First thing I wanted to do was change the barrel. I decided to install the barrel that came off one of my AIAW rifles, which is an AI 26” in .308 UK barrel. Once installed, the go and no go gauge worked fine as expected. The barrel is extremely easy to change. You remove the two allen head cap screws that retain the fore end grip, this exposed eight small allen head cap screws which retain the floating hand guard. Once the hand guard is removed, the barrel is placed in the barrel clamp it is easily spun off and the new barrel spun on. I wanted to change the barrel because I shoot a factory 175-gr black hills match ammunition and the 20” barrel has marginal performance at 1000 yards. Also, I wanted to compare the weight against an AIAW with the same features on the stock. The rifle is easily disassembled and reassembled in about 20 minutes
Eight allen head cap screws to remove hand guard
The AIAX rifle as pictured has a 26” barrel length with unloaded magazine, weighing18.5 lbs.
The AIAW rifle as pictured is with a 26” barrel, unloaded magazine has the same push button adjustable stock features as the AX but no adjustable trigger weighed 19 lbs.
Initially there was too much distance between the back of the pistol grip and the trigger. The trigger is fully adjustable, sliding forward and to the rear to provide proper engagement. Pretty much identical to the way my Anschutz trigger is on my T2000. It is easily done by loosening the allen head cap screw. I slid the trigger rearward and completely solved the problem and gave me proper trigger engagement.
The magazine well has been redesigned. A portion of the well has been removed on the left side for right-handed shooters. It makes it extremely easy to insert the magazine. Instead of having to insert it from the bottom through the mag well you can bring the magazine in through the side and it bottoms out against the other side of the mag well. Push upward into place until it locks. The AX magazine has a small lug on the front side that the AW does not. According to Stacey, the AX magazines are done this way to provide extra support and security due to the magazine cut out on the side of the receiver. There is no problem with using the AW magazines in the AX, however the AX mags will not work in the AW weapons. I tried the AW mags and they functions without any issues. I am going to use the AX magazines because they are specifically designed for the AX. After a short period of time you find yourself changing magazines extremely efficiently.
The rail system works very well. The holes on the hand guard are elongated with a round hole at the end. To change the rails you merely loosen them up, slide them towards the round hole, remove them and reinstall them by reversing the procedure. It is very fast and efficient to change the configuration. The octagon rail system gives you infinite mounting configurations for accessories.
The cheek piece and the butt stock are push button adjustable. This works well for me because in the sitting position I like a longer stock than I do in the other positions.
The butt spike works well. The push button is for the gross adjustment and the thumbscrew is for the fine adjustment.
According to the manual, the brake was designed to accept a suppressor; this is why it is built in this configuration. Evidentially the brake fits up inside the suppressor and seals it off. The brake works extremely well. I was shooting 175-gr .308 and had about the same felt recoil as my AW does in 6.5 mm CM with 140-gr bullets. I am going to change it to the new QD brake because it is a little bit smaller.
I was able to put four hundred rounds through the rifle. Of course the accuracy was good, .5 of a minute at 100 yards. I shot the snipers hide dot drill with the 11/16 size dots after I zeroed the rifle. I had five misses but it wasn’t the rifles fault. I took it to the silhouette range and shot some 10” plates at 500 meters; 3.8 mils of elevation and .5 mils of wind resulted in an impact almost every time I pulled the trigger. I did some positional shooting at 200 yards. The rifle fits me very well, better than the AW. I would assume it’s because of its ergonomics and adjustability. Within the next week I plan to shoot it out to 1000 yards. I expect it to be all good.
Good: Easily assemble and disassembled. The octagon rail system allows infinite mounting possibilities for accessories.The ease of adjusting the trigger, butt stock and cheek piece makes it easy to fit the rifle to the shooter. The redesigned magazine well makes for quick mag changes with very little practice. The redesigned butt spike works well and is quick to deploy. The muzzle brake works well but it’s a little large. With the same extremely smooth bolt as on the AIAW.
Not so good: Rifle should be supplied with a couple more picatinney rail segments. Comes with a 20” UK barrel or a 24” Bartlein barrel. I think the 26” barrel should be an option, for better all around performance with the factory ammunition. The initial purchase price is a little steep, but I feel the rifle is worth it and I am very happy with my purchase.
Eight allen head cap screws to remove hand guard
The AIAX rifle as pictured has a 26” barrel length with unloaded magazine, weighing18.5 lbs.
The AIAW rifle as pictured is with a 26” barrel, unloaded magazine has the same push button adjustable stock features as the AX but no adjustable trigger weighed 19 lbs.
Initially there was too much distance between the back of the pistol grip and the trigger. The trigger is fully adjustable, sliding forward and to the rear to provide proper engagement. Pretty much identical to the way my Anschutz trigger is on my T2000. It is easily done by loosening the allen head cap screw. I slid the trigger rearward and completely solved the problem and gave me proper trigger engagement.
The magazine well has been redesigned. A portion of the well has been removed on the left side for right-handed shooters. It makes it extremely easy to insert the magazine. Instead of having to insert it from the bottom through the mag well you can bring the magazine in through the side and it bottoms out against the other side of the mag well. Push upward into place until it locks. The AX magazine has a small lug on the front side that the AW does not. According to Stacey, the AX magazines are done this way to provide extra support and security due to the magazine cut out on the side of the receiver. There is no problem with using the AW magazines in the AX, however the AX mags will not work in the AW weapons. I tried the AW mags and they functions without any issues. I am going to use the AX magazines because they are specifically designed for the AX. After a short period of time you find yourself changing magazines extremely efficiently.
The rail system works very well. The holes on the hand guard are elongated with a round hole at the end. To change the rails you merely loosen them up, slide them towards the round hole, remove them and reinstall them by reversing the procedure. It is very fast and efficient to change the configuration. The octagon rail system gives you infinite mounting configurations for accessories.
The cheek piece and the butt stock are push button adjustable. This works well for me because in the sitting position I like a longer stock than I do in the other positions.
The butt spike works well. The push button is for the gross adjustment and the thumbscrew is for the fine adjustment.
According to the manual, the brake was designed to accept a suppressor; this is why it is built in this configuration. Evidentially the brake fits up inside the suppressor and seals it off. The brake works extremely well. I was shooting 175-gr .308 and had about the same felt recoil as my AW does in 6.5 mm CM with 140-gr bullets. I am going to change it to the new QD brake because it is a little bit smaller.
I was able to put four hundred rounds through the rifle. Of course the accuracy was good, .5 of a minute at 100 yards. I shot the snipers hide dot drill with the 11/16 size dots after I zeroed the rifle. I had five misses but it wasn’t the rifles fault. I took it to the silhouette range and shot some 10” plates at 500 meters; 3.8 mils of elevation and .5 mils of wind resulted in an impact almost every time I pulled the trigger. I did some positional shooting at 200 yards. The rifle fits me very well, better than the AW. I would assume it’s because of its ergonomics and adjustability. Within the next week I plan to shoot it out to 1000 yards. I expect it to be all good.
Good: Easily assemble and disassembled. The octagon rail system allows infinite mounting possibilities for accessories.The ease of adjusting the trigger, butt stock and cheek piece makes it easy to fit the rifle to the shooter. The redesigned magazine well makes for quick mag changes with very little practice. The redesigned butt spike works well and is quick to deploy. The muzzle brake works well but it’s a little large. With the same extremely smooth bolt as on the AIAW.
Not so good: Rifle should be supplied with a couple more picatinney rail segments. Comes with a 20” UK barrel or a 24” Bartlein barrel. I think the 26” barrel should be an option, for better all around performance with the factory ammunition. The initial purchase price is a little steep, but I feel the rifle is worth it and I am very happy with my purchase.
