Non-American ammo manufacturers that produce big bore ammo?

[Northern Shooter]

I've always been fascinated by big bore rifles, and over the years, I've discovered some amazing European and international manufacturers that offer top-notch ammo. Of course, Norma is a favorite among many, but I've also had great experiences with RWS from Germany, Sellier & Bellot from the Czech Republic, and Prvi Partizan from Serbia. They're doing some incredible work too! If you're as passionate about big bores as I am, I highly recommend exploring these brands.

It looks like RWS offers both 375 and 10.3X68 although I'm not seeing any in stock here. S&B and PPU appear to top out at 375HH.

Glad to have all 3 as options but wish they would produce some 416's and 458's like Norma does.

 

[Bandera]

I talked with guys from Hornady at the SHOT show.

• The DG / African line is on the schedule for production. We as consumers of the DG / African line are a minority in the number of rounds that Hornady is producing.
• There is still a bunch of loaded ammo available from distributors. You have to be willing to pay stupid prices. Locally Hornady 375 Ruger 300 grain DGX, $88 a box. Online over a $100 a box, plus outrageous shipping costs. People are paying it.
• Ammo is the priority.
• Components foe reloading are a secondary concern. I interpreted this as reloader’s are competition for the manufacture.

 

[Nevada Mike]

Actually I was thinking more along the lines of partnerships or contracts with existing customs case makers and the like. Many companies have private label products made for them. One very smart man once told me never manufacture something that you can have done by someone else. No labor issues, no storage and little inventory storage. That is why China has an economy. Insurance is necessary, but loads keep moderate and good quality control is there for a reason. It will not keep you from getting sued, but certainly helps you win. Yes, there will always be the occasional dog and pony show in a courtroom

What kind of partnership? If become an 'agent' you assume liability. If a distributor not so much, but this is a contractual issue between the principal and the distributor. If you are a 'private label' reseller you really need to find a way to share any liability with the principal through your contract.

From my own experience the legal aspects of distribution /resale in partnership with an international manufacturer is a significant barrier to initiating business operations.

 

[HWL]

Norma, RWS, GECO, Hirtenberger

Hirtenberger is out of business since the 1990th....
Geco does no big bore
RWSs biggest is the .375 H&H, a medium bore.

HWL

 

[dlmac]

The thread is about big bores and not about cartridges caliber 9,3mm or the cartridge 375 H&H Magnum. Nonetheless, there are a lot of different big bore cartridges also in use nowadays so that it is difficult to say what is needed above all. In the past, the cartridge 458 Winchester Magnum clearly dominated the market, but somethings have changed since the nineties. There are certainly some big bores that are used more than others, but the list has become much longer in the meantime, so it is better to mention the big bore cartridges that are hardly or not used at all anymore. You also have to take into account that big bore ammunition is very expensive and rather than buying factory loads, owners of such rifles load their ammunition. At last not forget the customers of the big companies like H&H, Purdey, Westley Richards ...and so, whose ammunition is supplied with the rifle. A market for different cartridges that is also difficult to estimate.

Thanks for your input, every bit if info is helpful.

 

[dlmac]

What kind of partnership? If become an 'agent' you assume liability. If a distributor not so much, but this is a contractual issue between the principal and the distributor. If you are a 'private label' reseller you really need to find a way to share any liability with the principal through your contract.

From my own experience the legal aspects of distribution /resale in partnership with an international manufacturer is a significant barrier to initiating business operations.

Thanks, good information. The Devil is indeed in the detail (contract)

 

[PerH]

RWS don’t they load the 10.3x68 with 400 grain bullets yet ot just the light bullets or did that stop due to various things ?

 

[grand veneur]

A cartridge whose purpose can be debated. There is a lot wrong with it, starting with the obsolete caliber. I don't know what RWS was thinking by designing the cartridge 10,3x68 Magnum. In the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland such cartridges are mandatory for hunting bigger game, but this is a very limited market. If you want to use such a cartridge while hunting, you still have the 10,3x60R or the 10,75x68 at your disposal. Both cartridges have proven themselves for more than a century for what the cartridge 10,3x68 Magnum is supposed to be used. There are still rifles and ammunition for both cartridges.

 

[PerH]

If they had used the 8x68S case it would been something different and new life to the old one . But just use a .300 Win basic case is lazy , mix that with a couple of US wildcats it’s even nore odd . and the wildcats were not only better , buy delivered with 400 grain from day one .

and one was a factory and the best of them

https://cartridgecollector.net/cartridge/400-pondoro/

210 revolver bullets up to 400 plus

 

[Northern Shooter]

Just bought 100 rounds of Norma.

1 box of 375HH
1 box of 416 Rigby
1 box of 458 WM
2 boxes of 470 NE

 

[Nevada Mike]

RWS don’t they load the 10.3x68 with 400 grain bullets yet ot just the light bullets or did that stop due to various things ?

RWS offers (or once offered) loaded ammunition for the 404 Jeffery (10.75 X 73) with 400 grain projectiles. I believe that DWM provide some big bore cartridges as well.

 

[towserthemouser]

I've been working on just such a supply. I've had pretty good luck with bullets and primers. Although certain bullets (Swift A-Frames being one example) can require patience to find. Haven't tackled the powder yet. But really struggling with brass. It's alarming how rare some of the big bore brass can be to find.

I'm waiting on delivery of a 470NE, and my goal is to assemble enough components for at least 1,000 rounds. If I'm lucky enough to shoot it that much, it will have been a pretty damn good adventure.

 

[rookhawk]

I've been working on just such a supply. I've had pretty good luck with bullets and primers. Although certain bullets (Swift A-Frames being one example) can require patience to find. Haven't tackled the powder yet. But really struggling with brass. It's alarming how rare some of the big bore brass can be to find.

I'm waiting on delivery of a 470NE, and my goal is to assemble enough components for at least 1,000 rounds. If I'm lucky enough to shoot it that much, it will have been a pretty damn good adventure.

All "prepping" aside, 250 pieces of brass is enough to develop your soft/solid loads, reuse those 50 pieces for practice, and to load 100 softs and solids on virgin brass. That's enough for our life expectancy versus amount of DG hunts we can do.

You may think you need more, but you're certainly bringing a 375HH as a backup rifle and therefore you're only bringing around 30-40 470NE loads per safari and using less than half them.

 

[grand veneur]

RWS offers (or once offered) loaded ammunition for the 404 Jeffery (10.75 X 73) with 400 grain projectiles. I believe that DWM provide some big bore cartridges as well.

DWM made cartridges caliber 10,75x68, but I don't know about anything else. DWM cartridge production ended 1972.

 

[rookhawk]

DWM made cartridges caliber 10,75x68, but I don't know about anything else. DWM cartridge production ended 1972.

Is DWM = RWS. I had assumed they were the same?

 

[towserthemouser]

All "prepping" aside, 250 pieces of brass is enough to develop your soft/solid loads, reuse those 50 pieces for practice, and to load 100 softs and solids on virgin brass. That's enough for our life expectancy versus amount of DG hunts we can do.

You may think you need more, but you're certainly bringing a 375HH as a backup rifle and therefore you're only bringing around 30-40 470NE loads per safari and using less than half them.

@rookhawk Thank you! As my current total of 470NE brass stands at zero, after searching all online resources I have found for about 6 months now, I would be delighted to have 250 pieces!

 

[grand veneur]

Is DWM = RWS. I had assumed they were the same?

No,

DWM = Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken AG

RWS = Rheinisch-Westfälischen Sprengstofffabriken

​

 

[Nevada Mike]

DWM made cartridges caliber 10,75x68, but I don't know about anything else. DWM cartridge production ended 1972.

Thank you for the update... I am obviously 50 years out of date.

 

[Grumpy gumpy]

RWS offers (or once offered) loaded ammunition for the 404 Jeffery (10.75 X 73) with 400 grain projectiles. I believe that DWM provide some big bore cartridges as well.

I’ve still got a box of rws 404 ammo, it is around 10-15 years old, that said I don’t know when it was made?
Gumpy

 

[Northern Shooter]

No,

DWM = Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken AG

RWS = Rheinisch-Westfälischen Sprengstofffabriken

​

Those are some very German words.