In 1983, during a search for a new military sniping round, a company called Research Armament Industries (RAI) began development of a new bolt-action rifle called the Model 300 and a brand new cartridge based on the .416 Rigby case necked down to .338 caliber. When RAI ran into difficulties in obtaining suitable brass casings and finances, it went to Lapua, of Finland, for assistance, and Lapua took over the project in 1984. The result was the .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6 x 70mm) cartridge introduced in 1989.