Bump
Ukrainian Special Operations Forces have adopted Germany’s Haenel HLR 338 sniper rifle, a .338 Lapua Magnum system for 500–1,500 meter shots.
united24media.com
In the long range battle field do you need more long range rifles? Should the section DMR be a 338?
JFC, the amount of time it takes to train a capable long range shooter is not what most armies invest in their snipers let alone a DMR.
Commonwealth Army Snipers spend long enough in positions (usually) to be able to effectively use the .338LM rifles they have, however most also have .50BMG for Anti-Material usage, and a 7.62mm gun.
The US Army doesn't have sniper that spend nearly enough time in the sniper team role, so that capability is wasted. The original PSR requirement and now the Mk-22 Barrett is just trying to make a poor shooter hit targets a decent shooter could do with 7.62mm NATO.
Outside of SOF, down here there is little employment at the ranges that the weapon is capable of, as the shooters are not.
Most DMR programs are looking for semi-precision to 500m.
Engaging target at Long range takes not just a well trained and equipped sniper team, but it also requires the experience to know where to shoot, and when not to disclose your position - the radio is often the snipers best weapon.
None of the .338LM guns are easy to move around, and you drop mobility significantly. Not to mention what range band are you actually trying to cover at the Section/Squad level -- hint it is not direct fire with .338LM.
How about the 338 MG?
Platoon or Company MG?
A machine gun in .338 Norma Magnum caliber would offer Army units significantly greater range over their existing 7.62x51mm M240s.
www.twz.com
Honestly I am friends with the person who wrote the initial SOR for the .338 MMG, but it briefs much better than actual reality.
The belts are heavy AF, and .338 lacks a payload -- so you are stuck with just solid projectile effects.
Any task that this gun can do, a GAU-19, or M2 can do, as you need a vehicle to support it.
