Accuracy International

Accuracy International is a British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The company produces the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of precision sniper rifles. The company was established in 1978 by British Olympic shooting gold medallist Malcolm Cooper, MBE (1947–2001), Sarah Cooper, Martin Kay, and the designers of the weapons, Dave Walls and Dave Caig. The founders were professional international or national target shooters. Accuracy International's high-accuracy sniper rifles are used internationally in military units and police departments.[1]

Accuracy International Ltd.
TypeLimited company
Founded1978
FounderMalcolm Cooper, Sarah Cooper, Martin Kay, Dave Walls, Dave Caig
Headquarters
Portsmouth, Hampshire
,
United Kingdom
Key people
Dave Walls, Tom Irwin
ProductsAnti-materiel rifles, Sniper rifles
OwnerDave Walls, Tom Irwin, Paul Bagshaw
Websitewww.accuracyinternational.com
Accuracy International rifles

AI Arctic Warfare
AI AW Police
AI AW Magnum
AI AW50 (.50 BMG)
AI AX50 (.50 BMG)
AI AS50 (Semi-auto .50 BMG)
Australian AW50F
Swedish Psg 90

Accuracy International went into liquidation in 2005, and was bought by a British consortium including the original design team of Dave Walls and Dave Caig.

Management

As of 2014, the company was equally owned by two directors, Dave Walls and Tom Irwin along with Paul Bagshaw. Dave Caig remains in the business as a consultant.[2]

Production

The rifles are hand-built. The Arctic Warfare Super Magnum (AWSM) held the world record for the longest confirmed combat kill up until May 2017.[3]

The rifle stock design is designed for good ergonomics. The comfort in holding the rifle and the reduced recoil aids accuracy.

The barrel is interchangeable with other calibres; this can be done in the field in about 15 minutes. With the barrel clamped in a barrel vice, the barrel is removed from the action, and another one screwed into the action and tightened in place with a torque wrench. Newer versions of Accuracy International rifles including the AX, AT (Accuracy Tactical), and AXMC (AX Multi-Calibre) feature a switch-barrel system that allow the user to change out the barrel with only the use of a 4mm hex wrench, allowing field barrel changes in under a minute.

The inherent accuracy of the rifle is due to the action being bolted with four screws and permanently bonded with epoxy material to an aluminium chassis which extends the entire length of the rifle stock, to which all major rifle components are in turn attached. As it keeps the action from moving away from zero (determined by the alignment of the scope to the rifle bore rather than the alignment of the action to the stock) the accuracy of the rifle is very high. Adding a folding stock handle, this sniper rifle can be used for both HALO insertions and walking deployments of sniper forces.

Accuracy International introduced their new AS50 .50 BMG calibre semi-automatic rifle at the 2005 SHOT Show in Las Vegas and their new AX Series at the 2010 Shot Show in Las Vegas.

The UK government announced in March 2008 the award of an £11 million contract to produce rifles for the British Army.[4]

Distribution

Accuracy International's distribution in United States is managed by the American division of AI, Accuracy International USA. There are only two distributors of Accuracy International in the United States, Eurooptic and Mile High Shooting.

Magazine types

Different Accuracy International rifle models come with a variety of proprietary magazines.[5]

Model Caliber Stacking and feeding
AICS (short action) .223
.308		 Double stack, single feed
AICS (long action) .300 Win Mag Single stack, single feed
.338 Lapua Mag Single stack, single feed
AX AICS .308 Double stack, single feed
.300 Win Mag Single stack, single feed
.338 Lapua Mag Single stack, single feed
AE MkI (pre 2009) .308 Single stack, single feed
AE MkII/ MkIII .308 Double stack, single feed
AX rifle .308 Double stack, staggered feed
.300 Win Mag Double stack, staggered feed
.338 Lapua Mag Double stack, staggered feed
AW rifle .308 Double stack, staggered feed
.300 Win Mag Single stack, single feed
.338 Lapua Mag Single stack, single feed
AW50, AX50 .50 BMG Single stack, single feed

AICS-style magazine

The "AICS-style" short action box magazine has gained wide acceptance as a de facto standard for bolt action rifles.[6] The AICS magazine was originally manufactured for the Accuracy International Chassis System, but can now be found on several production rifles, such as the SIG Sauer CROSS,[7] the Ruger Gunsite Scout,[8] Ruger Precision Rifle,[9] some Ruger American Rifle models and some new production models by Remington (Model 700 PCR,[10] 700 Tactical Chassis[11] 700 Magpul,[12] and 700 Magpul Enhanced[13]). AICS-style magazines can also be found on many custom rifles, and aftermarket conversion kits (known as "bottom metals") are available for several different rifle models and are made by several different manufacturers.[14][15] Many conversion kits require fitting ("inletting") by a gunsmith.

In addition to Accuracy International, there are now many aftermarket manufacturers offering AICS-style magazines, such as Magpul,[16] and Modular Driven Technologies (MDT).[17]

Examples of other popular magazines designs other than the AICS-style includes the STANAG magazine (for 5.56x45 mm length cartridges) and SR-25 pattern magazine (for 7.62x51 mm length cartridges).

See also

References
  1. "This multi-caliber rifle from Accuracy International could be a game-changer for snipers worldwide". Military Times. 6 February 2019.
  2. "No place for second best". Accuracy International. Archived from the original on 3 June 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  3. Jennings, Christian. "Long range killer: Behind the scenes of Accuracy International". Wired. WIred. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
  4. Meade, Geoff (7 March 2008). "British Rifle Can Hit Target A Mile Away". Sky News. Archived from the original on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  5. Accuracy International Magazines and compability - Vertebrae helpdesk
  6. AICS Magazines - RifleMags.co.uk "The Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) magazine format has become a standard detachable magazine pattern for military format sniper rifles"
  7. The Sig CROSS: Has Sig Sauer Built the World's Best Bolt-Action Rifle? | The National Interest
  8. Top 10 Detachable Box Magazine Platforms
  9. New Ruger AI Style Magazines For Precision Rifle And Gunsite Scout - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog
  10. Testing Remington's New Affordable Chassis Rifle - The R700 PCR - GunsAmerica Digest "the PCR uses the AICS mag footprint and there are lots of aftermarket mag options."
  11. Shooting Illustrated | Remington Model 700 Tactical Chassis "a single-column/single-position five-shot Accuracy International magazine is retained by an ambidextrous catch"
  12. Remington Model 700 MAGPUL review – rifleshooter.com "This is the first [Remington] production model M700 to use an AICS magazine"
  13. Remington's new Precision Chassis Rifle - The Model 700 PCR - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog
  14. Add a detachable magazine to your Remington 700 by installing Surgeon bottom metal – rifleshooter.com
  15. Bottom Metals – Accurate-Mag
  16. "Magpul PMAG 5 7.62 First Look - AccuracyTech". Archived from the original on 30 July 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  17. MDT Polymer and Metal Magazines – Modular Driven Technologies LP. "MDT's magazine are AICS compatible to fit our MDT chassis systems and many more"
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