The final episode opens with Clint introducing Classic Firearms team members Matt, Ryan, and Kaia, explaining that this installment is a debrief on rifle experiences rather than a live-fire challenge. They start with the Savage Axis II chambered in .308, configured as a budget-friendly hunting-style rig. The rifle wears a lightweight polymer stock, an Allen bipod, and a Bushnell 4–12x scope, plus the AGM Neith night vision unit that will also appear on the other rifles. Discussion centers on how the Savage’s light weight makes it easy to carry but harder to keep steady compared to heavier precision platforms like the Aero Solus or US Arms Azrael. Matt recounts his performance with the rifle, including a roughly 3.3 MOA group that lagged behind others shooting closer to 0.5 MOA, prompting jokes about the Axis II being a classic “minute of deer” hunting gun rather than a precision match rifle. They also note the adjustable AccuTrigger and tease Matt’s rapid bolt work that made the gun look almost semi-automatic.
The conversation continues with a deeper look at the Savage Axis II as a dependable, budget-conscious option that can still hang with rifles costing several times more. The team emphasizes that any shortcomings in the final challenge were more about shooter performance than the rifle or its price point. They highlight the pros and cons of the lightweight stock: it is ideal for hunters hiking long distances, but the reduced mass leads to noticeable muzzle hop and less stability under recoil. Suggestions include upgrading to a heavier stock, chassis system, or adding competition weights for better balance and accessory mounting. The hosts note that the Axis II can be surprisingly accurate, especially on the first few rounds from a cold barrel, but consistency drops as the barrel heats up. This leads into a comparison with the Bergara B14 HMR Carbon Wilderness in .308, which features an Omni brake and a more ergonomic stock that deliver a more comfortable, controllable shooting experience than the Savage.
Attention shifts to the Bergara B14 HMR Carbon Wilderness in .308, equipped with an Omni muzzle brake and a more refined, ergonomic stock. Compared to the Savage, the Bergara offers significantly better recoil management and comfort, with the brake and stock design reducing muzzle hop and shooter fatigue. However, the lighter carbon fiber wrapped barrel introduces its own quirks. The team observes that as the barrel heats up, accuracy seems to degrade faster than with heavier steel barrels, leading to impacts walking and tempting shooters to chase shots with constant adjustments. They describe how over-adjusting to a hot barrel’s shifting point of impact can compound errors. To counter this, they recommend a deliberate zeroing process: fire small shot strings, allow the barrel to cool, and confirm a stable zero that reflects cold-bore conditions. The rifle runs a first focal plane 3–18x optic that previously passed a scope tracking test with flying colors, and it rides on a Harris bipod for prone stability.
The hosts expand on how the Bergara’s muzzle brake and chassis-style stock improve control over recoil and muzzle hop compared to traditional hunting stocks. A pistol grip and adjustable stock geometry reduce shooter strain and help maintain a consistent cheek weld and trigger press. They contrast a basic crosshair scope with a more advanced reticle that allows for holds and quick adjustments, clarifying that the optic brand is pronounced “Right-on,” as in right on target. The discussion briefly nods to legendary snipers like Simo Häyhä and Carlos Hathcock, noting that incredible results have historically been achieved with relatively simple rifles such as the Winchester Model 70. Returning to the Bergara, they praise its aesthetics and real-world performance, recounting accurate hits at 450–500 yards. Emphasis is placed on evaluating group patterns rather than chasing individual impacts when making scope or dope adjustments, especially with a carbon-fiber barrel that can shift as it heats.
The team dives into specific performance numbers from the Bergara B14 HMR Carbon Wilderness using Winchester M1 LR ammunition. They reference MOA figures in the roughly 3.15–3.5 range and discuss how the carbon fiber wrapped barrel grouped shots as it warmed. Observations suggest that the barrel’s heat characteristics may be affecting consistency, prompting a proposal for a more controlled comparison test. The planned experiment would pit a carbon fiber wrapped barrel against a stainless steel B14 HMR Pro barrel, firing small groups before and after rapidly sending 20–30 rounds to evaluate how heat impacts accuracy and point of impact. They also acknowledge that shooter position and pace—benchrest versus a more tactical lean or prone—likely influenced some of the results seen in the series. With that context, the focus transitions to the Aero Precision Solus in 6.5 Creedmoor, featuring a 22-inch barrel, Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6–18 optic, and a Warne bipod mounted via an Arca adapter on a competition-ready chassis.
The Aero Precision Solus rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor is presented as a purpose-built precision platform with strong PRS potential. It runs a 22-inch barrel and a Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6–18 scope, giving ample magnification and clarity for mid- to long-range work. A Warne bipod attached via an Arca adapter interfaces with the Arca-equipped chassis, allowing quick repositioning and solid support on barricades or tripods. The DG6 Lambda 65 muzzle brake earns praise for dramatically reducing felt recoil, making the already mild 6.5 Creedmoor feel almost recoil-free to the shooter, though bystanders take the brunt of the blast. The hosts suggest that a suppressor or better shooter positioning could mitigate this. Reviewing a 100-yard point-of-impact check target, they describe a tight group around 0.33 MOA, expressing genuine surprise at such precision from Aero’s first complete bolt gun. They also mention the Solus Hunter variant with an LMT MWS/ION-style stock and reflect on the rifle’s strong performance across the series despite varied shooter results in positional and team stages.
Discussion turns to the Aero Solus’s barrel contour and ergonomics. The thick barrel profile is highlighted for its role in managing harmonics, minimizing flex, and improving heat dissipation, while still maintaining a gradual, visually appealing taper. The rifle is essentially in factory configuration, including a Timney trigger that contributes to clean, predictable breaks. They reference a similar 6.5 Creedmoor setup with a Hunter chassis and fluted barrel, noting Aero’s consistency across configurations. Ergonomics receive detailed attention: the right-handed layout, flat AR-style pistol grip, and an adjustable thumb rest are all designed to enhance comfort and speed up bolt manipulation. The thumb rest, in particular, helps maintain a repeatable hand position and improves shot-to-shot consistency, though it is less ideal for left-handed shooters. Throughout, the hosts repeatedly praise the Solus’s precision, citing tight groups in a round-robin test and commending Aero, a company known for semi-automatic platforms, for delivering an impressively accurate bolt-action rifle.
The segment opens with praise for the AGM Neith night vision optic, which appears across the series. The hosts note its reliability, image clarity, and strong value, while acknowledging that its computer-like digital interface requires more learning than simple analog glass. Focus then shifts to the US Arms Co. Azrael bolt-action rifle, presented as a top-tier precision platform. Its setup includes an Orion X2 Devrew Express device at the muzzle, an MDT bipod for stable support, an AGM Rattler thermal clip-on in front of an EOTech 5–25 Vudu scope, and MDT magazines feeding the action. The rifle features a smooth-running bolt, a TriggerTech Diamond trigger for highly adjustable, crisp pulls, and an original J. Allen chassis now under MDT. The hosts emphasize how the Azrael makes shooting feel almost effortless, suggesting that the rifle is capable far beyond the 450 yards used in the series and expressing confidence in hits at 1500 yards based on Shot Show range day experiences.
The conversation underscores the Azrael’s long-range potential and the skill of the featured shooter. They describe the rifle as nearly “too easy” to use, explaining that once it is properly zeroed, it behaves like a point-and-click system that inspires strong confidence in making hits. The shooter’s background is highlighted: an accomplished military sniper who placed 21st in the President’s 100, a prestigious competition drawing roughly a thousand participants worldwide. This pedigree reinforces the rifle’s capabilities, as the shooter has used similar platforms to achieve rapid 1000-yard hits with new shooters at events like Shot Show. The team discusses the Azrael’s weight, noting that while it is relatively heavy compared to hunting rifles, that mass contributes to stability and a steadier reticle for precise shots. In a sitting position challenge, they contrast lightweight versus heavier rifle philosophies and attribute a poor run not to the Azrael but to overconfidence and rushed execution, while briefly touching on fundamentals like avoiding bone-on-bone contact and using knee and elbow support correctly.
Further analysis of the Azrael clarifies that a rushed, overconfident shooting string was purely shooter error, not a limitation of the rifle. The heavy chassis and tuned setup produce very low perceived recoil, allowing the reticle to move slowly and controllably across the target, which should favor deliberate, accurate fire. The hosts praise the rifle’s aesthetics and especially its chassis ergonomics, including the grip shape, hand rest, and rear-biased weight distribution that keeps mass closer to the shooter’s center of gravity. The tapered barrel, around a number six contour, reduces weight toward the muzzle without sacrificing stiffness. They point out that US Arms Co. is relatively lesser-known yet has produced a highly accurate, well-designed rifle that still exposes any weaknesses in fundamental marksmanship. Cost becomes a key talking point: the Azrael, particularly in this high-end configuration, is significantly more expensive than other rifles in the series, with a base Azrael alone running roughly three to four thousand dollars before optics and accessories. They also note that the AGM Rattler thermal optic actually disadvantaged the shooter here because the steel silhouette target lacked a heat signature.
The hosts elaborate on the challenges of using a thermal optic like the AGM Rattler on a target with no heat signature. They joke about needing someone to warm up the steel silhouette just to make it visible, ultimately acknowledging that thermal imaging was not ideal for this particular scenario. Despite that, the Azrael rifle’s inherent precision and forgiving ergonomics helped compensate for the optic’s limitations. They mention that the H59 reticle in the EOTech Vudu was not even necessary to achieve hits under these conditions, reinforcing how capable the rifle and shooter combination was. Broader optics impressions follow, with praise for both Eotech and AGM products across the series, from the Neith night vision to the Rattler thermal. The segment frames these experiences as valuable lessons in matching optics technology to target type and mission profile, highlighting that even premium gear can be misapplied if environmental and target factors are not considered.
In the closing moments, the team offers a series of acknowledgments and reflections on the Bolt Gun Series. They thank US Arms Co. for providing the Azrael rifle and recognize Josh for joining them on the range, sharing his sniper expertise, and appearing in multiple episodes, including a separate video focused on testing optics to their limits. Additional shout-outs go to Aero Precision for the Solus in the competition chassis, which impressed them as a first complete bolt gun from a company known for semi-autos. Bergara receives thanks for the B14 HMR Carbon Wilderness paired with the Righton optic, and Savage is acknowledged for contributing rifles that anchored the budget-friendly end of the lineup. The hosts invite viewers to comment with ideas for future content, whether more bolt-gun comparisons, long-range challenges, or deeper dives into optics and accessories. The episode ends by reinforcing how the series showcased a spectrum of rifles, from accessible hunting setups to elite long-range precision platforms.
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