Smith & Wesson TRR8 Revolver

SHOOTING RESULTS (100 YDS.)
.338 Fe d e r a l
Ca r t r i d g e
Fe d e r a l No. P338FB
210-g r. No s l e r
Pa r t i t i o n
Fu s i o n
No. F338FFS2
200-g r. SPT
Fe d e r a l No. P338FC
185-g r. Ba r n e s TSX
Ve l. @ 15'
(f.p.s.)
2366 Av g.
14 Sd
2539 Av g.
22 Sd
2692 Av g.
20 Sd
En e r g y
(f t.-l b s.)
Gr o u p Si z e In In c h e s
Sm a l l e s t La r g e s t Av e r a g e
2,611 1.41 2.90 2.03
2,864 1.25 2.30 1.71
2,782 1.30 2.30 2.44
Av e r a g e Ex t r e m e Sp r e a d 2.06
Me a s u r e d av e r a g e v e l o c i t y f o r 10 r o u n d s f r o m a n 18" b a r r e l. Fi rs t s c r e e n o f Oehler
35P Ch r o n o g r a p h 15 ft. f r o m muzzle. Ra n g e temperature: 40° F. Ac c u r a c y f o r f i v e
c o n s e c u t i v e, f i v e-s h o t g r o u p s at 100 y d s. u s i n g f r o n t r e s t a n d r e a r s a n d b a g. Ab b r e v i a-
t i o ns: SBT (spitzer b o at ta i l), TSX (Tr ip l e-Sh o c k X-Bullet ), Sd (Sta n d a r d deviation).
DPMS PANTHER LR-338L
Ma n u fa c t u r e r: DPMS-Pa n t h e r Ar m s
(De p t. AR), 3312 12t h St., S.E.,
St. Cl o u d, MN 5630;
(800) 578-3767; w w w .d p m s i nc .c o m
Ca l i b e r: .338 Fe d e r a l
Ac t i o n Ty p e: d i r e c t-im p i n g em e n t,
g a s-o p e r at e d s e m i-a u t o m at ic rifle
Re c e i v e r: 6066-T6 u p p e r, 6061-T6
l o w e r a l u m i n um alloy; h a r d
a n o d i z ed a n d b l a c k Teflon c o at e d
Ba r r e l Le n g t h: 18"
Ri f l i n g: s i x-g r o o v e; 1:9" RH t w is t
Ma g a z i n e: d e ta c h a b l e b o x, f o u r-r o u n d
o r 19-r o u n d c a pa c i t y
Si g h t s: n o n e; full l e n g t h Pic at i n n y
r a i l o n r e c e i v e r f o r s c o p e m o u n t i n g
Tr i g g e r Pu l l: s i n g l e-s ta g e; 3 l b s.,
12 o z s.
St o c k: b l a c k Zy t e l: l e n g t h o f p u l l,
14 1 ⁄4"; d r o p at h e e l, 1/2";
d r o p at c o m b , 1/2"
Ov e r a l l Le n g t h: 39 1 ⁄8"
We i g h t: 7 l b s., 14 o z s.
Ac c e s s o r i e s: o n e f o u r-r o u n d m a g a -
z i n e, o n e 19-r o u n d m a g a z i n e, n y l o n
w e b s l i n g a n d c l e a n i n g k i t
Su g g e s t e d Re ta i l Pr i c e: $1,499
The LR-338L breaks down like a standard AR (l.).
Its carbon-fiber handguard does not transfer heat
like a metal handguard, and the Zytel buttstock and
tactical grip reduce weight and aid control.
door. The gun would be better
served with a rubber recoil pad as
this hard plastic with sharp diamonds
and edges can be painful
when shooting in warm weather
and light clothing.
The gun weighs 7 lbs., 14 ozs.
empty. With a Nikon Monarch 4-16X
42 mm Side Focus scope in Warne
aluminum rings, which we used for
accuracy testing, and with an empty
four-round-capacity magazine, the
gun checked in at 9 lbs, 12 ozs.,
with an overall length of 39 1 ⁄8".
One might expect the short
18" barrel to give up some veloc-
ity, so we gauged its performance
against a previous test we ran a
few years ago, in which we used
the available .338 Federal factory
loaded ammunition in a Sako rifle
with a 22 7 ⁄16" barrel. The 185-gr.
Barnes load was actually faster in
the DPMS rifle by 48 f.p.s., but the
180-gr. AccuBond lost 116 f.p.s.
and the 200-gr. Fusion lost 113
f.p.s. in the shorter barrel.
As part of the function test we
shot an R&R Racing Self Setting 8"
rifle target at 250 yds. We found
that by using the first circle in
a Nikon BDC scope, hitting this
The American Rifleman has used the phrase “Dope Bag” since at least 1921, when Col. Townsend
Whelen first titled his column with it. Even then, it had been in use for years, referring to a sack used
by target shooters to hold ammunition and accessories on the firing line. “Sight dope” also was a
traditional marksman’s term for sight-adjustment information, while judging wind speed and direction
was called “doping the wind.”
WARNING: Technical data and information contained herein are intended to provide information
based on the limited experience of individuals under specific conditions and circumstances. They do
not detail the comprehensive training procedures, techniques and safety precautions absolutely necessary
to properly carry on similar activity. Read the notice and disclaimer on the contents page. Always
consult comprehensive reference manuals and bulletins for details of proper training requirements,
procedures, techniques and safety precautions before attempting any similar activity.
COPYRIGHT 2009© NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION
target from hunting-type shooting
positions was easy. The recoil was
so manageable that the reticle
was already back on target before
the swinging target reset. Using
the higher-capacity magazine we
shot several boxes of Fusion 200-
gr. ammunition (the best performing
load in this rifle) without a
single function problem. Although
the barrel grew very hot during
this shooting session, the carbonfiber
handguard did not, and the
rifle could be easily held with
a bare hand at anytime during
the shooting. Also, we noted this
swinging target handled bullet
strikes from .308 Win. without a
problem, but the .338 Federal hit
hard enough that nearly every
fifth shot knocked the target out of
the frame.
The DPMS Panther LR-338L rifle
is a well-made, strong and durable
firearm for any hunter wishing to
use a semi-automatic rifle. For the
shooter looking for the tactical
application of a heavy bullet with
more power, or for somebody who
simply wants something different to
bring to the range, the DPMS Panther
LR-338L is a good choice.
Ju ly 2009 Am e r i c a n Rifleman
59