SAAMI Accepts Three of New Cartridges

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posted on February 25, 2021
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The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute (SAAMI) announced the acceptance of three new cartridges this week—two designed for use in rifles and the other for pistols. The organization has also published standardized specifications and chamber drawings for each on its website.

Kahr Arms developed the .429 DE (Desert Eagle) “…to enhance the famous and powerful Desert Eagle platform,” according to the company’s web page. “This cartridge has a 25 percent velocity increase and a 45 percent energy increase over a .44 Mag (240—6-inch barrel). It has a velocity of 1,600 fps with 240-grain bullets and 1,750 fps with 210-grain bullets.”

The .429 DE case is a necked down .50 AE case, which allows the company to use the same bolt and magazines as in its popular semi-auto .50 AE Desert Eagles. The cartridge, which was designed in 2018, has a shoulder with a 30-degree angle.

SAAMI’s published specifications for the cartridge include a maximum average pressure of 46,000 psi, with a 240-grain bullet traveling at 1,720 fps. Kahr Arms currently offers 210-grain JHP loads and a 240-grain JSP. Each feature Starline brass and Speer or Sierra bullets. 

Developed by Ruag Ammotec USA, the .300 Norma Mag. was also accepted by SAAMI. The organization’s published maximum average pressure is 61,000 psi, with a 230-grain bullet at a velocity of 2,890 fps. The cartridge was designed in 2012 and is a popular choice for long-distance shooting.

Ruag Ammotec USA also had its .338 Norma Mag. accepted this week. This cartridge, which has been around for six decades and features a .308-inch-diameter bullet. SAAMI accepted it at a maximum average pressure of 62,500 psi, with a 300-grain bullet at 2,670 fps.

SAAMI is dedicated to promoting firearm safety by creating standards that ensure safety, reliability and interchangeability of firearms, ammunition and components.

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