Lapua Scenar-L 180 grain in .284" / 7mm

[Bianchi]

Managed to drop by the Lapua booth to inquiry about the new Scenar-L's before anyone else at the IWA Outdoor Show yesterday. A friendly representative was able to confirm that Lapua will or has already started shipping of the new Lapuas in 7mm. After then asking whether they had any samples for initial testing, I was promptly handed over a complete sample box with one each of their newest products, including both Scenar-Ls as well as a .50 BMG case, plus a few more 180 grains on top.

 

One of the photos depicts a Lapua 180 grain lined up against some other bullets for comparision. Starting from leftt: Hornady Amax 162, Sierra Match King 175, a pointed Sierra Match King 180 (thanks Dave), Lapua Scenar-L 180, Berger Hybrid 180. The second photo squares up the Lapua against the Berger Hybrid. Both bullets were aligned at the ogives (see marks) to compare their respective lengths to the base as well as the bearing surfaces. The Lapua's bearing surface would appear to be a tad longer.

 

Key dimensions (sample size was eight):

 

OAL: 37.96 - 38.3mm
Ogive to base: 20.52 - 20.54mm
Bearing surface: 14.90 to 14.95mm

Meplat diameter: approx. 1.85mm

 

[Laurie]

Good move there - and thanks for doing / posting the images. While Berger has steadily decreased bearing surface length in recent designs, Lapua's designers seem to prefer generous dimensions here. The 180 7mm does at least look like it'll be competitive in BC terms though. The new 30s and 120 / 136gn 6.5mm Scenar-Ls are no great shakes in this regard especially the new 220 whose G7 BC falls between that of the 185 and 200gn Berger Hybrids, the new 175 too looking as though it's been designed more for the long-range military sniper role than 1,000 yard F/TR competition.

[Bianchi]

Did some more measurements with a micrometer today to compare the diameters of the Lapua Scenar-L versus the Berger Hybrid along the bearing surfaces. The micrometer has 0.01mm graduations so thousands had to be interpolated/estimated.

 

Whilst the Lapuas were very consistent (7.220 at the ogive to 7.223 mm diameter at the base) and therefore almost parallel, all three Bergers that were measured appeared to exhibit a more pronounced taper (7.205 to 7.225 mm), i.e. close to one thou inches decrease in diameter along the bearing surface toward the ogive.

 

Is this a known observation, an intentional design feature, and any advantage or disadvantage besides a potential improvement in BC?