I'm not interested in reading through any slanging matches. But i will tell you this. Drown Dog is correct when he says that the ACI is not on Gerneral Issue to the British Army, He aught to know. and i also know for a fact, that although many British Army sniper and special forces teams are using the ACI, it is bought either by the individual or on what is know on local pruchase.
It should be on General Issue, that is a fact, as should a set of badger rings for the S&B PMII as the AI rings are inferior.
Having spent 10 Years in the British Army i can tell you as a fact, kit like the ACI tends to get bought by individuals for thier own personal use, it takes years for the slow wheels of MOD procurement to get moving. which is why in 1982 in the Falklands we where still using the same combat boot as we had in Korea, Some Spec forces and Marines, if allowed by Unit Standing Orders, wore civilian hiking boots as an alternative. It took until the mid/ late 1990's (15 years later)untill we finaly got a waterproof combat boot. Same story with a decent rucksack and load carrying webbing, we were issued 58 pattern webbing, it was totaly unsuitable for the equipment we had to carry, we all went and bought, out of our own money, either from the PRI shop in camp, civie out door shops or from specialist companies and actual system that would work, berghaus bergen ruck sack, and either chest webbing or stuff from specialist manufacturers, its the same story with clothing, we were issued out of date items, we went an bought our own decent kit, like norwegen roll kneck shirts,( as late as 1992 i was issued the same **** shirts my father was issued in 1947) Arktis SAS smocks, we all had a trip to a US base to visit the PX and bought Matterhorn boots. the list is endless, and it is the same now. The guys are buying thier own kit. Special forces have more , lets call it buying power, to localy purchase gadgets and items that are well thought out and actualy work. An infantry company sniper does not , unless he has a darn good boss who is into shooting and on par with evolving technology that is willing and able to make troop funds pay for such items.
Its not much better for the US forces, Ask the guys over on Adopt a Sniper if the US snipers have the ACI on general issue, by all accounts logisticicians cant even manage to muster up scopes and mounts, slings and bipods for many sniper rifles, bino's and range finders, never mind a handy gadget like the ACI.
I will say it again, the ACI should be on issue to every Sniper within NATO, it is a darn good bit of kit, one of those things that you think, darn wish i'd thought of that. I like it so much i have 2.
The simple question as to wether the ACI is on issue to the British Military is: Whats the NSN ( NATO Stock Number) ?
Pete
