Accuracy International

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Accuracy International
Company type Limited company
Founded1978
Founder Malcolm Cooper, Sarah Cooper, Martin Kay, Dave Walls, David Caig
Headquarters Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Products Anti-materiel rifles, sniper rifles
OwnerDave Walls, Tom Irwin, Paul Bagshaw
Number of employees
92 (2022) [1]
Website www.accuracyinternational.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Accuracy International is a British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, England. The company specializes in sniper rifles, anti-materiel rifles and civilian competition rifles.

Contents

The company was founded in 1978 by a group of individuals including British Olympic shooting gold medalist Malcolm Cooper, Sarah Cooper, and Martin Kay, along with the firearms designers Dave Walls and David Caig.

Accuracy International's sniper rifles have been used by a multitude of military units and police departments across the world. [2]

Following a period of financial hardship, Accuracy International faced liquidation in 2005. [3] Nevertheless, a British consortium, led by Tom Irwin and the initial design duo of Dave Walls and David Caig, intervened to ensure the company's continuity.

Management

As of 2014, the company is managed by two directors and owners, Tom Irwin and Dave Walls.

Production

Accuracy International primary platforms are the AT-X, AXSR and AX-ELR, all multi-caliber rifles.

The US Customs and Border Protection announced in September 2023 the award of a $5 million IDIQ contract for their new Modular Precision Weapon Platform (MPWP) The Austrailian Defence Force selected the multi-caliber, long range AXSR as its new sniper rifle system for their LAND 159 Lethality Program.

Distribution

Accuracy International's distribution in the United States is managed by the American division of AI, Accuracy International of North America, Inc. There are only two official retail distributors of Accuracy International in the United States: Eurooptic and Mile High Shooting. Mile High is also the exclusive law enforcement distributor for the USA.

Similarly in the United Kingdom, there are only two official retail distributors of Accuracy International products: Sporting Services Ltd and Sportsman Gun Centre.

Magazine types

Different Accuracy International rifle models come with a variety of proprietary magazines. [4]

ModelCaliberStacking 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 was originally manufactured for the Accuracy International Chassis System but can now be found on several production rifles, such as the SIG Sauer CROSS, [5] the Ruger Gunsite Scout, [6] Ruger Precision Rifle, [7] some Ruger American Rifle models, and some new production models by Remington (Model 700 PCR, [8] 700 Tactical Chassis, [9] 700 Magpul, [10] and 700 Magpul Enhanced [11] ). 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. [12] [13] Many conversion kits require fitting ("inletting") by a gunsmith.[ citation needed ]

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The MK 13 rifle is made using the Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) version 2.0 mated to a long action Remington 700 receiver. The AICS 2.0 folding stock reduces the rifle's overall length by 210 mm (8.3 in) when folded and adds 0.2 kg (0.44 lb) to the rifle's total weight. The rifle has a cheekpiece design that adjusts sideways and for height for optimal cheek position when using night vision equipment or telescopic sights with large objective lenses. There is also a quick-adjust cheek-piece option that has a spring-loaded cheek-piece in conjunction with a quick-adjust butt plate. The side panels are made from a high-strength polymer and are available in the colors olive drab, dark earth or black. Sling attachment points are mounted on each side of the rifle, so it can be carried flat against the back and used comfortably by left- and right-handed users. A front attachment point is situated below the fore-end and can be used to anchor a target-style sling or replaced by an adapter for a Harris bipod.

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References

  1. "ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Director's report and consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 DECEMBER 2022". Companies House . Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  2. D'Costa, Ian (6 February 2019). "This multi-caliber rifle from Accuracy International could be a game-changer for snipers worldwide". Military Times. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. "The company behind the rifle used by the world's deadliest sniper". The Telegraph. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  4. Accuracy International Magazines and compability - Vertebrae helpdesk
  5. The Sig CROSS: Has Sig Sauer Built the World's Best Bolt-Action Rifle? | The National Interest
  6. Top 10 Detachable Box Magazine Platforms
  7. New Ruger AI Style Magazines For Precision Rifle And Gunsite Scout - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog
  8. 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."
  9. Shooting Illustrated | Remington Model 700 Tactical Chassis "a single-column/single-position five-shot Accuracy International magazine is retained by an ambidextrous catch"
  10. Remington Model 700 MAGPUL review – rifleshooter.com "This is the first [Remington] production model M700 to use an AICS magazine"
  11. Remington's new Precision Chassis Rifle - The Model 700 PCR - The Firearm BlogThe Firearm Blog
  12. Add a detachable magazine to your Remington 700 by installing Surgeon bottom metal – rifleshooter.com
  13. Bottom Metals – Accurate-Mag