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Warning, this might cost you money.Pic Heavy-AX308

jrgfox

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 10, 2009
67
0
38
Pipe Creek, TX
Hello fellow Hide members,

First off I want to say thanks to everyone on here for being so helpful and providing help to me grow as a shooter these past few years. Ive been a member here for a while now and feel like its time to make my first serious contribution to this site.

I have been shooting competitively for the past 4 years or so now but just got into long range shooting for the past year or so. When a good friend of mine bought his first AI Mark III, we went out to shoot it and I immediately knew I had to have one. Ive wanted to buy an AI for the past few years but it wasn't until I actually got to shoot one that I fell in love.

Before I go into talking about the rifle, I have to say thanks to Randy and the crew of Mile High Shooting. These people are great to deal with and really know their stuff. I called towards the end of last year to get a price on a AX308. I was quoted a price over the phone but due to me having to go out of town for work for several months I decided to hold off on the order. In Feb. I called again to get availability and pricing but I was not 100% on the options I wanted and also was about to temporarily relocate due to my job and wanted to get settled first. Finally, on April 17th I was ready to put my order in, after some long deliberation over the options I wanted, I called up Mile High and spoke with Randy. I had heard somewhere that price increases had happened on AI, so I told him if they could honor the price I was quoted 2 months ago, I would place the order. He said that was fine, and so the AI was ordered!!! About 2 hours later, Randy calls me up and says he couldn't figure out how whoever priced that rifle for me got the number they came up with but he re-priced that rifle. At this point I'm thinking, oh great, he's about to say they can't honor that price any longer. However, he goes on to say that he can actually do it for almost 500 less!!! This blew me away. I just wanted to let everyone know this is a "stand up" shop and will have my future business. I can't think of too many shops that would of done this.

Next, I had to decide on an optic. I was originally planning on going with a Nightforce F1 3.5-15 but my friend has a 4-16 Schmidt on his AI and after shooting it to 1000 at MOA size targets I knew I wanted a little more magnification. I also knew I wanted something FFP so this ruled out Nightforce at this point. Schmidt had released their 3-20 and I felt this would be a perfect scope for a Short action caliber gun. It does everything the 4-16 Schmidt does, everything the Nightforce F1 does plus a little more. I really liked the locking MTC double turn turrets. It was FFP, had CCW 0.1 mil turrets, offered the Horus H59 reticle and was more compact than the 4-16 Schmidt. At the time I ordered this back in June they were just becoming available. I shopped around quite a bit but could not find any.

I came across Troy at Veteran Tactical (Snipershide Vender) here on the Hide and am glad I did. He was great to deal with and had some 3-20's on order. He explained that Schmidt had done away with the H58 reticle but was now offering the H59. So put a deposit down on one and to my surprise, it came in about 2 months later.

So finally, last week I got the call from Mile High that my rifle had shipped and this past weekend I was able to go out to Tacpro and pick it up. I guess I decided to do a write up on this because I looked all over about info on the new AX but really didn't find out much other than whats on the AI website or on youtube.


Rifle Specs…

2012 Accuracy International AX308, 20 inch w/ 1 and 10 Bartlein Barrel, 13 inch forend, 20-MOA rail, Surefire's 7.62ss muzzle break, 3 position safety, Accuracy International 2 stage trigger with all the quick adjust features.

Optic- Schmidt and Bender 3-20 FFP, Locking CCW 0.1 Mil-Rad turrets, Horus H59 reticle.

Optic Mount-Spuhr ISMS SP-4006 1.34 Height, 34mm

Suppressor- Surefire 7.62SS (Hurry up ATF-Waiting since 4/17/2012 so I'm thinking about 6-8 weeks left to go.)

Atlas Bi-Pod


First Impressions of my first bolt gun…

It not suprising these things cost what they do…the build quality is amazing.

The folding option is well worth it in my opinion…They lock up tight in both the folded and extended positions and make transporting the rifle much easier.

Installed the Grippy Cheekrest which I can easily see is a great improvement over the stock one.

I think I will really like the H59 reticle but I don't have much time on them yet and I know people either love them or hate them. If I don't like it, you will soon find it in the for sale section and Ill be ordering a 3-20 Schmidt with the MSR reticle.

Total weight without Bi-pod, mag or suppressor is 16.8lbs.

Just finished its initial cleaning and mounting everything up.

If you have any questions about the AX, ill do my best to answer them…just keep in mind that I haven't gotten to shoot this thing yet so stay tuned for the range report.

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Re: Warning...this might cost you money...Pic Heavy

Congrats! Very nice, in every respect!
 
Re: Warning...this might cost you money...Pic Heavy

That is a VERY nice setup.
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: phillipjr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">wow! very nice! range report in the near future? </div></div>

A few weeks out.
 
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I need your address to send you a bill for the keyboard you just made me ruin. Nice stick man!!!!
 
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To put it mildly that is a beautiful rifle. I don't know much about precision rifles, but I think you got something you will be extremely proud of.
 
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Best example of "Buy once, cry once" I ever saw. If my wife ever tells me I have sell all my rifles except only one. It will be exactly like that. Very nice taste. Let us know how she shoots.

One question:

So you purchased from Mile High and transferred it to Tacpro? Thats kinda funny. I know for a while Tacpro was the only place to get an AI.
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beenjammin</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Best example of "Buy once, cry once" I ever saw. If my wife ever tells me I have sell all my rifles except only one. It will be exactly like that. Very nice taste. Let us know how she shoots.

One question:

So you purchased from Mile High and transferred it to Tacpro? Thats kinda funny. I know for a while Tacpro was the only place to get an AI. </div></div>

Yeah, since I'm a texas resident I didn't want to pay sales tax if I could avoid it.
 
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Nice stick. Welcome to the new addiction. It wont stop there!!! Before you know it, it will be the 338LM and then the AX50. The truth hurts sometimes, especially your wallet. LOL.
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Nice stick. Welcome to the new addiction. It wont stop there!!! Before you know it, it will be the 338LM and then the AX50. The truth hurts sometimes, especially your wallet. LOL. </div></div>

Yeah, I know the feeling...The 20 inch AX338 is next on the bolt gun list but my girl has already told me I can't have another AI until she buys it. I just have to buy the ring, but I guess I can't complain about getting a AX338 as a wedding gift.
 
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I went through Randy at MHSA for my SAS Arbiter Ti suppressor. Great guy and great prices.

Let me know if you find a good case to store the folder in. There seem to be no current solutions for guys with folding stock precision rifles and I couldn't find much hitting the search function.

The short cases for things like M4's aren't deep enough to accommodate the bulk of a 20" folded rifle and I'd hate to go with a standard 44"+ long mat, drag bag, or case because it defeats the length benefits of a folder that's under 33" (well, depending on the brake/suppressor mount used)
 
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Wow. Looks like Christmas at your house. Very nice. You made some great choices.
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Regards, Paul
 
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NICE!!! You certainly spared no expense in setting yourself up with one of the finest precision rifle setups available!!

Congrats and enjoy!!
 
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That is one incredibly sweet rig man. I have been lusting over the AX 308 since I first saw a picture. The wife and I just had a baby this year and dont know if when I will ever have that kind of funds, but DAMN! Maybe some day.
 
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overall length when folded?

awesome purchase btw
 
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I love the way that Spuhr mount looks with that beefy AI action.
 
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You could not have made a better choice on the rifle and components, a job well done!
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nukes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can you provide some comments/opinions on the mount?

IMG_0138.jpg
</div></div>

I can: awesome mount, very secure, not obtrusive (sitting behind the rifle), the bubble isn't perfect for leftys but it can be workable, mounting is very solid to the rail, scope is very securely held to the mount, machining is great, the wedge included for mounting is useful - feelers gauges still my favorite, the mount is expensive but is well worth the cash.

It looks kinda blocky but works exceptionally well. There are several nice touches, like the channels cut in the back ring for looking squarely at the elevation turret, that are both rare and appreciated.

I own one, it is on a 300WM, I like it allot. I will buy more when they are needed.
 
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Great synopsis of the Spuhr mount from Rancid Coolaid...couldn’t agree more. Think the Spuhr mounts really complement high end optics.

For whoever asked above about the Rear Bag...Its from Tab-gear.

Ill get the overall lenght up in a bit.
 
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Wow nice set up. How do you like the trigger and what did you like more about the AX than the AE you shot? Just curious, thanks.
 
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$$$TRULY THE ULTIMATE EXAMPLE OF EPIC$$$

All I can say is.......DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM...
 
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It's threads like this is why I'm trying to sell my mustang just for an AI and a high end optic.
 
Re: Warning, this might cost you money.Pic Heavy-AX308

I Hate You!!!
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(Now with that said)

That is just flat-out awesome!
 
Re: Warning, this might cost you money.Pic Heavy-AX308

Awesome rig jrgfox. To say it's Christmas at your house is an understatement. Enjoy!
 
Re: Warning, this might cost you money.Pic Heavy-AX308

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: azhank</div><div class="ubbcode-body">overall length when folded?

awesome purchase btw</div></div>

She is 32 and 1/2 folded to the end of the break.

42 inches extended

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: tlg308</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow nice set up. How do you like the trigger and what did you like more about the AX than the AE you shot? Just curious, thanks.</div></div>

I don't have much time on the legacy AI chassis so coming from AR type platforms it was an easier transition to the AX. As far as liked more, i think both the AX and the AE/AW's are great platforms but i just think the AX is a little more modular. I plan on spec-ing out a 20 inch AX338 sometime next year so I wanted to have both platforms as consistent as possible.
 
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I am broke just looking at it!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: madman23</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am broke just looking at it!!!!!!!!!!! </div></div>

My checkbook just shit thinking about it.
 
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I've been considering a Spuhr mount so thanks for the close-ups and all the pics - great info! Your set up looks awfully nice, congrats. Have fun.
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rancid Coolaid</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nukes</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Can you provide some comments/opinions on the mount?

IMG_0138.jpg
</div></div>

I can: awesome mount, very secure, not obtrusive (sitting behind the rifle), the bubble isn't perfect for leftys but it can be workable, mounting is very solid to the rail, scope is very securely held to the mount, machining is great, the wedge included for mounting is useful - feelers gauges still my favorite, the mount is expensive but is well worth the cash.

It looks kinda blocky but works exceptionally well. There are several nice touches, like the channels cut in the back ring for looking squarely at the elevation turret, that are both rare and appreciated.

I own one, it is on a 300WM, I like it allot. I will buy more when they are needed. </div></div>

Thank you. Ordered one from Midway.

Very well conceived:

http://www.spuhr.com/scopemount%20features.pdf
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Nukes</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rancid Coolaid</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
Nukes said:
Can you provide some comments/opinions on the mount?
</div></div>

Thank you. Ordered one from Midway.

Very well conceived:

http://www.spuhr.com/scopemount%20features.pdf </div></div>

Told you this thread would cost you money...lol
 
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That is a bad ass rifle, who did the muzzle brake?
 
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<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Mendy300wm</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That is a bad ass rifle, who did the muzzle brake? </div></div>

I bought the rifle from Mile High and they profiled the barrel down and threaded my barrel to accept the Surefire 7.62ss Muzzle Break for my suppressor. They did my friends AI a while back and did a really good job so I had no 2nd thoughts about having them do it. Also, if they do it, it won't void your warranty.
 
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Looks like I know where I'm ordering my AIAW from, again sick ass rifle I'm building the exact same package in 300wm, and you will love that gun even more when you throw the can on it... Congrats and thanks for the info
 
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Let's see ... how does that saying go?

"If you have to ask how much it costs ..."

Great rig. The envy of many.

If I owned that thing, it would receive a bedroom to itself in the house, a weekly allowance, and free beer from the kegerator.
 
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Didn't read the other posts but that's an awsome 1st sniper rifle, you really did your research! I also own a horus reticle too and after using it I will own nothing else...Great setup man!