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, 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.
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.Production
The rifles are hand-built. The Arctic Warfare Super Magnum held the world record for the longest confirmed combat kill up until May 2017.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, and AXMC 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 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.
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.| Model | Caliber | Stacking and feeding |
| AICS | .223 .308 | Double stack, single feed |
| AICS | .300 Win Mag | Single stack, single feed |
| AICS | .338 Lapua Mag | Single stack, single feed |
| AX AICS | .308 | Double stack, single feed |
| AX AICS | .300 Win Mag | Single stack, single feed |
| AX AICS | .338 Lapua Mag | Single stack, single feed |
| AE MkI | .308 | Single stack, single feed |
| AE MkII/ MkIII | .308 | Double stack, single feed |
| AX rifle | .308 | Double stack, staggered feed |
| AX rifle | .300 Win Mag | Double stack, staggered feed |
| AX rifle | .338 Lapua Mag | Double stack, staggered feed |
| AW rifle | .308 | Double stack, staggered feed |
| AW rifle | .300 Win Mag | Single stack, single feed |
| AW rifle | .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. 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, the Ruger Gunsite Scout, Ruger Precision Rifle, some Ruger American Rifle models and some new production models by Remington. AICS-style magazines can also be found on many custom rifles, and aftermarket conversion kits are available for several different rifle models and are made by several different manufacturers. Many conversion kits require fitting by a gunsmith.In addition to Accuracy International, there are now many aftermarket manufacturers offering AICS-style magazines, such as Magpul, and Modular Driven Technologies.
Examples of other popular magazines designs other than the AICS-style includes the STANAG magazine and SR-25 pattern magazine.