Accuracy International
Specialist British firearms manufacturer
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Accuracy International is a British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, England. The company specialises in sniper rifles, anti-materiel rifles and civilian competition rifles.
 | |
| Company type | Limited company |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Founder | Malcolm Cooper, Sarah Cooper, Martin Kay, Dave Walls, David Caig |
| Headquarters | Portsmouth, Hampshire, England |
| Products | Anti-materiel rifles, sniper rifles |
| Owner | Dave Walls, Tom Irwin, Paul Bagshaw |
Number of employees | 92 (2022)[1] |
| Website | www |
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 technical and production specialists and firearms designers Dave Walls and David Caig.
The selection of the Accuracy International PM (Precision Magazine) rifle and British Army adoption into service in 1984 as the L96A1 marked their first major sniper rifle sale.[2] The British military selection process was the impetus for outsourcing and professionalising (test) arms production, enabling a recently founded small company to successfully participate. Since then Accuracy International's sniper rifles have been used by a multitude of military units and police departments across the world.[3]
Following a period of financial hardship, Accuracy International faced liquidation in 2005.[4] Nevertheless, a British consortium, led by Tom Irwin and the initial design duo of Dave Walls and David Caig, intervened[when?] to ensure the company's continuity.[citation needed]
Management
As of 2014,[update] the company is managed by two directors and owners, Tom Irwin and Dave Walls.[citation needed]
Production
Accuracy International's primary rifle platforms include the AT-X, AXSR, and AX-ELR, all of which are multi-caliber systems.
In September 2023, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the award of a $5 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract for its new Modular Precision Weapon Platform (MPWP). The Australian Defence Force selected the multi-caliber, long-range AXSR as its new sniper rifle system under the LAND 159 Lethality Program. [citation needed]
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 the exclusive law enforcement distributor for the USA.[citation needed]
Similarly in the United Kingdom, there are only two official retail distributors of Accuracy International products: Sporting Services Ltd and Sportsman Gun Centre.[citation needed]
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 was originally manufactured for the Accuracy International Chassis System but can now be found on several production rifles, such as the SIG Sauer CROSS,[6] the Ruger Gunsite Scout,[7] Ruger Precision Rifle,[8] some Ruger American Rifle models, and some new production models by Remington (Model 700 PCR,[9] 700 Tactical Chassis,[10] 700 Magpul,[11] and 700 Magpul Enhanced[12]). 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.[13][14] Many conversion kits require fitting ("inletting") by a gunsmith.[citation needed]
