The Russian central research institute for precision engineering TsNIITochMash is working on a new long-range cartridge for sniper rifles for the first time since 1974, the design bureau's director general, Albert Bakov, told Sputnik in an interview
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 17th May, 2019) The Russian central research institute for precision engineering TsNIITochMash is working on a new long-range cartridge for sniper rifles for the first time since 1974, the design bureau's director general, Albert Bakov, told Sputnik in an interview.
"At the moment we are making a new cartridge [based on the Finnish] .338 [8.6-millimeter] Lapua Magnum, which we have not actually done in our country since 1974, because there was no specific task of creating new cartridges," Bakov said.
According to Bakov, the designers will have to build new equipment for its production and develop special gun powder, case and all other relevant pieces.
"We also have a task of working on the [Soviet] 7.62×39 millimeter cartridge. We will see how we can improve it," the director general added.
The .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge is suitable for shooting at extremely long ranges, beyond 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles). The cartridge is used not only by military snipers but also by hunters and athletes.
