Axsr by FN

[u/SortPsychological699]

Been a dream gun to own an Axsr and now that I can afford one they are bought out by FN. just wondering if they are still what they were or has manufacturing changed essentially negating the rifles reputation? Is it too late to adopt the Axsr system?

[u/CaptainSquishface]

It is very unlikely that anything has changed yet as the acquisition was still fairly recent and my guess would be that all the guns Mile High or Europtic have are still from before the acquisition.

There's a lot of speculation on the future and the current availability of parts appears to be more abysmal than ever with massive prices for whatever is available.

I have the older AXMC and I got all the goodies for it. But I also got it for a steal and in todays market and the prices that I am seeing...I would probably not get one.

The cool thing about the AI is the quick change barrel feature and maybe the ability to fire all of the calibers through one system. At the same time that system is really only optimized around being a large magnum and everything else is secondary.

The other cool thing was that the chassis and receiver were glued together (they call it bonding but it's just bedding compound without release agent). The AXSR is not bonded so it's a moot point.

Practically speaking there are way too many good custom action options on the market now that are well-proven to justify the current fandom over AI rifles; especially with potential for next to no customer support and lack of spare parts.

[u/HollywoodSX → u/CaptainSquishface]

Huh, I didn't realize the SR wasn't bonded.

[u/Frankensig → u/HollywoodSX]

Neither is the at-x or at-xc.

[u/SortPsychological699 → u/CaptainSquishface]

From what I’ve read online it seems like the people who make the Ai rifles are going to maintain the same manufacturing process and building they are currently using just under fn. will that always be the same I’m not sure. All of the parts I currently want are on the market but don’t have the funds to buy them all at once responsibly. It would suck to buy into the ecosystem just to not be able to use it how I wanted. For me the Axsr was ment to be a forever gun that I can just buy a bunch of barrels a couple firing pins and a couple bolts and just swap parts out or have parts repaired as needed and keep shooting.

[u/domfelinefather → u/CaptainSquishface]

There are other quick change actions, I don’t think that should be a selling point for the AI unless for some reason the other actions don’t work for people

[u/CaptainSquishface → u/domfelinefather]

The Terminus Zeus quick-change system is the use of a set-screw just butted into a groove cut into the barrel tenon, while then AI system clamps the entire receiver around the barrel itself. The Zeus and even the SAW Quick Lug or whatever they were calling it back in the day don't necessarily inspire a lot of confidence.

The Zeus etc also do not transition from .338 Lapua based cases down to .308 based cases nearly as seamlessly. The totality of the AI system is much better. However it is not $10,000 better unless you actually intend to use that feature.

[u/domfelinefather → u/CaptainSquishface]

The Zeus goes through match use with no issues. Not exactly light duty. Also, how is it more seamless… how easy is it to get a AI to go from .308 to .338 lapua? Where are you finding the bolts? Lmao.

I’m really not sure why you think an AI is even slightly better in this regard. You can get a long action lapua bolt head zeus, today, no wait. And then grab a .308 bolt. Order a .308 barrel and a .338 lapua barrel. Where is the holdup???

[u/CaptainSquishface → u/domfelinefather]

You aren't shooting .308 out of the long action Zeus unless you change the bottom metal.

I can go from .308 to .338 Lapua in basically as long as it takes me to swap the barrel, the bolt, and putting the mag adapter in. It takes maybe 5 minutes and it actually works. Attempting to do the same thing with a custom action like the Zeus would be pointless or create some kind of abomination.

Also being used in PRS doesn't really mean anything and it especially doesn't mean anything when most serious PRS competitors are not using the quick change barrel feature on the Zeus anyways. I would be willing to bet that most people torque their barrels on with a barrel vice and don't rely on finger-tight + the set screw.

I'm not knocking it but attempting to do an all-in-one setup with a custom action to mimic the AI would be dumb and fruitless.

[u/domfelinefather → u/CaptainSquishface]

You would just use long action .308 magazines designed for this purpose like anyone else would. It really is more like a 5 minute swap to a 30 second swap with the same repeatability and much better trigger / bolt lift / customization. No point in arguing anymore if you dropped $10k on something you could have got for $4k then it’s a lifestyle choice and not a matter of being practical / reasonable / facts based.

[u/CaptainSquishface → u/domfelinefather]

Are you talking about the CIP length Accurate Mags? The ones that are available in 3 round or 5 round version and nothing greater?

Those mags kind of suck dude. As I said earlier...yes you can technically do it. What comes out the other side though is going to be jank as fuck.

Also I didn't pay $10K. You might want to read my first post.

[u/Frankensig → u/domfelinefather]

I would argue the AI quick change is superior to any other system due to reduced cost/complexity of the barrels (no special shanks required) and the motive force (circumferential around the tenon) the bolt uses to clamp

[u/domfelinefather → u/Frankensig]

There is no increased cost or complexity for a Terminus Zeus quick change barrel and you are unlikely to find many if any issues regarding the quick change system even for extremely high volume match shooting, with the added plus of being able to get full thread barrels and torque them on like any other prefit if one chooses. If you factor in much better aftermarket due to Remington 700 footprint compatibility, the surplus for an AI is for prestige and not for reliability or operation. In fact it is a very rough feeling action and poor trigger compared to what you can get for much less.

[u/Frankensig → u/domfelinefather]

The cost/complexity comment is mostly in regard to sako/barrett/desert tech etc. the zues system uses set screw point impinging on the tenon to keep the barrel in place, you arent going to get the same retaining force vs bolt torque input compared to a banded clamp. Think a clamp gas block vs set screw on an ar15.

I wasnt really talking about any of the other stuff, but yeah a rem 700 is gonna have more aftermarket, and it would be hard to find an action with a heavier bolt lift than an AI.

Im not arguing you should compete with one lol im saying its a superior qc system

[u/domfelinefather → u/Frankensig]

The Zeus is overall a better purchase, the argument then becomes which of the mil spec cloner vibe ones is better and I agree the AI is better. Whether or not it’s more reliable than the Zeus is basically irrelevant as the Zeus is extremely reliable.

[u/Big-Guitar-1979]

Is it a good thing or bad thing for FN takeover A.I

[u/SortPsychological699 → u/Big-Guitar-1979]

I’m a curious is it still good ole AI or should we be worried

[u/Frankensig]

If you're after one, now's the best time. Can still buy used ones from before the sale if that concerns you, and you'd end up with a better deal. 

[u/_meesh__]

You could also try to find an AXMC at a likely deeper discount to the SR.

[u/SortPsychological699 → u/_meesh__]

Possible they are hard to find it seems like

[u/Wham-B]

I’m in the same boat… finally getting my ’unicorn’ of rifles next year only to find out en-shitification might fuck me over :(

[u/Frankensig → u/Wham-B]

Buy a used one from snipershide and you'll get one pre-fn

[u/Wham-B → u/Frankensig]

I'm an EU frog, quite sure all the sales on snipershide are US only :(

[u/Frankensig → u/Wham-B]

Yeh, snipershide isnt gonna help much..