Accuracy International AX338 questions

[adrian44]

I've been eyeing this rifle for a while and by Christmas I will be in a position to finally purchase one. I own a few 700 and Steyrs and they all shoot more accurately than I'm capable of, so it's basically the pride of ownership and the cool factor in addition to having a rifle in the revered 338 Lapua Mag caliber. Have some questions and seeking feedback and opinions from owners of the AX series.

I've never seen one in flesh, but saw a video on youtube where someone was critical of his AX's stock, citing among other gripes that the fit of the parts together is a little off in places. How do you rate the fit of the rifle and stock? Did you spot any issues?

Also, heard that a decision was made to put the stock of the PSR version on all standard AX rifles in the near future. I like the stock of the PSR better, particular that it folds on the bolt's side for less overall width when folded. Is there any truth to this stock upgrade news on standard AX rifles?

Thank you very much in advance.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I don't know anything about the PSR stock being standard and unless AI has released that info anyone who does can't say anything about it. That said I have a AX308 and have had a AE MKI 308, a AW338, a AW308 as well as probably a dozen AICS chassis. The fit and finish on both the rifles and chassis are superb. I have seen a few complained about gaps in the skins but it hasn't been my experience. All of mine have had flawless seams. The skins however are molded parts and could easily not be perfectly uniform on every one, I don't think they could possibly get out of whack enough to have enough of a gap or fit issue to cause a problem though. I'd like to see this video you speak of just out of curiosity.

 

[adrian44]

There you go

 

[siglover]

I should have my AX 338 sometime next week. Once i have it in hand i'll be able to give my initial thoughts on the rifle.. Like yourself I've never seen or touched one. Kind of crazy if you think about it since your spending this much money. Also I haven't heard about them switching out the stock but someone did tell me they might be redesigning the butt spike. Who knows if this is even true, I think the design of the butt spike is pretty flawless.

 

[adrian44]

I should have my AX 338 sometime next week. Once i have it in hand i'll be able to give my initial thoughts on the rifle.. Like yourself I've never seen or touched one. Kind of crazy if you think about it since your spending this much money. Also I haven't heard about them switching out the stock but someone did tell me they might be redesigning the butt spike. Who knows if this is even true, I think the design of the butt spike is pretty flawless.

I'll be looking forward to hearing your detailed observations and seeing photos of your new baby

 

[Defusion]

What I heard is that the upcoming AX300 will basically be the PSR without the rest of the kit. It would make sense if they would do the same with the 338 and 308, but haven't heard anything about that yet.

 

[E. Bryant]

OK, quick confession - I hadn't even looked my AX338 over that closely prior to reading this thread, so maybe my indifference towards these matters makes me wholly unqualified to contribute a meaningful opinion on matters of fit-and-finish. That being said, I also spent 14 years as an engineer at an automotive supplier which did interior trim materials (I worked on projects for companies like Audi and Bentley), so I can be one picky SOB if need be.

All that being said, my rifle is pretty much flawless from a mechanical and functional perspective. There are some areas where the fit-and-finish could be improved, such as a few places where the "skins" of the pistol grip and stock have a small gap (<1mm) at the seams. It doesn't bother me since it doesn't affect the rifle's function, but someone else might get miffed. The metal finish on the rifle is fine (the only think that keeps me from calling it "flawless" is evidence of the epoxy joint between the receiver and chassis, which I've noticed on every other AW and AX that I've seen in person), and has the sort of utilitarian tough appearance that I'd expect from a hard-use tool. The alignment of the scope rail to the forearm rail is perfect on my 338 (my AX308 was pretty bad out of the box, but it only took a few minutes with a hex driver to loosen the fasteners and get it back to where it should be).

Ultimately, I do feel that grading an AI on the basis of aesthetics is a bit strange - kinda like passing judgement on a new Ford F-550 commercial vehicle based upon the touchy-feely quality of its interior materials and paint appearance, and claiming it to be inferior to a luxury car of similar price. Just because something is expensive doesn't mean that it has to look nice

I really like the concept of the right-folding PSR stock, but am curious to see what the cost penalty will be if this option is made available on the AX. I can say that I'm unlikely to shell out any extra for the feature, seeing as how I eschewed the quick-adjust options on the cheek riser and buttpad because I couldn't quite justify the cost.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

There you go

That guys a fucking idiot.

1. He's complaining about manipulating the magazine lever but do you see how he's doing it? I mean really? That's how he expects to work in with a action and scope on it? You smack it with either thumb. He's also complaining about having to break his grip... well guess what genius, you have to do that every time you run the bolt anyway. This latch is how pretty much every DBM system on the market releases the mag.

2. His complaint about the right side sling hook being in the way of working the safety... you will never have your hand that far back while working the safety, once again a non issue. I do agree though that is should go based on the fact the chassis is covered with QD sockets and having a single sling loop is pointless.

3. Complaint #3 about the folding mechanism and the latch for it is another retard moment. Your massive side parralax is going to hang out much further than that latch and catch on things. Your bolt knob that won't be up against your body like that latch, or your windage or elevation knob that hangs out will prevent much more of a problem of catching on things. And why the fuck do you need to get a proper grip when the stock is folded? I mean really? I've folded the stock on AICS chassis rifles on the rare occasion I was in a awkward and it was a little more comfortable but I still had no problem just because I couldn't get my thumb all the way around it. Half the time with I shoot a standard AI chassis or AX I rest my thumb on the side of the stock anyway. Either way the chance you will need to get a proper grip with the stock folded is almost non existent.

This is a mall ninja tabletop review from somebody who doesn't have a clue what he's holding or how to use it and is obviously overly picky and looking for something to complain about.

 

[Trigger Monkey]

I watched that video just before I bought my AX chassis and now that I have mine to be honest most of the guy's comments don't hold a lot of water with me so here are my counterpoints. Firstly he makes the magazine changes with the AX chassis look awkward and completely unintuitive, which hasn't been my experience. It appears he's trying to go about it AR-style when he really needs to think in terms of AK/FAL mag changes using the left hand while the right maintains a shooting grip. Doing it that way I've been able to maintain a shooting position on target without canting the rifle and loaded up a 10 rounder, no issues. There are trigger guards and replacement latches that allow a shooter to more easily drop the mag with the trigger finger but the old latch styles are best run with the left thumb IMO. I also haven't had a problem yet with the sling hook/guard deal on the right side getting in the way of my hand to flip the safety off, my hand is typically coming up from the grip and well forward of that loop so it's a non-issue. I also don't have a problem with getting a handle on the pistol grip with the stock completely folded and I doubt the stud that helps capture the stock is going to be any more of a vine magnet than the bolt knob, turrets, bipod, or the sling loop on the right while he's "in the bush". I do agree with him though that my skins were a little sharp when I first got them but after about two minutes with some wet/dry sandpaper on the pistol grip and trigger guard it was smooth and my hands are blister free. The video is an ok show and tell piece but I wouldn't necessarily use it to make an informed decision, there's a difference between holding it and postulating how something will work and using it to really find out.

 

[adrian44]

The video is an ok show and tell piece but I wouldn't necessarily use it to make an informed decision

Definitely. That's why the only complaint of his that I cared to ask about was the fit thing. Everything else didn't sound like an issue. Thanks for the input.

 

[long range newbie]

yeah it seems like he need a different stock because he wants some totally different stock it seems like. (really? keep proper grip while folded? are you going to shoot it like a pistol?) some people complain about the pros of a stock, and complain about the little things when really it doesn't affect the function at all.

 

[Mendy300wm]

What are you dick heads talking about!?! I get caught in grape vines all the time when I'm walking thought my vineyard shooting crows from the hip with the stock folded on my 300mag... I crack my self up sometimes

 

[long range newbie]

lol yeah and I'm shooting house sparrows with my 338 folded when i'm barbecuing, I even use it to flip my burgers. sometimes my s&b gets caught in the the grill (IDK how) and I just keep cooking with it sitting there, it still holds .1 groups at 1k. oh and the Coriolis effect prototype helps a lot.