Radically new rifle chassis systems are coming in 2010 and will be available to peons such as ourselves.
Accuracy International had their new "X" model chassis at the show. The model displayed was a folder, there may not be a fixed model and I forgot to ask. Price will be comparable to the current AICS and AI is hoping to have the initial deliveries at the end of 2010. In addition to a minimalist "skeletal" approach to the overall design (the same is true of the Ashbury and Remington designs), there is a forend tube that surrounds the barrel with many rows of slotted holes for attaching accessory rails, as well as an adjustable cheekpiece. I didn't ask about fitting different triggers and recoil lugs, but I hope they kept them in mind during the design phase. Because of the skeletal design, the ability to machine larger cavities to fit a barreled action may be much more limited than in the AICS. It is not a thumbhole design, but much like an AR with a pistol grip. The AI "X" pistol grip is fatter and more rounded than the usual AR, and you can change the back strap on the grip to alter the size slightly.
Eventually the AICS, as well as the current AIAW rifles, will be phased out in favor of the new "X" series of equipment.
Ashbury has designed a PSR rifle candidate using a chassis approach, I think it's called "SABRE." By far this chassis seems to be the most sophisticated and modular. You can choose different buttstocks, for example, with either a flip-down monopod or a butthook. The buttpad adjusts up and down using a release button, the LOP is adjustable with a thumbwheel, and there is an adjustable cheekpiece. The somewhat rectangular (not round) forend tube is made of carbon-fiber to save weight, to conduct heat radiated by the barrel, and acts as a mirage band since it encloses the barrel. There are embedded nuts to attach side rails in various position, but not as many positions as the AI. There is a single long rail (~20" or so) that mounts on top for a day scope and NV equipment (with cants available from 0 MOA to 60MOA).
The SABRE has an AR grip that can be adjusted to one of three angles. You can use any number of AR grips on the market. The internal space for the trigger group was engineered for a variety of triggers, so there will be no problem with non-Remington triggers. The recoil lug space looked sufficiently wide for a Badger lug, but I don't know whether it is deep enough.
There are SABREs for Remington-like actions (including the Surgeon), the Sako TRG-42, and (IIRC) a Savage 308 (details unrecalled). It's somewhat heavier than an AICS, possibly weighing an extra pound. The SABRE is seems pretty sophisticated and well engineered, but that's just one on the wall. All I can say is that I want one! The main negative to the Ashbury is that the full-up rifle was heavy, at least 18 pounds would be my guess. I should add that one of the SABREs was for a lefthanded action, although everything else about the rifle was apparently ambidextrous.
Apparently GAP built the Ashbury rifles at the show, and George is pretty familiar with the SABRE. The Ashbury engineer told me they are hoping the SABRE will be available at the end of April and the price point will start at $1100. I will be very surprised if that turns out to be the actual price as there is obviously a lot of engineering and expensive machining and materials in this chassis system.
The third chassis I looked at was the Remington MSR(?). It seemed lighter than the AI "X" chassis and simpler in design than the AI and Ashbury. I wish I had pix of all three chassis, which would help demonstrate their differences and jog my memory. The MSR will house a Remington barreled action and trigger group, but it could have a problem with a larger trigger such as a Jewel. There was no room to machine a larger volume for a different trigger group. I don't recall anything about the recoil lug space. While the LOP of the MSR I held was too small for me (it adjusts to at least 14" according to the spec sheet I read), the MSR felt good in my hands. Like the AI "X" chassis, there was a tubular forend with mounting holes for numerous rails, and there was an AR style pistol grip. Overall it seemed cruder than either the AI or Ashbury designs and not as well engineered or finished. Remington is trying to have the final design available and for sale in 2010 according to one of their people at the show. No price was available.
Accuracy International had their new "X" model chassis at the show. The model displayed was a folder, there may not be a fixed model and I forgot to ask. Price will be comparable to the current AICS and AI is hoping to have the initial deliveries at the end of 2010. In addition to a minimalist "skeletal" approach to the overall design (the same is true of the Ashbury and Remington designs), there is a forend tube that surrounds the barrel with many rows of slotted holes for attaching accessory rails, as well as an adjustable cheekpiece. I didn't ask about fitting different triggers and recoil lugs, but I hope they kept them in mind during the design phase. Because of the skeletal design, the ability to machine larger cavities to fit a barreled action may be much more limited than in the AICS. It is not a thumbhole design, but much like an AR with a pistol grip. The AI "X" pistol grip is fatter and more rounded than the usual AR, and you can change the back strap on the grip to alter the size slightly.
Eventually the AICS, as well as the current AIAW rifles, will be phased out in favor of the new "X" series of equipment.
Ashbury has designed a PSR rifle candidate using a chassis approach, I think it's called "SABRE." By far this chassis seems to be the most sophisticated and modular. You can choose different buttstocks, for example, with either a flip-down monopod or a butthook. The buttpad adjusts up and down using a release button, the LOP is adjustable with a thumbwheel, and there is an adjustable cheekpiece. The somewhat rectangular (not round) forend tube is made of carbon-fiber to save weight, to conduct heat radiated by the barrel, and acts as a mirage band since it encloses the barrel. There are embedded nuts to attach side rails in various position, but not as many positions as the AI. There is a single long rail (~20" or so) that mounts on top for a day scope and NV equipment (with cants available from 0 MOA to 60MOA).
The SABRE has an AR grip that can be adjusted to one of three angles. You can use any number of AR grips on the market. The internal space for the trigger group was engineered for a variety of triggers, so there will be no problem with non-Remington triggers. The recoil lug space looked sufficiently wide for a Badger lug, but I don't know whether it is deep enough.
There are SABREs for Remington-like actions (including the Surgeon), the Sako TRG-42, and (IIRC) a Savage 308 (details unrecalled). It's somewhat heavier than an AICS, possibly weighing an extra pound. The SABRE is seems pretty sophisticated and well engineered, but that's just one on the wall. All I can say is that I want one! The main negative to the Ashbury is that the full-up rifle was heavy, at least 18 pounds would be my guess. I should add that one of the SABREs was for a lefthanded action, although everything else about the rifle was apparently ambidextrous.
Apparently GAP built the Ashbury rifles at the show, and George is pretty familiar with the SABRE. The Ashbury engineer told me they are hoping the SABRE will be available at the end of April and the price point will start at $1100. I will be very surprised if that turns out to be the actual price as there is obviously a lot of engineering and expensive machining and materials in this chassis system.
The third chassis I looked at was the Remington MSR(?). It seemed lighter than the AI "X" chassis and simpler in design than the AI and Ashbury. I wish I had pix of all three chassis, which would help demonstrate their differences and jog my memory. The MSR will house a Remington barreled action and trigger group, but it could have a problem with a larger trigger such as a Jewel. There was no room to machine a larger volume for a different trigger group. I don't recall anything about the recoil lug space. While the LOP of the MSR I held was too small for me (it adjusts to at least 14" according to the spec sheet I read), the MSR felt good in my hands. Like the AI "X" chassis, there was a tubular forend with mounting holes for numerous rails, and there was an AR style pistol grip. Overall it seemed cruder than either the AI or Ashbury designs and not as well engineered or finished. Remington is trying to have the final design available and for sale in 2010 according to one of their people at the show. No price was available.
