flash is usually too fast for the human eye to catch, but at night – especially with mounted night vision optics – a significant muzzle flash is quite noticeable. This is something you can now avoid, and many night hunters have praised Oryx Silencer, highlighting its positive impact.

NORMA Silencer Series also opens the door for those with calibers such as .30-06 or 6.5x55 SE, which typically perform best with standard barrel lengths. With this new series, you can shorten your barrel slightly and still maintain substantial stopping power.

A Distinctive Look

Besides the positive effects, this new cartridge series has an exceptional appearance. The casings are dark gray-toned, resembling a suppressor, which prevents any confusion with standard cartridges.

Frequently Asked Questions

NORMA Silencer Series stands out as one of our most acclaimed launches. It has sparked a considerable amount of curiosity and interest, leading to a multitude of questions from our valued users. In response to this, we have gathered and addressed some of the most frequently asked questions.

1. What is the difference between cartridges in the NORMA Silencer Series and standard cartridges? The bullets are the same, but the load is optimized for shorter barrels – 50 cm instead of the CIP standard 61 cm.
2. What bullets come loaded in the NORMA Silencer Series? ORYX, TIPSTRIKE, and ECOSTRIKE.
3. Why is the case black/grey? Partly because it looks cool, but also to help you keep your standard loads and NORMA Silencer Series separated when the bullets are the same.
4. Should I buy NORMA Silencer Series even if I don't have a silencer/suppressor mounted? If you have a shorter barrel than 61 cm, you benefit from shooting NORMA Silencer Series even without a silencer/suppressor. With an optimized load, you get greater speed and more effect, closer to your standard ammunition shot in a full-length barrel.
5. What happens if I shoot NORMA Silencer Series in a longer barrel? Nothing. You gain a bit of speed, but we can't promise the same accuracy at higher velocities. With a standard 61 cm barrel, you might as well use your ordinary ammunition.
6. How noticeable is the muzzle flash with standard ammo in a shorter barrel? A muzzle flash in daylight is normally something that the human eye has a hard time registering. However, at night – especially with mounted night vision optics – a large muzzle flash can really ruin the shot. We have received a lot of praise from night hunters who have benefited greatly from this effect.