timberwolf 338 snipe tac or 338 lapua AI ????

ChaosTraitor

ChaosTraitor

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I have had an envelop in my gun safe for three years now i stuff money into. there is finally enough money in it to buy what i want , well my second choice anyway (1st being 408 chey tac intervention) . but that will have to wait.

I just cant decide 338ai or 338 snipe tac. anyone know if the snipe tac eats brass and barrels, what kind of life can i expect out of it. i don't run any of my guns at max load unless they like it.any other pros cons.

also theirs been a lot of threads about the desert tactical srs vs timberwolf. but all of them get side tracked and drift off into thin air, at risk of starting another one of those i would like to know owners opinions on the srs. :onCrack:
 
The Snipe-Tac will handcuff you with brass. The .338LAI will not. The Snipe-Tac is reported to move a 300 SMK to around 3250 FPS, the .338LAI to 3050, and 3100. Depending on how you shoot, either in matches, or not, will determine barrel life. Some say as low as 1500, others well over 4000. Can't know the difference in the rifles, but with that much dough in the envelope, I would take a long, hard look at a custom.

R.
 
Head over to longrangehunting.com where there are shooter who use these monsters and can give first hand info.

The 408CT brass is readily available. Dies on the other hand aren't.

Barrel life depends on what you consider accurate. Given the bore ratio and amount of powder burnt - life would be short.

BUT if this is a once in a while, put a grin on your face type gun, then it can last a 'long' time.

Sounds like you are trying to put a dream rig together so there can't be any wrong answers.

Just make sure you can get the hardware to build this rig. Mega long mags and actions aren't as easy to find standard mag stuff.

It's all fun so have at it and enjoy.

Also consider the Edge and variants on the 300RUM case.

Jerry
 
Ignore this if my line of questions and remarks lead you in the wrong direction.

I started with a 338 RUM rifle and now have 2 custom 338 AI rifles as well.

I would seriously consider your reasons for wanting a .338 or larger caliber.

My personal justifications were: "ethical large north american game hunting" & "long range target shooting"

I only really get out to shoot beyond 600 yards about 5 times a year, my .223 hits paper at 1200 yards at a fraction of the cost & i am pretty sure my 45-70 would have been just as effective for my elk last year.

And even though i know that the above comments i still choose to keep my rifles and pay for the ammunition.

If your heart is set on a .338 i would encourage you to spend a small portion of your budget and see if you can test fire/handle versions of the rifles before making your final decision.
 
I've got a question for those of you in "the know" concerning the AI Lapua. If a standard Lapua can get the 300 SMK going at around 2800 fps how can Ackley Improving the case bump that speed into the 3000+ zone? Doesn't make sense to me.
 
the 338 LM is rated at just over 2700fps as SAAMI spec in a 24"/26" barrel. Longer barrel and different barrel specs can let you touch 2800fps. Some barrels will not allow you to reach these velocities accurately so you need to take max speeds with a grain of salt.

AI versions should give you another 100 to 150fps more speed all things being equal.

A number of shooters are reporting much higher speeds and this is possible in very long barrels ie 30 to 42" barrels.

Otherwise, pressures have likely been run very high and well above SAAMI limits.

The 338 LM is a magnum cartridge and data is loaded to allowable pressures. Exceeding this means someone has long barrels, and/or access to powders the big boys can't access, and/or run really high pressures which may be unsafe.

In the 338 boomer world, the 338 LM is a small case (just like the 308W is in the rifle cartridge world). The improved version is a bit bigger but still dwarfed by such monsters as the 338-378Wby, 338-416 Rigby improved and 338 Snipe Tac.

The 338 RUM and LM are very similar in case volume.

The 338 Edge is very similar in case volume to the 338 LM improved and offer similar performance.

Jerry
 
Call Ross or Steve at Prairie Gun Works and speak with them directly. They are THE horses mouth in this case, and i think you will find what you are looking for.
 
mysticplayer said:
The 338 Edge is very similar in case volume to the 338 LM improved and offer similar performance.

Jerry
Click to expand...

The Edge is a fair bit smaller than the 338Lapua Imp.
The LAI is so close to the 338/378 as to be the same.

338/378 Weatherby brass is not comparable to Lapua.

IIRC the 338/408 uses powder charges in the 150 grain range and is nearly 50% larger than the 338/378. I understand case life to be 500 rounds.
I have heard mixed reviews about the CT (Jamison) brass.

IMHO if you can't get it done with a 300SMK at 2800fps it wont happen.

Westside is right.
 
I have a 338LM Timberwolf and a 338AI from ATRS. Before I went this route I was looking at the Snipetac as well. I called Black Diamond Rifles and asked a few questions. The thing that put me of was the 800 to 1200 round life of the barrel from it, was Dave that told me that as well.

My Timberwolf pushes the 300g at 2725 and the 250's at 2980. The AI pushes the 300's at 3020.

Both shoot 1/2 MOA when I do my part.
 
If I was trying to get more performance from a 338 the AI offers the easiest route over standard 338 Lapua. The figures that JB quotes above are impressive. Having said that the standard 338 Lapua certainly qualifies as a long range round and you would be well served by it as well.
 
i have decided to rule out the snipe tac . the AI is what im leaning on , but it seems to be common consensus that the plan 338 lapua would be fine. i do agree of course, but i cant see it hurting to have a little extra horse power.

and i am set on the timberwolf, i like the idea of a proven rifle made over and over again in the same fashion , the people making then are going to be extremely good at it and the product has no choice but to be perfect.

im going to call and see what they have to say, might solve lifes little battles

thanks guys i will continue to beat my head on the wall before parting with my money,
 
also i have my own range with a safe shooting distance of 870yards, plus its a very short drive to the mountains, i bring my horses and plant steel targets out there, to try and hit from the next ridge or two over. im not good enough at doping wind to get my 7mm to hit consistently and would like a heaver bullet. in the fantasy land i live in, one day i may think im good enough to hunt at distances past 600yards. although it seems scary, anyone that's ever shoot an animal poorly and spent the next four days tracking it through the mountains knows better then to miss.

needless to say i will wear the barrel out, im not to shy to get another one. just want to make sure i get the most out of what im buying. as this will be my first of the long range 338s it dont hurt to ask and try to make sound decisions.

thanks to all keep it coming if you have more to say.
 
I think you should Talk to Rick at Alberta tactical, for the money your going to spend on one of those he can build you one of your dreams and give you all the answers you want.
 
also a thought in my mined is the tolerance used in the action, this rifle will be hunted with hard week long back packing trips are not uncommon for my hunting party , and cleaning supply's are limited so if snow and dirt gets into it (with in reason) i dont want a custom action built perfectly that wont close anymore cause someone actually used it. that's why timberwolf is my choice , snipers lay in the dirt , hunters lay in the dirt and so on and so forth.

unless im mistaken please inform.
 
My 338 LM gets 300 SMKs to a touch over 2700 with a reasonable 87-ish grains of powder. I do not need any more performance or expense for powder - it will do more than I am capable of and all that I require of an LR toy.

IMO, It does not get any better than a Canadian-made PGW Timberwolf in boring old 338 LM:D.
 
ill be honest with you, here in gagetown we have a "few" c14 timberwolves. there are nice but there has been issues. 2500 rounds is about all they are good for then they start to get LESS acurate. some of ours have arrived and were diffrent than the rest(changed machining?) . dollar for dollar they are a very FINE rifle. we have sent our reports to ottawa and since ive think there has been no more issues with these rifles. ive shot them as far as 800 meters and im not a good shot, the guys who use them as part of their work are very good with them and love to u
HPIM5464-1.jpg
se them. i just fix them.
 
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