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	<title>Jay Bell &#8211; Small Arms Review</title>
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	<title>Jay Bell &#8211; Small Arms Review</title>
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		<title>Click, Ban G, Smile: An Unscientific Examination of the Most Fun You Can Have with Firearms</title>
		<link>https://smallarmsreview.com/click-ban-g-smile-an-unscientific-examination-of-the-most-fun-you-can-have-with-firearms/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Bell]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 May 2023 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Event Coverage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Articles by Issue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[V26N3]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volume 26]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2022]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[An Unscientific Examination of the Most Fun You Can Have with Firearms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Bell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[MARCH 2022]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallarmsreview.com/?p=41185</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[What is the most fun weapon and caliber combination to shoot? The possibilities are limitless. Everyone has their own pet systems, loves, and opinions. Let’s take a look at options and evaluate. My keen scientific mind has concocted a very detailed system to evaluate the options that are too difficult to explain, so you will just have to trust me. The category is FUN FACTOR and we are looking to fill the podium with a winner.]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p>By Jay Bell</p>



<p>What is the most fun weapon and caliber combination to shoot? The possibilities are limitless. Everyone has their own pet systems, loves, and opinions. Let’s take a look at options and evaluate. My keen scientific mind has concocted a very detailed system to evaluate the options that are too difficult to explain, so you will just have to trust me. The category is FUN FACTOR and we are looking to fill the podium with a winner.</p>



<p>My focus is on items that people can actually own, even if slightly difficult. This assumes you don’t live under the near communist regimes of some of our bluest states. Also, the Battlefield Vegas 20mm Vulcan mounted to a Toyota Prius and miniguns are a rare occurrence, so I will exclude those as ‘extraordinary’ items. I will not include any civil war or WWII artillery, that by some loophole, is legal.</p>



<p>My background in the industry has provided me with the opportunity to shoot a larger spectrum of cartridges and weapons than the average shooting sports enthusiast. I am told I shot my first .22 Long Rifle at age three, I have no such memory. However, knowing my father&#8217;s desire to give me all the experiences under the sun, and recall how much time we spent at the family gun range growing up, it&#8217;s probably true. I’ve shot so much that I’ve likely forgotten some of the interesting weapons I’ve fired. Therefore, I feel I’m a pretty worthy judge of what firearms might be the most fun to shoot.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="853" height="481" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-8.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41187" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-8.jpg 853w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-8-300x169.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-8-768x433.jpg 768w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3-8-750x423.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">SIG Sauer’s submission for the 6.8 Next Generation Squad Weapon held by the author.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BIG BORE ENTERTAINMENT</h2>



<p>During my time in the manufacture of cartridge cases for Dakota Arms, Lazzeroni, Tubbs, Huntington’s, Old Western Scrounger, Midway, Cheytac, Federal, Holland and Holland, Dixie Gun, John Rigby &amp; Co., Kynoch and too many others to list, I had the opportunity to shoot many of their products. You don&#8217;t want to fire too many of these at one time. For those of you that have never had the experiencing the percussion and the recoil from these large calibers — let&#8217;s just say big bore cartridges can give a headache the size of a small country.</p>



<p>The recoil from some of them is quite painful. I have never fired from the shoulder the round my father created, the 700 Nitro Express. I’ve only shot it from a pressure barrel. The rifle itself weighs more than 40 pounds; another reason to avoid shooting it. I’ve fired its younger brothers in the Nitro Express arena and I have done it enough to know it’s painful… painful enough to not want to shoot it all that much. But, boys will be boys, and if the opportunity presents itself to shoot something unique, damn the torpedoes – we’re gonna shoot it. In testing some 50-70 or 50-90 or 50-110 ammo in a Sharps rifle, I gained a scar above my right eye, along with a memory that’ll last forever. This is the rifle that was used by Tom Selleck in “Quigley Down Under” in the 1980s. The peep sight requires you get rather close to it to aim. Then there is the front locking trigger and the rear hair trigger. I took a last breath before intentionally getting my finger near the hair-trigger and accidentally touching it. It went off and blood ran down my face. The large size of the weapon, cartridge, and the boom all make it a blast to shoot. Channeling Tom Selleck’s character shooting a moving bucket at 1200 yards adds to the experience (now you have to stream the movie). So, in my book the large African or Black powder calibers are not at the top of the list for fun due to recoil, first, percussion, second, and weight of weapons, third.</p>



<blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow">
<p class="has-background" style="background-color:#8dd2fc4d">The ability to decimate targets at 1000 yards is pretty awesome. Many shooters only dream of making a near-world record shot at over a mile. Nearly all of these have a muzzle brake which dramatically reduces recoil when fired from the shoulder.</p>
</blockquote>



<p>Some of the long-range calibers like 50 BMG, 408 Cheytac, 338 Lapua, 338 Norma Mag, 300 Norma Mag, Lazzeroni 7.82 Warbird, and 12.04 BiBaMuFu (Big Bad Mother*ucker) and are very similar in their percussive effects. The ability to decimate targets at 1000 yards is pretty awesome. Many shooters only dream of making a near-world record shot at over a mile. Nearly all of these have a muzzle brake which dramatically reduces recoil when fired from the shoulder. The muzzle brake can wreak havoc on any instrumentation placed alongside the weapon, though. The sniper calibers are not at the top of the list for percussion, first and recoil, second.</p>



<p>I have less experience in handgun calibers. As a teenager, I was sucked into the frenzy calibers of the day. Most of the larger calibers like 44 Magnum, which according to Clint Eastwood’s character in “Dirty Harry” is, “the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you&#8217;ve got to ask yourself one question: &#8216;Do I feel lucky?” Feel free to stream this movie as well! The 44 Mag does kick like a mule and only seems to transfer the pain from your shoulder to your wrist (and arms, and shoulders). It also has some serious percussion. Now, there are many large pistol calibers, including some rifle calibers, being shot from pistols. The stories and videos online make those look painful to shoot. Therefore, the large pistol calibers are not on the top of the list for fun guns to shoot.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4-7-1024x576.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41188" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4-7-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4-7-300x169.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4-7-768x432.jpg 768w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4-7-750x422.jpg 750w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/4-7.jpg 1138w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">M240B suppressed &#8211; Ode to Joy! A FUN weapon combination.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">FULL AUTO PLAY</h2>



<p>Smaller pistol calibers can be a lot of fun. Shooting .22 LR in pistol or rifle is great because it can be fired indoors and, therefore, year-round. It has low recoil and is not terribly loud. The biggest negative I can think of is the time spend reloading and the sore fingers you get from feeding those finicky magazines. Since 22 LR is such a popular, mainstream cartridge, it reduces the reduces the wow/fun factor. But, when the right gun comes along, the caliber is moot. For example, my father is working on a homemade 22 LR Gatling gun. I can&#8217;t wait to fire that!</p>



<p>Fully automatic, magazine-fed machine guns are the next category that turns a corner in our story. Someone rarely fires these weapons without a big smile on their face. Most of these are in 22 LR, .223/5.56mm, 7.62x39mm, and .308/7.62x51mm, which have reasonable percussion and recoil. The .308/7.62x51mm, after enough rounds, can give you a headache. As a pre-teen, I shot a lot of 22 LR in a Ruger 10/22. We tried all the high-capacity magazines of the late 1970s &amp; 1980s. The short version of the story, anything over 30 rounds did not work. The biggest negative in this category is the cost of the ammo. Of course, this is reduced with 22 LR, however, it doesn’t have the wow factor of the larger calibers. A second negative is the paperwork on a fully automatic weapon. A third negative is the limited number of ranges where you are allowed to fire these weapons. I give this platform a bronze medal for the FUN FACTOR.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="682" height="640" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/5-8.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41189" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/5-8.jpg 682w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/5-8-300x282.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 682px) 100vw, 682px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">NWSW – SIG’s Next Generation Squad Weapon submission on the range.</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">BELT-FED ENTERTAINMENT</h2>



<p>One step up from the above is fully automatic, belt-fed machine guns. This mainly ends up being 5.56mm, 7.62x51mm, or .50 BMG. The M2 is a blast to shoot, and I highly recommend it on an outdoor range with tracers or Mk211 semi-HE ammo. In some of my work events, I get to shoot the M2 for free, which only amplifies the fun. To boot, most times I have shot belt feed I did not have to link the ammo myself, which is even better. At the 2021 NDIA Armaments conference at Ft. Benning, I got to shoot a suppressed M2 with an MGRS Optic. Now we are cooking with gas! An M249 SAW or Minimi is a blast and everyone should have one. The most fun I have personally had with belt-fed is dual 7.62x51mm M60&#8217;s mounted on a shoulder-high tripod. It had motorcycle handlebar lever-style triggers, one for each. The range allowed tracers, and walking rounds in on a target was unbelievably fun. It reminded me of WWII fighter pilots walking in a stream of rounds on a target. On the downside, paying for all the ammo you run in a belt-fed is no fun, and that’s doubly so when talking about a twin M60. I&#8217;m sure if I had to link the rounds every time I shot, it might swap positions… But, a solid effort for this group gives belt-feds the FUN FACTOR silver medal.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="966" height="563" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6-6.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-41190" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6-6.jpg 966w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6-6-300x175.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6-6-768x448.jpg 768w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/6-6-750x437.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 966px) 100vw, 966px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Milkor M32A1-MSGL 6-shot launcher is the pinnacle of fun-to-shoot!</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">40mm WINNING FUN</h2>



<p>The reason 40mm Low Velocity rounds are the most fun to shoot are numerous. First, due to the low velocity, you can see the round from the muzzle all the way to the target. Next, the recoil is very minimal. Third, the sound and percussion are almost non-existent. It does make a cool, hollow “ploop” sound when fired. The orange dye is cool to see, and most rounds don&#8217;t have this kind of clear hit signature. Next is hitting things downrange with nearly a 2,700-grain projectile makes interesting things happen. Wood railroad ties, metal frames, concrete barricades, and whatever else you are shooting at really takes a beating. If you can shoot at a car or old truck, you are really moving metal. If you’ve never been in a competition to put a 40mm round in a 55-gallon drum at 300 meters, it should be on your to-do list. Add other options in 40mm that include parachute flares, smoke rounds, and non-lethal rounds and you have a fiesta.</p>



<p>On the weapon side, there are numerous options. You can go old school with an M79 Launcher. You can mount M203 under an AR-style rifle. A stand-alone, rail-mounted M203 is highly recommended and can be had for around $3000, new. A Milkor M32A1-MSGL 6-shot launcher is the pinnacle of the bunch, however they’re extremely difficult to obtain and cost around $15,000.</p>



<p>To be fair, there are negatives. The cost of the rounds is prohibitive. Reloading the rounds can be accomplished for around $2 to $3 each if you reuse the zinc body, 38 S&amp;W blank, and the M212 base case. There are some paperwork restrictions on owning a 40mm weapon. The cost of some of the more exotic weapons is a challenge — however, a used M203 can be had for under $1000. Despite all this, the 40mm wins the gold medal as the most fun thing to shoot.</p>



<p>After this goes to print, I typically post the article on my LinkedIn account. Please check in there and let me know if you agree or disagree with my extremely scientific analysis of the most FUN FACTOR medal winners. If you have a more deserving candidate, please let me know.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><em>This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V26N3 (March 2022)</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
]]></content:encoded>
					
		
		
			</item>
		<item>
		<title>.338 Lapua Magnum &#8211; The Next Greatest Caliber that Never Was</title>
		<link>https://smallarmsreview.com/338-lapua-magnum-the-next-greatest-caliber-that-never-was/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Jay Bell]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2020 14:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Articles by Issue]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[338 Lapua Magnum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[338 Norma Magnum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ammo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cartridges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Bell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Long Range]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[LWMMG]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Precision Shooting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SADJV12N5]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sniper]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://smallarmsreview.com/?p=30978</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[By Jay Bell &#8211; The .338 Lapua Magnum (LM) has been the next greatest “mainstream” sniper caliber for the last 30-plus years. It was designed to be the ideal “in-between” round. That is, in between 7.62&#215;51 and .50 caliber. It was supposed to be a versatile sniper caliber or a lightweight machine gun back in [&#8230;]]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p><em>By Jay Bell</em> &#8211; </p>



<p>The .338 Lapua Magnum (LM) has been the next greatest “mainstream” sniper caliber for the last 30-plus years. It was designed to be the ideal “in-between” round. That is, in between 7.62&#215;51 and .50 caliber. It was supposed to be a versatile sniper caliber or a lightweight machine gun back in the 1980s. It has had its successes and favor in certain communities around the world for almost 40 years. Some might say that it has had more success overseas than in the United States.</p>



<p>However, the recent adaptation of the .338 Norma Magnum by the U.S. Army for the new Precision Sniper Rifle program (PSR) and SOCOM/USMC with the Multi-Role Adaptive Design Rifle (MRAD) as Mk22 Mod 0 ASR Advanced Precision Rifle is a true paradigm shift for the industry. The change means the .338 LM is no longer up and coming; it is perceived as old and outdated. The punches keep coming with the upcoming SOCOM .338 Norma Magnum for the Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) program. The use in a machine gun will dramatically increase the amount of ammunition being built, and it will reduce the cost of the ammunition for all takers. All of these combined factors seem to be the final nail in the coffin for .338 LM.</p>



<p>The .338 LM will not now or ever be adopted by the U.S. Army or SOCOM—period. It will never be the clear winner as the sniper or precision long-range caliber of choice. It came close to being the “great caliber” many times. Its ship has now officially sailed. After the U.S. Army and SOCOM have used the .338 Norma Magnum for a while, then other countries will follow suit. The commercial market also will shift away from .338 LM and towards the .338 Norma Magnum. This will mean more bullet offerings, more custom weapons, more machine guns and the like in .338 Norma Magnum. The popularity of the .338 Norma Magnum is pretty intense, as it has come a very long way since its introduction around 2008.</p>



<p>These new “systems” (ASR, MRAD, PSR, LWMMG) come on the heels of a major systems failure. The Modular Sniper Rifle (MSR) was awarded to Remington in 2013 after the original Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) competitions. This nearly $80 million contract for over 5,000 rifles and over 4.6 million rounds of ammo seems to have died. There were numerous issues, and it is not clear what happened. The MSR was chambered in 7.62&#215;51 NATO, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum. The program has not been officially canceled, though it appears to be dead for all intent and purposes. Some are saying the MSR (Remington) has been completely swapped for the ASR (Barrett’s MRAD) and the .338 LM for the .338 Norma Magnum.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">History</h2>



<p>Ironically, Lapua is a Finnish company making the round with U.S. origins. The .338 LM caliber owes its origin to the U.S. Army. Back in the 1980s, the Army awarded a contract to Research Armaments Industries (RAI)&nbsp; to develop a new sniper weapon and caliber. RAI Enterprises got the contract. They were working with barrel legend Boots Obermeyer (Obermeyer Rifled Barrels) and Jim Bell (Brass Extrusion Labs Ltd.). These two characters created the .338&#215;416, based on the .416 Rigby cartridge case. My father, Jim, fondly describes why they did what they did on a bar napkin at a Wisconsin restaurant/tavern:</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="563" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1-1024x563.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31492" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1-1024x563.jpg 1024w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1-300x165.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1-768x422.jpg 768w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1-750x413.jpg 750w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1-1140x627.jpg 1140w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_2-1.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The .416 Rigby cartridge manufacturing process shown in Lucite, circa 1980, similar to that used in the initial .338&#215;416. (Courtesy International Cartridge Collectors’ Forum)</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>That .580 base diameter cartridge would fit in standard large actions.</li><li>The large base diameter would allow all the powder you would need for any ballistic solution.</li><li>The heavy taper would be ideal for future potential machine gun use and easy extraction.</li><li>.338 diameter was the largest caliber with a wide range of projectile types and enough payload for armor-piercing applications.</li></ul>



<p>Bell says they based the original prototype cases on the .416 Rigby low-pressure African caliber. There was no science behind the choice of this base diameter. It was a common diameter, and it was on the shelf. Back in that day, new calibers were not being developed and released a couple of times a year. This caliber was originally designed in 1911 by John Rigby &amp; Company. Since it was for an African caliber, it was not designed for high pressure. Therefore, the original samples were too soft in the case head and were difficult to extract from when shot for a high-performance load. The cases needed to be headed with more force and/or with slight tooling changes to get the diamond point hardness (DPH) in the head so they would still easily extract from the rifle. Since time was of the essence and Bell Labs was not able to move fast enough on these changes, the circus moved on, and the RAI program did not go anywhere; however, the .338&#215;416 lived on.</p>


<div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="288" height="305" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_1-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31493" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_1-2.jpg 288w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_1-2-283x300.jpg 283w" sizes="(max-width: 288px) 100vw, 288px" /><figcaption>A .416 Rigby cartridge case headstamp, circa 1980s, similar to that used in the initial .338&#215;416. (Courtesy International Cartridge Collectors’ Forum)</figcaption></figure>
</div>


<p>The .338&#215;416 was later picked up by Lapua in Finland, adjusted slightly and renamed the .338 Lapua Magnum. It has had better success in Europe than in the U.S. Lapua and Nammo have offered up to a dozen different bullet loads to include multiple armor-piercing varieties. The most current version (2018) of the Nammo Handbook has six different flavored categories for a total of 10 types:</p>



<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Lock Base: 250-grain FMJ</li><li>Scenar: 250- and 300-grain OTM</li><li>Solid: 231-grain</li><li>Armor Piercing: 248- and 300-grain tungsten carbide core</li><li>Armor Piercing Incendiary: 253-grain</li><li>Proof, Drill &amp; Blank</li></ul>



<p>In the late 1990s, the U.S. manufacture of chambers in .338 was a common trend. I can fondly remember the SHOT Show in the early 2000s when Savage finally chambered in it. I was sure the price under $1,500 would be a rocket seller and quickly make .338 LM mainstream. It did not. Today at least a dozen U.S. manufacturers offer a standard, off-the-shelf version of .338 Lapua Magnum.</p>



<p>In a recent conversation with a long-time industry expert, we joked about how a typical 5-million round RFQ (request for quotation) for .338 Lapua Magnum really means 5,000 rounds will be procured. My days as a brass manufacturer of .338 Lapua Magnum caliber involved many multi-million-round RFQs that ended in an order of maybe 30,000 rounds, at best. This number has been echoed by other producers as the typical “large” run for .338 LM brass here in the U.S. The typical assumption was that the XYZ government was considering the expanded use of the caliber and wanted to know what the ammo would cost in volume. This seems to make sense as there were many RFQs, and no one was ever awarded numbers in those quantities.</p>



<p>The caliber has had considerable notoriety over the last decades. Of the current top 20 sniper kill shots, the .338 LM currently holds 3rd at 2,475m from 2009. It also holds positions at 10 and 11. The .50 BMG is the record holder at 3,540m and holds 10 of the top 20 spots. It is impressive that the .338 can go toe to toe with the .50 BMG when the .50 weapons weigh 26 to 30 pounds and the .338 rifles weigh +/-14 pounds. I’m not sure that the .300 or .338 Norma Magnum will ever have records of this magnitude; beating out the .50 BMG is unlikely. However, if the U.S. government is right, the future of warfare is in urban areas, not the Middle East desert, which will provide less opportunity for extreme long-range shots.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Norma vs. Lapua</h2>



<p>Reasons why the .338 Norma Magnum has won out over the .338 Lapua Magnum:</p>



<div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex">
<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="599" height="600" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_3-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31494" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_3-2.jpg 599w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_3-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_3-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_3-2-75x75.jpg 75w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_3-2-350x350.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 599px) 100vw, 599px" /><figcaption>A .300 Norma Magnum cartridge case. (Courtesy Petersen Cartridge)</figcaption></figure>
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<div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-image">
<figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="600" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_4-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31495" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_4-2.jpg 600w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_4-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_4-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_4-2-75x75.jpg 75w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_4-2-350x350.jpg 350w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><figcaption>A .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge case. (Courtesy Petersen Cartridge)</figcaption></figure>
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<ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Current propellants can accomplish all the velocity needed with less powder capacity; therefore the extra volume of .338 LM is overkill.</li><li>The shorter length of the Norma calibers is easier to manipulate in standard rifle actions and machine guns.</li><li>The “short magnum” craze of the early 2000s has popularized the use of and familiarity with short magnum calibers.</li><li>There is better powder burn uniformity to give better accuracy in shorter cases.</li><li>The .338 Norma Magnum has less weight—the U.S. Army is always on the hunt to save a few pounds.</li></ul>



<p>Of course, the only thing for sure with the U.S. government is … nothing. They could change their minds before this article goes to print. The ASR ammo contract was recently awarded to UDC USA; however, it is not in production yet. It does have the makings of success. The ASR is a “Program of Record.” Barrett was awarded $50 million in rifles chambered in the .338 Norma Magnum for the ASR.</p>


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<figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="332" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2-1024x332.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-31496" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2-1024x332.jpg 1024w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2-300x97.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2-768x249.jpg 768w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2-750x243.jpg 750w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2-1140x370.jpg 1140w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/w_6-2.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>The SIG Sauer .338 machine gun contender in the LWMMG competition. (Courtesy SIG Sauer)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>It appears that General Dynamics and SIG Sauer are the early favorites for the LWMMG contract. The GD design on the LWMMG is 10 years old or more. It’s so old that they took it out of their trade show booth because they thought it was a dead program. Then all of a sudden, the LWMMG became all the rage, and it was back in the booth. These are exciting times in the gun and ammunition world. Things are changing quickly—faster than the U.S. government can support. In the meantime, enjoy the show.</p>
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		<title>SOCOM Manufacturing&#8217;s DIAMOND BR-15</title>
		<link>https://smallarmsreview.com/socom-manufacturings-diamond-br-15/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[SAR Staff]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Feb 2001 21:07:05 +0000</pubDate>
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		<category><![CDATA[V4N5 (Feb 2001)]]></category>
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		<category><![CDATA[Accuwedge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BUSHMASTER]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Colt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DIAMOND BR-15™]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jay Bell]]></category>
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://dev.smallarmsreview.com/?p=1959</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[By Jay Bell Several months ago, I received word from Ernest Wrenn, owner of Socom Mfg., a Class 2/3 dealer and manufacturer located in North Augusta, South Carolina, that he was planning on releasing a run of CNC machined billet aluminum AR-15™ style receivers with “SPECIAL” features. “This has been done ages ago&#8230;” I thought, [&#8230;]]]></description>
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<p>By <strong>Jay Bell</strong><br><br>Several months ago, I received word from Ernest Wrenn, owner of Socom Mfg., a Class 2/3 dealer and manufacturer located in North Augusta, South Carolina, that he was planning on releasing a run of CNC machined billet aluminum AR-15™ style receivers with “SPECIAL” features. “This has been done ages ago&#8230;” I thought, thinking about the older models that I had seen, the ones that had been milled out of bar stock. Knowing the prices that some other manufacturers sell billet receivers for, I wondered what would be so good about this latest incarnation of the AR-15™ to justify the imagined cost. So, on an impulse, I asked that Ernie keep me in mind when the product was finished, as I would be interested in looking one over for purchase.<br><br>In the meanwhile I received regular updates from Ernie with some pictures showing various stages of the production&#8230;I could see a lot of unusually shaped bare aluminum, but no real features as of yet. Then, one day, the receiver arrived.” WOW! WHAT A SHOCK!!!!!”<br><br>The “DIAMOND BR-15™” series AR-15™ type receiver is machined from what started out as a 7lb. brick of forged T-6 Aircraft aluminum alloy. Since this was initially a project in design, the billet route was chosen for two specific reasons: strength, and the fact that there were no raw forgings available that would enable the designer to include all the features he wanted.<br><br>For strength, billet is an excellent choice. The material is denser due to the forging process, lending it better strength than a casting of the same size, and also avoiding the weakening inclusions that castings can sometimes contain.<br><br>Also, the billet was an excellent choice if the maker wanted to expand on the proportions of the A-2 reinforcements, and add the other custom features they desire.<br><br>The first thing that struck me was the finish. The first sample I received was silver anodized, not quite matte, but more of a satin finish, similar in look to satin hard chrome. Since I prefer to keep “The Black Rifle” black, I promptly asked Ernie to ship a black anodized receiver to me, which he did, and I made a shooting buddys day by passing the silver receiver to him for purchase. On a quick inspection, both receivers seemed identical, aside from the finish, even down to the exact same tooling marks in the exact same places. After passing through the NICS check system at my FFLs shop, and taking the black stripped receiver home, I was finally able to make a complete examination of the lower.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="460" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/002-88.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10936" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/002-88.jpg 700w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/002-88-300x197.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/002-88-600x394.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /></figure></div>



<p>I noted how much heavier the receiver seemed than a standard A2 lower from Colt or Bushmaster, and how clean and sharp the markings and lines of the receiver were, especially the edges, which are all beveled and sculpted. On the left side of the receiver was a large “diamond” logo and the serial number, on the right side was the manufacturer markings, model designation, and caliber designation.<br><br>All the machining and engraving was done on a 5-axis CNC mill, Not only does that ensure that there are no hidden fractures from roll stamping, but it also ensures that all the sides are machined fully parallel to the other, there are no off center or angled surfaces that are not designed that way.<br><br>I also noted other features that were rather unusual: 1: All the takedown pin areas were highly reinforced. 2:The rear of the receiver contains a recessed jackscrew that will press against the upper receivers rear lug, and is used to take the wobble or slack out of the upper/lower receiver fit. 3:The receiver sides are easily twice as thick as a standard A2 lower receiver is. This thickness means more stiffness to resist twist or deformation. 4:The lower contains adjustment screws for both trigger reset and trigger stop, accessible through the trigger-guard, which is a solid piece of the lower receiver. 5: The magazine release area is heavily fenced in. 6: All the detent holes seemed to be tapped, except for the one at the front takedown pin. 7: The magazine well has no “taper”, but is instead parallel to the top of the receiver. 8: Fire control markings are on both sides of the receiver in large, easily readable engraved letters: “FIRE” and “SAFE” 9: Included with the receiver was a short list of instructions, some grub screws for the capture pin areas, and a short Inconell pin for the bolt hold-open.<br><br>Since I hadn’t really expected the delivery of the receiver so soon, I was caught empty handed: no lower receiver parts kit! Ernie had said that this would take current mil-spec “small pin” fire-control parts, I made a quick order to Bushmaster Firearms for a lower completion kit. When the kit arrived several days later, I sat down at the workbench and got busy installing.<br><br>True to claims, the semi-auto fire control parts fit into the lower receiver with no problem whatsoever. A longer pin for the hammer would be nice for aesthetic reasons; the receiver is thick, and the pin is inset a tiny bit on both sides. The bolt hold-open was also tapped, which meant that no punches were needed, and no rollpin to install. Just insert the bolt hold-open assembly, insert the pin, and tighten the screw down (too easy).<br><br>The rear takedown pin detent hole was also tapped, and the instructions said that the spring must be shortened to accommodate the capture screw. I took off several coils until I had a good pressure fit, and tightened that screw down. No more lost or bent up springs when switching butt-stocks! Anybody that has switched a stock out has chased these things around&#8230; INCOMING!!<br><br>After I had fully assembled the lower with a Choate “Hook Style” butt-stock and a standard A2 pistolgrip, I started looking at the instructions for the trigger adjustment. Now, adjustable match triggers are a bit pricey, as we all know, but this lower has the feature built right in, just use your standard trigger. The adjustment consists of a pair of screws that are in the bottom of the receiver. These screws can be tightened or loosened to press against the front and rear of the bottom of the trigger to adjust the length of creep, and the trigger reset distance. The instructions give some rather pointed cautions about adjusting the trigger properly. Adjusted too closely, the shooter may experience some “hammer follow” or “doubling” due to improper adjustment, basically , the disconnector could be interfered with. I personally adjusted mine to what felt like a standard AR pull and release, leaving final adjustments to the trigger for a trip to the range.<br><br>Now, since this is a post-ban receiver, none of the other current uppers that I own would’ve been legal for installation since they are in pre-ban configuration, so out come the parts boxes (and the credit card for more parts orders!)</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="482" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/003-84.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10937" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/003-84.jpg 700w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/003-84-300x207.jpg 300w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/003-84-600x413.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption><em>Close-up of receiver markings.</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p>I ordered and received a DPMS™ “Hi-Rise” upper from Tom Liemohn (Total Silence MFG, in WA.) This one I chose as a fitting complement, as the upper is very thick and rigid, and includes the proper height riser built in for mounting a telescopic sight.<br><br>In addition, this upper is “slickside”, it has no forward assist or brass deflector, which is no problem for me, since I’m a right handed shooter, and adds to the clean lines of the rifle.<br><br>Also for the upper, I purchased an aluminum free-float handguard, a JP Enterprises adjustable gas-block, and a JP Enterprises single chamber “Recoil Eliminator” brake. The brake is blind pinned and welded to permanently cover the threads on the barrel, making the rifle comply with the ’94 AW ban. All of this was wrapped around a 1/7 twist Colt™ heavy barrel that was a takeoff from another rifle. I topped the whole thing off with glass from Springfield Armory, a 4-14&#215;40 Tactical Government Model™ with the 5.56 range-finding reticle.<br><br>After I assembled the upper fully, I mounted it to the lower, expecting some fitting issues due to the different manufacturers. There were no tightness problems, the takedown pins lined up properly and required no undue force to insert. There was a very slight bit of play between the upper and the lower receivers, and here’s where the upper/lower fit screw comes in handy. Since uppers and lowers from the same manufacturer can sometimes fit poorly, one common recourse to this problem is the “Accuwedge”, the little rubber plug that went under the rear lug of the upper receiver to eliminate play. With this lower, you close the receiver halves, insert the pin, and start tightening the adjustment screw that is found at the rear of the receiver, above the pistolgrip. The interior end of this screw is flat, and pushes against the rear edge of the upper receivers mounting lug, forcing it tight against the takedown pin, completely eliminating ALL upper receiver play, and the associated rattle and instability.<br><br>Now it was time for a trip to the range! The first thing here was to set the JP gas block system for best functioning, this was easily accomplished, and only required a couple of shots. After that, I started fooling with the trigger adjustments. This was also easy, as the adjustment screws are accessible through the bottom of the trigger guard, no need to open the upper to adjust from the top. After several adjustments, I deliberately tried to “over adjust” the trigger to cause a malfunction. In the one extreme I got hammer follow, no doubling at all. In another case, I over adjusted the other way, and could not fire the rifle. At optimum, I currently have the trigger set to about 1/4” of creep before let-off. In rapid-fire, this lets you achieve a rather easy and startlingly fast rate of fire.<br><br>The only difficulty I noticed was that some mil-spec magazines seemed a bit tight in the lower, and were a little difficult to insert or remove from the magazine well, and would not eject fully on their own. On speaking to Ernie about this, he had also seen this, and has corrected this in all further runs of this receiver. He had kept the magwell measurement on the conservative side, and it seems some G.I. magazines have size variances in spec within government contract limits. I have noted this in my Eagle Arms manufactured rifle also, some magazines are just a little bit tighter than others.<br><br>All in all, I feel that this receiver offers the best deal out there as a base for either competition, casual target shooting, varmint hunting, or a great foundation for a post-sample M/16 in heavy pistol calibers that would normally batter a receiver.<br><br>One interesting thing is that the “DIAMOND SERIES” receiver rifle REALLY GETS ATTENTION!!!! While at the range I was asked many times “What kind of rifle is that?”&#8230;”Who makes that rifle?”&#8230;. and from one guy who drove a hot-rodded Chevy Nomad&#8230;”Is that a BILLET rifle? Cooool!” So the rifle does not only FILL the looks department, but also the quality department. As an added note, on my personal receiver, I filled all the lettering on my receiver with white paint, to accent the markings. It sure stands out nicely!<br><br>So, how much will this lower cost? Not as much as you may think! Retail cost for the first run orders is $295, and the price will increase to $350 for any subsequent run of receivers, and dealer pricing is available. Quite a deal since you figure that the average postban A-2 lower is about $110-200 without any of the other features. Also, the receivers are available in black, green, blue, red, gold, and silver anodizing. Silver or Black is the standard offering, the other colors are available for a $25 extra fee. The Diamond lower receiver is also available in Post-Dealer Sample M/16 configuration for a $25 extra fee. Matching billet upper receivers are “in the planning stage”, and entire assembled rifles are also offered.</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="366" height="700" src="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/004-74.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-10938" srcset="https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/004-74.jpg 366w, https://smallarmsreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/004-74-157x300.jpg 157w" sizes="(max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px" /><figcaption><em>Standard receiver on left compared to a BR-15 receiver on right.</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p>For more information on the” DIAMOND SERIES BR-15” receivers and rifles, contact:<br><br>Socom MFG<br>Dept SAR<br>616 ATOMIC RD<br>N. AUGUSTA, S.C. 29841<br>PH: 803-442-9206<br>http://www.socommfg.com<br><br>AR-15™ is registered trademark of Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Inc.<br><br>Diamond BR-15™ is a registered trademark of Socom Manufacturing, ©2000<br><br>DPMS is a registered trademark of Defense Procurement Manufacturing Services, Inc<br><br>4-14&#215;40 Tactical Government Model™ copyright© 1997 Springfield, Inc.<br><br>Bushmaster™ is a registered trademark of Bushmaster Firearms, Inc. / Quality Parts Co<br><br>Accuwedge™ is a registered trademark.<br><br>Defense Procurement<br>Manufacturing Services, Inc.<br>13983 Industry Avenue<br>Becker, MN 55308<br>Phone (612) 261-5600<br>Fax (612) 261-5599<br><br>Colt’s Manufacturing Company, Inc.<br>P.O. Box 1868<br>Hartford, CT 06144-1868<br>Tel: (860) 236-6311<br>Fax: (860) 244-1442<br><br>JP ENTERPRISES, INC.<br>P.O. Box 378<br>Hugo, MN 55110<br>Voice: 651-426-9196<br>Fax: 651-426-2472<br><br>Springfield Armory<br>420 W. Main St.<br>Geneseo, IL 61254<br>309-944-5631<br>309-944-3676 fax<br>sales@springfield-armory.com<br><br>Bushmaster Firearms, Inc<br>P.O. Box 1479<br>Windham, ME 04062<br>Orders: 1-800-998-SWAT</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table aligncenter is-style-stripes"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><em>This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V4N5 (February 2001)</em></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>
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