Headstamps on Primers?

[The_Antibubba]

On a recent shopping trip I picked up a bag of assorted 6.5X55, most of it Norma. A few of the rounds have a stamp on the primer, as well as the rest of the head. The stamp is NP, but with the rightmost vertical post in the letter N combined with the post in P. None of the other Norma cases has it, and none of my other ammo does either.

The Headstamp on the case is "norma" (lower case) at the top, and a "U" at 6 o'clock. the bullet is spitzer, copper jacketed, and non-magnetic.

Any ideas?

 

[ReloaderFred]

All the Norma primers I've ever had were stamped with the NP. It's normal for them and has been since I started loading in 1963.

You're also going to find that some, if not all, of the newer CCI primers also have a letter stamped on them. The ones I have are stamped with an "A", which I assume stands for ATK, the parent company. It might also be to differentiate between primers that were made under Blount, and those made under ATK, but that's just speculation on my part.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Bad Flynch]

That might be something like Norma Patronenfabrik. I don't know about the exact terminology or Swedish spelling, but it is likely a trademark.

 

[The_Antibubba]

So why isn't on all norma ammo?

 

[ReloaderFred]

For that answer, you'll probably have to ask Norma. Any other answers would probably just be speculation, at least on my part.

Hope this helps.

Fred