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.338 Lapua Magnum
The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm) is a rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It was developed during the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. It was used in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. As a result of this, it became more widely available. The loaded cartridge is 0.588in in diameter at the rim and 3.68in long. It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armor at ranges up to 1,000 metres and has a maximum effective range of about 1,750 metres with C.I.P. conform ammunition at sea level conditions. Muzzle velocity is dependent on barrel length, seating depth, and powder charge, and varies from 2,890 to 3,000 ft/s for commercial loads with 250gr bullets, which corresponds to about 4,813 ft⋅lbf of muzzle energy. British military issue overpressure .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges with a 3.60 in overall length, loaded with 250gr LockBase B408 very-low-drag bullets fired at 3,071 ft/s muzzle velocity. This round, fired from a L115A3 Long Range Rifle, was used in November 2009 by British sniper Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison to establish the then-new record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat, at a range of 2,707 yd. In reports CoH Harrison mentions the environmental conditions at Musa Qala were perfect for long range shooting: no wind, mild weather, clear visibility.
In addition to its military role, it is increasingly used by hunters and civilian long-range shooting enthusiasts. The .338 Lapua Magnum is capable of taking down any game animal, though its suitability for some dangerous game (Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, white rhinoceros, and elephant) is arguable, unless accompanied by a larger "backup" calibre: "There is a huge difference between calibres that will kill an elephant and those that can be relied upon to stop one." In Namibia the .338 Lapua Magnum is legal for hunting Africa's Big five game if the loads have ≥ 3,983 ft⋅lbf muzzle energy.
The .338 Lapua Magnum has been designated a "cartridge of interest" by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). It is being groomed to replace the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .50 BMG for anti-personnel long-range service in the U.S. military. On June 17, 2008, the U.S. government issued a market survey to support a requirement for a Precision Sniper Rifle (PRS) to possibly replace the currently fielded Bolt Action SOF Sniper Systems MK 13 (.300 Winchester Magnum) and the M40 and M24 (7.62×51mm NATO) chambered to safely fire factory produced "non-wildcat" .338 caliber ammunition. On 7 March 2013, the Remington MSR was declared the winner of the Precision Sniper Rifle competition. Remington announced that the MSR had won on March 8, and it was publicly confirmed on March 9. This was followed by a $79.7 million contract for 5,150 rifles with suppressors, along with 4,696,800 rounds of ammunition to be supplied over the next ten years.
The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm) is a rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It was developed during the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. It was used in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War. As a result of this, it became more widely available. The loaded cartridge is 0.588in in diameter at the rim and 3.68in long. It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armor at ranges up to 1,000 metres and has a maximum effective range of about 1,750 metres with C.I.P. conform ammunition at sea level conditions. Muzzle velocity is dependent on barrel length, seating depth, and powder charge, and varies from 2,890 to 3,000 ft/s for commercial loads with 250gr bullets, which corresponds to about 4,813 ft⋅lbf of muzzle energy. British military issue overpressure .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges with a 3.60 in overall length, loaded with 250gr LockBase B408 very-low-drag bullets fired at 3,071 ft/s muzzle velocity. This round, fired from a L115A3 Long Range Rifle, was used in November 2009 by British sniper Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison to establish the then-new record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat, at a range of 2,707 yd. In reports CoH Harrison mentions the environmental conditions at Musa Qala were perfect for long range shooting: no wind, mild weather, clear visibility.
In addition to its military role, it is increasingly used by hunters and civilian long-range shooting enthusiasts. The .338 Lapua Magnum is capable of taking down any game animal, though its suitability for some dangerous game (Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, white rhinoceros, and elephant) is arguable, unless accompanied by a larger "backup" calibre: "There is a huge difference between calibres that will kill an elephant and those that can be relied upon to stop one." In Namibia the .338 Lapua Magnum is legal for hunting Africa's Big five game if the loads have ≥ 3,983 ft⋅lbf muzzle energy.
The .338 Lapua Magnum has been designated a "cartridge of interest" by the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA). It is being groomed to replace the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .50 BMG for anti-personnel long-range service in the U.S. military. On June 17, 2008, the U.S. government issued a market survey to support a requirement for a Precision Sniper Rifle (PRS) to possibly replace the currently fielded Bolt Action SOF Sniper Systems MK 13 (.300 Winchester Magnum) and the M40 and M24 (7.62×51mm NATO) chambered to safely fire factory produced "non-wildcat" .338 caliber ammunition. On 7 March 2013, the Remington MSR was declared the winner of the Precision Sniper Rifle competition. Remington announced that the MSR had won on March 8, and it was publicly confirmed on March 9. This was followed by a $79.7 million contract for 5,150 rifles with suppressors, along with 4,696,800 rounds of ammunition to be supplied over the next ten years.
