.338 Lapua Magnum

.338 Lapua Magnum cartridge next to a .338 Norma Magnum

Type

Rifle

Place of origin

Finland

Service history

Used by

Multiple official and civil users

Wars

Afghanistan War
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

8.58 mm (0.338 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

7.40 cm³ (114.2 gr H₂O)

Rifling twist

254 mm (1-10")

Primer type

Large rifle magnum

Maximum pressure

420.00 MPa (60,916 psi)

Ballistic performance

Bullet mass/type	Velocity	Energy
12.96 g (200 gr) SP	1,005 m/s (3,300 ft/s)	6,734 J (4,967 ft·lbf)
16.20 g (250 gr) Partition	897 m/s (2,940 ft/s)	6,516 J (4,806 ft·lbf)
16.20 g (250 gr) Lapua Scenar GB488 VLD	910 m/s (3,000 ft/s)	6,634 J (4,893 ft·lbf)
19.44 g (300 gr) Sierra HPBT MatchKing	826 m/s (2,710 ft/s)	6,632 J (4,892 ft·lbf)
19.44 g (300 gr) Lapua Scenar GB528 VLD	837 m/s (2,750 ft/s)	6,810 J (5,020 ft·lbf)

Test barrel length: 700 mm (27.5 inches)
Source(s): Vihta Vuori Powder Lapua (700 mm; 27.5 inches) barrel

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 Afghanistan War and the Iraq War. As a result of this, it became more widely available. The loaded cartridge is 14.93 mm (0.588 in) in diameter (rim) and 93.5 mm (3.68 in) long. It can penetrate better-than-standard military body armour at ranges up to 1,000 metres (1,090 yd) and has a maximum effective range of about 1,750 metres (1,910 yd). 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 a 91.4 mm (3.60 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).

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 ≥ 5,400 J (3,983 ft·lbf) muzzle energy.

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Wikipedia