PGWDTI - .338 Lapua Semi Auto .......The DIREWOLF!!!!

I'm still genuinely curious about this, so a few questions to satisfy my curiosity:

1. What is game changing about this? We've already established that it's not game changing for the civilian commercial precision rifle segment, nor was it really designed for that. But what military applications does this design fulfill that current rifles were lacking in? I'm not trying to be critical or a pot stirrer here, I'm genuinely curious as "game changing" is a pretty bold statement with big implications. If it truly is a game changer, it would be really cool to hear about.
2. What government entities are picking this up? Any contracts in place for this specific rifle? Or is this a "build it and they will come" type of deal? I understand if you can't be too specific on this particular point.
3. Is the chamber a regular SAAMI/CIP spec for .338LM, or is it a spec in which you can optimally load the new long heavy BC bullets and get optimal case fill and yet still mag feed the rounds (4.00+" COAL rounds?) Or is it limited to SAAMI or CIP COAL?
4. Follow up to above, properietary mags or a commercially available mag?
 
kthomas said:
I'm still genuinely curious about this, so a few questions to satisfy my curiosity:

1. What is game changing about this? We've already established that it's not game changing for the civilian commercial precision rifle segment, nor was it really designed for that. But what military applications does this design fulfill that current rifles were lacking in? I'm not trying to be critical or a pot stirrer here, I'm genuinely curious as "game changing" is a pretty bold statement with big implications. If it truly is a game changer, it would be really cool to hear about.
2. What government entities are picking this up? Any contracts in place for this specific rifle? Or is this a "build it and they will come" type of deal? I understand if you can't be too specific on this particular point.
3. Is the chamber a regular SAAMI/CIP spec for .338LM, or is it a spec in which you can optimally load the new long heavy BC bullets and get optimal case fill and yet still mag feed the rounds (4.00+" COAL rounds?) Or is it limited to SAAMI or CIP COAL?
4. Follow up to above, properietary mags or a commercially available mag?
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A light (compared to a semi 50cal) semi 338Lap that is as accurate as a bolt gun seems to be pretty big game changer, since there is nothing presently like it being produced. I'm sure it will be greatly appreciated with whoever procures an order.
338Lap is used by NATO so there is a large market there, not exactly niche in that industry. They already supply CF with their 338Lap bolt guns, they have made deals with Ukraine recently for 50cal bolts, they have the networking and reputation already.
Body armour is improving and more available today, 7.62 does not pack the punch it use to, the 338 is far more capable near and far.
So far it appears to be prototype phase, but nearly ready for full launch.
If you want one built, they will throat it however you want. For military applications it will be standardized to the current NATO ammo offerings I imagine.
 
Hitzy said:
A light (compared to a semi 50cal) semi 338Lap that is as accurate as a bolt gun seems to be pretty big game changer, since there is nothing presently like it being produced. I'm sure it will be greatly appreciated with whoever procures an order.
338Lap is used by NATO so there is a large market there, not exactly niche in that industry. They already supply CF with their 338Lap bolt guns, they have made deals with Ukraine recently for 50cal bolts, they have the networking and reputation already.
Body armour is improving and more available today, 7.62 does not pack the punch it use to, the 338 is far more capable near and far.
So far it appears to be prototype phase, but nearly ready for full launch.
If you want one built, they will throat it however you want. For military applications it will be standardized to the current NATO ammo offerings I imagine.
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There's some cool ingenuity to it, no doubt about it. But I still fail to grasp how it's game changing. I would gander a lot of engagements with .338LM are with time of flights of 2+ seconds - you're not going to send out a second shot before where you see the first one ends up, and that's plenty of time to manipulate a bolt. A skilled shooter can shoot a bolt gun fairly rapidly. The US coast guard uses semi auto Barrett .50 cals for shooting fast moving hard targets such as drug running boats, I can see where this would also fill that role. But there's not many scenarios where I see a .338LM semi-auto being more optimal over a bolt gun.

Not trying to be argumentative, just trying to figure it out, and how the world of sniping for .gov is going to change with it. A true game changer in the works is the Hoplite Arms series of weapon systems and new high pressure cartridges and projectiles along with it. That's a game changer as it's going to raise the ceiling of ballistics for conventional long range weapon systems, and probably by a healthy margin. But I don't see how the dire wolf is "changing the game". Ingenious and inventive yes, but game changer? I would love to hear about how it's claiming to change the game so to speak.

Sure, they can ream it to whatever you want, but if it doesn't fit in the mag what's the point? I'm not sure about you, but single feeding a semi-auto seems pretty pointless to me. It would be a shame to have a .338LM but not able to take advantage of modern ballistic projectiles of the past 5-10 years. If it is limited to CIP mags, it would be much better off in .300NM or .338 NM, to take advantage of modern high BC projectiles while still being mag fed. Military groups are moving over to .300NM and .338NM for those reasons.
 
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For military applications, it could replace 1 to 3 weapon systems, depending on what the end user wants out of it.
It could replace the 308DMR, the bolt 338's, or the semi 50cals....or all 3 if that's what they want out of it.
This is why it is game changing.
 
Hitzy said:
For military applications, it could replace 1 to 3 weapon systems, depending on what the end user wants out of it.
It could replace the 308DMR, the bolt 338's, or the semi 50cals....or all 3 if that's what they want out of it.
This is why it is game changing.
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It will be interesting to see if that actually happens.

With the weight penalty of the system and .338LM ammo, I don't see it displacing the 308DMR in full capacity. Perhaps bolt 338's and semi 50 cals. Though I could understand it being a multi-role type rifle.

Guess time will tell how prominent and "game changing" it will be, if that is the case.
 
kthomas said:
It will be interesting to see if that actually happens.

With the weight penalty of the system and .338LM ammo, I don't see it displacing the 308DMR in full capacity. Perhaps bolt 338's and semi 50 cals. Though I could understand it being a multi-role type rifle.

Guess time will tell how prominent and "game changing" it will be, if that is the case.
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There is a weight penalty, but more often are targets presenting with body armour/plates that require a larger caliber, if a semi 308 is already being carried, the logical choice is not to go to a bolt gun if an accurate 338 exists in a semi form
 
Brian46 said:
There is a weight penalty, but more often are targets presenting with body armour/plates that require a larger caliber, if a semi 308 is already being carried, the logical choice is not to go to a bolt gun if an accurate 338 exists in a semi form
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That's a fair point. If it does change the game, then I'm looking forward to seeing them take a prominent place on the battlefield.
 
This is really interesting, congrats Steve and PGW, I bet this was a ton of work to make this happen, and I think it will be a game changer more so for military, as you said being able to launch a second projectile before the first one lands at the 800 yard mark. Kind of like a fast shooting 10 round semi shotgun for landing waterfowl compared to a bolt action for incoming birds... One would put more ducks in the freezer. I'm sure there will be interested parties.

On a side note, do you have any pics of a helical fluted barrel that exploded in testing or otherwise? I have it in my head that a helical fluted barrel would not splay outwards as bad and may decrease the likelihood of injury somewhat over straight fluting.

Also, did you use PTFE or some high temp plastic for the bushing for the tube?

Love reading about design challenges and overcoming them.
 
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