Re: JAE 700 stock...rocks!
I think they're predicting 10 months wait now, which is a lot better than it has been to this point.
In some very long, detailed (and amicable) discussions it has been an understandable delay. Since I work in R&D, it's probably easier for me to be sympathetic, as I know what happens when you make/develop something everyone wants; everyone wants it now...
Basically, growing pains happen...in spades. From what I have been told though, I think they're rounding the corner so to speak, and starting to ship product. The success of the JAE 100 stock really hit them hard, both in supplying those, as well as trying to gear up for the 700 line.
I will say that the concept of the collet & cage approach is very appealing to me, and completely makes sense from a production stand point (this is what I believe caused the delays; a redesign of the internal chassis). The problem, as I understand it, was just getting to that point of having a solid enough (design wise) product, to go into full scale production. Everyone always wants this little improvement or that additional feature. As the saying goes, you reach a point where you have to make the call of "Don't let perfection be the enemy of 'good enough'", and call the product good and move forward with going to market.
If I had to make a comparison, I'd say it was the same tough business decision PTG had to make when they were running out of room, and needed to expand. Expansion really causes a lot of issues, and generally none of them are good from a production stand point.
At any rate, despite the long wait I had (four years) I am still very happy with the product. Especially, since this is not the original design I put money down on, though it is a much better and well thought out one IMHO.
Since the chassis is made to support long or short actions, it has an adjustable collet for magazine length. THat bing said, I'm thinking the Alpha Type 2 mags or another longer AICS type mag could be adjusted to fit like a glove in this chassis (which would be a win for those of us who reload, and like a little extra space in the mag).
The quick release cheek piece is nice, and allows the removal without messing with the settings.
Getting the action to settle in the stock the first time was a little challenging at first. This was due to my older 700 action. Though dimensions haven't (in theory) changed on the actions, there is still enough slop that getting the bolt release and the recoil lug lined up in the chassis was a little challenging. I suppose that's a good thing, as it means the stocks dimensions are tight to spec..
Sorry to ramble on, but just was wanting rattle a few things off the top of my head...before they fell on the floor.
