339Lapua AI rifles ...

Otokiak

Otokiak

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Accuracy International makes a .338 Lapua rifle ... anyone have one? Details? Opinions? Pics? Thanks my fellow CGNer's,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
Glock-a-Maniac has one as well as HWSNBN both built on Nesika actions and Mcmillan A5 stocks by HWSNBN. They're sweet rigs but for pricing you'd have to talk to Rick or G-a-M by PM. Worth every penny though. Would be great for reaching out to touch tuktu.
 
If your looking at the actual Accuracy International AW rifle in 338 Lapua its a great gun. One of the best factory sniper rifles on the market, and your going to pay through the nose to get one!

Certainly a very well built, accurate gun!

You could get a very nice custom like Glock-A-Maniac's for about the same or less.

I think the AW's start at about $7000 base then extra for all accessories.
 
Also, consider a RUM variant. Way easier to put in an action and brass is 1/3 the price. These wildcats are usually based on the 300RUM case to get as much capacity as possible.

My version is an improved 338-300RUM (called the 338 Mystic). You will find info if you look for the 338 tomahawk. These two wildcats are very similar. Both will duplicate the 338AI. 300gr MK will go 3000 to 3100fps in longish barrels.

Not saying the Lapua is 'bad'. It's not. It works very very well. But there are other ways to reach the same goal.

Jerry
 
mysticplayer said:
Also, consider a RUM variant. Way easier to put in an action and brass is 1/3 the price. These wildcats are usually based on the 300RUM case to get as much capacity as possible.

My version is an improved 338-300RUM (called the 338 Mystic). You will find info if you look for the 338 tomahawk. These two wildcats are very similar. Both will duplicate the 338AI. 300gr MK will go 3000 to 3100fps in longish barrels.

Not saying the Lapua is 'bad'. It's not. It works very very well. But there are other ways to reach the same goal.

Jerry
Click to expand...



Mystic is right, if your going to punch paper, calibers like the tomahawk, 338 Edge, 338 Mystic, etc are far more economical than buying 338 Lapua Brass at $260 a box!!

Performance will be close or on par.
 
Thanks my fellow CGNer's as I am looking at ALL options, however I would like any info, opinions, pics on the ACTUAL Accuracy International .339 Lapua's if any CGNer's have one? Quyanamiiq(thank you),

Otokiak ... ;)
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
I shoot an AIW in .308 and since the .338 is identical, except larger and heavier I can speak to the basics of them.Try getting on the rifle, the stock is a love it or hate it relationship. I happen to love it and find it a very forgiving rifle to shoot, in that sometimes it feels that I pulled one, but a look at the target and it's right in there. Same thing with the trigger, some don't like the 2 stage trigger. I neither like it or hate it, but once I got used to it find it's no big deal to shoot and the trigger is very crisp with no creep at all.

The .308 anyways is a very accurate rifle and like I said forgiving to shoot. I only shoot with a rear bag if I'm zeroing. After that it's bi-pod only. For me the rifle balances and holds steady so nicely it shoots .5 MOA all day and if I'm on my game many of the groups will come in smaller than that.

The downfall is in the price. An AI-W is an expensive rifle and you are paying a lot to get the few small extra's it provides over a custom 700 type rifle. Also not a lot of smith's have much if any experience working on AI's so if you need repairs you will have to send it back to Wolverine or seek out a smith you trust and has some experience working on these rifles.
 
I totally disagree on requiring a gunsmith for any work on the AI's (AW / P's / AWM). The only special tools required is a barrel change kit (from AI), a bench vise and torque wrench to swap the barrel out and the tool kit that comes with rifle package for everything else.

AI put out a video of one of their techs doing a complete disassembly, including the barrel and reassemble, along with confirming headspace in under ten minutes.
Now, you can say, sure, an AI tech, they know what they are doing. Well, torque the barrel to spec and that is it. I have done it many times and can say it is factual.

Armour's don't call this rifle system boring for nothing.
 
I have only shot a 308. Stock did NOT fit me. Grip to trigger was too long for my tastes. Grip shape was also not comfy for me. Comb was too high relative to scope height and not offset enough so I got that scrunched up feeling. I am sure that much can be adjusted out except the grip size and location.

The thumbhole/rear hook layout is my prefered style for prone/bipod shooting but the AI stock didn't fit me well.

Feeding the rds is eerie. Extremely smooth. TOO smooth. I couldn't feel the rds being picked up so had to check often to ensure that it fed. I prefer to feel the resistance so I know if I have one in the pipe or am empty.

Bolt lift and movement was again superbly smooth and light. Two finger operation. Trigger nice and crisp was set a bit heavier then my liking but that is easily changed.

Field accuracy was fine and equal to all manner of rifles.

For me, I don't see value in the extreme price of this rifle.

Have a look at the Tikka/SAKO Tactical. I have shot one of these in 338L and it is a sweet running rig. Bipod design is novel and works great. Stock shape fit well as did trigger location. Lots of adjustment. Very accurate and a very well designed brake. Center feed but you get that hint of resistance when you pick up a rd. There is no doubt when there is one in the pipe. Operation is excellent and typical from this maker.

There was no issue hitting the mark at 1 mile.

Estimating cost is 1/3 to 1/2 that of the AI (not up on current pricing).

Jerry
 
AILapua, I totally agree the barrel swap and all that. It is extremely easy to do, if you have the tools and right now it is almost a 6 month wait to get them in. I was thinking more along the lines of any issues with the trigger, bolt or internal guts etc.(I have never had a problem with any of this by the way nor have the others I know shooting these rifles, but you never know) Personally I don't want a smith "learning" on my rifle that I paid a lot of money for as easy as it may be.
 
Here's something a lot of people don't really think about when they're buying a rifle such as a big ticket item like an AI or PGW or TRG or even a McMillan. Though all great rifles, you'd have to rebarrel them to shoot a 300gr match king type bullet. The 250gr bullets just drop right off after 1200yds. Also, I'm finding out just now after having to do load developement for a friend on his 338LM custom cut chamber is that with the shoulder on the 338LM, there is a ton of casing growth but with the sharp shouldered 338LM Ackley Improved, I've shot my casings 3 and 4 times so far and after using the bump die, they are still the same length that they started out life as an AI cartridge which is rather strange. In prepping the standard 338LM casing, i've got to shave 10thou off and that brass has only been shot once. I can see how that would get costly. Just a thought.
 
AILapua said:
I totally disagree on requiring a gunsmith for any work on the AI's (AW / P's / AWM). The only special tools required is a barrel change kit (from AI), a bench vise and torque wrench to swap the barrel out and the tool kit that comes with rifle package for everything else.

AI put out a video of one of their techs doing a complete disassembly, including the barrel and reassemble, along with confirming headspace in under ten minutes.
Now, you can say, sure, an AI tech, they know what they are doing. Well, torque the barrel to spec and that is it. I have done it many times and can say it is factual.

Armour's don't call this rifle system boring for nothing.
Click to expand...

I agree , the Torque for the AI barrel action are around 100inchs/pound, I saw the demo in Navada couple of year ago, it quite impressive, infact AI Actually sell the kits, so you could change the barrel youself...


Blackcloud said:
If your looking at the actual Accuracy International AW rifle in 338 Lapua its a great gun. One of the best factory sniper rifles on the market, and your going to pay through the nose to get one!

Certainly a very well built, accurate gun!

You could get a very nice custom like Glock-A-Maniac's for about the same or less.

I think the AW's start at about $7000 base then extra for all accessories.
Click to expand...


You right about paying though the Nose, but not just accurate but Rugged, the last time I saw one of Rick gun cost around the same price, infact I did ask him how much it cost to reproduces his rifle, and His word was around $10,000, it sure look nice but no where near the Rugged as the AI....

Gunboy
 
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Common problem with just about every factory 338L is that the mag length will not support an OAL over 4". The 300gr MK is going to be pushed pretty deep. That usually translate to fairly slow velocities.

The 338L is designed for the 250gr bullets and set up accordingly. A big bullet but not spectacular from a BC standpoint. Can still make the mile as was shown on a TRG tactical rifle a couple of years back. Did very well at that distance but not as impressive as a 300gr MK going fast.

Any 10twist barrel should stabilize the 300gr MK and I think that is still standard twist from the factory.

All improved/sharp shouldered cases show a strong resistance to case growth even when using toasty loads. That sharp shoulder helps control brass flow alot better.

My 6.5 Mystic cases have seen upwards of 20firings and have not trimmed them.

Jerry
 
Thanks for all the replies, opinions, etc ... as I'm seriously going to look into a .338 calibre rifle ... just not sure which way to go ... as it's all new to me ... but love the idea of shooting long range! Anybody got pics of their rifles? Bullets? Etc that come along with your .338?

Otokiak
Rankin INlet, nU
CANADA
p.s. for those gents that PM'ed me info ... thanks to you too! ;)
 
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