Norma announces a brand new option for concealed carry, personal defense and home and property protection: the Norma NXD line of ammunition, which has all the potential to appeal to both the north American and European markets.

NXD stands for "Non-eXpanding Defensive Ammo", and that's exactly the reason why Norma's new ammunition line has the potential to become a big hit on multiple markets. In several jurisdictions – including numerous European Countries – frangible, expanding or hollow-point ammunition is allowed for hunting, sport shooting, and training, but banned from defensive use, thus severely limiting locals' choices in terms of market alternatives for effective self-defense loads.

A round that offers the performance levels of an expanding or frangible round in terms of stopping power without legally falling in that category would definitely be extremely appealing on those markets – unless it's offered at an exaggerate price, that is.

In its current configuration, the Norma NXD non-expanding self-defense ammunition is built around Norma's own brass case and loaded with a 65 gr, injection molded copper bullet.

The secret of the Norma NXD's performance is all in the proprietary fluted bullet design, studied and tested to ensure consistent and unparalleled energy transfer and knock-down through fluid dynamics, rather than relying on expansion or fragmentation to maximize both the temporary and permanent cavity, without the potential for clogging by clothing or other intermediate barriers presented by expanding hollow point bullets.

Norma's NXD ammunition is advertised as offering levels of muzzle velocity that reach up to 527 meters per second (1730 fps), and approximately 586 Joule (432 ft.lbs) of muzzle energy. Recoil levels are low and controllable enough to allow quick follow-up shots, and penetration is optimized within soft targets to eliminate any possible concern regarding over-penetration or collateral damage.

As of today, Norma offers the NXD non-expanding defensive ammunition only in 9mm Luger; .380 ACP, .38, .357, .40 Smith & Wesson, .45 ACP and 10mm Auto are planned for release in the near future. The proprietary bullet design and construction ensures constant feeding reliability with most weapon platforms, including handguns and pistol-caliber carbines.

The new Norma NXD ammunition is already being sold on the US market at a suggested retail price of $19.99 per 20-rounds box. Information concerning availability and pricing on other markets is yet to be disclosed.