Type 88 Sniper

[lawn gnome]

I think that the Type 88 best compares to the SL8.
By the time you kit out an SL8, you might just as well have paid for a ready to go Type 88.

Tactical Imports is going to kill my wallet over the next year or so.
I was so ready to jump on this if I didn't have my SAF on order too.

[j_brand]

I am still compiling a proper range report for the type 88 (actually KBU-97A) but here are some initial highlights, bear in mind I am not a competition class shooter.

The rifle I use is one the first 7 to come into Canada through Lever Arms several years ago and I purchased it used this year. I estimate 500-1000 rounds have gone down the barrel at this point, 400 of my own.

The rifle has a floating firing pin which can lead to accidental firings on the bolt closing if soft primer ammunition is used. So far Remington UMC and Hornady have made the list averaging about 1 in 20 rounds of second round detonations. I have not experienced any three-round bursts or discharge on loading (bolt closing manually), it has always been on blow-back closing of the bolt after firing. Winchester Olin and military surplus seem immune from this and I still need to verify American Eagle.

There are two solutions.
1. insert heavy grease into firing pin and re-apply when cleaning. I went about 250 rounds before an accidental detonation re-occurred.
2. a gunsmith can insert a spring into the firing pin chamber to resolve the matter permanently. Lever offers this service for about $100.

The supplied scope is a 3x9 variable First Focal Plane scope with eye relief boot and illuminated reticule (3.6v battery). There is no focus adjustment that I can find and I need to press my eye right into the boot for best vision. The rifle lends itself best to prone shooting. Clarity of the optics is good and there is some drift when changing zoom levels. Range is graduated to from 1-2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 (100's m)

Magazines are 10 round AK style rock-in pined to 5 rounds (mine are pined so tight the magazine cannot be inserted on a closed bolt with 5 rounds. Release is not very quick but then again it doesn't need to be.

The safety is behind the magazine release and located below the action, cumbersome to use. The trigger is smooth and responsive without any noticeable slack. There is a barely noticeable pull change just before release. When I'm in tune I can pull off some very nice groups.

With the tight twist (reported a 1 turn in 8.1", not verified) I was expecting it would behave better on heavier ammunition. There is a very slight improvement on 62gr AE over 55gr AE tactical or Olin and event the 75gr Hornaby Match; but this may be my own current accuracy limitations. Overall I've managed groups below 1 7/8" at 100m and 4" 200m. This compares just below a Colt AR15 heavy match barrel with the same ammo at 1 5/8" group at 100m. There are no issues feeding this rifle, it will eat anything I throw in the magazine.

Field stripping is easy and requires no tools. A dream to clean except for the gas adjust port has a tendency to require some force to remove after firing 50+ rounds.

The ejection system is something else, I try to make sure there is no one right of me as the cases will fly up to 15m on a high trajectory and place a flat spot on the rim of the case as it leaves. I have not investigated if this can be resolved but the rounds I have sized did not appear to suffer any ill effects from it.

Blow back settings, the ejection system has three settings Normal, Off and Fouled, I usual use the Normal but have used the Off to place the action into single shot. There was no identifiable difference in accuracy and you have to keep your hand clear of the ejection port or the spent shell will bounce back into the action. Nice option though.

The included bi-pod clips loosely onto the barrel and I have not seen any appreciable change in accuracy between bench rest and bi-podded. At it's lowest setting it is a bit tall to use on a bench but ideal for prone, this has become my normal shooting position for this rifle.

Overall conclusion.
The accuracy is quite good and compared to the cost of other, similar firearms, I think it was money well spent. It is a blast to shoot and easy to feed. I'd do it again.

PS compared to the Kel-Tec RFB I like the little Poodle Shooter best, but it's nice to have the 308 come deer season, it will make a fun bush gun.

[Deckard]

Can lefties shoot it?

[Tactical Imports]

Can lefties shoot it?

Yes. However a custom brass deflector would be highly recommended. The gunsmith we work with can do this.

[billyong]

NON-RESTRICTED?? So ..you can use this for hunting?? Can anyone confirm that??

[JNA]

NON-RESTRICTED?? So ..you can use this for hunting?? Can anyone confirm that??

You can hunt with non-restricteds...HOWEVER it depends on what you are hunting and the location you are hunting. Should probably read up on the FAQ or look up hunting in Canada info.

[TV-PressPass]

In Alberta you cannot hunt deer with the .223 round. But I understand that in Manitoba and BC you can use it to zip those tiny deer.

[SCDL]

NON-RESTRICTED?? So ..you can use this for hunting?? Can anyone confirm that??

It should make for an excellent coyote rifle.

[Evil_Edie]

is the scope's BDC properly measured for 5.56 or is it just the ones for 5.8? Does it make a difference?

[Tactical Imports]

is the scope's BDC properly measured for 5.56 or is it just the ones for 5.8? Does it make a difference?

Measured for 5.56