Re: Accuracy International Pics
I have a question for the AW owners. Can the end user switch calibers? Say a 338LM converted to a 300WM or the 308 to 260?
As for the comparisons between the Customs and the AI rifles I personally feel the break down goes AE, Custom (not a Rem but rifles built on Stiler, GA7K, Surgeon actions) then the AW. I spent many months window shopping before getting a precision rifle and read piles of reviews and opinions prior to getting one.
For the cost the AE is a great rifle and they shoot well. I honestly have a hard time believing that it will go toe to toe with a custom in regards to accuracy. I'm not taking this into combat so accuracy was my primary focus. When I considered the AE I factored in it would get a replacement tube from GAP which added considerably to the end cost. At this point I should admit that my logic may not make sense to everybody but this is how my mind works and the voices in my head agree
Aside from the barrel I had to ask what was unique about the AE over a Custom specifically a Surgeon in an AICS. The AE unlike its big brother is not bonded to the sub frame (lack of a better word) and is bolted to it just as a 700 in an AICS so no clear advantage there. What ultimately swayed it for me was the availability of repair parts for a 700 based action if ever needed I know that I can order new firing pins, springs, extractors etc. from Brownells and have it in a few days as opposed to waiting to get it from Tac Pro not to mention that most shops with an in house smith will probably have what you need already. Also the Surgeon and GA7K have identified the weak points of the 700 and corrected them. There are very few truly new actions out there AW and the ICON come to mind but other than that the rest are based on Mauser, Rem and Winchester or an amalgamation of several so I don’t think the 100 year old technology issue should be a deterrent…but then again I carry 1911's so maybe its just me.
The AW is another beast all together and I think that all around it has many advantages over the customs and the AE. The question of the barrel still is in my mind with this but I read that GAP makes barrels no problem and the end user can install without having to send the rifle to them I considered the cost of the "Kit" (999.00)to change the barrels and decided I have everything except for the action tool which looks easy enough to make myself. The AW has a completely different action from the AE with many innovative features, the nod goes to the AW on this. Lastly the factor of durability will always go to the AW in my book.
So the end comparison for me was an AE (3200.00) and a new barrel (350.00 plus install shipping and insurance both ways), a Surgeon in an AICS (3700.00 delivered) or the AW (4800.00 in 308 and again figure a barrel without the install charge). I ended up spliting the difference and got the Surgeon thinking in terms of accuracy I think it was the best choice of the three and had equal durability to the AE, to be blunt the AW was considerably more than I was willing to spend…maybe one day.
Off topic I also was dead set on the TRG but the pressed in barrel was a real negative feature for me because as much as I like the TRG you are stuck with the factory tube and from what I read it can only be replaced at the factory (Beretta ships them back to Finland).
Once I find some suitable places to shoot to 1K I would like to get a 338LM or 300WM and will more than likely go with the AWM so Its not like I'm AI bashing just trying to explain to those who like myself were torn between all of these great rifles what lead me to the choice I made. Besides its going to be a year or two before I can afford an AWM and SB PM2.
DCC