M4E1 Pro & Mod 4 Handguard
The M4E1 Pro lower receiver is the fully ambi lower receiver that everyone, including myself, has been asking for from Aero. As we’ve come to expect from the company, the ambi features are well thought-out. The right-side bolt catch is in a good place and easy to actuate, which is not always the case on many ambidextrous rifles. This is going to be a home run for all the AR builders out there.
To go along with the lower, Aero also announced the new Mod 4 handguard. This handguard was designed to minimize the deflection of IR aiming devices when the handguard is put under load. Aero did this by beefing it up and incorporating a new barrel nut. This new barrel nut can be installed with a standard AR castle-nut wrench and does not need to be timed, which will greatly ease installation.
The Mod 4 handguard also comes with a slimmer profile, steel-reinforced quick-detach sling points, and M-LOK slots on the 45-degree panels in addition to on the standard 3, 6, and 9 o’clock flats.
Long-Action Solus
Next, Aero showed off its Solus bolt-action rifles that are now chambered in long-action cartridges. These will be available in calibers like .300 Win Mag, 7mm PRC, and .300 PRC. The rifles themselves are geared toward lightweight hunters who usually prefer these calibers.
I got to shoot one of the 7mm PRC rifles at Industry Day at the range. This gun was like a laser. I only had to dial 5.5 mils to get a first round hit at 850 yards. I was very impressed.
New Lever-Action Prototype?
Finally, Aero teased a new lever-action rifle. I didn’t get a chance to shoot it yet, but I got to play with it. The Aero version is a more tactical take on the Stag Arms version of the same gun that takes a more traditional route. But both guns have interchangeable parts, so you can build whatever lever gun you want. Stay tuned for more news on that development.
