Aero Precision Solus Line - DIY Friendly Parts

The AR-15 is generally considered to be easily assembled by the average person. Meanwhile Bolt action rifles are the realm of professional gunsmiths. Aero Precision’s Solus line is taking steps to change that.

This makes getting into a good precision rifle easier, and opens new opportunities to expand your experience with your hobby.

Solus DIY Overview

The line has been designed to have a very consistent and repeatable body/rifle connection. This means that taking your rifle apart and putting it back together will have less of a significant impact on your rifle’s performance.

The heart of the system is the chassis itself. The additional tools in the Solus line are designed to work with the chassis. So before we get into the tools you’ll need, let’s focus on the major aspect of the system: the chassis

Competition Chassis

As the basis for your rifle, the chassis system is designed to be more modular than your average carbon fiber stock. Like other chassis systems, the solus features adjustable length of pull and comb heights.

The magazine-well is set up to accept AICS and AIAW style magazines. The pistol grip is compatible with AR-15 grips that do not have a tang. The chassis works with the Remington 700 Short Action, which makes it compatible with .308, 6 Creedmoor, and 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges.

The forend is compatible with Arca Swiss and M-LOK mounting systems. It features a V-Block bedding surface and works with different manufactured actions. From the magazine catch to the action, the solus chassis is made to fit with readily available parts.

Tools

Having a widely compatible chassis wouldn’t really work if you couldn’t assemble it. Aero also offers a number of gunsmith tools to allow you to work on your rifle. From vise mounting the chassis to putting different styles of barrels on the action, Aero has several simple tools to make assembling your rifle easier.

Vise Jaws

These vise jaws work with your standard bench vise. They easily attach to the sides of the chassis and help exert even pressure on the chassis to prevent the chassis from moving around when you are working on it.

Immobilizing the rifle makes it easier to mount barrels, and allows for other two-handed jobs to be performed with ease. 

Action Wrench

You need this action wrench if you plan on using a shouldered barrel in your chassis. This action wrench has a three lug design that is replaceable. The wrench allows you to tighten or loosen the barrel during maintenance or installation.

The design helps cut down on putting stress into the receiver and helps ensure that the barrel is installed correctly for the best accuracy.

Barrel Nut Wrench

Installing the barrel nut requires a wrench designed for that particular nut. It is made from 4150 steel and works with non-shouldered barrels.  However, the wrench is designed for the Solus barrel nut. It may not work with other barrel designs and is not made for shouldered barrels.

Conclusion

The Solus line is one of the first steps towards better “Entry level and beyond” chassis systems. Creating an infrastructure that supports the end goal of a widely available precision rifle will take time, and this is off to a good start. There can and will be hiccups along the way, but that comes with refining a product.

If you want to try your hand at assembling your own bolt action rifle, we offer multiple Solus products from the chassis and bolt to the additional rail mounts.