Buying A Precision Rifle - aero precision
To buy or to build, that is the question. It’s tough to choose between buying or building a rifle. Buying is less complicated, but it is not without its own problems. A new rifle buyer can experience paralysis by analysis because of the vast number of choices you have in the market. This blog aims to give you a clear sight picture (see what I did there) on what you need to know before you buy.
Bolt action rifles have some distinct advantages for the everyday citizen. The obvious being that there is a far less chance of them becoming regulated. The other enormous benefit comes as accuracy. One of the few things you do not see the internet arguing about is if a gas gun is more accurate than a bolt gun. Everyone agrees to the universal truth that bolt guns, on average, are more accurate.
With that being said, you get what you pay for, but even that has a point of diminishing returns. Accurate off-the-shelf bolt action rifles can cost anywhere between $1149.00 and $8,000.00. The Aero Precision Solus product line bridges the gap between high-end custom-made and the reasonably priced ready-to-shoot rifles you find at a Cabelas or Bass Pro.
Choosing Your Platform
So where do you start? Well, that question is best answered with another question; what is the rifle’s intended use? This will be important for specific features that will be discussed later. I break use cases down into three primary categories, all with common needs and distinct differences. For this article, we will skip caliber selection, that will come in a later post.
Use Case Categories
Competition – Precision rifle competitions such as PRS, NRL, and others. These rifles usually include a chassis and a heavy contoured barrel.
Hunting – Big game, Predator, small game. Weight management is a key factor and usually includes a stock. Barrel type varies.
Hybrid – Can be used in both competition and hunting. Weight is still a factor, will it have lightweight chassis or adjustable stocks. Barrel type varies.
Accuracy
Once you have decided what your primary use is and you have narrowed down potential models that fit those use cases (which I know you did based on how cool they look), the first thing you should research as a buyer is accuracy. But how accurate is accurate enough? The first place I go to is to the manufacturer’s website to look for a Sub-MOA guarantee.
