As far as most shooters are concerned, the .338 Lapua Magnum is a heavyweight. It’s no .50 BMG but if you look at it next to a 7.62 NATO or even a .300 Winchester Mag cartridge, you’ll see.
Developed around 40 years ago and NATO codified afterwards, the .338 Lapua Magnum is a powerful long-range cartridge with an effective range greater than 1000 yards.
Depending on load data, the .338 Lapua can produce muzzle energy higher than 5000 ft-lbs and muzzle velocities above 3300 FPS, which is serious considering it’s usually loaded with bullets around 200 to 300 grains.
With power like that, the .338 Lapua is capable of delivering significant energy downrange. This alone is one of the reasons that it is a preferred sniper cartridge and saw extensive service during the Iraq War. (In fact, one of the longest confirmed sniper kills in combat was made with this cartridge.)
Consequently, the cartridge has been adopted by a number of NATO countries for use in rifles serving law enforcement and military personnel. It’s also been adopted by other countries around the world as well.
It has a very high ballistic coefficient. Depending on the bullet, it can be in the area of .8, which produces relatively little bullet drop; because of its weight, it’s fairly resistant to wind drift as well.
This should make it evident that the .338 Lapua is more than adequate as a long-range hunting cartridge and in fact there is a lot of buzz surrounding it to that end.
In fact, with a heavy bullet (300 grains), the .338 Lapua can retain ballistic energy of 1000 ft-lbs until it gets past 1000 yards. This puts it in a unique class among rifle calibers and it has been said that this cartridge is capable of dispatching any big game on earth.
Another thing that has made the .338 Lapua relatively popular among shooters is that it doesn’t produce excessive recoil (considering) or too much barrel wear.
Just to put things in perspective by comparison, it produces slightly less barrel wear than .50 BMG and it’s somewhat competitively priced. You’ll still be paying several dollars per cartridge, but all in all you can shoot .338 Lapua more cost-consciously than .50 BMG.
And, to keep things in order, there are multiple disciplines for which this cartridge is practical. For long-range shooting (including competition) and hunting North American big game, there are few cartridges that will perform better.
Where to Get a McMillan TAC-338a Rifle?
If you’re interested in getting a rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum, a good place to start looking at specifications is a McMillan TAC-338a rifle (check B&B Firearms for that).
Just as a starting point for reference, the McMillan TAC-338a rifle comes with a heavy, match-grade barrel that delivers superior accuracy at extended ranges, an adjustable A5 stock, and it comes with a muzzle brake that significantly reduces recoil.
This is just a snapshot of what this rifle offers, and at its price point it’s more competitive than some other long-range rifles chambered in CheyTac cartridges or .50 BMG. Dig a little deeper and see if one of these will cut it for you.
