Re: AIAW- AE Dislikes?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: uracowman</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jpspeeddemon</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got an AE MKIII and had a high end custom R700 for 2.5 yrs before i went with the AE.
Before i bought my AE, I shot about 50 rounds through an AW to make sure i like the system.
Accuracy: same for the AE and AW, 0.25moa if you can do it.
Feel: AE and AW feel the same, R700 action feels puny after you load and extract a rough with the beefy AIs. The AI actions are smooth. The locking of a round feels more solid than a R700, some slight resistance is felt upon inital bolt lift, but you can still lift it with one finger. Extraction of a round is very positive for AIs. Loading a round in an AI feels like you're pushing the cartridge into the chamber with a bulldozer. Feeding is 100% smooth. 60 degree bolt throw is great.
Cost: AE MKIII=$3400 for a 1.5 stock, AW=like $6000, custom R700, same a AE, maybe a bit more, less than an AW
Reliability: This is the main reason i switched to AIs. I had trouble with my custom 700 in dusty/windy/very cold conditions. I've shot my AE in the pouring rain without any problems at all. </div></div>
Would you say it's worth spending the extra money for the AW over the AE? It's basically the same gun with a few minor differences other than the action. </div></div>
The only advatages an AW has over an AE MKIII are 1)action bonded to chassis forever which means the AW will maintain its zero if you drop it out of a helicopter, and 2) barrel changing is 5 minutes vs 15 minutes for an AE becasue you don't need to take the barreled action out of the chassis.
The AE is every bit as rugged and reliable as an AW except for the most extreme of extreme cases like "oh shit i just dropped my AW off a 100ft cliff, i hope it retains its zero...oh ya, it will". Then again, your scope/mount system is weakrer than that.