6 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE
NEWS & PRODUCTS
The new Norma TipStrikeLongthorne’s new premises will
allow for greater expansionNews
As we all know Border barrels are now
a thing of the past, but we have just
received information from Dennis Groom
one of the directors of the new enterprise
who used to work at Border to rise from
these ashes. GB Barrels has been set up
to manufacturer precision cut rifl ed barrels
and is based in the UK. They can produce
custom rifl e barrels to your specifi cation
using the traditional cut rifl ing method on
their Pratt & Whitney machine. All barrelsare hand-lapped for unparalleled uniformity
and quality of fi nish. Orders placed will be
allocated into their production schedule
in the order they are received to give the
fairest expected delivery dates. GB offers
a build sheet where the customer can
nominate what specifi cations they want as
to length, weight, number of fl utes (if fl uted),
rifl ing twist, number of lands etc. It’s good
to know that we still have a high quality
barrel production service in the UK. We willbe going up there for a look around and an
article in the magazine and Gun Mart in the
fullness of time and will be testing one of
their tubes too.”
GB Barrels Ltd is located at: The
Workshop, Dalarran Cottage, New Galloway,
Castle Douglas, Dumfries & Galloway,
Scotland, DG7 3PP.
Contact: GB Barrels, 07788257976 or
07966554508
http://www.gbbarrels.comPhoenix from the ashes
Norma Precision AB has
announced two new
bullets - the TipStrike
and EcoStrike. Both
feature a polymer tip for
improved ballistics and
controlled expansion.
The Tipstrike™ provides
outstanding knockdown
effect through a tapered
and quick opening front
part of the jacket and
a strong rear section
combined with a
mechanical lead lock.
The designated target
for the product, to
deliver an ‘Instant stop’
is exceeded!
The Ecostrike™
builds on all the
unique features of the
patented Norma Kalahari
bullet, including the
proprietary plating that
virtually eliminates barrel
fouling. An optimized
front cavity and unique
waist design maximize
velocity and reduce bearing
surface, delivering a fl atter
trajectory and superior accuracy.
Expect a strong knock-down
effect at both short and longer
ranges combined with deeper
penetration reaching the vital
organs, even on large animals. It
is also lead-free, which seems to
be the way these days!
“Providing our customers
with this new series of premium
bullets, where each productdelivers truly outstanding
performance, reinforces our
reputation as a company
dedicated to precision”, states
Paul-Erik Toivo, Managing
Director of Norma Precision AB.
Delivery of the new bullets will
begin this spring.
Contcat: Norma Precision AB;
http://www.norma.cc
UK Contact: RUAG Ammotec
UK Ltd, 01579 362319Norma STRIKE’S back!
FEE INCREASESThe Countryside Alliance welcomes the news of a
proportionate rise in fi rearms fees, due to come into force
on 6 April. An order, to be laid before Parliament today, is
expected to propose that the fee for a shotgun certifi cate
should increase from £50 to £79.50 with balanced
increases in other fees. It follows a consultation in which
73% of respondents supported an increase in licence fees.
Adrian Blackmore, director of shooting for the
Countryside Alliance said: “The shooting community
supports a sensible rise in licensing fees alongside critical
improvements to the system and application process to
bring it into the 21st Century. Fees have been a subject
of much discussion for some time, and the Countryside
Alliance has been part of a Home Offi ce Working Party that
was set up to look into this issue. We accepted, along with
the British Shooting Sports Council and other shooting
organizations that fees inevitably had to rise but that any
increase had to be made alongside effi ciency savings and
service improvements by the police.”Longthorne on the move
After a long drawn out
process Longthorne
Gunmakers are delighted
to have at last completed
their purchase of the former
Falcon Press Building
in Northampton. The
company who had originally planned
on moving to Brackley 20 minutes away decided on the current
property after the fi rst option fell through due to the seller having
family problems. But every cloud has a silver lining and their current
property allows better potential for growth and with 4000 sq ft of
offi ce and 10,000 sq ft of workshop space is better suited to their
manufacturing operations. They are still planning to maintain a small
base in the village of Hesketh Bank, Lancashire the original home of
Longthorne. The move will take place in a few months time to allow
time to perform some internal renovations.The non-lead EcoStrike