I shot an AI today, and I liked it

Oh absolutely, it would 100% be an ego purchase. My current precision rifle ability is more like this
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I think if AINA saw me group one of their rifles, they'd ask for it back.

There's something about the build quality and standard of these rifles that appeals to me. In a world where most things are disposable, it's endearing to see some companies who refuse to do anything less than uphold the standard.

What's that HK slogan? "In a world of compromise, some don't."
is AINA the plural form of anus?
 
Just buy a desert tech and you will love life even more.

Doc

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Love hate relationship with my AT-X

Pros: Very nice rifle. Love the config, 60 degree throw, big gay knob. Quick change barrels. Fucking hammer.

Cons: AI to customer: Are your famous? No: get fucked. Keyslot/dickmod (good luck finding shit compatible), no customer support. Extra bolts? Fuck you. Different bolt sizes? Fuck you peasant. Oh wait yet ANOTHER pattern AI mag. HEY WE HAVE A NEW MODEL SO WE CUT THE PRICE OF YOUR MODEL AND YOUR RESALE IS SHIT AND WE WONT BE GETTING ALL THAT COOL SHIT WE TALKED ABOUT EXCEPT FOR OUR NEW MODEL WHICH YOU NOW HAVE TO BUY! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA fucking peasant. We moded the stock 57 gazillion times and since you were a beta tester you get to tray and piece together upgrades yourself becuase you are non-mil commercial customer: fuck you peasant.

Meh: Metric threads (Lots of big shops do em, but my local guys treat it like is a peso for currency). Way the hell overpriced.

Its a very nice rifle. I do love it.

Some days

When I have to tinker with it or try and mod it: Fuck that POS,.

YMMV, Flame suit on.

If you want a rifle and will never tinker? Its great. If you like to fuck with your rifles? RUN AWAY. Far AWAY
 
They’re keyslot not keymod

Not even close and keyslot is bomb proof compared to keymod or Mlok
Hahahahahahah. I know what they are. Still gay looking. News flash. MLOK and thread locker isn’t going anywhere. Unless you’re blown up by a bomb to your point. Then who gives a shit.

Also everything DocRDS just said.
 
Once upon a time, they held their value. But nowadays, if you buy the most recent model at MAP, you just have to wait until the next one comes out at SHOT and suddenly Mile High or Euro Optic has your model on clearance for 30-40% of what you paid. Now you've got the double-whammy of having an "obsolete" rifle (not really, but it's no longer the latest and greatest) and potential buyers have the leverage of "well I can buy the same thing new from vendor X at price Y" so now yours is only worth half of what you paid.

If this is a one-time buy and you plan on keeping it for the rest of your life, none of this should be a concern - pay full price and enjoy one of the finest firearms available. But chronic flippers needs to be aware and shop for bargains.
Yeah, flippers tend to get fucked. But if you hold your old one for a few years after the new one comes out, it seems the price goes up and up and up.

What I really like about my AIAT is it’s nice to experiment with calibers. I went from the factory 308 to 6br to 22-250, and the latter is where I’m staying for my main pursuit, pdog shooting.

I first had an AX but sold it for the AT, and bought a thumbhole kit for it. For me, the AT is the perfect (heavy) field gun, whereas the AX has all the sharp-ish metal bits.

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TRG-22 is another rifle I'm really interested in. Aside from a used one at my LGS I've never seen one in the wild. But the first time I ran the bolt on that one, I knew it would live up to expectations.

EuroOptic currently has a tan/FDE folder TRG-22 for like $4400 and a TRG-22A1 in 260 for about the same. Either one was tempting, except that I shoot lefty. Maybe it doesn't matter all that much though. I'm not a professional and I don't compete so...

It would be nice to thumb my nose at the poors. And I've also heard AIs and TRGs make you taller and better looking, which I could also use a helping hand with.

Decisions, decisions....
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I have both an AI AT-X, and a Sako TRG 22A1. My Sako runs smoother than my AI, but the cheekpiece and adjustable butt on the AI locks up tighter. Bonus that the AI has the ability to swap prefit barrels in about two minutes. Ergos are ALMOST a wash as both are excellent and well thought out... but the AT-X has a built-in ARCA rail.

The AT-X has a lighter trigger, but I'm one of those rare dudes who doesn't prefer that. Between genetics and smashing my hands routinely on ranch equipment, my fingers are pretty numb. Trying not to break a 1lb second stage AI Comp trigger until I really want to is a bit of a distraction for me. The TRG feels much more natural in this regard.

If I were only buying one - AI.
 
Every single one I have seen feed and eject like total shit. And the ergos sucks. Or maybe it's because I had to reach in every single time to pick the case out of the action every single time I have shot one.
Never had that issue with mine. Very controlled ejection. You just have to get used to a bullpup action I think. No issues with failure to feed except with the long 10rd mags and if you put pressure on them. But I honestly don't even use them, the 6rd mags are perfect for me both in 308 and 65 creed. Less than 1/2 MOA all day even with a generic handload. Was about 1/3 MOA with federal 140gr 65 creed and 6fps SD out of production ammo.

Doc
 
Its 2025. there is zero reason to buy any of these overpriced, over engineered , under supplied obsolete technology rifles.
I think you’re probably right. But there’s a couple of ok reasons to get a Sako or an AI (or Cadex etc).
  1. No futzing; sorted from the factory. You order it, it comes to your door, you unpack it and shoot it on the same day.
  2. You just like it.
However, if you get comfortable with changing barrels with a barrel vise and installing triggers, yeah, a Lone Peak or Terminus Zeus or a Tikka plus a BnA/TT/Midas trigger and custom barrel in a KRG or Foundation etc etc can shoot just as well.

But with the custom or custom-ish route, we all have stories of our mistakes, the gunsmith’s mistakes, and/or the manufacturer’s mistakes slowing down the finishing of the rifle.

It’s sorta nice to just order the gun and shoot it. But you pay for the privilege!
 
Yeah, flippers tend to get fucked. But if you hold your old one for a few years after the new one comes out, it seems the price goes up and up and up.

What I really like about my AIAT is it’s nice to experiment with calibers. I went from the factory 308 to 6br to 22-250, and the latter is where I’m staying for my main pursuit, pdog shooting.

I first had an AX but sold it for the AT, and bought a thumbhole kit for it. For me, the AT is the perfect (heavy) field gun, whereas the AX has all the sharp-ish metal bits.

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Are those vltor bipod legs on the spigot? How do you like them?
 
If you think AI has bad customer service, Wait till you get to experience Sako/Beretta.

Its 2025. there is zero reason to buy any of these overpriced, over engineered , under supplied obsolete technology rifles.

Except "I want one". I have custom rifles too, but now I have an AI and a Sako. Not going to argue about the shitty CS though.

I could buy more Glocks too, but I prefer my 1911 collection of Wilsons, Ed Browns etc..

Some guys save up and pay a little more for what they perceive as the finer things in life. Other guys eat their Snickers upside down so they can feel the vein on their tongue. By your posts, I can safely assume you like the taste of caramel and nougat. ;)
 
I think you’re probably right. But there’s a couple of ok reasons to get a Sako or an AI (or Cadex etc).
  1. No futzing; sorted from the factory. You order it, it comes to your door, you unpack it and shoot it on the same day.
  2. You just like it.
However, if you get comfortable with changing barrels with a barrel vise and installing triggers, yeah, a Lone Peak or Terminus Zeus or a Tikka plus a BnA/TT/Midas trigger and custom barrel in a KRG or Foundation etc etc can shoot just as well.

But with the custom or custom-ish route, we all have stories of our mistakes, the gunsmith’s mistakes, and/or the manufacturer’s mistakes slowing down the finishing of the rifle.

It’s sorta nice to just order the gun and shoot it. But you pay for the privilege!
This is a big plus in favor of the factory rigs. I've considered building a custom or semi custom on an ARC, or Terminus, or Strasser action (and may yet) but I've realized, I don't really like messing with shit that should just run.

I have a few hours Saturdays and Sundays to split between shooting trap and rifle before I have to keep the house up and everything else, and maybe 90 minutes two weekdays to shoot pistol. I don't want to spend that time tuning feed lips, timing or tuning triggers, diagnosing malfunctions; I just want grab the tool and run it.

The modularity and aftermarket support of the P320 sold me before the issues came about, I was planning on different slides, barrel, trigger, grip frame, blah blah blah. In a couple years and 12k+ rounds, it's malfunctioned once and I swapped triggers primarily to work-around a personal physical limitation.
 
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Are those vltor bipod legs on the spigot? How do you like them?
It’s an AI bipod from Sporting Services UK 🇬🇧, and it’s probably the handiest & most practical bipod that I own.

I also own an Elite Iron panner, an LRA Tactical-Lite Fclass, a CAL and SCAL, and an old no-notch Harris.

The AI pops in & out of the spigot instantly, it has a bit of pan built in (it’s not a panner), the legs pull down without a button (like a Harris) but don’t collapse inadvertently (push a button to push them up).

The lower legs operate like a Harris with notches. Has good cant control…doesn’t totally lock off but because it’s in a deep-ish yoke, it doesn’t have to (unlike a CAL on top of a triangle). I swear it’s made by Harris.

And it’s not too wide to fit in most soft bags, unlike the LRA and SCAL.

It and the EI panner are great for varmint shooting off a bench, where some panning is extremely helpful. But the AI is just simpler and handier.

If you want a rock solid bipod to shoot stationary objects, buy an Accutac. I hear they lock up well.

If you want a practical bipod to shoot living things that move a lot, get the AI.

AI also has this bipod keyslot adapter for rifles like the AX:

Was thinking of adapting it for my KRG, but EI sells this nifty QD Sako adapter that fits the KRG chassis and I already own the EI, so that’s the way I went for those rifles. Pops in/out instantly and folds up right next to the barrel (but buy the rubber feet with the panner…the stock steel feet will gouge your barrel).

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The hide never disappoints!!

I love AI
I hate AI

I love desert tech
I hate desert tech

I love Vudoo
I hate Vudoo

Just buy whatever you want and whatever suits your uses. I think the hide forgets not everyone cares about or shoots prs or matches for that matter. For some a desert tech 16” covert and 6 round mag fits their style better than a 30” barreled 6mm 22 lbs rifle

Personally my AI AT’s are worth more than I paid for them now. I also have other rifles and chassis including MPA, Mcmillian, Stiller etc.

I still prefer my AI’s. But I’ll never use them for a 6mm comp gun or comps in general. So I could care less how they fit in that role.

You don’t need to justify your AI and I could care less how you justify your parts build. To each their own

My tikka ctr in krg bravo is a poor man’s TRG. I have no doubt I’d love a trg if I ever decided to run one of those either
 
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Lot of bandwagon crowds it seems
There’s probably a handful of people in these threads who bash on platforms they’ve never even owned or customer service they’ve never even needed

They post how they’ll never own a desert tech because of how much ergonomics suck (despite never trying one) Or an AI due to lack of accessories. I mean really what else do you need to put on a rifle that even AI doesn’t have available in keyslot? Or just get an AI with Mlok if that’s what you truly need.


Having likely never owned the rifle or optic they so much argue against they then post the last stance dagger of a message to some poor soul just expressing their god given opinion.

They then smile, hike up the skinny jeans,
lay behind their Savage model 10 and swfa 10X and send a round down rang. All while slowly caressing the side of that flimsy stock whispering

“You’re just as good”
 
There’s probably a handful of people in these threads who bash on platforms they’ve never even owned or customer service they’ve never even needed

They post how they’ll never own a desert tech because of how much ergonomics suck (despite never trying one) Or an AI due to lack of accessories. I mean really what else do you need to put on a rifle that even AI doesn’t have available in keyslot? Or just get an AI with Mlok if that’s what you truly need.


Having likely never owned the rifle or optic they so much argue against they then post the last stance dagger of a message to some poor soul just expressing their god given opinion.

They then smile, hike up the skinny jeans,
lay behind their Savage model 10 and swfa 10X and send a round down rang. All while slowly caressing the side of that flimsy stock whispering

“You’re just as good”
Yeah mention AI and DouchBeforeDoorknobs (btw on 2nd barrel Without feeding issues or trigger issues) is bound to show up. And its either love it or hate it (That's why i do both!). No ones gear is up to the hype. Everyone raves about impacts, but I 'liked' the TL3 better (Nothing wrong with impact, I just liked the TL3 better--kinda like I prefer my rifles black over tan--like who gives a shit except me--my rifle my color!). There is a huge "crowd" following the cool kids and its so tough to get good honest feedback on what works because all you get is
"This rifle was gifted by God"
"This rifle is Satan's buttcrack"
Everyone is shilling for something. Truth got hit with the rape train online and there are no brakes on the rape train.

Why pick ford over chevy? I like the ford looks better. Both get me to work. Both haul shit. But the Ford dealer treated me better.
I need to go reload for Sept/Oct matches and GTFO of the bear pit.
 
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Yeah mention AI and DouchBeforeDoorknobs (btw on 2nd barrel Without feeding issues or trigger issues) is bound to show up. And its either love it or hate it (That's why i do both!). No ones gear is up to the hype. Everyone raves about impacts, but I 'liked' the TL3 better (Nothing wrong with impact, I just liked the TL3 better--kinda like I prefer my rifles black over tan--like who gives a shit except me--my rifle my color!). There is a huge "crowd" following the cool kids and its so tough to get good honest feedback on what works because all you get is
"This rifle was gifted by God"
"This rifle is Satan's buttcrack"
Everyone is shilling for something. Truth got hit with the rape train online and there are no brakes on the rape train.

Why pick ford over chevy? I like the ford looks better. Both get me to work. Both haul shit. But the Ford dealer treated me better.
I need to go reload for Sept/Oct matches and GTFO of the bear pit.
Deathbeforedismountingadick has always been like that. Pretty sure I made his ignore list long ago