Akila's EVA-Tac Swaps Calibers in Under a Minute
Slovenian maker Akila showed its modular EVA-Tac straight-pull bolt-action rifle at the LORIST hunting exhibition in Serbia. The rifle covers short-action chamberings like .308 Win and .223 Rem plus long-action options such as .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 PRC. Retail pricing runs between 4,500 and 6,000 euros, depending on configuration. There is no US distributor yet. Akila is recruiting dealers across Europe first. The launch marks the point where a company that spent eight years building precision chassis became a full rifle manufacturer.
Key Details
The EVA-Tac is built around a barrel that the user can swap without a shop visit. At the show, a reviewer timed a barrel change at under one minute. Two screws on the right side of the receiver hold the barrel in place through a clamp-style mechanism. The screws are designed so they cannot be overtightened.
- Magazine well accepts AR-10 PMAG, Magpul single-stack AICS, and Accuracy International AX magazines, depending on caliber.
- Barrels are compatible with standard Remington 700 profiles.
- The stock threads onto a standard AR-15 buffer tube, so owners can reuse existing stocks.
- Two stock versions exist, one with and one without a built-in monopod.
- The cheek riser mounts on either side. The stock folds left or right, and length of pull adjusts.
- The bolt uses three lugs locking into the barrel extension and has six parts. It disassembles without tools and cannot be reassembled incorrectly.
The reviewer, who has worked as an armorer, praised the backward compatibility and the idle-proof design of the barrel screws. Akila's managing director also changed a customer's stock fold direction and replaced a trigger shoe on the spot at no charge.
Background
Akila's engineering roots trace to Ritter & Stark, an Austrian sniper rifle maker founded in 2015. Ritter & Stark launched the SX-1 Modular Tactical Rifle, which drew heavy attention at international shows. A former Ritter & Stark engineer said the rifle's concept followed a 2016 US SOCOM requirement for a modular, multi-caliber sniper rifle for special forces. In fall 2018, Ritter & Stark filed for insolvency, citing management problems. Akila co-founders Artem Kott and Alex Chikin came from that engineering team, which moved to Slovenia and applied its Austrian experience at Akila. Klemen Molek co-founded the company. Akila's first products were chassis for Blazer R8 and R93, Remington 700, Tikka T3, and German Steel Action HS platforms. Those chassis built a reputation among European precision shooters before the company moved into complete rifles.
Why It Matters for Gun Owners
Most US shooters will not buy an EVA-Tac soon. Without a domestic distributor, a US buyer faces import paperwork, ATF import approval for the firearm, and a foreign dealer willing to ship. Europeans face a different hurdle. The author argues that red tape keeps new European firearms companies rare, so an entrant with working products matters. For owners already running Remington 700 actions, the barrel compatibility is useful. The AR-15 buffer tube stock thread means aftermarket stocks may fit. Owners of AR-10 and AICS-pattern magazines should also check magazine compatibility before buying. Watch for a US importer announcement, and confirm that any specific caliber and magazine combination is legal in your state before ordering. Magazine capacity limits in certain states will apply to AICS-style and PMAG-pattern magazines.
DownRange Analysis
The EVA-Tac is a product, not a regulatory question, so Bruen does not change how it is evaluated. Bruen tests whether a firearms regulation fits the nation's historical tradition. A modular bolt gun raises no such issue on its own. The real legal exposure lies in the configurations a buyer chooses. Short-action and long-action swaps change what a state treats as a rifle and what magazine it allows. The market is crowded. Accuracy International, Tikka, and Remington already dominate precision chassis buying. Akila's edge is its engineering pedigree and its willingness to support customers at the bench. If you want one now, call a European dealer, confirm the import route, and do not pay for a rifle that has no US paperwork path yet.
