What does a firearm company do when they've built an enviable lineup of innovative, high-quality AR-15 and AR-308 rifles? Build a bolt action rifle for the 21st century, of course! Caleb gives us a tour of Aero Precision's Solus Bolt Action Rifle System. They're calling the Solus a "system" because you can get a complete rifle, separate barreled actions and chassis, or even the action and barrels alone. Caleb shows us a Solus rifle built on the all-aluminum Competition chassis.
The Competition chassis comes with multiple forend lengths, all forends having M-LOK® slots on the sides and bottom, plus a full-length Arca-Swiss rail on the bottom. There are front and rear QD sling swivel sockets on both sides. On the top of the forend, you get forward mounting points for a night vision bridge. A spigot bipod mount is available separately.
Working back to the receiver, the Solus has an AICS-compatible magazine well. The ambidextrous mag release is on the front of the triggerguard. The pleasantly ergonomic pistol grip is upright, the way many target shooters like it. If you do not, you can swap on any pistol grip that fits an AR-15.
The Solus Competition buttstock is adjustable for length-of-pull and cheek rest height. There's a handy bag rider on the bottom. The adjustment mechanisms are smooth and easy to operate, and once you tighten everything back up, the stock is very solid. You can get the Competition chassis with a FIXED or FOLDING stock. Want a different configuration entirely? Aero Precision also offers this rifle mounted in a KRG Bravo Chassis.
You can get the Solus action chambered in 6mm Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Winchester. The Nitride-finished 416 stainless steel alloy barrel is honed and lapped, and the muzzle is threaded (thread cap included). Want a different barrel? The Solus action accepts barrels with the Savage thread pattern. A re-barreling job CAN be as simple as getting a Savage pre-fit barrel and barrel nut kit.
The M1913 Picatinny scope rail is machined as part of the receiver, with a built-in 20 MOA of elevation. The action takes Remington 700 compatible triggers. The Solus has a three-lug bolt with a 60-degree throw. The bolt knob is easy to replace. The bolt head can be interchanged with bolt heads for other calibers..... that Aero Precision plans to offer in the future. Bonuses: A cocking indicator on the top rear of the bolt, plus a simple pushbutton bolt release on the left side of the receiver.
