Accuracy International AX338
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 686 mm
- Weight, empty
- 7.80 kg
- Introduced
- 2010
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Accuracy International AX338 is a dedicated .338 Lapua Magnum bolt-action sniper rifle introduced in 2010 as part of AI's next-generation AX platform. The AX338 features a lengthened action and internal magazine specifically designed to exploit the full ballistic potential of the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge. Weighing 7.8 kg empty, the rifle is built on an aluminum chassis with a 686mm stainless steel match-grade free-floating barrel featuring a 1:9.375-inch twist rate optimized for heavy, high-BC projectiles. The 10-round double-stack detachable magazine represents a significant capacity increase over the 5-round magazines of the earlier AWM series. The chassis incorporates fully adjustable cheek piece, side-folding stock, rear monopod, and forward accessory rails conforming to MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny specifications. The high-efficiency muzzle brake is standard, with suppressor and tactical muzzle brake options available.
The AX338 was Accuracy International's answer to military demands for a next-generation long-range platform that could deliver more rounds downrange without magazine changes. By doubling the magazine capacity of the AWM from 5 to 10 rounds, the AX338 gave snipers a significant tactical advantage in sustained engagement scenarios.
The AX338 was designed as the successor to the AWM in .338 Lapua Magnum. The key improvements over the AWM include a 10-round double-stack magazine (versus 5 rounds), improved ergonomics with fully adjustable chassis, and a modular design with quick-change barrel capability. The 238mm (1:9.375-inch) twist rate is specifically optimized for stabilizing longer, heavier VLD bullets in .338 caliber. The AX338 was eventually superseded by the AXMC (multi-caliber) and AXSR platforms, though it remains in production and service.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Accuracy International
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2010
- Variant of
- Long range magnum
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 686 mm
- Overall length
- 1250 mm
- Weight, empty
- 7.80 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 8.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Trigger pull
- 15.0 N
- Capacity
- 10
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Stock
- Aluminum chassis polymer furniture
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 900 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 6570 J
- Effective range
- 1500 m
- Maximum range
- 5000 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Free floating barrel
Adjustable cheek piece
Folding stock
Muzzle brake
Suppressor ready
Picatinny rail
Adjustable buttpad
Forward accessory rails
Rear monopod
Quick change barrel
Double stack magazine
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 39 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 7.80 kg | 6.53 kg | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 37 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 1250 mm | 1230 mm | Longer than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 39 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 686 mm | 686 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 39 .338 Lapua Magnum sniper rifles | 10 | 5 | Holds more rounds than about 90% |
Answers
Questions about the Accuracy International AX338
How much does the Accuracy International AX338 weigh?
The Accuracy International AX338 weighs 7.80 kg (17.20 lb) empty and 8.20 kg (18.08 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Accuracy International AX338?
The Accuracy International AX338 is chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum.
How many rounds does the Accuracy International AX338 hold?
The Accuracy International AX338 holds 10 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Accuracy International AX338?
The Accuracy International AX338 is 1250 mm (49.2 in) long overall, with a 686 mm (27.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Accuracy International AX338?
The Accuracy International AX338 is made by Accuracy International (United Kingdom).
When was the Accuracy International AX338 introduced?
The Accuracy International AX338 was introduced in 2010.
How does the Accuracy International AX338 operate?
The Accuracy International AX338 uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- British Armed Forces
- United Kingdom
- German Bundeswehr
- Germany
- Australian Defence Force
- Australia
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/accuracy-international-ax338' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "accuracy-international-ax338", "name": "Accuracy International AX338", "manufacturer": { "id": "accuracy-international", "name": "Accuracy International", "countryCode": "GB", "foundedYear": 1978, "website": "https://www.accuracyinternational.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:34", "version": "866df02489fa366bae9eb49362c9e929d73f7a1c5456d99b5727d9c049063c47" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "GB", "year_introduced": 2010, "barrel_length_mm": 686, "weight_empty_g": 7800, "action_type": "bolt_action"}