Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Norma Oryx in 7mm

Mule Deer,

Regarding Norna factory ammo. What are your thoughts on the 7x57 156 grain Oryx versus shooting the 270 Winchester using 150 grain Oryx or 156 grain Vulkan? Would you expect to see much difference on Game?

idahoguy101

The biggest difference would be between the two Oryx loads and the Vulkan.

The Vulkan is a relatively rapid-expanding bullet that fragments more than the Oryx.

John,

Would you compare the 156 grain 7x57 versus the 150 grain 270 Winchester this way.

Both using Oryx bullets. Aside from a flatter trajectory past 200 yds would the faster velocity of the 270 translate into any advantage in hunting big game?

idahoguy101

Based on a sample size of ONE, I would say yes.

I was chronographing some handloads at the range, and a guy asked if he could measure one of his factory loads. He had never seen a chronograph and was fascinated, so of course I said yes. However, I have seen too many chronographs get shot, so I did the shooting!

The rifle was a Brno ZG-47 and the barrel still wore the factory front sight so it had not been shortened. However, I do not know what the factory barrel length on these was. Maybe somebody here will know.

Anyway, I recall that the load exceeded the velocity printed on the box by a trivial amount (maybe 30 fps).

Norma does not seem to be afraid of lawyers -- all their ammo normally hits their advertized velocities in my experience (here in Sweden). I presume the exact same ammo is exported to the US since the box this guy had listed the velocity in both metric and the American system of measurement.

Cheers,

John

"A friend is looking to load them and he's just wondering what to expect in terms of performance..."

I think he can expect dead critters!

I loaded the 156gr Oryx to a sedate 2400fps in my wife's 7mm-08. Makes for a nice mild recoiling load. We shared the rifle and killed 2 oryx, 2 springbok, a warthog, common reedbuck, and nyala. No recovered bullets(all pass throughs), and no lost critters. Great accuracy. Also drives nails in my 7x65R drilling, and will now be the go to bullet in that gun.

Jeff

I figured dead critters myself, just wanted to make sure it wouldn't open up so much as to slow it down and retard penetration. Sounds like it's going to be anything but an issue though! Looking forward to seeing how this goes now.

So far, the only Oryx I've recovered, is a 232gr out of my 9.3x74R. And it travelled diagonally through a caribou, broke bones, passed through a belly full of lichens, and stopped in the hind quarter(damn near exited). I like 'em!

Jeff

MD,

Thanks on that. I have been using the 139 Hornady's over H4350 and getting great results both on paper and on deer, just not as great on angled shots on larger hogs. Was looking to move up a little in weight but not all the way to the 175's to keep some velocity up. Sounds like this Oryx might be the right next step. I might of missed it, but what powder are you using with it in your 7x57?

FB

H4350.

My rifle has a custom throat that's shorter than most, and 46.0 grains gets close to 2700 fps, even from the 21" barrel.

That dog will hunt!!

Thanks again.

Reckon you might could post a photo of said projectile?

I chose the same. I prefer the 150's in all my 280's & 7 Wby's. It's a perfect do-all bullet weight for me.

I have to say, from talking about it here and thinking about it, for the most part, 300 yards is a pretty respectable limit in Ireland. You won't find a load of shots over that, and the 156gr Oryx seems about as flat shooting as is practically useful at that range. Add what sounds like brilliant on-game performance (Never seen an Oryx on game, so can't comment first hand) and it's starting to sound like a very sensible option indeed.

Another option I might mention to him would be a 160 Accubond. Should make 2800 comfortably enough from the 7x64. He wouldn't be able to try it in a factory load though, which might bother him, but I can mention it anyway. That sounds like another do it all, every day, everywhere sort of load.

I shot a big ( 7') black bear with a .30-06 180 gr. Norma Oryx factory load last fall. Shot was close, about 70 yds. and bear was coming face on and climbing a beaver dam. bullet penetrated the chest from the front, breaking a rib on the way in, crossed the chest lengthwise and ended up in the backbone mid-back. about two feet of penetration. Retained weight was 178 grains. Expansion was 0.58" x 0.83" and expansion stopped right at the cannelure. I could not have been more satisfied.

I've always been intrigued by Norma bullets, but have never purchased any due to the price. Are any of them that much superior to other bullets costing less?

I like them. Shoot well, kill well. Truth is, I still feel better with the bonded or mono approach with critters. Bullets is the cheap part.

Hmm. Maybe you're comparing the per-box price--and Oryx's come in 100-bullet boxes, not 50 like most American premiums. Here are some 50-bullet prices, from the Midway website, comparing 6.5mm and .338 bullets:

Nosler AccuBond: 23.49/39.99
Nosler Partition: 34.99/50.99
Barnes Tipped TSX: 33.99/42.99
Norma Oryx: 28.99/39.99

John, the 50 to 100 count is a good point on the Premiums. I was looking more at the "traditional" bullets than the Oryx, which I should have specified. Looking at my Graf's catalog for "standard" 180 grain .308s, I see this: (with the 2 Remington "Premiums" thrown in for the fun of it).
Alaska $51.59
Vulkan $55.59
ProHunter $25.69
GameKing $29.99
Remington PSPCL 29.99
UltraBonded CL 19.99 (X2 39.98)
AccuTip $20.99 (X2 $41.98)
Speer SP $24.99
Speer DeepCurl $26.99
PowerPoint $31.99 (people must be catching on to this one if price rise is an indicator of demand)
Hornady SP $26.19

Reloder28,

I don't post photos on the Campfire, mostly because I'd then spend too much time posting photos on the Campfire.

It's alright. Thank you for the considerate response.