I was not surprised with that 'report'.I started using the 338 Lapua purely out of the fact that I ordered a TDA (Take Down African)416 Rigby from Don Allen of Dakota Arms in 2002 and I wanted a spare barrel for plains game.Don Allen assured me it would do very well for plains game so I could do all my hunting with 1 gun and 2 interchangeable barrel's in an inconspicious case.It was one of the last rifles that that fine man would build and I thank him tremendously for his suggestion and recommendation.Since I took delivery of it in 2003 shortly after he died , I had the fortune of being able to practice every weekend and it has not failed to amaze me with its accuracy.Apart from sending it off to Lon Paul to tweak and fix NECG sights and graduating to a Swarovski TDS 3 X 10 Scope it has continued to shoot to perfection, when fed the right bullets.Out in Africa, it has shone with spectacular shots at game 250 yards + that you wouldn't normally take unless you are sure of your accuracy.A Gold Medal Blue wildebeest with its upper back only visible from 350 yds was taken down with a perfect spinal shot (the only option possible).A 41+ inch Gold Medal Livingstones Eland shot at from 250 + yds through branches trying to avoid shooting a smaller Eland directly behind the front part of the Gold Medal one , again a spinal shot (the only practical option), and so many other shots.Later as I began to Hand load the capability of the 338 Lapua never ceased to amaze my shooting buddy an ex olympic games/ pan american games shooter.While out hunting Elephant in Southern Africa , we were approached by a group of Villagers to help put out a problem Crocodile, that was terrorising a fishing community.2 weeks earlier a few miles downstream I had used the .416 to take out a 16 ft problem Crocodile that had eaten 4 women between jan and may, from 172 yds.Only problem was that this new problem Crocodile was 404 yds away in the Zambezi river on an island asleep.They are crafty devils and when hit in the spine will thrash around with the other 1/2 side of intact nerves and will often fall into the water.The only option is a brain shot if you want to display your trophy.The brain of a crocodile is the size of a golf ball or slightly bigger.....:The PH told them frankly that he couldnt shoot it and he had to ask me if I would try.At my request,we switched from the .416 Rigby to the 338 Lapua barrel,and re-zeroed the Woodleigh PP 250 Grain bullets at a make shift target and proceeded for the stalk.He was still there 404 yds away fast asleep with his female companion facing us "watching" its back .We waited for the wind to die down as much as possible and with the entorage behind me watching and the reception party over 1/2 a mile away watching the afternoon events unfold through a 25x spotting scope, I took the shot with a perfect 400 yd hold ALLOWING A FEW INCHES FOR A 5 MPH X WIND from east to west.Before we heard the report of the rifle, we saw the tail swing once from side to side .The second shot took out the spine and the 3 rd shot took out the heart all targets selected at the 'command' of the PH just to make sure the 1st wasnt a fluke shot.One chap almost walked off the cliff in amazement.I wouldnt hesitate to attest to the extreme accuracy of the .338 Lapua out to 1,200 to 1,600 yds with Lapua Scenar Bullets.I have several 4 shot groups that look like 2 adjascent overlapping punched holes at 100 yds.I dont think centre to centre on the 4 shots was over 1/4 of an inch.However once it starts to heat up after 4 shots it looses its superior accuracy and it somehow dosent like Barnes x /tsx bullets (PRESSURE PROBLEMS).I dont know why but I guess every gun has its preferences bullet wise.
I know for a fact that a certain Govt ordered 500 Rifles in this cal for their police/special forces to keep insurgents in check from long range and it has proved so effective to the point of creating an international embarassment.I have come to respect and believe in the 338 Lapua so much so,that I am taking delivery of my 3rd take down rifle in this great caliber very soon.Like the .416 Rigby which the 338 Lapua was derived from and which many experienced hunters believe to be the "ideal African " Hunting caliber for dangerous game,the 338 Lapua is getting a well earned reputation for "policing" abberant behavior from a long distance.
For me it has become my light rifle for African field work and it has never let me down.It is a formidable light rifle with awsome capabilities in the right hands....and with improved military specs, there is no doubt that it is capable of taking out a human target at 2 and 1/2 miles with a mv of 3500 fps and above.Terrorists of the 2 legged and 4 legged varieties better be aware.That man eating crocodile died in his sleep when he felt he was safe 404 yards from the river bank.338 LAPUA,IS AN AWSOME ROUND FROM MY EXPERIENCE IN A TAKE DOWN RIFLE.JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT IS CAPABLE OF DOING ACCURACY WISE IN A 1 PIECE RIFLE BUILT TO MILITARY SPECS.
I hope you find my 2 cents useful.

POINT OF CORRECTION 1 AND 1/2 MILES AWAY

Turns out that Corporal Harrison took 9 shots to get the range on the Talibans.

Here Berger discusses their new .338 bullet and Litz comments on how you can retain sub-sonic accuracy by increasing your twist rate, as has been observed by many long range shooters using many different calibers.

New .338 Berger Bullet & comment by Litz

338 Lapua is a large volume case, helping barrel wear.

Larger calibers are limited by the weight of the rifle. a 16# 338 can be carried by one man.

No magic loads -a tad over 3000 FPS

Standard Brit Sniper Scope is the S&B 5-25, but there have been some Hensholdt "hubbels" in service.

Teams use an array of ballistics helpers - portable weather station, ballistic computers tuned into the rifle, etc.

For those incredulous at the distance, look up the US Army's tests at Sandy Hook in 1879. A Trapdoor 45-70 hitting a 6' x 6' target at a mile with low BC 405 and 500 grain bullets.

AI was experimeting last year with barrels with twists faster than 1:10. Data was classified but I would not be surprised to see some in use.

Brit standard for their sniper platform included standards on barrel wear. Last thing a sniper wants to do is to swap barrels after they get it tuned in. AI rifle takes 7500 rounds before replacement (again case volume of the 338 helps).

The Brit rifle is mag fed, so the use of longer high BC bullets is out (Mag limits to around 3.6", If I recall correctly)

Gerard did some work at GS custom for an unnamed military source on faster twist 338 bullets.

The 338 Lapua was designed from the ground up as an anti-personnel sniper round. AI built a rifle around it solely for the same purpose.

I don't care how many shots it took to range the target - he was way off the charts for any ballistics program. And the Coriolis effect was definitely in effect. The skill level displayed here was incredible.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Manion:
338 Lapua is a large volume case, helping barrel wear.

Larger calibers are limited by the weight of the rifle. a 16# 338 can be carried by one man.

No magic loads -a tad over 3000 FPS

Standard Brit Sniper Scope is the S&B 5-25, but there have been some Hensholdt "hubbels" in service.

Teams use an array of ballistics helpers - portable weather station, ballistic computers tuned into the rifle, etc.

For those incredulous at the distance, look up the US Army's tests at Sandy Hook in 1879. A Trapdoor 45-70 hitting a 6' x 6' target at a mile with low BC 405 and 500 grain bullets.

AI was experimeting last year with barrels with twists faster than 1:10. Data was classified but I would not be surprised to see some in use.

Brit standard for their sniper platform included standards on barrel wear. Last thing a sniper wants to do is to swap barrels after they get it tuned in. AI rifle takes 7500 rounds before replacement (again case volume of the 338 helps).

The Brit rifle is mag fed, so the use of longer high BC bullets is out (Mag limits to around 3.6", If I recall correctly)

Gerard did some work at GS custom for an unnamed military source on faster twist 338 bullets.

The 338 Lapua was designed from the ground up as an anti-personnel sniper round. AI built a rifle around it solely for the same purpose.

I don't care how many shots it took to range the target - he was way off the charts for any ballistics program. And the Coriolis effect was definitely in effect. The skill level displayed here was incredible.

My Exball will give compensation well past 3000 yards, so he was definate not off of the ballistics program charts

For me, happiness is shooting a 338 Lapua on a Sunday morning at a range overlooking the Beautiful Carribean Sea.Even the 'missus' caught on the 338 Lapua bug and I had to get her to handload before she shot me a 'hole in the wallet'...talking about accuracy...it is one hell of a round.Those military special ops types have information we dont 'need' to know about on technical aspects of this 'weapon' we all would love to know.I bet some silent ones among us here keep it close to the heart.What is the optimal twist rate for the 338 Lapua in a 26 inch barrel ?.For the heck of it id like to know , for my 338 lapua no 4.
"Accurate Rifles are Exciting"...better believe it.

Rock bbls are 1-9.4 Krieger is doing a 1-9.35 twist, this is good for 250gr and 300gr.

I agree no MAGIC GUNS/MAGIC AMMO that handle more pressure, as said before its not the action and barrel that cant handle the pressure, you could shoot those guns at 70-80,000 psi all day long, Its the BRASS that cant handle the pressure.

If anything they have new top secret powder that gives super velocity with low pressure, but I doubt it.

I was told the marines set there .338's ZERO at 500yds and shoot it to 2000yds so its not the end of the world to shoot beyond subsonic transition, maybe not setting world record tiny groups, but with probably hundreds of sniper teams all over Afgahnistan/iraq sending hundreds or thousands of shots a month there is bound to be some luck along with the expetise, skill, and training these guys have to make a shot like this once in a while. There not doing 1.5mile 2 kill shots on a daily bases. Its not that far fetched, and you dont need top secret ammo and rifles to make an amazing shot once or twice every 10 years.

338 lapua not the best choice for 1.5 mile shots if the ammo is free, and the terrorists are running around like cock a roach's its possible, I couldnt do it but its possible

I hear the .338 Norma is a bit better ballistically

Congrats to Hot Bore on this fine achievement..