Options for first full bore bolt action rifle

[Grahamcs]

Sim G,

Which AI was it?

Reason why I ask is because the AX looks very different to the older ones and they have apparently done a lot of work on the ergonomics.

[DW58]

I'm looking at an all-in cost of <£3.5k (actually around £3250) to include scope, mount, moderator/brake, bipod, rails, monopod, several mags etc., which is an awful lot less than an AX + scope + mounts + bipod + mags.

I'm also left with Tikka T3 Super Varmint stock, Picatinny Rail and magazine should I wish to return the rifle to factory condition and sell all separately.

[Grahamcs]

Yes it is a lot less than an AX.

The AT is as below though.

0.308 20" Plain £2,839
0.308 20" Plain threaded £3,120 Included £36
0.308 24" Plain £2,839
0.308 24" Plain threaded £3,120 Included £36
0.308 26" Plain threaded £3,120 Included £36
Basic AT rifle defined as:
~ STANAG (MIL 1913) Action Rail (20 MOA) ~ Black, Green or Pale Brown Stocksides & Black Metalwork
~ Fixed Stock ~ Pistol Grip
~ Adjustable Cheekpiece ~ User Manual
~ Fixed Butt with additional spacer screws ~ 1 Magazine, 10 shot
N.B. Bipods are no longer included with any Accuracy Rifle

A folding stock is £275 extra.

I already have a Leupold scope, mounts and Atlas bipod so I don't have to worry about them yet.

The scope isn't a £1k scope but is good enough for now.

The thing about the AXMC is that you can switch calibre so that means more than one rifle in one.

Is that worth the extra 2k?

[Grahamcs]

AX

Calibre Length Type Standard Tactical 13" 16"
0.308 16" N/A £5,784.00 Included Included
0.308 20" Plain Threaded £4,704.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.308 24" Plain Threaded £4,704.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.308 26" Plain Threaded £4,704.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.300 20" Plain Threaded £5,184.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.300 24" Plain Threaded £5,184.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.300 26" Plain Threaded £5,184.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.338 20" Plain Threaded £5,184.00 Included £36 Included Included
0.338 27" Plain Threaded £5,184.00 Included £36 Included Included
Basic AX rifle defined as:
~ Standard double chamber Muzzle brake ~ Forend Mounting System (.308 13", .300/.338 16")
~ STANAG (MIL 1913) Action Rail (.308 20 MOA, ~ Pistol Grip
.300/.338 30 MOA) ~ Left hand magazine port cut out
~ Folding Stock (right fold) ~ Flush Cup attachment points
~ Adjustable Cheek Piece ~ 3 x side accessory rails (1 x 140mm plain, 2 x 80mm Flush cup)
~ Adjustable Butt with additional spacer screws ~ User Manual
~ Black, Green or Pale Brown Stocksides & ~ 1 Magazine, 10 round
Metalwork
Note: N.B. Bipods are no longer included with any Accuracy Rifle
~ .308 cannot be converted to .300 or .338
~ .300 or .338 can be converted to .308, .300 or .338

I guess it is better to get the .300 or .338 (long action?) version.

They should have done a .308 / .223 imo.

[DW58]

All well and good, but as I've said before do you actually need to spend that amount on money to achieve your aim (pun intended)?

You could do interchangeable barrels cheaper, and achieve accuracy of a similar level more cheaply. I'm not trying to put you off of buying an AT or an AX, but I do feel that you could use your available funds more wisely especially as a beginner.

To quote an example, I know someone with a new AI AT with good scope/mount, bipod etc., yet he shoots bog-standard military ammo through it - needless to say the levels of accuracy aren't startling. It would probably have been better to have spent less on the rifle and invested in loading gear.

To give my own example, I could have ordered an AX or an AT earlier this year when I embarked on my own current project, but opted not to because as much as anything I wanted to do the work myself and have got a great deal of satisfaction from it.

It's your decision however, but it could be a very expensive mistake if ... ...

• You find it's not the rifle for you
• You're not comfortable with it
• You find you don't shoot as accurately as you hoped
• You loose interest and loose money on a subsequent sale

Think long and hard before paying out, plus remember that the scope you have isn't going to be suitable for the AI or other long range rifle to be brutally honest.


BTW have you looked at your posts above, I guess you've simply cut/pasted from a website as they don't make a lot of sense laid out as they are.

[Grahamcs]

Great info and advice thanks.

This is why I joined this forum.

You are right about the scope and I have been made brutally aware of that over the last few weeks.

The 'building satisfaction' point is also very applicable to me.

Yes I cut and pasted (I'm lazy!)

[DW58]

Give it some very serious thought - and shoot as many different Boomsticks as you can - before making up your mind.

[Dannywayoflife]

If you've got a £5k budget and want a switch barrel ill just chuck the dta srs into the mix! :)

[lapua338]

If you are seriously considering spending thousands on a new rifle then why limit yourself to .308W/7.62 NATO?

You will hate yourself for not choosing a more ballistically efficient calibre, i.e., .260 Rem or 6.5x47 in the short action.

It's a no-brainer!

[Dannywayoflife]

I think that's why he wants a switch cal? Nowt wrong with the 308 though!