.338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70 mm)
Magnum / long range
Magnum caliber born in the 1980s for precision shooting beyond 1500 m.
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Overview
Jointly developed by Research Armament Industries (USA) and Lapua (Finland) as a long-range anti-personnel cartridge, filling the gap between 7.62 NATO (~800 m limit) and the bulky .50 BMG. Very long boat-tail bullets (250 gr Lock Base, then 300 gr Scenar) give excellent ballistic coefficient.
Specifications
- Bullet diameter
- 8,61 mm (.338")
- Case length
- 69,2 mm
- Overall length
- 93,5 mm
- Bullet weight
- 16,2–19,4 g (250–300 gr)
- Typical muzzle velocity
- ≈ 895 m/s
- Typical energy
- ≈ 6900 J
- Introduced
- 1989 (CIP)
Pros
- +Stays supersonic out to ~1500 m.
- +Excellent armor-plate penetration.
Cons
- −Very heavy recoil, muzzle brakes mandatory.
- −Expensive ammunition.
History and use
Adopted on rifles such as the Accuracy International AWM, Sako TRG-42 and Barrett MRAD. Holder of the confirmed kill record at 2475 m (Craig Harrison, 2009, Afghanistan).
Weapons adopting it (7)
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