Franklin Armory has built a reputation on being the “mad scientists” of the firearm industry. But for SHOT Show 2026, they are stepping away from the “tactical-innovation” space and moving squarely into the high-end precision hunting market.
They’ve just unveiled the Prevail™, a new line of bolt-action rifles featuring what they call Total Round Control™ (TRC). Franklin claims this system solves a dilemma that has divided bolt-action shooters for over a century: Push Feed (PF) vs. Controlled Round Feed (CRF).
The Tech: What is Total Round Control?
To understand why TRC matters, you have to understand the “Great Schism” of bolt actions:
-
Push Feed (e.g., Remington 700): The bolt simply pushes the round into the chamber. It’s smooth and easy to single-load, but if you don’t close the bolt all the way and pull back, you can end up with a double-feed or a stuck round.
-
Controlled Round Feed (e.g., Mauser 98, Winchester 70): The extractor “grabs” the rim of the cartridge as it leaves the magazine. It’s incredibly reliable for extraction/ejection, but traditionally harder to “single-feed” a round directly into the chamber.
Franklin Armory’s Total Round Control (TRC) is a patent-pending system designed to give you the best of both. It controls the round through the entire cycle—feeding, chambering, firing, extraction, and ejection—ensuring the round is never “floating” or left to chance. If they’ve actually managed to combine the reliability of a Mauser with the smoothness and single-loading ease of a 700, they might have the “holy grail” of actions on their hands.
The Prevail Rifle: Built Like a Custom Rig
The TRC action isn’t just a gimmick; the rifle surrounding it is packed with high-end features that suggest Franklin is chasing the “mountain hunter” and PRS crossover crowd:
-
Zermatt Compatibility: In a genius move, the Prevail is compatible with Zermatt TL3/SR3 pre-fit barrels. This opens up a massive world of aftermarket support immediately.
-
Barrels: You have a choice between a traditional stainless precision barrel or Franklin’s new Fidelis™ carbon-ceramic wrapped barrel.
-
Toolless Disassembly: The bolt features user-interchangeable bolt heads and can be stripped without tools—a must-have for field repairs.
-
Trigger: It comes with the Conquest™ trigger, which is Remington 700 compatible and fully adjustable.
-
Chassis/Stock: A premium carbon-fiber stock with custom V-block bedding for maximum repeatability.
Calibers & Availability
At launch, the Prevail will be available in the “Greatest Hits” of modern precision:
-
.308 Winchester
-
6.5 Creedmoor
-
6.5 PRC
-
.300 WSM (Short Action)
SlavGuns Take: Is Franklin Armory Entering the “Big Leagues”?
We’ve seen Franklin Armory do “innovative” before, but the Prevail feels different. This is a “serious” rifle. By making the action Remington 700 trigger-compatible and Zermatt barrel-compatible, they aren’t trying to lock you into a proprietary ecosystem. They are building a platform.
The real test for “Total Round Control” will be at Industry Day at the Range. We’ve heard the “best of both worlds” promise before, but bolt actions are all about feel. Can you cycle it slowly? Can you cycle it upside down? Can you “short-stroke” it without a failure to eject? CRF actions feed and control the round from the magazine, but in the promo videos for the rifle, A LOT of the rounds are shown being top fed.
If the TRC system is as robust as Franklin claims, the Prevail could be a serious threat to mid-tier custom builders. We’ll be at Bay SR-38 on Monday, January 19th, to put some rounds through the Prevail and see if “Total Round Control” is a marketing term or a mechanical revolution.
Stay tuned for our footage from Industry Day at
the Range!
Comment here