Gunsmithing Kit
Eliminating Bedding Problems With The AICS
Accuracy International is a British Company founded by the late two times Olympic Gold Medal winning marksman Malcolm Cooper MBE. AI has become synonymous with state of the art military sniping and anti materiel rifles. AI rifles are standard equipment of the British, German, Belgian, Dutch, Australian and Swedish Armies and the US Navy SEALs.
Cost prevented widespread adoption of the AI military rifles by the civilian and law enforcement communities. For that reason AI set out to adapt the chassis of the mil spec. sniper rifles to the most popular civilian centerfire rifle in the world, the Remington 700.
The Accuracy International Chassis Sustem or AICS is built around a solid aluminium chassis, milled from a single billet of aircraft grade aluminium. Self centering bedding is provided by a V-shaped channel into which the rifle is secured with two bolts supplied with the AICS and which need to be torqued correctly. The chassis is covered in polymer panels which are imperviious to all chemicals used in cleaning and lubricating rifles. AI offer a dedicated shoulder harness sling for their rifles and this secures to the AI via recessed H&K type sling swivels. AI or Harris bipods can be fitted to attachment points included on the fore-end. An ample thumbhole grip is provided for fine control of the weapon. The stock is available in olive green, dark earth and black.
Four variants are available. The stocks first break down into Stage 1.5 (non folding) and Stage 2.0 (folding). Both Stages are available in long and short action versions. The short action can take any cartridge for which the .308 case is a parent whilst the long action takes the .300 Winchester Magnum chambering. The US Navy SEALs adopted the .300 Winmag Stage 2 AICS fo their Mk 13 Mod 5 Sniper Weapon System.
The chassis system takes AIs very reliable and robust proprietary magazines. The AI 5 round .308 magazine is flush fitting and the AI 10 round .308 magazine protrudes from the chassis. The AI 5 round .300 Win. magazine differs in being single column. Other companies have adopted these excellent magazines and they are standard with conversions by Badger Ordnance, Surgeon Rifles and other respected manufacturers.
Fitting the AICS is a matter of dropping the rifle onto the chassis and torquing the two bolts supplied to the required settings. Only the receiver touches the chassis – the barrel is completely free floating. This system is not completely integral like the epoxy bonding used in the military AIs, but it is a robust bedding system that won’t move due to humidity or temperature.
The downside of the AICS is its weight, which varies from 5 lb. 5 oz to 5 lb. 11 oz. depending on the model. In a rifle with an already heavy barrel this is going to be onerous. Whilst you’re not going to want to tote an AICS equipped 700 around the Rockies, at least you won’t have to worry about the weather anymore. There are cheaper ways to end up with an accurate all weather rifle, but few will be quite as robust or have as much presence. The short action fixed stock version currently (Jan 2011) retails for $857 and the long action folder for $1100. This is, however, one upgrade that comes with an amazing pedigree.
Copyright Chris Pieterman 2011.
Brownells – Basic Gunsmithing Kit
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