| .338 Lapua Magnum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge next to a .338 Norma Magnum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Centrefire rifle | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of origin | Finland | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Used by | Multiple official and civil users | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Production history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designer | Nammo Lapua Oy | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Designed | 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Produced | 1989–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent case | .416 Rigby, .338/416 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case type | Rimless, bottleneck | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullet diameter | 8.61 mm (0.339 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Land diameter | 8.38 mm (0.330 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Neck diameter | 9.46 mm (0.372 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoulder diameter | 13.82 mm (0.544 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Base diameter | 14.91 mm (0.587 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim diameter | 14.93 mm (0.588 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rim thickness | 1.52 mm (0.060 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case length | 69.20 mm (2.724 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall length | 93.50 mm (3.681 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Case capacity | 7.532 cm3 (116.24 gr H2O) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rifling twist | 254 mm (1-10") | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Primer type | Large rifle magnum | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Maximum pressure | 420.00 MPa (60,916 psi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Test barrel length: 690 mm (27.15 inches) Haenel Rs9 and R&S SX1 MTR Source(s): Vihtavuori Powder N570 Lapua (690 mm; 27.15 inches) barrel[1][2][3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm) is a Finnish rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It was developed during the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. Due to its use in the War in Afghanistan and the Iraq War, the cartridge has become widely available.
The bullet is named after Finnish town Lapua.
The loaded .338 cartridge is 8.6 mm (0.34 in) in diameter (rim) and 93.5 mm (3.68 in) long. It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armor at ranges of up to 1,000 metres (1,090 yd), and has a maximum effective range of about 1,750 metres (1,910 yd) with C.I.P. conforming ammunition at sea level conditions. Muzzle velocity is dependent on barrel length, seating depth, and powder charge, and varies from 880 to 915 m/s (2,890 to 3,000 ft/s) for commercial loads with 16.2-gram (250 gr) bullets, which corresponds to about 6,525 J (4,813 ft⋅lbf) of muzzle energy.
British military issue overpressure .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges with 70 mm (2.8 in) overall length, loaded with 16.2-gram (250 gr) LockBase B408 very-low-drag bullets fired at 936 m/s (3,071 ft/s) muzzle velocity from a L115A3 Long Range Rifle were used in November 2009 by British sniper Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison to establish a new record for the longest confirmed sniper kill in combat, at a range of 2,475 m (2,707 yd) (since broken).[4] In reports, CoH Harrison mentions the environmental conditions at Musa Qala were perfect for long-range shooting: no wind, mild weather, and clear visibility.[5]
In addition to its military role, it is used by hunters and civilian long-range shooting enthusiasts. The .338 Lapua Magnum is capable of taking down any big game animals, though its suitability for some dangerous game (Cape buffalo, hippopotamus, white rhinoceros, and elephant) is arguable unless accompanied by a larger "backup" caliber: "There is a huge difference between calibers that will kill an elephant and those that can be relied upon to stop one."[6] In Namibia, the .338 Lapua Magnum in the past was legal for hunting Africa's big five game if the loads had at least 5,400 J (3,983 ft⋅lbf) muzzle energy. Since 2015, Namibia and other sub-Saharan countries generally require larger minimal bore diameters by law for big-five hunting.[7]
- ^ Lapua product brochure .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition Archived September 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ Vihtavuori international reloading guide 2011 Archived 2011-07-25 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ ".338 Lapua Mag. (8.6x70)". Archived from the original on May 2, 2011.
- ^ Sheridan, Michael (May 3, 2010). British sniper Craig Harrison (The Silent Assassin) breaks record, kills target from 1.5 miles away" Archived October 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine. Daily News (New York). Accessed May 13, 2010.
- ^ "Super Sniper Kills Taliban 1.5 Miles Away" Archived May 14, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Sky News, 3 May 2010.
- ^ Robertson, K: The Perfect Shot, Safari Press, Long Beach, 1999. p. 50.
- ^ "Hunting Laws& Rifle Importation". NAPHA - Namibia Professional Hunting Association. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2015.