.338 Lapua Magnum
The mile-shooter's cartridge — extraordinary reach with ammo at four-plus dollars a round and recoil that makes a muzzle brake standard equipment.
Family
Rifle
Introduced
1989
Origin
Research Armament Industries concept, finished by Lapua and Sako, Finland/USA
Military
8.6x70mm; standard Western extreme-range sniper chambering
History
Begun by Research Armament Industries in the 1980s and standardized by Lapua and Sako in 1989, the .338 Lapua was purpose-built as a long-range military sniper cartridge bridging 7.62 NATO and .50 BMG. It became the Western standard for extreme-range sniping, including some of the longest recorded combat shots. Civilian long-range shooters adopted it as the gateway to the mile club.
What it's used for
Iconic platforms
Accuracy International AWM/AXMC, Sako TRG-42, Barrett MRAD, and Savage's 110 in .338.
Common load types
Heavy match hollow point boat tail and solid monolithic long-range loads.
Reference only — not loading data, not ballistics advice, and KitID links to no ammunition sellers. Know your local law before you buy anything that goes bang.