In another thread, Arild has mentioned the Norwegian wildcat 510 Førland based on a blown-out 338 Lapua Mag case; and LD100 has mentioned the Finnish 50 APH on the same case. I would like to continue discussing these and a couple of other large wildcats (from Finland).

LD100 indicates that the APH is made by AsePaja Helenius. The name Helenius was familiar to me--- in the 54th edition (2000) of GUN DIGEST, there is an article (page 106- 109) about all the Finnish variations of the 7.62 x 53R cartridge (aka 7.62x54R Russian long). One variation is a 416 x 53R Helenius.

In the discussion of the 416x53R, it mentions that Helenius has "...developed other big bore wildcats and 50-caliber sniping rifles." I assume this to be the 50 APH.

The 338 Lapua Mag has a strange history: according to Cartridges of the World, 6th ed, (listed under Wildcat & Proprietary--- 338 Lapua Magnum/8.6x71mm) it was designed by a US company as a sniper round (for the US Navy!?) By the 8th edition of COTW, it is in the Military section as 338 Lapua Magnum/8.58x71mm (Finland). SO: it appears that the 338 LapMag has gone from sniper cartridge to hunting cartridge with a branch back to sniper cartridge!

The US Navy didn't accept the 8.6x71 as an approved round. Did Finland (or any other country) officially adopt the 338 Lapua Mag for military use?

Were cases ever made with metric headstamps (8.6 or 8.58)?

Ken Howell's book shows a 300 Lapua Magnum. Was this cartridge ever produced, or was it a drawing-board-only cartridge. Headstamp--300 Lap Mag and/or 7.62x69)?

The GunDigest article mentions an 11.6 x 55R Makinen--still based on the 7.62x53R. Obviously lengthened and also stregthened.
Are these cases made with the correct headstamp?

WARNING: I am a cartridge collector and have been known to try to buy (and even beg) cases from people who find headstamps I don't have!

the_captn

As I have understood, the 338 Lapua was a US development that were canceled and then Lapua completed it and registred it for CIP (or whatever its called, the standardization organisation).

I belive that finland have the Sako TRG as a military sniper rifle as well as some other nations. (I'm no military man, just think somebody said so)

In the Vihtavuori reloading manual the 300 Lapua Magnum is listed. You can find the same data on Vihtas internet site.

I'm thinking about getting a barrel for the 300 Lapua, it would be allmost as good as the 30-378 Weatherby.

I don't belive there are cases marked with metric headstamp unless there are some early cases from before standardization. As far as I know only Lapua and Norma makes cases.

Just remembered, Horneber makes them allso. I dont know the headstamp but in his catalogue they are labeled as 338 Lapua.

Capt Nemo, you don't happen to have an extra 577-500 NE for sale?

I remember reading in Jeff Coopers commentaries that Switzerland has adopted the 338 Lapua in a miltary sniper rifle.

I saw some brass in 577-500 on GunBroker.com. Search for Nitro Express and it should come up. Also some 700 NE.

Jim

OKAY

Thanks for the info.

the_captn