"Intended"use would be accurate long range shooting with a quality rifle. l have considered having a rifle built on a Surgeon Or Stiller action, seems like the end result would cost about the same. The AI rifles seem to be top of the line. I understand a Rem 700 or the new Rugers can be made to shoot just as good for 1/3 the price and when I say long range that is relative to New England standards for the time being. Make no mistake this is not about what I need to get the job done,
That covers a lot of scenarios. Do you mean long range hunting? Informal steel plate shooting on a private range? Competition (I'll assume its competition because that's where you started the post
)?
What competition? F-class?, F-TR? Benchrest? Those really are the only "competitions" I know of in the Northeast that would use a scoped bolt rifle, except of course the grandaddy of them all: NRA 2-3-600 Highpower.
I don't mean to hound you with these questions to be a prick, but different games dictate different rifle needs.
F-class is where you see the real high-dollar custom jobs. I see Kelby's, RPA's, Shilen, Tubb/McMillan, Bat's, etc.. I've also seen a Savage shoot the high score for the day.
I've never seen an Accuracy International on the line. Not to say they're not a good rifle (at $5k they better be), but they just aren't set up for competing.
That being said, if you want an AI, just because you want an AI, well that is a perfectly good reason to buy one. If the idea has its hooks in you, believe me when I say I can understand. But, if you want a rifle for competition, I'd hate to see somebody spend many thousands on a particular rifle and then find out that it just isn't the best tool for the job.