The Franklin Armory story is a familiar one in the firearms industry: A small company that started out making innovative components grew and expanded into making complete firearms. In Franklin Armory’s case, it began with binary trigger systems and grew into boundary-pushing guns, like the Reformation. That pattern continues with the Prevail, an innovative bolt-action design that introduces the company’s Total Round Control system.
“Total Round Control” means that the Prevail combines the elements of both a push-feed action and controlled-round feeding. As a cartridge is pushed out of the magazine, dual feed guides take control of the cartridge as it slides under the extractor. The extractor will also snap across the rim when single-loading a cartridge into the chamber. As the cartridge centers on the bolt face, it interacts with a lifter that controls the ejector. A plunger-type ejector, mounted on the bolt face, automatically removes the cartridge/case as soon as it clears the ejection port. The Prevail bolt uses three locking lugs and has a 60-degree throw. Its design has interchangeable tool-steel bolt heads for switching calibers (in sizes .382, .478 and .540 inch), and the bolt can be disassembled without tools. Its bolt stem has “ice breaker” fluting and its knob is interchangeable.
The Prevail uses an M700 footprint receiver, meaning both its stock and its Conquest trigger are M700-compatible. The single-stage Conquest trigger, made by Franklin Armory, is user-adjustable for pull weight (1.5 to 4 pounds), take-up and overtravel, and has a built-in two-position M700-style safety with adjustable detent pressure on the selector. The receiver has dual forward pressure-release vents and an integral 20-MOA Picatinny optics rail. Numerous other safety features are built in, including a firing pin pressure relief hole, the bolt stem locking into the receiver, and a dovetail undercut bolt release to retain the bolt in the receiver. All actions are blueprinted.
The Prevail will be offered with either Franklin Armory’s carbon-ceramic Fidelis barrel, which is a steel barrel with a ceramic coating covered by a carbon-fiber-wrapped exterior, or a fluted stainless-steel barrel with a sporter profile. Both options are 24 inches in length. Barrels are Zermatt TL3/SR3 pre-fit compatible and have threaded muzzles. The Prevail uses M5-pattern bottom metal and feeds from an AICS-pattern magazine. Its stock is made of carbon fiber with a built-in V-block, and has quick-detachable sling swivel studs and a Limb Saver recoil pad.
Prevail bolt-action rifles will initially be offered chambered in .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC and .300 WSM. Franklin Armory will also offer barreled actions ($1,900 for a fluted-barrel option, $2,500 for a carbon-ceramic Fidelis barrel), actions ($1,400) and Conquest triggers ($230) for builders. In the future, Franklin Armory plans to offer long-action and left-handed versions of the Prevail.
The Franklin Armory Prevail has an MSRP of $3,900 for the carbon-ceramic-barrel models and $3,300 for the stainless-barrel model. For more information, see the company’s website.
