Another alternative is to carefully place your rifle on the street. Then run over it a few dozen times resulting in a new challenge to figure out why it won't shoot straight. You'll get to make tons of posts on here asking questions, trying out advice at the range, come back and complain it didn't work, get called an idiot for ruining your rifle. Eats up time thinking and tinkering. Cheaper than dumping a few grand into a new platform.
- Thread starter paigecm
- Start date
Couple of things... you’re not alone in this disease. Part of it is the “hobby” of improving stuff and wanting to try new things and the dopamine release is real too. I’m a chronic scope and rifle and caliber whore. I’m working on rounding out my collection but there’s always just “one more” or whatever. You say you enjoy your rifles , especially the Win Mag so keep it.
As for the AI 4-rifles-in-one concept... been there done that. I’ve owned both an AT and AXMC and sold them both. They were really handy before shouldered pre-fits on custom actions became a thing. I found that for me, even with the quick change system I didn’t really enjoy switching from 308 to 6.5 Creedmoor to a 6mm Comp caliber all in one range session. Same with a big magnum and ELR. It’s not practical, because of the scope zeroing issue you brought up. Some barrels barely had any poi shift but it was too much to keep track of without re-zeroing. For military choosing a specific caliber on the same platform based on mission might be handy but it didn’t replace multiple rifles that are gtg.
There are enough variables in precision shooting with cold bore/cold shooter, weather changes, etc. Adding a few barrel swaps in just adds to the chaos. Maybe a more organized person could handle it better but I prefer to be able to pull a rifle out, know it’s 100% zeroed, dial my dope and smack my target at any range. To your point of taking friends out too, obviously it makes that easier to have multiple rifles.
I ultimately decided to get a few custom actions I can switch Pre-fits out on with a barrel vice and hitch mount. Not as convenient as the AI but there’s something to be said for having the rifle in one caliber most or all the time.
By all means get the AT if you want, they are sweet rifles. I’ll probably get another one someday. I just want your expectations to be realistic if you get it.
As for the AI 4-rifles-in-one concept... been there done that. I’ve owned both an AT and AXMC and sold them both. They were really handy before shouldered pre-fits on custom actions became a thing. I found that for me, even with the quick change system I didn’t really enjoy switching from 308 to 6.5 Creedmoor to a 6mm Comp caliber all in one range session. Same with a big magnum and ELR. It’s not practical, because of the scope zeroing issue you brought up. Some barrels barely had any poi shift but it was too much to keep track of without re-zeroing. For military choosing a specific caliber on the same platform based on mission might be handy but it didn’t replace multiple rifles that are gtg.
There are enough variables in precision shooting with cold bore/cold shooter, weather changes, etc. Adding a few barrel swaps in just adds to the chaos. Maybe a more organized person could handle it better but I prefer to be able to pull a rifle out, know it’s 100% zeroed, dial my dope and smack my target at any range. To your point of taking friends out too, obviously it makes that easier to have multiple rifles.
I ultimately decided to get a few custom actions I can switch Pre-fits out on with a barrel vice and hitch mount. Not as convenient as the AI but there’s something to be said for having the rifle in one caliber most or all the time.
By all means get the AT if you want, they are sweet rifles. I’ll probably get another one someday. I just want your expectations to be realistic if you get it.
My wife is the same, I can buy what I want, she never says "no", BUT she's damn shrewd about it. It goes like this, "I don't care hon', I know you'll do the right thing..."
I've had several guns that I said I would never sell:
LH Desert Tech
LH original Tubb T2K
Nickel P7M13
Sig Rattler
etc, etc
I am pretty sure my AIAT will be with me at my funeral...
Ditto!
Not that I am so special and everyone should care. Just wanted to let you know I gave into my innermost desire! LOL I purchased an AXSA from a gentleman here and hopefully will get it next week. I got rid of the Tikka and GA Precision and both of their optics. Now to figure out which scope... NEVER ENDS!
Yeah, I got one too! It's a vicious cycle this buying and selling. 
Actually, maybe in my lifetime I've sold or traded 2 or 3 rifles to friends of mine. Not in the last 25+ years though. I like my toys too much to part with them.
Actually, maybe in my lifetime I've sold or traded 2 or 3 rifles to friends of mine. Not in the last 25+ years though. I like my toys too much to part with them.
