AICS Stock?

Both are great stocks and solid platforms. They are actually cheaper than most any other stock that has the same features and are second only to manners and McMillan in my opinion. I have the 1.5 and wish I had bought the 2.0. The main reason is that the cheek piece would not need to be removed to clean the rifle. Not a big deal, but an inconvenience.


--Daniel
 
Both are great stocks and solid platforms. They are actually cheaper than most any other stock that has the same features and are second only to manners and McMillan in my opinion. I have the 1.5 and wish I had bought the 2.0. The main reason is that the cheek piece would not need to be removed to clean the rifle. Not a big deal, but an inconvenience.


--Daniel

Alright, do you think it is worth the 200 dollars more for the folding model? And would you recommend that i get a manners or mcmillan instead? Do you think that a mcmillan or manners would increase my accuracy? And i dont think i would have to bed the action in the AICS stock unlike a manners or mcmillan but i could be wrong. I really like the look of the mcmillan a5 and the AICS equally.
 
Have you held the above mentioned stocks? The aics seems to be a love hate relationship. I have one and really like it. You are correct you do not need to bed the aics so it ends up being quite a bit cheaper than a manners or mcmillan.
 
Yes. The 2.0 is worth the money. I wish I could spend the $200 now and have the 2.0.

Manners and McMillan have the potential to be more accurate if properly bedded, but the reality is most rifles and even most custom rifles won't know the difference. A comparable manners will run about $1000 (non folder) and will then need to be bedded and will also need a DBM. They do have a mini chassis option, but it has no advantage over the aics except a different look and feel. I have an aics 1.5 on my sps-v and it will shoot 3/8" fairly consistently. I also have a build at the smith that will be bedded in a manners t4-A. They are both great stocks and as long as you realize what each is capable of you would be happy either way.


--Daniel
 
I have shot a remington 700 sps varmint in a mcmillan a5 stock at the range, i really liked it but i have also shot several weapons with a thumb whole and i liked those much more, it feels more natural to me with the thumb whole.

Edit: The rifles with the thumb whole were .22lr if that makes a difference..
 
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I have a 1.5 and love it. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see the need for the folder. If you have the need then get it. You can always sell it and pick up a 1.5 for less. My two cents.
 
The 2.0 is not a must have in my opinion, but I like the AICS for a few different reasons:
A) you can buy the buttstock extensions to lengthen or shorten the pull
B) no bedding required
C) spigot bipod adaptor frees up the bottom
D) numerous additional mount points
E) viper skins can seriously change the feel with a singular continuos skin and a pistol (evil) grip
 
The 2.0 is not a must have in my opinion, but I like the AICS for a few different reasons:
A) you can buy the buttstock extensions to lengthen or shorten the pull
B) no bedding required
C) spigot bipod adaptor frees up the bottom
D) numerous additional mount points
E) viper skins can seriously change the feel with a singular continuos skin and a pistol (evil) grip

Now that i think about it, im probabley spending around 4k total on this rifle, so im gonna spend the extra cash and get a pelican 1750 case and i would like to have the extra room in the case so i think the extra 8 inches might help out. Other wise i probabley wouldn't get it. Thanks for the input tho. What do you mean "viper skins can seriously change the feel with a singular continuos skin and a pistol (evil) grip"
 
The thumb hole shock from AICS is a take it or leave it for some folks. A lot of it depends on the size of your hands, and if it is comfortable. With the viper skins having the pistol grip, it can be modified for grip size and is more customizable. I like the original setup of the thumbhole, but ordered a set of the viperskins and like them more than anticipated.
 
I got an AICS 2.0 and am very happy with it - feels and handles great. Folding option helps. My only complaint is - it's wonderful when you get into position, but a bitch to carry to there. ;)
 
I have the 2.0 and really like it, except for the weight. I used the rifle this year for hunting and it got old quick. If you can find someone that has a complete rifle in either a 1.5 or 2.0 with the scope mounted it wouldn't hurt to get a feel for it and see if it meets your needs.
 
I have the 2.0 and love it. If I have my way, I wouldn't buy another gun without that stock. I have them on most of my other rifles except for the gap 7 wsm I have and it came that way when I bought it. It is heavy but so what, most of the guns you are looking at are in 12-15lb range. What is another lb? They can be had for a grand. You buy a manners or McMillan, it will be 1k and you still have to get the dbm and get it bedded. And don't let anyone tell you that the 2.0 is not as accurate as one of the other stocks that are bedded, not true. AI's are some of the most accurate guns off the shelf or custom you will ever buy.
 
If you are running a suppressed rifle...say 24" long plus suppressor. The 2.0 is the only way to get the rifle in a bag. Having to remove the can just to transport it sucks.

2.0 makes cleaning a snap.

Guys who hated the feel early on didn't have the option of the Victor Co. pistol grip skins. Now you do.

Resale value of 2.0's is gonna be better too cuz everyone wants 2.0's.

If I'm not mistaken, are they gonna continue producing AICS's or start only doing AX's? Obviously the AIAE is pretty much done.

Love my 2.0
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So if i end up not liking the thumb whole, all i have to do is buy the victor skin set and ill have a pistol grip rifle or is their something else you have to buy?
 
I grew up hunting and shooting guns, but had never gone to shooting ranges to shoot at paper/targets for extended periods of time. After I bought my first AR-15 I started going to the range and developed an affinity for pistol grip style stocks. I progressed into "long range/precision/-shooting" from there, and when I got my first bolt gun that was to be dedicated to target shooting, I put a JP Ent chassis on it (the AMCS) that had a pistol grip. I really liked it, but it was heavy, and I wasn't in love with the way it looked. I was turned on to Manners, and after trying a few different models, I settled on the T5, and I put my first custom rifle in one (used custom rifle that is). I've had 3 rifles with the T5, and I have my first new custom hunting rifle coming and it has a T5. I also have a rifle in an AICS 1.5 that I got after having the T5's.

For whatever the reason, the AICS felt like it set up better for me. I prefer the true pistol grip to the thumbhole, so I've switched them all over to AICS 1.5 and put the Victor Viperskins on them all. All 3 are target shooting rifles that are used at the range though. I'm leaving the Manners T5 on my hunting rifle because weighs less than half as much as the AICS 1.5 (the 2.0's are even heavier). I don't have a need for the folder and removing the cheek rest takes 2 seconds for cleaning so it's 1.5's for me.

AICS 1.5 on all of my target shooting range rifles
T5 on my hunting rifle b/c it's lighter
 
I have the AICS 1.5 (Rem 700) and a McMillan A5 (FN). Both are great stocks and do what they were designed to do very well.
All things being equal, if I had to choose only one, I would choose the McMillan A5 stock. I feel much more comfortable with it, and I can shoot for longer periods than I can shoot with the AICS. I'm sure that it just has to do with my shooting position, style, etc vs the stock itself. If I had to do it all over again, it would be the McMillan.... My 2 cents.
Either choice will be a good one..... enjoy!