Whoa that’s cool, I like it all. I actually strongly dislike built in ARCA for various reasons and having the option to switch or use alternate arca rails is important. Love the folding design, and the stock weight at 4-5lbs, tool less butt stock, solid. I need one.
Thanks.
The final straw in my decision to not include an integrally machined ARCA in this particular model solidified because of 3 rifles I had come through the KMW shop in the last 18 months. I was already leaning away from it on the LE model because I absolutely needed this one to be hand friendly on both grip and forend to anyone forced into positional shooting/crisis marksmanship situations.
All 3 rifles were in name brand chassis (2 of one brand and 1 of another) that had integrally machined ARCA.
All 3 rifles had enough damage to at least one side of the ARCA rail that they would not clamp into any of the name brand tripod clamps and one of them had the sliding bipod mount that could not traverse the damaged rail section.
The ARCA design is a very robust dovetail compared to many others we see around different equipment, etc. However if you think about it, exactly where do these 15 to 20 pound rifles take abuse when they are thrown over railings, bumpers, window sills and barricades. . . The bottom of the forend! Most of the time the same area closer to the magwell.
So apparently the alloy being used on some is easier to damage/deform edges with impacts against other metal surfaces.
I was able to invert them (yes, just like Maverick and Goose) and make clean up passes on the deformed sections so they would work again pretty easily but didn't like the fact it was needed.
I know the typical comp shooter going to PRS/NRL/MICKEY MOUSE/OSCAR MEYER/ whatever matches will take better care in handling their equipment than shooters doing it for work so this phenomenon is likely rare. However, my shop is very, very tiny in the scheme of the entire market and I only see 0.01% of what's going on out there. So if I experienced 3 of these come in the shop (that is not why they were sent to me) in the last 18 months, then I have to assume it is happening in bigger numbers out there.
Maybe these were freaks and the users are abusive assholes (if you are reading this and are one of the 3 I am just playing "what if" ) but it showed me the feature can be damaged enough to be non serviceable.
The Comp version of the Zealot will likely have the integral ARCA but this version of it will remain naked and afraid.
./
