Silly question about Accuracy International rifles and MPA Chassis.

[sasquatch98226]

I was browsing the MPA site, and saw they have their Competition Chassis, and under options for actions have a drop down menu with Accuracy International listed. Question being, can one buy just an action and then install it in the chassis. Preferably one with the quick change barrel? Or does one need to find someone that is selling a rifle, and then just sell the chassis, and keep the action? Any ideas of where to look, or who to contact other than the PX, or Mile High?

Thanks

 

[Bkultra]

You cannot buy Accuracy International actions, and they are bonded to their chassis.

 

[padom]

You cannot buy in Accuracy International action, and they are bonded to their chassis.

You can most certainly drop an AI in an MPA

 

[Bkultra]

You cannot buy the action by itself. The actions would have to be removed from their chassis and they are bonded to it. I was answering his questions directly not saying it's impossible to do

Question being, can one buy just an action and then install it in the chassis. Preferably one with the quick change barrel? Or does one need to find someone that is selling a rifle, and then just sell the chassis, and keep the action?

 

[Basher]

Both of you guys are right, technically.

@Bkultra is correct in that you cannot buy just an AI action. You want an AI action? You buy a whole AI rifle. That's the only way to buy an AI action.

@padom is correct in that the action is bonded to the chassis, but that can be undone. I can't recall which of our fine members has put an AI in an MPA, maybe @tennturk?

 

[padom]

Both of you guys are right, technically.

@Bkultra is correct in that you cannot buy just an AI action. You want an AI action? You buy a whole AI rifle. That's the only way to buy an AI action.

@padom is correct in that the action is bonded to the chassis, but that can be undone. I can't recall which of our fine members has put an AI in an MPA, maybe @tennturk?

Yep he has one and is local to me. I've seen it in action

 

[MPA]

Normally our customers who buy this chassis are peeling their action out of the AI chassis.

 

[sasquatch98226]

Does anyone have any photos of such a beast? How difficult is it to remove the action from the chassis?

 

[shoobe01]

For those of us not in the know: why would you do this? I thought the AI chassis was deeply beloved, so ditching one seems odd on the surface of it.

 

[nobbie333actual]

Would it not be easier to use a badger ordnance action

 

[tennturk]

Extremely easy to do. I put the barrel in a vise, heated the epoxy with a paint remover heat gun and it popped right off.

 

[Squibbler]

Extremely easy to do. I put the barrel in a vise, heated the epoxy with a paint remover heat gun and it popped right off.

View attachment 6956787
View attachment 6956788

I'll admit it...yes, I'm jealous ?

 

[sasquatch98226]

The fact you have a picture of an AI in an MPA with a Sasquatch Action Figure is simply AWESOME!!!!!!

 

[Holliday]

The fact you have a picture of an AI in an MPA with a Sasquatch Action Figure is simply AWESOME!!!!!!

 

[tennturk]

The ONLY modification that needs to be done is on the trigger capture plate thingy. You have to trim and radius both ends and then notch the side to fit inside the action screw pillars. I’ve ran this setup through 11 matches since April with zero complications.

 

[Sogan]

The ONLY modification that needs to be done is on the trigger capture plate thingy. You have to trim and radius both ends and then notch the side to fit inside the action screw pillars. I’ve ran this setup through 11 matches since April with zero complications.

Is that a trigger hanger? Did not know AI used one but sure looks like it

 

[tennturk]

 

[lvmike]

So it still uses AW/AT magazines right? What was your weight savings like?

 

[Rant Durden]

I'm still waiting for the why. Is it an Everest "because it's there" thing?

 

[Dthomas3523]

I'm still waiting for the why. Is it an Everest "because it's there" thing?

Because people like AI action AND like an mpa chassis??

How much more why is there?

 

[bikeracer]

Great thread - I've always wondered how you get an AI action into a non-AI chassis. Now I know!

 

[tennturk]

Why???? Because I love the features and stoutness of the AI actions, but the ergonomics of the AT chassis don’t really lend itself to a “great” match rifle. Now it’s a bombproof race rifle that has people scratching their head when they see it in person. I really do enjoy the shock value when I tell them that it’s an AI. The AW mags continue to run absolutely perfect, zero hiccups. In the video I’m pushing down on the rifle. The pic is with the MPA on top of the AT chassis. They’re lined up on the quick change barrel screw holes. The MPA is not adjusted higher for the photo. You can perfectly see the profile differences between the two. I really can’t explain how much better the MPA handles and balances on props.

 

[Tree]

Would the AE MKIII fit in the MPA chassis. Those actions are not bonded? Asking for a friend. ?

 

[redneckbmxer24]

So it still uses AW/AT magazines right? What was your weight savings like?

What Tennturk said, plus gutting a $4K rifle for it's action only to drop in another chassis is just baller.

 

[lvmike]

Would the AE MKIII fit in the MPA chassis. Those actions are not bonded? Asking for a friend. ?

They could probably do the inlet, having owned an AE mk1 and mk2 I can say they are not very similar to the AW/AT as those actions are flat bottomed and the AE is a round. I do think it could be done. I have got an older AW I'd like to shave some weight off of and this is an interesting option to do it. Only question left is for MPA, are the footprints on the AW and AT the same aside from the QD barrel pinch screw and any inletting for that mechanism...

 

[RyanM]

Waiting for the day that someone does this with a Manners T4.

I think I saw a picture back in the day of Rob Gradous putting one in an A5.

 

[Clint E.]

Waiting for the day that someone does this with a Manners T4.

I think I saw a picture back in the day of Rob Gradous putting one in an A5.

Great minds think alike, I had the same thought today seeing as I have a Pre 2014 AIAX that I cant seem to sell at a reasonable price. There are quite afew Badger M2013 actions in Manners/McMillan and they look very similar to an AI action so I am sure it could be done.

 

[Squibbler]

@tennturk The cherry ? on top would be if AI would release a short action bolt with mag bolt face

 

[jbell]

Extremely easy to do. I put the barrel in a vise, heated the epoxy with a paint remover heat gun and it popped right off.

View attachment 6956787
View attachment 6956788

Love the AT in the MPA, I have been following the alternate stock / chassis options since the Gradus conversion. I may convert mine especially if I could cut a few pounds off it. An AT in the Hybrid with a 22" Proof CF 6.5X47 would be sweet!

Is yours in the MPA Hybrid chassis (I don't see it listed on their site as an option for the AI inlet)? Do you still have the AI chassis? If so could you weigh the whole thing less the barreled action assembly (I want to be able to see the weight differences)? Thanks so much!

 

[tennturk]

I have the BA Comp chassis.... with 2 rear weight and one front weight installed and a 27” heavy varmint 6.5x47L barrel screwed on (6BR is on the way). Fully loaded right now it’s at 25lbs. I’ll weigh the AT chassis when I get home.

 

[jbell]

WOW! 25 pounds! I would need a Sherpa to go with that bad boy...

 

[tennturk]

I’m a glutton for punishment I guess. The benefits far outweigh (pun intended) the lone negative. Recoil is a joke, settles into a bag very fast and it’s extremely stable on props. The weight has never been a problem for me when lugging it around at matches. The action is a massive steel brick, so you’re already losing if light weight is the goal ?

 

[jbell]

I get it for your application.

 

[tennturk]

I get it for your application.

Just weighed the AT chassis... with no skins it’s 4lbs.

 

[jbell]

Just weighed the AT chassis... with no skins it’s 4lbs.

Killer thanks so much! I’m at the Sniper comp in Benning now & hop to link up with the MPA guys today.

 

[Outlaw1]

As of yesterday my AT is in an MPA chassis. Thanks for the chassis, Fred @ Bison Tactical!

I removed the skins on my AT, applied heat to the action with a heat gun on high for 2 minutes, then popped the action off of the AI chassis by putting a soft wooden wedge between the barrel and chassis. By applying heat, the original bedding material softened and peeled off with a fingernail. The whole process was under 5 minutes.

The trigger retaining plate needed to be trimmed on the side, plus both ends to fit down into the trigger cavity of the MPA. The head of the trigger retaining bolts had to be reduced also. I bedded the action, just because.

 

[Outlaw1]

Pics.

And yes, that's an AW magazine with a mag extension.

 

[_shawn_]

that's awesome that people are stocking these stocks with ai inlets now

switching from the aiat chassis to the mpa chassis only saves about a half pound for those asking about it

 

[Outlaw1]

that's awesome that people are stocking these stocks with ai inlets now

switching from the aiat chassis to the mpa chassis only saves about a half pound for those asking about it

It was a chassis Fred bought for himself and hadn't used yet. I couldn't find anyone else with one in stock.

 

[_shawn_]

It was a chassis Fred bought for himself and hadn't used yet. I couldn't find anyone else with one in stock.

are you bernie?

 

[Eagle1899]

I am an AX owner and my match rifle is in an MPA chassis. I have handled tennturk's rifle and it is awesome!!!

I wanted to steal it but purple is not my color... hahahah

 

[Gilly]

So in addition to MPA is anyone else doing an inlet? Specifically manners or McMillan???

 

[GIXXER2000]

I would like to see MPA make a chassis for the AI-AE action i just comes right out of the stock with no issues no epoxy.

 

[Bradu]

So in addition to MPA is anyone else doing an inlet? Specifically manners or McMillan???

I'm going to say having longrifles Inc would be your best bet on getting that done since they inlet the stocks.

 

[_shawn_]

i've talked to mcmillan about it and they're interested but i need to find a bottom metal maker that's interested as well and i haven't gotten that far

 

[Gilly]

So even if LRI inlet it I’d still not have a bottom metal option?

 

[Dthomas3523]

Serious question here. Besides it being a project and/or cool to do, what’s the point of taking the AI out of the chassis?

I bought mine because it’s a “system” and functions flawlessly as such.

Pulling one out seems like it would just do the exact same thing and present the possible issues that custom actions have (feeding, mags, movement from not being bonded, etc).

What advantages would you have over say an Impact (or any other custom action you want to name) in an mpa chassis?

Taking the barrel cost out of it, you’re basically buying a $2800 action.

 

[Gilly]

Cheaper than a second AX and don’t like the AT chassis. Want to be able to swap barrels between rifles since I’ve got 4 barrels at the moment that will run on an ax/at. Scratch that it’s 5! ?

And it looks cool as shit in that MPA! If I can get one in a manners or McMillan that’s lighter weight now I can run it in a more hunting weight class if/when I want to.

I could do a short proof carbon barrel for my ax and a lighter optics setup and probably be reasonable weight for a hunt but wanted to explore options.

 

[Dthomas3523]

Cheaper than a second AX and don’t like the AT chassis. Want to be able to swap barrels between rifles since I’ve got 4 barrels at the moment that will run on an ax/at. Scratch that it’s 5! ?

And it looks cool as shit in that MPA! If I can get one in a manners or McMillan that’s lighter weight now I can run it in a more hunting weight class if/when I want to.

I could do a short proof carbon barrel for my ax and a lighter optics setup and probably be reasonable weight for a hunt but wanted to explore options.

The barrel change makes sense when you have multiple barrels or AI rifles.

Any other reasons?

 

[Gilly]

The barrel change makes sense when you have multiple barrels or AI rifles.

Any other reasons?

Not really I guess. I really like my AX especially with comp trigger. I could save a lot of money going with a tl3 even with needing to buy a couple barrels. Just not sure that’s the best route to go comparing actions. even after you rip AI out of its chassis it still has a lot going for it.