I'm not gunning for any business in this thread because the OP asked specifically about A.I. and D.T.
I do not supply either brand so I am specifically excluded from that hunt. However,
Respectfully, I would like to add my opinion in reply to your comments.
But when we need a rifle, we need it NOW. I can have one, two, five rifles even en route from Mile High or Euro tomorrow.
Seriously?
I would think it exceptionally rare that anyone in L.E. wakes up one day and suddenly needs 1 to 5 new rifles tomorrow.
That sounds like poor planning.
My experience has been that almost all L.E. purchases for major assets like firearms (even only 1 or 2) usually take months or even years to budget, steal from other funds, get grants, etc. I have lost a lot of L.E. bids and business in the last 35 years but I cannot recall the reason ever being delivery or because they had to have rifles tomorrow. Shit I just delivered rifles to an agency that had been working on funding for 3 years.
Can I throw in another bolt/barrel and have it headspace like I can an AI? Can I swap barrels with no down time (i.e. waiting in a long queue?).
That does not bode well for my rural county when bigger LE and Gov are getting serviced and my sole rifle make is "booked solid".
Extra bolts? Really?
Yes. Yes you can. All of the SENTINEL (by Defiance) bolts headspace within a thousandth of each other. I'm sure other shops out there can say the same of whatever action they build their guns around.
Extra barrels?
Yes. Yes you can. I have sent spare barrels ready to spin on (especially for customer's out of country where shipping/import/export is not practical). I actually rebarrel more L.E. rifles from previous deliveries than barrel new rifles each year and can have the work done without the action in hand.
Even the agencies that do not keep spare barrels (almost all do not) know when a rifle is getting long in the tooth and starting to need a new barrel. It usually doesn't sneak up on anybody unless they are not using log books and/or keeping shitty records.
All L.E./govt. work stays at the front of my schedule even the smallest ones.
Lots of dudes out there doing good work with shit that ain't AI, Tac Ops, GAP or whatever. Logistics is indeed a major factor. If starting from scratch, one would be a FOOL not to consider that.
Logistics can be covered with proper planning.
Accuracy International and D.T. are fine rifles and have a proven track record so you will not get me to bad mouth either.
I am however of the opinion based on personal experience that your above concerns are
only concerns if you make them so.
Your other opinion about "legacy" rifles and L.E. finally getting a clue..... moving past "that type of rifle" is interesting as well.
I don't think the KMW SENTINEL rifles are considered legacy rifles. JMHO but I am prolly biased as fuck.
They have internal chassis instead of bedding, forward NV mount capability, bolt and barrel swap capability, fully adjustable stock, 5 flush cup hardpoints, integral scope base, one piece bolt, M16 style extractors and all weather surface finishes. You can fall down the stairs on top of it and still have a functioning and zeroed rifle when you get up. Maybe it is still a Legacy rifle in some peoples minds.
I am involved with L.E. specific PMO training from coast to coast every year through 1MilRight. While I definitely don't know it all and definitely don't have my finger on the pulse of every agency I do stay very cozy with a lot of alphabet federal agencies, state agencies, etc.
I can tell you that the current crop of L.E. professionals definitely have a clue, have had a clue and are working hard to stay ready. Some agencies, and your area may have some, are truly late bloomers and trying to finally get up to speed but they are the minority.
Just my 2 cents to add some balance.
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