The Swiss subsidiary of RUAG Ammotec in Thun is launching a new sniper rifle caliber that, despite a considerable increase in performance compared to the popular .338 Lapua Magnum, is compatible with standard .338 LM weapon systems and only requires a barrel change. The .375 SWISS P will be available with a full metal jacket bullet from April and with a hard core bullet from the end of 2021.
The .375 Swiss P closes the ballistic performance gap between the .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70 mm) and the .50 Browning Machine Gun (12.7×99 mm). Connoisseurs will rightly point out that calibers such as the .375 CheyTac (9.5×77 mm) have already been developed for this purpose. However, this US caliber never found its way to Europe on a large scale. In addition, the C.I.P. removed the cartridge from the European standard last year, meaning that weapons in this caliber are no longer fired. Compared to the .338 Lapua Magnum (LM), the .375 Swiss P is up to 40 percent more powerful. The 350-grain (22.7 gram) full metal jacket bullet achieves a muzzle energy of 8,500 joules from a 30″/76 cm barrel at a muzzle velocity of 865 m/s compared to 6,100 joules for the .338 LM. The .375 Swiss P only requires a barrel change for .338 LM base rifles without a breech and magazine change for the caliber conversion.
The increase in performance, with corresponding cartridge dimensions, was realized by a coordinated high-performance propellant and the cartridge contour with a rebated rim. In this design, the case diameter above the extractor groove is larger than the case base diameter, which increases the powder chamber volume. The maximum permissible gas pressure is 4,200 bar. In addition to minimum tolerances in production and a tip design that is as aerodynamic as possible, the position of the center of gravity is also crucial for top accuracy in a bullet for long-range use. In order to shift the projectile’s center of gravity as far as possible towards the rear, the newly developed .375 Swiss P full metal jacket bullet has a metal ball in the bullet tip, which forms an empty volume there and also has a lower density than the lead core. This has actually made it possible to improve the ballistic coefficient of the full metal jacket bullet compared to a classic long-range match bullet with a hollow point and torpedo tail (“Hollow Point Boat Tail”). The .375 Swiss P has a supersonic operating range of more than 1,500 meters and the full metal jacket projectile produces more than twice as much energy at this distance with 1,500 joules as the .338 LM with 250 grains (16.3 grams) full metal jacket projectile. The .375 Swiss P hard-core bullet with a tungsten carbide and cobalt alloy core, closed base and small, open hollow point also impresses with its effective construction, which is designed for maximum penetration, even of hard targets. This load makes it possible to safely penetrate an SK4 class protective vest up to 600 meters under standard conditions. RUAG Ammotec developed the new .375 Swiss P based on current requirements from official user circles. A powerful caliber that allows users to continue working with their usual weapon system while maintaining the same handling characteristics.
