AI AS50 - Anyone seen one yet?

Someone on here was waiting for one - on order since AI imploded. Said it was in the $25,000 range. They aren't prohib. Wolverine is the importer I believe. Our guy may have it by now, since AI is getting sorted out.
 
<--- Fired the AI Bolt gun.... very nice to shoot and the newer muzzle break is great. As for the semi-version.... most likely wont see that for civi-sales for awhile due to the US military looking at purchasing them. As mentioned above... cadilac prices. $15k (approx) for bolt. $25k (approx) for the semi. Wolverine is the AI importer for Canada and could answer your questions better.

just my 2 cents....
 
Steve David said:
$25,000.00:eek:!
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I think I'll make a clone of my liver using a pickle jar and sell it on the black market...

Hah, just joking.

Well, I guess now's a great time to start saving, so I'll be working toward it. Once I've got the money, though, as soon as I see one of these babies ready for sale, I'm going to buy it - there's no telling when the antis might call it an 'evil assault sniper machine gun' and lobby the government into banning it. It's not a matter of 'if,' I'd say it's just a matter of time.

That said, I'm feeling optimistic. If they are for sale, there's still hope yet.

- Dave.
 
Just saw this on Future Weapons. Gas blowback system like the AR15.

Probably most if not all production directed to war efforts.
 
Accuracy International AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle

http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_AS50,,00.html

SoldierTech_AS50-1.jpg

SoldierTech_AS50-2.jpg

SoldierTech_AS50-4.jpg


By David Crane
Editor, DefenseReview.com

Looks like the U.S. Navy SEALs just got a brand new tool for the War on Terror. The boys at NSWC Crane (Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana) have apparently been busy little beavers -- one of the projects they've been working on is a little .50 BMG (12.7x99mm) bad boy, the AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle, and it's the result of NSWC Crane's teaming with Accuracy International (AI).

The objective in building this rifle was simple: with the increasing number of missions U.S. SEALs are facing that require rapid engagement of multiple targets with explosive or incendiary ammunition at extended range, an ergonomically sound, light, durable, easily transportable semi-auto anti-materiel rifle was needed. And, oh yes, accurate as well, with a Minute of Angle (MOA) of at least 1.5 (which translates to being accurate within 1.5 inches per every 100 yards of distance).

So here comes the AS50 semi-auto. How well does it fulfill the requirements listed above? Let's check it out.

Fast Assembly, Accurate Shooting

DefenseReview recently had the chance to handle (and lift) this weapon at its SHOT Show 2005 debut, and was surprised at how light it felt, for a semi-auto .50 caliber rifle. At approximately 27 pounds empty/dry weight (according to the AI representative at their booth), the AI AS50 is relatively lightweight. One of the photos DefRev caught at SHOT shows...
AI AS50: Targets at 100m Distance
100-meter accuracy: The results when the AI AS50 takes multiple shots at targets from 100 meters away.

... three targets, each shot at 100 meters (see photo at right). On all three targets, all the rounds are touching.

The Accuracy International (AI) AS50 Semi-Auto Rifle was designed specifically for U.S. military Special Operations (SPECOPS) personnel/snipers. More specifically, it was designed for the U.S. Navy SEALs to provide them with anti-materiel/long-range interdiction capability, combined with fast follow-up shot capability, in a combat-rugged, lightweight weapons package that can be assembled and broken down quickly and easily, and maintained easily. Although the AS50 rifle was designed specifically for Naval SPECWAR end-users, DefenseReview has no doubt that other elements of SOCOM (USSOCOM) will be taking a good look at AI's latest .50 caliber creation. We wouldn't be surprised if U.S. NSWDG (U.S. Navy DevGroup) and certain U.S. Army Special Forces units out of Ft. Bragg, NC and Ft. Campbell, KY were already field testing the AS50 on enemy insurgents, in the Sandbox.
About DefenseReview.com


DefenseReview.com (DefRev) is an online tactical technology magazine that focuses on advanced tactical armament, tactical equipment/gear (including combat/tactical camouflage technology), and tactical training/instruction for military infantry forces. DefenseReview.com strives to provide the most up-to-date information on law enforcement (LE) SWAT/SRT and military Special Operations (infantry)/Special Warfare (SPECWAR) technology developments as quickly as we learn about them.


The following is from the AI AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle brochure:

"For deployment and storage, the stock can be detached (and refitted) in seconds ... The entire system can be separated into its major components in under 3 minutes! All parts are fully interchangeable and the rifle can be field-serviced without so much as a screwdriver."

Sounds pretty good. As if that's not enough, the AI rep at the SHOT Show booth told us that the AS50 semi-auto .50 BMG rifle creates less felt recoil than their AW50 bolt-action .50 BMG rifle. Back in July 2003, DefenseReview wrote a quick blurb on the AI AW50 (33-35 lbs empty, depending on reports) and AW50FT (a reported 28 lbs, approx.) .50 BMG bolt-action rifles.

Some more details on the AS50 semi-auto .50 Cal.:

Rear grip: The rear grip is easily deployed, and also serves as a rear support leg. It also locks in folded position for transport or different shooting techniques.

Cocking Lever: To reduce the risk of snagging, the AS50 features an easily replaceable low-profile cocking lever.

Safety Lever: Easily accessible from the shooting position, the two-stage safety mechanism physically blocks the trigger.
Accuracy International AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle
Terrorists, beware -- you may soon be facing the wrong end of this weapon (Accuracy International AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle).

Safety interlock: This feature prevents the rifle from being disassembled with the safety lever in the "locked" position.

Receiver: Machine from alloy steel, the rigid receiver body has an integral MIL-STD 1913 rail for mounting ancillary fire control devices.

Magazine capacity: 5 rounds for the AS50. The magazine is the detachable box type.

Bipod: The height-adjustable bipod rotates around the centerline of the barrel, allowing for a stable shooting position at all times.

Forward grip: Machined from high-grade aluminum, the grip protects the user from extreme heat, and features three integral MIL-STD 1913 rails - one on each side for accessories, and a sight rail extension for night sights and thermal imagining systems.

Muzzle brake: The muzzle brake has a low flash signature and is designed to minimize ground disturbance and felt recoil to allow rapid follow-up shots.

AI's focus is to combine match-grade accuracy with military-application reliability and ruggedness, and it looks like it just might have succeeded with the AS50.

Accuracy International AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle: Specification Sheet

Minute of Angle (MOA): Rifle Accuracy Defined

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What is Minute of Angle, or MOA? It's the term used by shooters, and referenced by firearm sighting scopes, to describe the accuracy of the weapon. The typical equation is that one minute of angle equals about one inch at 100 yards -- in other words, given stable conditions, you will be accurate to within one inch of your target at 100 yards, two inches at 200 yards, and so on.

Calculating minute of angle is based on the minutes of angle in a circle. Quick geometry lesson: A circle contains 360 degrees, 60 minutes are in each degree, so a circle has 21,600 total minutes. The circumference of a circle is 2 x PI x R (radius). So for any range R, one minute of angle equals 2 * 3.1416 * R divided by 21,600, which comes out to .000291 * R. Therefore, if the range R is 100 yards, a minute of angle would be .000291 * 100. You than multiply the answer by 36 (one yard=36 inches) to get 1.0476 inches, which is usually rounded off to 1 inch.

Based on this, a minute of change on your rear sight will move the point of impact 1 inch at 100 yards. If you're shooting at something 1,000 yards away, a minute of angle would alter the aim by .000291 * 1000 * 36, or 10.476 inches. Obviously, the difference between the true minutes of angle and the rounded minutes of angle becomes greater as the range increases.
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Ai As50

Accuracy International has made it very clear to us that the AS50 will not be available for civilan purchase, even when they start production. The legal classification of the AS50 is not the issue, this "request" not to sell came from the original "customer". We do hope to be demoing a unit in Canada later this year, so we will post pictures and a report at that time.
 
Watched the futureweapons special with this rifle last night (Discovery Channel). Very impressive.

What caught my eye was the slow mo footage showing how much this rifle flexes during the recoil cycle. The receiver is bending like a good AK. Even the S&B scope on top is doing the funky chicken.

Maybe it isn't the two way recoil that kills scopes on the BMG's but rather just being shaken apart in the most brutal of manners.

Next thing was the use of MG ammo and still hitting what they were aiming at. Given the targets were 'large' but still getting 1.5 to 3MOA using MG ammo is interesting.

The gas cycling was also very surprising. With all the bad press the AR is getting, I didn't think anyone would use that form of recoil control. Only suspect that no one is likely to shoot hundreds of rds through one of these semis without cleaning (or replacing the barrel). Also, might be easier to tune for accuracy then a moving piston.

At any rate, was a very impressive rig. No shortage of horsepower as any BMG provides. The extremely fast follow up is going to be an enormous asset against the muslim armoured divisions.

However, it will offer some benefit to taking out multiple targets behind concrete walls.

Wonder how it will fair against the 1/3 the cost Barrett?

Jerry
 
As with all things military, always have a plan B.

Barrett does have the lions share of the semi BMG market worldwide but there are lots of 'local' manf that are coming out with novel and excellent products.

They just need to get their pricing in line to earn more market share.

Just waiting to see what happens if the Lapua is NATO adopted.

Jerry
 
I talked to the AI people when I was at SHOT a couple of weeks ago.
The woman I spoke with said that the US nAvy is buying ALL of their production, and NO semis will be available for civilian market. I mentioned that I had read of "someone" in Canada that was willing to drop $25K on one. She said it is not going to happen. She didn't give a time frame, as in not this decade, check back in 2010, just said no sales to civvies.
 
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