Got my first AICS in the early 2000’s from Tac Pro in Texas. I think they were the only importer/distributer at the time.
I’ve been an AI Fanboy ever since.
I’ve been an AI Fanboy ever since.
- Thread starter Laseredge
- Start date
My AWM is one of my forever rifles.
Lots of us still have those & still would bet lives on them.
So there was some incorrect info I spotted in there, he said they don't come factory with monopods and fluted barrels. I'm fairly confident I've seen most of them with those features. But I forgive the guy he probably has forgotten more things about obscure gun details then most people will never know. Another strange thing he said was at the end of the AWSM video. He said the British military is still using them and there were plans to make a version with longer magazines called the L115A4. So this raises two questions, first is AI still making AW pattern guns but just not importing them to the US? Second is he mistaken when saying they made a AWSM version with longer magazines and instead confusing it with the AX?
I’d still bet lives on my AI and AW.
Never knew there was a mirage band that attached to the front sight and that odd Allen head screw on the picatinny rail.
That AI 117 marked S&B scope though. Damn, that’s a rare piece. Would love to find one of those someday.
Good info and videos on some classic sniper rifles a few of us still own.
Never knew there was a mirage band that attached to the front sight and that odd Allen head screw on the picatinny rail.
That AI 117 marked S&B scope though. Damn, that’s a rare piece. Would love to find one of those someday.
Good info and videos on some classic sniper rifles a few of us still own.
There was a program where AI upgraded the older AW series for the British Army to be AXish
Good luck.
If there’s one thing for certain when it comes to AI rifles, they don’t ever get any cheaper. Expect to pay $6k for a AW with no scope. Add another $2k for a period correct S&B, or $3-4k for an AI marked scope, if you can find one. Then start looking for original accessories.
AI hard case, $600.
Sights, $500.
Bubble level, $300.
Scope mount, $650.
Bipod and spigot, $500.
Correct magazine, $250.
Moderator, $1600.
Sling, $250.
Trust me, your looking at a $10k+ package to have all the gingerbread.
All said and done, I bought my used/like new AW in February 2009 (tax return
) from the original owner with the ai marked schmidt, ph bipod, moderator, original hard case, a few accessories, for $6500, plus a $200 tax stamp. I thought I stole the thing. Now, I could barely buy the rifle stripped for that.
The AW game is definitely the pay to play type. And if your like me, once you pay, she don’t play. Having something so rare and virtually new, makes using them not practical.
Why would I shoot my AW when I could just pick up a gap or crescent and not feel the least bit guilty about using it as intended. If I get some finish damage on a gap from a prs match, don’t care in the least. If that happened to my AI, it would break my heart. There’s no replacing the AW. If I sold it, I’d hate myself and regret it for the rest of my life. I knew going in it wasn’t a rifle to shoot, take to matches, or punch paper with. And I’m fine having a trailer Queen. It’s not my first, or my last, just my favorite.
I have three large safes, two get opened on a regular basis. The guns in safe 1 and 2 get shot on the regular. I have the combos memorized, obviously. The third safe doesn’t get opened but once or twice a year. Combo is written down, stored in safe #1, very back corner, with shit in front of it. I have to work to get at it. That’s by design. Reason being, I don’t want to open safe #3, there’s only show pieces in there. I don’t need to get at them.
It’s like being friends with a hot slutty pornstar. There’s no way to just be friends. You look at her, then you think bad thoughts about you’d do to her, and next thing you know temptation leads you astray and your motor boating a set of fresh DD’s. If I don’t look at them, I won’t want to play with them. The AW is the pornstar titties in this story.
If there’s one thing for certain when it comes to AI rifles, they don’t ever get any cheaper. Expect to pay $6k for a AW with no scope. Add another $2k for a period correct S&B, or $3-4k for an AI marked scope, if you can find one. Then start looking for original accessories.
AI hard case, $600.
Sights, $500.
Bubble level, $300.
Scope mount, $650.
Bipod and spigot, $500.
Correct magazine, $250.
Moderator, $1600.
Sling, $250.
Trust me, your looking at a $10k+ package to have all the gingerbread.
All said and done, I bought my used/like new AW in February 2009 (tax return
) from the original owner with the ai marked schmidt, ph bipod, moderator, original hard case, a few accessories, for $6500, plus a $200 tax stamp. I thought I stole the thing. Now, I could barely buy the rifle stripped for that.The AW game is definitely the pay to play type. And if your like me, once you pay, she don’t play. Having something so rare and virtually new, makes using them not practical.
Why would I shoot my AW when I could just pick up a gap or crescent and not feel the least bit guilty about using it as intended. If I get some finish damage on a gap from a prs match, don’t care in the least. If that happened to my AI, it would break my heart. There’s no replacing the AW. If I sold it, I’d hate myself and regret it for the rest of my life. I knew going in it wasn’t a rifle to shoot, take to matches, or punch paper with. And I’m fine having a trailer Queen. It’s not my first, or my last, just my favorite.
I have three large safes, two get opened on a regular basis. The guns in safe 1 and 2 get shot on the regular. I have the combos memorized, obviously. The third safe doesn’t get opened but once or twice a year. Combo is written down, stored in safe #1, very back corner, with shit in front of it. I have to work to get at it. That’s by design. Reason being, I don’t want to open safe #3, there’s only show pieces in there. I don’t need to get at them.
It’s like being friends with a hot slutty pornstar. There’s no way to just be friends. You look at her, then you think bad thoughts about you’d do to her, and next thing you know temptation leads you astray and your motor boating a set of fresh DD’s. If I don’t look at them, I won’t want to play with them. The AW is the pornstar titties in this story.
Ummm, negative. AXMC just saw a massive price drop. AX can be had for a fraction of the original cost. The AW's you could barely even sell when the AXMC first hit the market (unless it was a 2.0 folder) without taking a bath on them.
Something's only worth what the market will bear. Your statement is entirely true if you replace the acronym "AI" with "AW" or "AWM" (or even "AS" - if anyone could actually find one of those to purchase)!
Exactly. I want one but I'm not paying that kind of money for one, I will just go with a pre 14 AX if one of those pop up in 300 win mag at a decent price. I know I'm one of the few but I really don't want the quick change feature on the AI.
A lot depends on what you want it for. I purchased an AW (and an AWSM for that matter) brand new back when TacPro was the USA distributor for them, along with the AI Dovetail mount, the S&B scope, AI bipod (which I don't use as I prefer a stiffer one), the AI sling set, standard and biathalon, (which I don't use as I prefer the Tab Gear ones), a bunch of magazines, a couple cases worth of Lapua ammunition & some training sessions.
I've used my AW a fair bit but not abused it, I take good care of it and don't beat it up, but I do shoot it every chance I get. It shoots the Lapua 155gr rounds amazingly well, with no problems getting out to 1000 yards. I did a couple benchrest style matches with it & managed to come in middle of the pack shooting .308 prone vs people winching their custom shooting benches to the firing line single shot loading their custom rounds with mechanical rests. (Mainly because they didn't know how to accommodate gusting winds). I also did another more "tactical" style match with it, in heat and dirt and blowing sand and it did just fine.
In my case I don't plan to sell it or keep it as an investment till I can get top dollar for it, I rather have it as the rifle I would trust anyone I care about's life to and the gun I would first grab if possible.
So while you can get lots of enjoyment from having your rifle as a safe queen, you could also get even more enjoyment of having that same rifle be your lifelong companion and trusted tool that you use and know well & can trust explicitly. Especially if you have a .308 version and shoot factory pressure loads, you have a super long barrel life unless you abuse it.
I would trade every rifle I own and 1 scope for an AWSM 2.0 in .300 Winchester Magnum.
If you are looking to get a shooter, that you will actually use, your cheapest way to get to an AWM in .300WM is to buy a AWSM in .338LM then replace the bolt barrel & magazine. However if you want it for collector value, then you'll need to find an original AWM in .300WM with all the original parts & that's a bit hard to do, as they were a bit rare even when you could buy them new, they are out there, but expect a long wait and a higher price.
My first precision rifle was an AWSW in 1.5 configuration. AI fanboy ever since. The rifle below is one of my most prized rifles.
Here someone beat my 1995 AWP..... still in action, 2019 Brawl at Rifles Only
^^^^ really cool picture. ive shot from that piece of paracord before.
im starting to consider buying an AI, and specifically an AW. we'll see how it all shakes out.
im starting to consider buying an AI, and specifically an AW. we'll see how it all shakes out.
My dream rifle.
I’m not really a collector but I definitely want a AW for kinda that reason
If anyone is looking for an AW. MHSA has a used one for pretty cheap.
i have 2 of the early imports one is the cfi edition and the other is the SM in LM. both have the aluim transit cases. with all the acc including the scope on the cfi. Both are marked imported by Gunsite back in 95. Curious as to their value and yes i have shot both but less than 300 rnds. and they look new. Stan
And we're gettin pics right?
I can,I guess will show them in the transit cases,which are also serial numbered to the weapons. Scope on the CFI is now a mark 4 but have the original one in the original box and even have the scope cover that is camo on one side then turn inside out for white.Stan
My cousin just picked up this .300WM AI rifle for $2500, round count 200. Unfortunately, no case to go with it. So there are few out there if this is the rifle you are looking for.
From these pics it looks like a pre ’14 AX but I am no expert on AI rifles. Have not seen it or shot it yet but looking forward to it on some future range trip. Would not mind owning one at some point, not likely though.
Stan, you can't tease like that and then not post a few pics!
That's a great deal, I would love to find one in the next couple years even if it's not that cheap.
Maybe someday
I have a correction to make on that AI rifle. Turns out it is a .338LM not .300WM. Still hope you find what you are looking for.
Welded chassis ruleHere someone beat my 1995 AWP..... still in action, 2019 Brawl at Rifles Only
View attachment 7077505
I've owned my AIAW FDE 308 Folder since 2009 as well. Got It from Mile High. It has a 26" Bartlien barrel, AI 20 moa mount, Spigot with Atlas Bipod and extra magazine. As well as a NF NXS 8-32-56X with High Speed Turrets and Zero Stop..Click on photo to see full image. I wouldn't trade it even for any of the newer AI products. But that's just me. It shoots better than I can
Target below is 5 shot 100 yard group that typical of the way it shoots.
Target below is 5 shot 100 yard group that typical of the way it shoots.
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