The Cartridge
There are a slew of precision rifle cartridges, but few have the resume of .338 Lapua Magnum. While the cartridge dates to the late 1980s, its rise to prominence is linked to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was selected as one of the precision rifle cartridges for sniper sections, and its superior ballistics led to a successful service career.
This Magnum cartridge is sending a 200 to 250-grain projectile at excess of 3,000 FPS, with an effective range of 1,750 meters (1,900 yards). The round was selected for its ability to crack body armor past 1,000 meters. In 2009, British sniper Craig Harrison set a record for the longest confirmed sniper kill to date at 2,475 meters with .338 LM. While the record was eventually shattered, the effectiveness of the cartridge is clear.
Related Review: Does The .338 Lapua Cartridge Live Up to The Legend?
In a modern context, with 1,000 meters being light work for a caliber of this size, the .338 Lapua Magnum is an excellent precision rifle cartridge, as well as being perfect for hunting big game at distance.
The Rifle
The Christensen Arms Model 14 MPR (Modern Precision Rifle) is a lightweight bolt-action rifle that heavily incorporates the use of carbon fiber. Christensen is known for its precision rifle platforms, especially in a hunting context, as the lightweight construction is perfect for trekking across harsh terrain when hunting big game.
Related: Building a Bolt-Action Rifle in the Heart of Utah with Christensen Arms
This Model 14 MPR features a carbon-fiber barrel, a free-floated carbon-fiber handguard with M-LOK slots, and a folding stock. The rifle features a top-mounted Picatinny rail mounted with a Vortex Razor HD 5-25x scope. The bolt is fluted and the system feeds from detachable five-round magazines. The barrel is threaded and makes for the perfect host for a suppressor.
Without accessories, the rifle weighs about 8 pounds, making it incredibly light, considering it is chambered for a large Magnum cartridge. Even with a scope and suppressor, it is easy to see why this is the perfect rifle to take on long-distance big game hunts.
The Suppressor
The Banish .338 from Silencer central is a lightweight (17-ounce) can constructed from titanium and Inconel. It is one of the most compact .338 suppressors on the market. Rated all the way up to the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, this can is a strong and durable build.
As cool as specs are, the only thing that matters is how it shoots. On the range, this suppressor blew me away. Considering the powder behind the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, it is incredible how much this can tame the sound. I took a few shots with hearing protection but decided to give it a go without anything to see what it was like. The suppressor brings the sound down to something akin to that of an unsuppressed .22 Magnum.
Additionally, the kick from the .338 Lapua Magnum is no joke. The cartridge’s Magnum load tends to dump a lot of energy into the shooter’s shoulder, especially if shooting from an unsupported position. The suppressor tamed the recoil impulse some, making it easier on the shoulder. All these factors lead into the suppressor enhancing the shooting experience, especially for hunters who often shoot unsupported and without hearing protection.
Summary
While I only shot a box of ammunition, few shooting experiences match up to that of a .338 Lapua Magnum. I am hoping to find a range past 1,000 yards near me so that I can properly display the accuracy, distance, and power of the cartridge.
