Well, it's been a few months since purchasing my new AIAX, and being that they are still relatively rare, I thought it was time for a quick update. The original review can be found here: http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2436394&page=1
As of today, my AIAX has 1117 rounds through it. I feel I can offer a more grounded opinion of the platform, and I can confidently say that this rifle is "it."
Accuracy- it is an AI, basically an AW bolt, action, and barrel, so performance is as you would expect from an AI- .5 moa or better. I have focused on more practical shooting with this rifle than group shooting, but I have done a fair bit of group shooting while in load development, and multiple .25 moa 5 round groups were shot.
Ease of shooting- this is where the rifle really shines. It is so easy to get behind the gun and get a stable position. the ergonomics are really good, and the quick adjustments are great. The quick adjust buttplate is excellent- as in Maine there can be 40 degree swings in one day, and being able to adjust for different layers is quick and easy.
The butt spike is fantastic. I prefer to combine it with a Tac Ball, using the spike for gross elevation adjustments and the bag for micro elevation requirements. This has been a very fast system that is versatile in most all shooting scenarios.
Other notes (trying to keep this short and not redundant in relation to my last review.) It is a very natural platform to use. JBell (who I shoot with frequently) can get behind it and get comfortable, despite very little time on the platform. The ultimate example is this- my 12 year old stepson, shooting prone for the first time and shooting centerfire for the first time, posted a 1 MOA 5 round group at 230 yards with it last weekend. A pic of the event, to close:
Footnote- the ONLY complaint I have is the weight. It is not overly heavy for a tactical rifle, but equipped with the suppressor, bipod, 5-25x56 PM2, etc, it is 17 pounds. Very heavy to shoot offhand.
