AI = Apathy International? Take a look at these new stocksides.

[SNIPERS4DUMMIES]

Someone at Midway picking packing had a mid afternoon cocktail to let that dremel job leave the door.

Hello mr Irwin,
are you releasing the PSR stock chassis for sale anytime soon? if so, any ideas on cost?
thanks

 

[wm.penn]

The new design of stock sides did not have a cut out because everyone does not want a monopod.

Tom,

Thanks for the thorough response. I maintain that this option makes no sense whatsoever. You don't get rid of the monopod mounting hole (regardless of its original intent) "because everyone does not want a monopod." Simple logic tells you that you only get rid of it if NO ONE wants a monopod. Why not retain the option? Were non-monopod users pissed about that little hole? I highly doubt it. Surely cutting open the stock sides was not considered a legitimate design alternative??

From a marketing perspective this design change alienated an entire class of (potential) customers with no apparent benefit to any other class of customers, nor (I would guess) any significant cost savings to manufacture. If you really want to offer a customer-centric solution, I submit that a capped rail similar to the Magpul PRS would be highly functional, elegant and not objectionable to non-monopod users. It would cost more to manufacture but I would pay more for the stock if it had this feature. I think you might find that others would as well.

I am moving on to another stock for now but I will gladly return if and when you fix your shit. My criticism is intended to be constructive, so I hope it is taken that way.

 

[6brshooter]

That sliding rail cover was always sliding off my 308 ar10. Finally put a screw in it to hold it on. I have no use for a monopod, i find them slow and clumsy to use compared to a proper beanbag. If the threaded hole is still in the chassis then just trim the plastic off, fucks sake people got to make shit difficult

 

[zenghost]

If I was trying to be genuinely constructive, I'd check the attitude that makes it sounds like AI took one of my favorite toys away, so now I am gonna stomp my feet and whine.

We're fortunate Mr. Irwin avails himself on this forum from time to time as a valued resource (industry professional). He might be less inclined to do so if he has to incur this type of response (thinly-veiled hostility) regarding his "shit" with any regularity.

 

[tomirwin]

I just read the feedback regarding the "removal of the rear hole". As I said earlier we provided information on our new stock sides to the maker of the monopod but it seems a solution is not available. MAybe I am wrong on that one but we will find out
Over many years we have machined parts of stock sides to accommodate various accessories and it is not difficult to make a cut in the rear stock side for those who want to fit a monopod and supply the parts as accessories.
I am sure that this issue will be resolved.
It is interesting to see a thread which started by talking about a "shit" product where it was obvious someone other than AI made a cut in the stock side and ruined it and by the end of the thread AI did not make a cut and as a result made a "shit" product.
It certainly proves the point that you cannot please all of the people all of the time but we will offer a solution.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

 

[Cartman]

Tom, you may not "get" this unless you read threads in the semi-auto subforum. Rest assured it is a joke, and most definitely NOT at your expense.

But it is clear from your measured and reasoned responses, and willingness to respond to and help a customer with a complaint that you're probably not going to get a job at FD-Defence any time soon!

 

[tomirwin]

Cartman,
Thanks for your post. I went to the semi-auto forum and I now "get" it. It is always good to see what others do and much can be learned from it. As it happens I am very happy at Accuracy International so I will not be looking for another job. This is the best job I have ever had and I intend that Accuracy International will be the gold standard in firearm design, development, test, manufacture, quality, delivery and customer service. We are not there yet but we have come a long way in a journey that really began on May 3, 2005 when I was fortunate enough to be one of the four owners of Accuracy International who brought the company out of bankruptcy.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

 

[6brshooter]

When i said " some people have to make shit difficult" that was not directed at AI, more at the poster that made it sound like he loved AI chassis but since they had no ready provision for monopods they were now crap. I have 4 aics that were bought in the last yr so i am quite happy with mine. Mr Irwin would it be possible to buy just the buttstock and backstrap of a pistol ai skins? I have 2 savage folders in fde that i would not mind to convert to pistol grip but i dont really need the forend or front half of grip panels. Any help on this or will i need to buy a complete set of skins?

 

[tomirwin]

6brshooter
I has been our intention to do just what you are asking and I will make sure that happens. We will set the necessary wheels in motion next week.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

 

[6brshooter]

Thank you sir, will be looking forward to the update. Will u post said update here? Also what vendor's would have the back half kits and estimated price, thanks again.

 

[ashland]

Mr. Irwin, I've enjoyed owning my MkII very much! I've gotten advice from many folks at AINA. I even had one of your guys walk me through the barrel changing and muzzle brake timing process over the phone. Got a barrel from Patrick last week and that will keep me shooting in competitions through the end of the year. You and your company are doing a fine job. Thank you.

 

[wm.penn]

It's funny that an innocuous turn of phrase such as "fix your shit" generated such ire. The phrase itself does not actually mean that the object is shit. Nonetheless, in a previous post I referred to the redesigned stock as "barfed up defective bullshit." No one must have read that one. LOL

My point in this thread, which is stated rather clearly, is that the stock is awesome and thus it is incredibly annoying and inexplicable that such a useful feature was removed. Whether or not it is physically possible for the end-user to modify the stock to make it work seems irrelevant. I was offering free marketing advice. Other companies pay for this "shit". As an owner, Tom does *himself* a service in communicating with customers on this forum. Is it also useful to the customers? Absolutely. It's a win-win. I'm not sure why some posters feel the need to butter his backside and walk on eggshells. That helps no one. It certainly does not result in useful product innovation.

As for "thinly-veiled hostility", I'll once again clarify that my hostility towards a regression in the feature set of the stock is not at all veiled. It's quite open. But my "hostility" is by no means personal. I don't know Tom but I assume until proven otherwise that he's quite competent and a perfectly good guy. And in case it was not as obvious as I thought, my comments about people being "sacked" were tongue in cheek. It's a movie quote intended to convey a little light-heartedness.

As an AI customer and as a professional with legitimate expertise and extensive education in strategic marketing and customer service, I offered my feedback with the hope that it would eventually result in a widely beneficial product improvement. Until then, for those who don't need a monopod or who don't mind cutting the stock sides to attach one, I wholeheartedly recommend the AICS chassis with the redesigned ergonomics. It is truly excellent aside from the monopod attachment.

Regards to all.

 

[wm.penn]

And FWIW, I have an AINA 6.5CM barrel in my safe just waiting for an AW to join the collection.

 

[tomirwin]

6brshooter
We have started the ball rolling to supply sets of rear stock pistol grip side parts to replace our latest style of thumbhole stock sides, as supplied with all current legacy AICS, AW and AE. You will be able to get them from our distributors, Sniper Rifle Systems - AE, AW, AX, AX50 & AICS Sniper Rifles | Accuracy International, and they will be about half the price of a new set of stock sides regardless of fixed or folding. Colors will be olive green, black and dark earth. They will be available in July.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

 

[Papa Zero Three]

6brshooter
We have started the ball rolling to supply sets of rear stock pistol grip side parts to replace our latest style of thumbhole stock sides, as supplied with all current legacy AICS, AW and AE. You will be able to get them from our distributors, Sniper Rifle Systems - AE, AW, AX, AX50 & AICS Sniper Rifles | Accuracy International, and they will be about half the price of a new set of stock sides regardless of fixed or folding. Colors will be olive green, black and dark earth. They will be available in July.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

That is excellent news. Thanks for making this happen, I will definitely be picking up a set when they come out.

 

[surfr716]

wm.penn, I could save time as you suggest and answer 4. None of the above.
I will comment as well.
Firstly, it should be known that the hole in earlier stock sides was not to accommodate a monopod. The designer of the monopod used existing holes in the frame and stock sides and designed a custom monopod to suit.
The new design of stock sides did not have a cut out because everyone does not want a monopod. Unlike the situation with the earlier monopod, we did work with the supplier of the monopod and I understand he has come up with a design that works with our new stock sides. It does require some of the stock side material to be cut out but that was what we agreed with him. We are checking on the status of this activity as a result of this thread and will post the information when we find out. You could also ask Accupod what they have to fit our new stock sides.
FYI nobody was fired, is being fired or will be fired and the persons who did not fire them will not be fired either.
I hope that gives you a little more information on the subject.

Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

Mr irwin,
I kind of have to agree with wm penn. I understand that not everyone uses a monopod but if you had a design that allowed it and a monopod to match why stop using it? Theyre quite handy off the bench and while not everyone that shoots your chassis does so in an environment that's conducive to usung one I'm sure therea a large enough section of the market that does to make it monetarily sound to continue to accomadate them. I understand you stand behind your product 100 percent and you make a fine product so why would you want some monkey in a garage with a dremel tool modifying something? Seems to me you could make the job look far less crude at the factory using the correct tool for the job than any shed builder can manage without them and I don't think your going to push anyone away from your chassis by adding another useful feature. This is just my 2 cents, I'm not in a position in my life to tell a successful business in the firearms industry how to manage his company

Sincerely, Ken

 

[locked&loaded]

Tom, I am currently awaiting the us suppliers to restock the AICS 2.0 SA chassis. when the new one arrive, should they have the block installed at the bolt handle?

 

[tomirwin]

Locked......The latest legacy chassis with new stock sides no longer have a block at the bolt handle

Sufr716/Ken.....In the original thumbhole chassis the hole in the stock sides was to prevent someone removing butt spacers, tightening the butt pad up again and ruining the stock sides. It just happened to be a handy place to fit a rear monopod which was supplied by a third party. I can understand that there are users who like the rear monopod and there are those who do not. Our new pistol grip and thumbhole stock sides were designed to give better ergonomics to the user in the shooting position and this meant that there was a significantly greater gap than before. This was not compatible with the existing monopod from the third party and we provided them with information to come up with a suitable design. I understand they have something but so far have been unable to confirm it.
That aside I do agree that we should have our own monopod accessory and we are working on a prototype as a result of this thread.
I will ensure that we have something within a few months and make sure the Hide is advised when it is available.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

 

[chainring]

I've never been a fan of the AI ergonomics, but the measured and friendly interaction from tomirwin is refreshing. Nice to see.

 

[6brshooter]

Thanks Mr. Irwin for the info on the back half set. Will be trying one out and possibly getting another if i like the grip. My Remington AICS are in viperskins, as they were available when i got the chassis and could not find/get AI pistol skins.

 

[wm.penn]

I do agree that we should have our own monopod accessory and we are working on a prototype as a result of this thread.
I will ensure that we have something within a few months and make sure the Hide is advised when it is available.
Tom Irwin
Accuracy International

This is a win-win. Much appreciated, Tom.

 

[Jinete_Palido]

I believe this is the "something" that BT/Accu-Shot has come up with to address the use of their Mono-pod on the latest AICS skins:

Accu-Shot

All I can say is that my interactions with the folks from AI have been nothing but positive.

 

[Papa Zero Three]

I just want to say "Thank you" Tom for taking the time to address the issues raised in this thread and making the changes.

 

[Adician]

Jeez, that's confusing.