AIAW or custom build??

[pwinnall]

Hi,
I've been looking at an AIAW in 6.5x47 but I think I could get a custom build for less money and more accurate.
I will be using Border Barrels and maybe an AICS or AX stock but not sure of the action.
I thought about the BAT VRPIC repeater and being as it will be a USA action, you guys are the best to ask.
What actions would compare to BAT?
Best Regards Phil

 

[bm11]

If you can afford an AW, and if the stock fits you, there is no finer rifle. If you make the assumption that a custom rifle will be more accurate merely because it is "custom," that would be the wrong assumption to make. I have shot a number of 5 shot groups with my AINA factory Bartlein barreled AX that measure in the low .1's. The rifles straight up shoot.

I would NOT go 6.5x47 lapua though. I tried with my AW, and the small primer pockets were a no go. I was piercing primers way too much. Go .260 or 6.5 Creed.

 

[pwinnall]

Hi bm11,
The stock don't fit, I will have to get some Viperskins.
Or the AX but that comes in at just over £4500
Been looking at the Surgeon 591 action and I can get the small firing pin hole suitable for the 6.5x47.
I think this will compare to the AW.
I'm not sure the AIAW is good value? What do you think?
Thanks for your advice. Phil

 

[bm11]

Depends on how you define "value." I bought my AX new in 2011, within weeks of hitting us soil. In that time frame I have put over 4k rounds kn the action. I had GAP make me a .243 barrel and I also bought an AINA .260 barrel. I didn't have to pay to ship the rifle, and I installed the barrels myself, at my leasure, with no down time. If I sell it, surely there will be SOME depreciation, but not as much as a custom rifle.

Is it worth it to YOU? Only you can answer!

 

[Bruiser_Joe]

The surgeon, bat, new defiance/gap are all amazing actions. So is the badger, bighorn, etc. u can build any of them to a amazing rifle. I love my aiaw, have a Aiax long action coming. The customs aren't "better" just another way to skin a cat. There are no better hard use guns then AI though

 

[Graham]

I wouldn't do an AI in 6.5x47: If you need a custom firing pin hole diameter get a custom build.

Save money. Get a better gun in a more versatile caliber. Get an AE MK III in .260 instead.

 

[jbell]

As said before, the AW/AX is unequivocal. The only down falls of them would be the weight (matter of opinion) and poss the ergonomics. Accuracy and durability may be matched by a custom but not bettered.

 

[turbo54]

I was recently faced with the same decision. I thought long and hard but couldn't decide. I made a spreadsheet listing 10 or 11 features important to me in a rifle and then assigned a weighting factor to each. Then i rated the AI and custom Badger on a scale of 1-10 for each feature. Wouldn't you know they came out the SAME!

ultimately I decided on the badger, because I like to tinker and Futz around with stuff. I felt the AI is more geared towards simply use it as-is when it comes to screwing with triggers and making modifications - aside from rebarreling of course.

Another factor is the Badger is made in the USA, an important factor for me (though not an absolute must). Being the OP is from England, maybe he'd choose the AI for the same reason I chose the badger.

In terms of an out of the box, turn key, battle ready and reliable rifle, I don't think the AI has an equal.

 

[Jedi]

When your spending that kind of $$
why go COTS

Buy custom and get every feature you want

 

[tylerw02]

I'd go with the AI rifle. It will hold the value better should you decide to part ways, you can order barrels from a variety of places, and the system simply just works. One of my biggest regrets was selling my first AI and I've since ordered another to fill that itch.

I've had my share of customs and seems they all had problems that the AI didn't have.

 

[courtier]

Not that AI builds bad rifles -- they definitely build GREAT rifles -- but if you're even thinking about going custom, then I'd say go for it. You can add all of the features and even "nice to haves" more easily on a custom build than a factory rifle.

 

[LRJammer]

Highly unlikely that anything else will be measureably more accurate than and AI

 

[Bradu]

Having had both I say it's a toss up. The way I see it if AI has what you want in a rifle then go for it since they are ready to ship for the most part. If AI doesn't offer what you want in a rifle then I would go with a custom and get it the way you want it.

 

[XOR]

Hi,
I've been looking at an AIAW in 6.5x47 but I think I could get a custom build for less money and more accurate.
I will be using Border Barrels and maybe an AICS or AX stock but not sure of the action.
I thought about the BAT VRPIC repeater and being as it will be a USA action, you guys are the best to ask.
What actions would compare to BAT?
Best Regards Phil

What kind of accuracy do you need? My AW shoots in the 0.2s MOA with my handloads. It is virtually always under 0.5 MOA with gold medal match ammo. It is no benchrest rifle, but then again a benchrest rifle is not made for what the AW is either.

In terms of accuracy and reliability in a wide number of conditions, I don't have any doubt that the AI is going to be a top performer.

You may also want to consider the Sako TRG in your search. It has comparable accuracy and reliability to the AI based on my experience. Although the AW is more rugged, it would be difficult to think most shooters outside of combat conditions is ever going to test the limits. It will come down to ergonomics and which rifle fits you better.

 

[ranger1183]

I recommend that you go with the AIAW. You will retain a higher percentage of your original investment if you decide to sell. Also, it is a very tried and true system with a great reputation.

 

[Graham]

Agreed. If there is such a thing as a 'sniper' rifle, the AW is it. A custom build is just that: The parts you chose made into a militarized sporter system. Whether you use or not it the AW will keep its value better, and if you do use it it will hold-up better to abuse.

 

[W54/XM-388]

A lot depends I think on what you plan to do with the rifle?

Benchrest shooting: Go custom dedicated massive Benchrest model
Tons of positional shooting, lots of running / unsupported shooting etc: Custom build with a more traditional stock that is much lighter
Hunting: Custom build that is a lot lighter

Shooting prone off a bipod: Go with the AI AW or AI AX all the way.
Concerned about reliability in bad conditions: Go AI AW or AI AX for sure
Plan to shoot tons and need to be able to change barrels yourself quickly: Go AI AW or AI AX for sure.
Concerned about resale value and want to be able to make a quick good sale if needed: AI AW or AI AX will hold their value better and be way easier to sell than most others.
Tend to really beat your gear around hard: Better get an AI AW or AI AX

The AI AW and AX rifles are excellent well designed rifles that are designed to be very accurate and fully military ready right out of the box as well as be able to take a pounding for a long time and be easy to swap parts on without too much down time.
They are designed for marksman / sniper range engagements and are well suited to similar roles.
They are however not the best for certain applications that are a bit more specialized & you can make a custom rifle more reliable as they give up a bit of ultimate tweaking in order to maintain reliability.
For example the chambers are a bit looser because on a 2 way range in bad conditions on a bad day, you really don't want your rifle refusing to chamber a round because of a little bit of dirt on a little ding on the brass. The trigger is a bit less perfect because you want to make sure that your trigger goes off even if you just dropped it in freezing mud and waded through a stream and doesn't go off when you and the rifle tumble down the hill.
They are also heavy in order to maintain the strength they have and if you don't need ruggedness then you can get rifles that weigh a lot less.

Now if you could let us know what exactly you plan to do with your rifle and what overall concerns you have, then we could help you narrow it down a lot.
They are not all that ergonomic for positional shooting or unsupported (also the weight here is a factor) as the people who use these rifles for the situations they were made for, tend to be shooting from supported positions that quite possibly also offer a low visibility profile and some possible barriers.

 

[pwinnall]

Hi,
Thank you all for your advice. I agree that the 6.5x47 may not be suitable to the AI due to the bolt port being too big for the small primer.
So I will have to get a variation on my licence for a .260 rem. Over here, we have to apply for permission to get a calibre and give a reason for owning it. It can take 6 months to come through on my licence.
Cost wise, a custom build would be cheaper and I can get the small port suitable for the 6.5x47. And get a great barrel fitted too.
I will be doing some tactical type competitions and vermin/deer stalking. And hopefully some steel plate shooting.
I am still looking at the actions out there. I can get a Borden Rimrock or a BAT VRPIC. Borden can specify a small port for the 6.5x47. So that may be better if I wanted the 6.5x47.
Surgeon are expensive over here and not so easy to get so Borden Rimrock is at the top of my list on custom build so far.
Are Borden good?
Kind Regards Phil

 

[tylerw02]

If you have to get a license for the caliber, could you not buy the rifle in .308 or whatever you have on your license, and then add .260 and order a barrel when the license comes in?

 

[pwinnall]

Hello Tylerw02, Been quoted £3560 for the basic rifle then another £1000 for a fluted 6.5x47 barrel. So I would in effect be buying a stock/chassis, action and trigger for £3560. I can get their AICS for £600 fixed stock, jewel trigger for £270 and still have over £2500 to get an action. I know it won't be bonded but I can get a nice rifle and save some cash too.
To be honest I would love an AIAW but the last quote from our UK dealer has put me off. A BAT action VRPIC for £1375 plus £900 for a 5R fluted screw cut and fitted barrel. Then just the trigger and stock (AX for £780). Saving over £1000 I can put towards a good scope

 

[Champ82]

AI rifles are great but very exspensive. I went with a custom build in a AW chassis and saved about 2k.