Accuracy International AX - question about empty magazine bolt stop

[Coloradocop]

So, I've repeatedly heard that the Accuracy International AX design is such that the bolt will stop on an empty magazine (similar to the way an empty magazine holds your slide back on an empty pistol, etc). My new AX rifle does not do this, so I figured that maybe this feature (which I know some like and some hate) wasn't actually part of this design. However, I was reading through the rifle's owner's manual today, and found this line:

"NOTE: Once the magazine is empty it will not be possible to cycle the bolt forwards after the bolt has been pulled fully rearward."


As such, it does seem like that is supposed to be part of the design on these rifles. Any idea why mine doesn't do this? (I should add that the magazine will lock the bolt back only if I am pushing up on the bottom of the magazine while cycling the bolt on an empty magazine).

 

[mckenzie]

my xmass AIAW 308 ....
"NOTE: Once the magazine is empty it will not be possible to cycle the bolt forwards after the bolt has been pulled fully rearward."
my AW acts in this manner . this is no help to you...have you called Accuracy International North America.

 

[Coloradocop]

No, I haven't called anyone about it yet. It's a brand new rifle (literally -- hasn't been fired yet) and I'm still getting to know its features. I was up at Mile High with it the other day (to get a scope mount and have my scope mounted) but I didn't think to ask them about it at the time, since I didn't really know if it was supposed to act that way or not. It was only this morning that I read in the manual that the bolt is supposed to hold open like it does on the AW series.

 

[Nuttshooter]

Some of my AW mags hold my AW bolt open and others don't. If there is a chip missing out of the plastic upper part of the mag follower on the aft side then that may be your issue.

That's normally what happens to mine. With enough force you can damage them and then they just cycle without rounds.

Nutt

 

[Coloradocop]

Some of my AW mags hold my AW bolt open and others don't. If there is a chip missing out of the plastic upper part of the mag follower on the aft side then that may be your issue.

That's normally what happens to mine. With enough force you can damage them and then they just cycle without rounds.

Nutt

Thanks for the reply... obviously mine isn't damaged or chipped yet (rifle has never been fired), but it seems as if the magazine doesn't lock in far enough that the magazine follower will catch the bolt. The magazine certainly locks into the rifle, and it will strip a round from the magazine just fine, but I have to push up on the back end of the bottom of the magazine body for it to go in far enough to catch the bolt when I'm cycling it.

 

[Mile High Shooting]

All the New AX's are like that, perform 100%, but won't lock back the bolt when the mag is empty.

 

[Lowlight]

LOL,

Most people hate it when the bolt is stopped by the Empty Mag and usually remove the stop by filing it down, this is definitely a first, complaining because it doesn't stop.

Consider that a "no charge" fix for ya.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

My AX doesn't do it but my AW and AE MKI did. I have to say I liked it, as smooth as these rifles feed I can't tell when a round is or isn't going in the chamber. The stop kept me from dry firing one when I didn't count.

 

[turbo54]

LOL,

Most people hate it when the bolt is stopped by the Empty Mag and usually remove the stop by filing it down, this is definitely a first, complaining because it doesn't stop.

Consider that a "no charge" fix for ya.

Thank you for this pearl.

 

[Lowlight]

Better Double Check

Thank you for this pearl.

Shouldn't you be out double checking your Premier Scopes to make sure they are not binding ?

I bet at least 2 are... how about that for a pearl.

 

[Coloradocop]

LOL,

Most people hate it when the bolt is stopped by the Empty Mag and usually remove the stop by filing it down, this is definitely a first, complaining because it doesn't stop.

Consider that a "no charge" fix for ya.

Well, in complete fairness I should admit that I haven't experienced that particular feature on a bolt gun, since my last two guns didn't have it (so it remains to be seen if I'd have liked or hated it). But, my philosophy on thinking that this could be a valuable feature was along the same lines as what Redneck said above: on a smooth operating bolt gun it might be possible under time/pressure constraints to accidentally close the bolt on an empty chamber, thinking that you're still loaded, and thus receiving a "click" instead of a "bang" when you need it. It has only happened to me once, just while shooting p-dogs, but it made me think that there might be some merit to the mag stop.

On the other hand, I know a few other hide members who shoot AIs (apparently you among them) who hate this feature. So, who knows what I would have thought of it in the long run. Regardless, I mostly wanted to make sure that things were as they should be on the rifle

I appreciate the replies from all of you!

 

[Lowlight]

It's a valid question, the new AX338 catches for sure, the AT might have too, I don't quite recall now, as I boxed it up for SHOT.

 

[poison123]

It only does it on the 338 mags on the PSR. Neither the 308 or 300wm mags do it........at least on mine.

 

[E. Bryant]

My AX338 locks back on an empty magazine, but my AX308 does not.

 

[Coloradocop]

It's a valid question, the new AX338 catches for sure, the AT might have too, I don't quite recall now, as I boxed it up for SHOT.

So, out of curiosity, is the change in this operation a function of a design change to the magazine, or a change to the rifle itself? I'm guessing it's just a magazine redesign, but that's merely a hunch based on the fact that a magazine could easily be designed to either stop the bolt (or not) in these rifles.

Thanks for the discussion, everyone. I learn more about this toy every day...now if I could just get a day off to go shoot it (there's nothing worse than having a new gun and waiting for the first chance to fire it).

 

[Lowlight]

It's just a tab on the magazine follower that sticks up.

 

[Coloradocop]

That's sort of what I figured, thanks for clearing that up though!

 

[WhiskeyBravo]

It only does it on the 338 mags on the PSR. Neither the 308 or 300wm mags do it........at least on mine.

Same experience here.

 

[Strike_out]

Just put together an Impact that was cut for AW mags. With the AW mag I purchased from area 419 my bolt locks back on empty. This magazine has no "tab" just the stepped follower.

 

[Kbh]

I've got two mags for my AX. The followers are identical but feedlips are very slightly wider on one than the other. That let's the follower sit higher and stops the bolt when empty. The other mag feeds fine but doesn't stop the bolt.

 

[RS14]

My AI AT locks back with all three of my mags. My buddies AI AX never had locked back. With any mag. Haven’t really looked into it other than swapping mags around at the range yesterday out of curiosity. I think he is good with his not locking back. And I’m good with mine locking back. lol.

 

[AIAW]

Removed all the stops from all of my magazines since the beginning of time. Magazine bolt stop, uhhh no thanks.

 

[Strike_out]

I've got two mags for my AX. The followers are identical but feedlips are very slightly wider on one than the other. That let's the follower sit higher and stops the bolt when empty. The other mag feeds fine but doesn't stop the bolt.

So I just rounded off the corner of the follower in the center and now the bolt rides right over it smoothly.