I’m feeling really happy after my morning shoot, I’ve been chasing my tail a little bit getting comfortable with an A.I.
I picked up an AIAT on a trade and shot it a couple times and couldn’t get comfortable. I had some issues loading for it with the large firing pin, I had bad primer flow and a couple pierced primers. I didn’t have a lot of money into the setup so I was willing to throw some money at the problem.
I sent the bolt out to Long Rifles Inc (LRI) to get bushed down (amazing process and fast turn around), my buddy
@dirthead1 and I took a torch to it and installed the AX Buttstock. I got a new optic mounted on it and I’m to the point now where this might be my favorite rifle...
I’ve been calling it Frankenstein. I’m excited how it turned out and can’t wait to run it thru the paces this summer, shooting season is in full swing in the Arizona Mountains. Took it out to 1K this morning.
Specs:
2014 AIAT with AX Buttstock
Tangent Theta Gen 3XR
Spuhr 4006
Area 419 Hellfire
Long Rifles Inc bushed bolt
Atlas CAL and Atlas Spigot
@samb300 Thumbrest kit
View attachment 7079689
I wish I had the same day as you, but mine was very frustrating. I was going to set zero on the NF as well as test a variety of factory loads to see what this rifle prefers before I work some handloads. What I ended up with were marginal groups at best.
I was shooting the AI .260R at 100y, prone and off a concrete slab that is range 1 at Quantico. I switched to rubber feet on the Atlas and used the front tabs of the mat to load the bipod.
I had a variety of factory .260 including: Hornady 130 ELD-M, Berger 130, 136 and 140, FGMM in 142, Black Hills and McCourt.
I shot a CCB sighter at the center orange dot at 100 which was high, then adjusted down (top hit on the circle), and then two shots you see low and to the left a bit. I can usually shoot bugholes at 100 with my M5, so those got my attention. I continued in three shot strings with the Berger 136's, 140's and 130's, the some Prime 130gr (POA center of each square). I was simply hoping for better. Now, there were shooters left and right (one guy with a blackpowder and another pelting me with 5.56), but I can usually focus and shoot better.
I shot 3 of the BH's, FGMM and 2 of the McCourt (all I had) on the next target with the same results.
I then switched to suppressed hoping the groups would tighten up a bit, but nope.
I'm going take the scope off, check the rails and all the screws and re-install and re-torque. I'll clean and scope the barrel, remove and re-install it and then I'll remove the SOCOM 7.62-RC brake so I can test sans a brake or muzzle device in case it's introducing a variable. One thing I noticed was a lot of carbon on the underside of the barrel from the brake. I did install, tighten, rockset and time the brake (not my first rodeo) so that was a surprise to see the blowback.
I'll also check parallax, just in case, but I've been shooting this scope on a Mausingfield M5 with no issues.
Any thoughts from the hive (besides I suck
) ?
ETA - I also had a shooting buddy who has an AX shoot a 3-shot string and he sucked too.