AICS Fun
I've got an AICS stock V 1.5 ONLY for the LCV (look cool value)

yuk, yuk, yuk.
Okay, back to reality....
While doing the Abbotsford M14 Clinic back in Oct 2004, Skullboy

showed me his AICS setup. Just like the scene from the movies with Will Smith: "I have got to get me one of these", I said after hoisting one of his AICS dressed M700's. I was thoroughly impressed with the way the thumbhole fits my med sized hand (not for everybody).

Images of LCV again....
The AICS stock for the Rem M700 SA will fit all of the M700 Short Actions, so I would be confident that the AICS will fit your SA in .223 Rem. Now the mag feed is another issue since the mags are made for .308 (and .243 or .22-250 IIRC)
Does it help your groups ? I'm not sure since the very first thing I did with a new M700 VS was to sell the HS stock unfired and untested. I replaced it with the AICS setup and next thing you know I'm shooting 1/2" groups at 100 meters (center to center) all the time. Holy Shzt !

I've always been known to have shztty bench technique and I'm very hasty at the sandbags so when I'm putting the 5 155 gr AMAX bullets into 1/2" or 3/4" quickly, I'm happy as a pig in slop.

I think I bought this AICS stock BEFORE I bought the Remmy M700.
Downsides ? Sure this stock is heavy, but I ain't going hunting with it... that's a job for my .223 M700 skinny bbl'ed earth pig killer.

This sniper rig goes from the Jeep to the firing point and then back to the safe, that's it... I'm too old to carry this thang around the field. And if I do get out hunting coyotes with it, I'll be parking my backside in a ground blind at the edge of a treeline.
Now magazines are a biaatch to obtain from Wolverine. Ryan says he's been trying and trying to import them. So we'll just hang tough for the time being.

In the meantime, I have not found a way to rig my Blackhawk cheekpiece on (more LCF, look cool factor) the V 1.5 stock. I'm trying my best to get used to the plastic cheekpiece that is adjustable with a 3 mm Allen key.
Should you get one ? I have a hard time telling people what they should or should not buy (except for Norinco M14's or Norinco M1911's

).... Now, if you pick one up and say, "I HAVE GOT TO GET ME ONE OF THESE!" Then you MUST work a few extra shifts and save up yer money for an AICS setup. That is the true acid test of what you should buy. Use this quote very sparingly around your wife, g/b friend, or shooting partners.
Happy new year or Gung Hoy Fat Choy
Barney
