IWI DAN .338 LAPUA Sniper Rifle

IWI or Israel Weapons Industry has introduced their DAN sniper rifle in .338 LAPUA to the civilian market. Originally designed several years ago for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) special forces, the DAN has also seen combat with British SAS and Special Forces troops. This is the first foray into bolt action rifles by IWI.

The offset bolt handle made manipulation very easy and smooth.

The IWI DAN was designed with direct input from the IDF Special Forces the rifle was designed to serve. From muzzle to stock the DAN presents the shooter with mission specific features to help the shooter and rifle become one homogenous unit. Chambered for .338 LAPUA Magnum ammunition, the DAN sniper rifle is reported to maintain sub-MOA accuracy for distances of more than 1200m. The .338 LAPUA has become one of the most preferred calibers for extreme long range engagements due to its flat trajectory while maintaining significant energy out to distance.

The DAN has a cold-hammer forged, free-floating, heavy barrel with heavy fluting.

The DAN comes with a fast interchangeable barrel that can be easily changed without tailored tools. The barrel on the DAN is a heavy bull barrel design with heavy fluting all around the barrel. The barrel is threaded at the muzzle in a standard 5/8 x 24 format with an included protective cover. This sets the shooter up for easy addition of suppressors or other muzzle devices.

The DAN safety lever is clearly seen outside of the trigger well (safety on position).

Another view of the DAN receiver and controls.

The trigger on the DAN is user adjustable from 2.5 to 3.5 pounds of pull. There are 2 pins to unscrew to drop the trigger for adjustment. The DAN uses a trigger block safety that is ambidextrous. The safety lever is located on the right side of the trigger well, but is ambidextrous. When on safe, the safety lever hangs vertical over the trigger well opening. To release the safety the shooter simply extends their trigger finger to push the lever forward and completely out of the way of the trigger and trigger well.

The fully adjustable DAN stock draws the shooter into a perfect fit to the rifle.

The DAN stock is also foldable to the right, locking in at 180-degree forward.

The left side of the stock, note push-button control features.

IWI designed the DAN with a full range of adjustments. The stock has push-button adjustments for length of pull (LOP), cheek weld, and butt stock height. The push-button design makes adjustments very quick, and the adjustments are securely locked into pre-set minute adjustment notches. The stock also comes with a 1.5 inch rubberized buttstock to assist in recoil management.

A full length top Picatinny rail with 20 MOA drop is complimented with full bottom rail and 3-inch attachments on the sides.

There is plenty of Picatinny rail on the DAN providing for excellent options for accessory attachments. The top rail is full length and continual from the back of the receiver to the front of the free-floated aluminum hand guard. The top rail is designed with a full 20 MOA canted drop. The handguard is designed for M-Lok attachments, but comes standard with 3-inch Picatinny attachments at the 3 and 9 o’clock positions. The rear of the hand guard has another full length Picatinny rail providing personal preference for attachments.

The DAN comes with IWI 10-round detachable box magazine. The safety lever, and magazine release lever below the trigger well are also visible.

The IWI DAN features a 10 round, drop free magazine that is proprietary to IWI. The representatives explained their unique magazine release required a proprietary magazine. That ambidextrous magazine release is a knob located underneath the trigger guard. The release can be easily manipulated by either hand, and uses a simply sliding movement to disengage the magazine.

The bolt key is secured just below and left of the IWI emblem.

In the event the shooter wants to get into the bolt for cleaning and maintenance, the DAN stock has a built-in key that securely stores in the bottom of the stock. This key can be used to unlock the bolt to release the firing pin and allow greater cleaning.

IWI DAN .338 Specifications

• Overall Length: 47.5 inches (1206.5 mm)
• Barrel Length: 28 inches (711.2 mm)
• Weight: 15.2 pounds (6.89 kg) (unloaded, without bipod/mono pod)
• Caliber: .338 LAPUA
• Twist Rate: 1:10
• Trigger Pull: 2.5 – 3.5 pounds (1.13 – 1.59 kg)
• Atlas BT46-LW17 PSR bipod
• Foldable and adjustable ACCU-SHOT BT13-QK-PRM mono-pod
• MSRP: $8999.00 (U.S.)
• *Note: Length and weight is directly from IWI rep. and could reflect civilian version.*

A close up of the bolt and off-set and enlarged bolt handle (note safety in the fire position).

IWI DAN .338 Features

• Aluminum alloy modular chassis
• 3-inch MIL-STD 1913 (Picatinny) Rails at 3, and 9 o’clock positions
• Top and bottom Picatinny rails are continuous
• Adjustable cheek rest
• Lightweight foldable butt stock with adjustable Length of Pull (LOP)
• Adjustable butt stock height
• Heavy fluted, cold-hammer forged, free-floated barrel
• 5/8 x 24 inch threaded barrel for optional quick screw-on suppressor
• Sub-MOA accuracy
• 10-round detachable IWI proprietary metal magazine
•  Ambidextrous safety and magazine release
• 2-stage adjustable trigger
• Quick interchangeable barrel without special tools
• Ambidextrous safety and magazine release
• Borka PTL precision torque limiter wrench included
• Pelican hard-plastic, lockable case with custom foam cut-outs.

Unfortunately IWI was not allowing the DAN to be test fired at the range. I would have loved to give it a go on the 1000 yard range Industry Day uses in Boulder City. Despite the disappointment of not getting to shoot the DAN, from all I’ve observed it appears to be a very well designed and purpose-built rifle.