Timberwolf .338 PGW

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Summary

Country🇨🇦 Canada
CategorySniper rifle
ManufacturerPrairie Gun Works

Technical specifications

Timberwolf .338 PGW
Fire RateSingle shot rounds/min.
Caliber.338 Lapua and .408 CheyTac
Magazine5 rounds
Length1200 mm (47.2 in)
Weight7.1 kg (15.7 lb)
Range1500 m (4921 ft)

Description

The Timberwolf rifle was originally developed as a civilian long-range hunting and sport shooting rifle for super magnum cartridges by Prairie Gun Works, now PGW Defence Technologies Inc. During the 1990s, the Canadian Armed Forces formulated a requirement for a sniper rifle capable of an anti-personnel role up to 1,200 m (1,312 yd) to replace the 7.62×51mm NATO C3A1 rifle. In 2001, the C14 Timberwolf MRSWS was selected, and production for the Canadian Forces Land Command began in 2005 following a contract award. Since its introduction, the C14 Timberwolf MRSWS has become the primary sniper rifle in the Canadian Armed Forces arsenal, gradually replacing the C3A1. The manufacturer states that the C14 Timberwolf has an accuracy potential of sub 0.75 MOA with proper ammunition. The Canadian Forces accuracy standard required hitting a chest-sized target at 1,200 m (1,312 yd) 90% of the time, and PGW Defence Technologies Inc. averaged over 95% on this standard.

The C14 Timberwolf MRSWS rifle is chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, achieving a maximum muzzle velocity of 838 m/s (2750 ft/s) with 19.44 g (300 gr) Sierra Matchking loads. It utilizes a manually operated stainless steel bolt action with a right-hand side bolt and ejection port. The bolt is a rotary design featuring dual front locking lugs and an additional rear locking lug, requiring a 90-degree bolt rotation. The bolt is partly helically fluted and features a double plunger ejector and hook-type extractor. The single stage trigger is adjustable for weight, creep, and over-travel. The barrel is a modified, heavy free-floating Krieger barrel, typically 660 mm (26 in) long, with a 254 mm (1 in 10 inch) twist rate optimized for heavy, very-low-drag bullets. Barrels are cryogenic stress relieved and partly helically fluted, and feature a detachable proprietary stainless steel muzzle brake. The safety is a three-position type with a middle "field strip" position. Feeding is via a five-round detachable box magazine positioned ahead of the trigger guard. There are no default iron sights, but an integral picatinny rail with a 25 MOA forward slope is fitted for mounting optical sights. Two smaller lengths of MIL-STD-1913 rail are located at the forefront of the stock for accessories. The stock is a McMillan A5 composite stock with an adjustable saddle cheekpiece and spacer plates for length of pull, made from high-strength fiberglass with a PGWDTI-Titanium Cantilever Monoblock bedding block. The system accepts customary sniper weapon accessories.

The civilian Timberwolf rifle is offered in various chamberings, including the .408 Cheyenne Tactical and .416 PGW wildcat cartridges, which are dimensionally larger and more powerful than the .338 Lapua Magnum used in the C14. The civilian precision hunting rifle variant is offered with a 737 mm (29 in) custom barrel, which can also be fitted to the military version. The manufacturer offers a titanium receiver as an alternative to the stainless steel used in the C14 receiver, though this is not used by the Canadian military.

The C14 Timberwolf MRSWS is currently the primary sniper rifle within the Canadian Armed Forces, having gradually replaced the C3A1 and is reportedly highly rated by snipers. The rifle system was delivered by the Canadian government to Ukrainian forces in early 2022.

Users of the Timberwolf include:

  • Canada (Canadian Forces)

  • the United Kingdom (SAS)

  • Saudi Arabia (Royal Saudi Land Force)

  • Ukraine (Ukrainian Ground Forces and Ukrainian Marine Corps)