Accuracy International

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

Accuracy International

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.accuracyinternational.com

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 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 Australian 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 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.^[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]}