<P> The large boltface combined with the maximum pressure means that the . 338 Lapua Magnum should only be chambered in rifles that are capable of handling such large high pressure cartridges and thus high bolt thrust safely . Chambering such powerful super magnum cartridges in rifles intended for normal magnum rifle cartridges and using high pressure loads can cause serious or fatal injury to the shooter and bystanders . </P> <P> The American . 338 - 378 Weatherby Magnum cartridge introduced in 1998 and the American . 338 Remington Ultra Magnum (. 338 RUM) cartridge introduced in 2000 are probably the closest currently (2007) commercially available ballistic twins of the . 338 Lapua Magnum . The . 338 - 378 Weatherby Magnum is however a belted cartridge and the . 338 Remington Ultra Magnum is a rebated rim cartridge . </P> <P> For a typical . 338 Lapua Magnum high end factory military sniper rifle like the Sako TRG - 42 with a 690 mm (27.2 in) long 305 mm (1 in 12 inch) rifling twist rate barrel at sea level, 1,500 m (1,640 yd) is considered to be the maximum shooting distance for man sized targets . When using standard Lapua military 16.2 g (250 gr) loads it has a supersonic range of 1,500 m (1,640 yd) under warm summer conditions at a muzzle velocity of 915 m / s (3,000 ft / s). However, to be able to maintain 80 to 90% hit probability on non-moving 45 cm × 90 cm (17.7 in × 35.4 in) reactive army targets, this maximum shooting distance has to be reduced to 1,300 metres (1,422 yd) at freezing point conditions or 1,100 m (1,203 yd) in Arctic winter conditions, when the muzzle velocity may drop to 880 m / s (2,887 ft / s)--i.e. only during optimal warm summer conditions the 1,500 m (1,640 yd) maximum shooting distance is realistically achievable . </P> <P> Loaded with more aerodynamic very - low - drag bullets such as the traditionally lead cored 19.44 g (300.0 gr) Lapua Scenar GB528 VLD bullet (G1 BC = 0.736) or the Lost River Ballistics J40 . 338 17.5 gram (270 gr) CNC manufactured mono - metal bullet (G1 BC = 0.871) the long - range performance and supersonic range of . 338 Lapua Magnum rifles can be improved . These longer very - low - drag bullets require a 254 mm (1 in 10 inch) twist rate to stabilize them . Due to the lower practically possible muzzle velocities for a relative heavy bullet like the 19.44 g (300 gr) Lapua Scenar GB528 VLD bullet it gains about 104 m (114 yd) extra supersonic range under International Standard Atmosphere sea level conditions (air density ρ = 1.225 kg / m) at a muzzle velocity of 837 m / s (2750 ft / s) when compared to the standard 16.2 g (250 gr) Lapua Scenar GB488 VLD at a muzzle velocity of 915 m / s (3002 ft / s). For significant supersonic range improvement the aerodynamic efficiency of the employed bullets has to be significantly improved without sacrificing a lot of practically achievable muzzle velocity - meaning that besides the coefficient of drag of the projectile weight is also an important parameter for its actual downrange flight behavior . The . 338 17.5 gram (270 gr) Lost River Ballistic Technologies J40 match bullet made out of a copper - nickel alloy is one of the most aerodynamic . 338 calibre bullets available . It has an 1,800 m (1,970 yd) supersonic range under optimal warm summer conditions at a muzzle velocity of 869 m / s (2,850 ft / s). This makes engaging static targets up to 1,800 m (1,970 yd) feasible . </P>

How far will a 338 lapua bullet travel