The caliber .338 Lapua Magnum was primarily developed for use in military sniper rifles. Its metric caliber designation is 8.6 x 70 mm. The Norwegian ballistics manufacturer Lapua was instrumental in the development of the magnum cartridge.
The impetus for development was the recognition within NATO of the need for a sniper cartridge whose performance exceeds that of the calibers 7.62 x 51 mm and .300 Winchester Magnum. The .338 Lapua Magnum is based on the .416 Rigby caliber, but also surpasses its performance capabilities.
The civilian use of the .338 Lapua Magnum is mainly limited to long-range shooting as well as hunting heavier big game.
The outstanding ballistic properties lie in its low susceptibility to wind and air resistance - thus, very small groupings can be achieved even at extremely long distances.
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