06-14-2021, 02:41 AM
biodsl Wrote:Why did they adopt the Lapua over the Norma?The Lapua was developed first. Like the 5.56x34 and 7.62x51, the use of long, high BC bullets was not seen as a priority for some reason. The 338 Norma was made as an improvement to the Lapua, since it allowed longer, sleeker bullets. As near as I can tell, these days when the Lapua is chosen over the Norma, it is mainly because it has already become a "standard" military cartridge.
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Back in 2014, when General Dynamics developed the Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG), they chose the 338 NORMA because its longer bullet would permit more varied payloads (tracers, etc). I have seen occasional suggestions that the 338 Norma has slightly better barrel life, but nothing conclusive.
In some ways, I see a similarity between the 338 Norma/338 Lapua duo and the 6.5 Creedmoor/260 Remington. The younger cartridges trade some powder volume for bullet length and higher BC.