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11-04-2006 10:58 PM
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We recently gave away a no4mk4 as a doorprize for the Battle of the Bulge shooting match here in Shilo. I had a chance to observe the rifle up close, and there were a few minor cosmetic weak points that I found. The rear sling swivel screws in to the buttstock did not seat fully in to the tapered holes of the swivel base. Also , the front sling swivel looked a little amatureish where the loop was welded to the swivel piece. It certainly was not up to the LongBranch standard of finish. Grind marks over the weld were very evident.
Small points, sure, but on a $800 rifle, I would have expected a level of workmanship equal to the mass produced wartime rifles.
Can't say as I'm too keen on the allen head bolts holding the front sight base in either. The whole front sight base looks a little square for my liking.
I can be a hard man to please. Personally, I would take a DCRA converion LB Enfield with a Sterling mag for about the same money.
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AIA Rifles
I bought an AIA M10A2 a couple years ago. It was imported by Tristar. I paid $600 US at retail. I subsequently tracked down the designer of this rifle-Bruce Gentner. His email is: brucegentner@optusnet.com.au . The AIA M10A2 was in 7.62x39, and used AK mags. The rifle would not feed until I shortened the stock AK mag spring. Now it feeds OK. The rifle is really well made, no surplus parts. The teak stock is nice. Overall, I'd give it a 9 out of 10. Accuracy with WOLF 122gn HP ammo is 2-3" at 100 yards from the bench with scope. WOLF 154gn SP ammo was 1-2". Great hunting carbine, although a bit heavy. From email correspondence with Mr. Gentner, he admitted the teak stocks were, in fact, made in Vietnam. He wouldn't specify where the metal was made though. It's my guess that it is Vietnam-maybe a plant set up with help from their commie buddies from Red China. Gentner did say that AIA had problems with Tristar and he had to sever the relationship. I'm guessing that the country-of-origin was an issue too. Very few were imported. If the new Marstar imported .308 AIA's are made as well as my AIA M10A2, I'd say get one if you can. Doubt if any of us in the USA are going to see any, though.....
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Originally Posted by
gunguy56
I bought an AIA M10A2 a couple years ago. It was imported by Tristar. I paid $600 US at retail. I subsequently tracked down the designer of this rifle-Bruce Gentner. His email is:
brucegentner@optusnet.com.au . The AIA M10A2 was in 7.62x39, and used AK mags. The rifle would not feed until I shortened the stock AK mag spring. Now it feeds OK. The rifle is really well made, no surplus parts. The teak stock is nice. Overall, I'd give it a 9 out of 10. Accuracy with WOLF 122gn HP ammo is 2-3" at 100 yards from the bench with scope. WOLF 154gn SP ammo was 1-2". Great hunting carbine, although a bit heavy. From email correspondence with Mr. Gentner, he admitted the teak stocks were, in fact, made in Vietnam. He wouldn't specify where the metal was made though. It's my guess that it is Vietnam-maybe a plant set up with help from their commie buddies from Red China. Gentner did say that AIA had problems with Tristar and he had to sever the relationship. I'm guessing that the country-of-origin was an issue too. Very few were imported. If the new Marstar imported .308 AIA's are made as well as my AIA M10A2, I'd say get one if you can. Doubt if any of us in the
USA are going to see any, though.....
I've already sent him an email and suspect I won't be the only one...thanks for adding something new on this.
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Cantom, I have the Match model rifle, I really like it. There don't seem to be any safety concerns with it at all. No set back on the lugs or receiver guides.
Steve brings up some very pertinent questions.
If these rifles hadn't been used for many years by many Aussies, I would probably not have bought the rifle.
As I said, I do own one, I'm not telling you to buy one either, but mine is a real jewel. No regrets.
These rifles will probably not be available for much longer. I think that once their gone, that's it.
They aren't cheap and are not within reach of a lot of people. I think that these will be the last lee enfields produced and may just be the best of them. Bearhunter
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I recently bought a longbranch one at CGN as my first rifle, looking foreward to getting my paws on it. Steve makes some good points but his conspiracy theory website seemed a little too much for me to swallow. I'm new to the shooting scene but it seemed to me AIA just wanted its transition to a new market to go as smooth as possible and it backfired on them. (the dismal reports I have read about the 7.62x39 platform probably didn't help either) No big mystery there. I suspect that the .308 will do well and eventually the market will accept it for what it is, another good rifle.
As for liability, what do you think would happen if a norinco M14 blew up in someones face? Far more likely in my opinion, but hasn't dissuaded too many shooters.
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Originally Posted by
caper
I recently bought a longbranch one at CGN as my first rifle, looking foreward to getting my paws on it. Steve makes some good points but his conspiracy theory website seemed a little too much for me to swallow. I'm new to the shooting scene but it seemed to me AIA just wanted its transition to a new market to go as smooth as possible and it backfired on them. (the dismal reports I have read about the 7.62x39 platform probably didn't help either) No big mystery there. I suspect that the .308 will do well and eventually the market will accept it for what it is, another good rifle.
As for liability, what do you think would happen if a norinco
M14 blew up in someones face? Far more likely in my opinion, but hasn't dissuaded too many shooters.
That conspiracy theory thing was WAY overblown. I found it less than fair personally.
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Love these guns dudes!! Never seen one fail to feed, fire, extract or eject ever!! You all been conned if you think these things aren't reliable!! No probs more for us Aussies to keep!! YeeeHaaaa!!!!
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How are the 7.62x39 versions holding up in Oz? We still haven;t got them yet here in Canada, but I suspect it's more from our government's paperwork requirements than a supplier issue.
Союз нерушимый республик свободных Сплотила навеки Великая Русь. Да здравствует созданный волей народов Единый, могучий Советский Союз!
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Given the way the prices of Lee-Enfields keep sky-rocketing in Canada, I think the AIA rifles will start to look more and more attractive to shooters.
The "why would I spend $800 when I can get a real LE for $400" arguement is starting to lose it's relevance.
That reminds me, I need to get out and shoot mine. Definitely need to try it out to 500m this year.
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