New Rifles Coming in 2022
The unprecedented demand for rifles over the past two years has strained manufacturing capacity. Nevertheless, in 2022 customers will see new models coming to shelves.
If there’s a term that can describe the firearm industry’s focus in the past year, it’s “supply chain issues.” These range from the availability and cost of raw materials and parts to building sufficient firearms to maintain inventory at the retail level. That’s one reason customers saw so few new products released in 2021. It’s difficult to stop or reduce production of core products to begin production of a new firearm when demand is so high for existing products. But in 2022, customers will begin to see more new models hit the market. Many of these will be line extensions but there are a few surprises. Here are some of the highlights.
Browning
Browning is delving into semi-custom rifle production with the new X-Bolt Mountain Pro. What classifies the X-Bolt Mountain Pro as a “semi-custom rifle” is the level of specialized finishing touches and higher end construction above the already top-tier X-Bolt family of hunting rifles. First, the X-Bolt Mountain Pro features a true carbon fiber stock — now lighter than previous versions — making it lightweight and rigid. The stock is filled with a noise-dampening foam. Additionally, the Cerakote finish on the stainless steel action and barrel is also on the exterior of the stock for added protection. The Burnt Bronze hue mutes the color of the stock for better concealability. The barrel features a new proprietary lapping process to provide consistent accuracy and easier bore cleaning — avoiding the need for a time-consuming break-in process. Other features include a spiral fluted bolt and bolt knob, threaded muzzle with our new Recoil Hawg muzzle brake that reduces felt recoil up to 77% (depending on caliber), effectively taming your favorite magnum cartridges.
Bushmaster
The Bushmaster 450 is a gas-driven carbine. As the name implies, it’s chambered for the company’s straight-walled namesake big-game cartridge. The Bushmaster 450 has an A2-style stock and grip, 14-inch free-floating BFI rail, and M-Lok handguard. A Snake Charmer muzzle brake is included to tame recoil. The trigger is a two-stage DM2S. It ships with a five-round aluminum magazine. SRP: $1,329.99.
Cadex Defense
Cadex Defense is a chassis-gun manufacturer based in Quebec. Its U.S. civilian market headquarters is in Phoenix, Arizona. In 2022 it will offer new additions to its family of long-range precision rifles. The CDX-SS Seven S.T.A.R.S. (Sport and Tactical Application Rifle System) Pro is designed for precision-match competitors. As such, it features a skeletonized stock with almost unlimited adjustability, a 16-inch Bartlein barrel, a futuristic-looking receiver equipped with an adjustable magazine catch, and numerous other upscale features. Several brilliant Cerakote finishes will be offered. Chamberings will include .223 Rem., 6BR, 6 DASHER, 6 Creedmoor, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5×47 Lapua and .308 Win.
Christensen Arms
The Christensen Arms Scout series is a lightweight version of the company’s Ridgeline rifle. Each field-ready Ridgeline Scout has a free-floated, stainless 16-inch barrel wrapped in carbon fiber. A three-prong flash hider sits over the suppressor-ready threads. The action is topped by a 0-MOA rail, and the rifle also has a large, skeletonized bolt handle and a TriggerTech flat-shoe trig-ger. An AICS-compatible detachable magazine is included. The rifle comes with a sub-MOA guarantee. Available in .223 Rem., 300 Blackout, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Win. SRP: $2,199.
CZ-USA
The new CZ-USA 600 Series of rifles includes four models, covering a wide range of stock materials, barrel profiles, action lengths and cartridge combinations. User-friendly options include an adjustable trigger, 60-degree bolt throw, and the ability to swap caliber without a gunsmith, using an optional conversion kit.
Since reliability was a vital consideration, CZ selected the controlled-round feed design for cycling consistency. A quiet, two-position safety complements this action. The 60-degree bolt throw increases clearance between the bolt and optic, allowing for larger scopes. In addition, it cycles considerably faster than traditional designs. All models use an oversized bolt knob for improved control with gloved hands.
There are four models: Alpha, Lux, Range and Trail. The Alpha has an aluminum receiver and black soft-touch synthetic stock. Chamberings range from .223 Rem. to .300 Win Mag. Classic wood furniture dresses up the Lux. It includes a steel receiver, wooden stock with Schnabel tip, and an oversized wooden bolt knob. The Lux is chambered for four popular hunting cartridges from .223 Rem. to .300 Win. Mag. The Range model features a steel receiver, heavy barrel and laminate wood stock with a toolless height-adjustable cheekpiece and is chambered in .308 Win and 6mm. The Trail is a super-lightweight rifle built with an aluminum receiver, polymer chassis and aluminum forend with an M-Lock interface. The Trail is chambered in .223 Rem or 7.62×39 and uses AR-15 or Bren 2 magazines. It also features familiar AR-15 controls (safety and mag release). SRP: $749-1,119.
Heckler & Koch
H&K may just have the year’s most notable fun-first entry with a rifle variant of its venerable MP5 — chambered in .22LR. The guns are made in partnership with Umarex of Germany and distributed via HK’s USA headquarters. The MP5 22 sports a barrel sleeve to lend the classic MP5SD look, sans the expense and recoil of the original submachine gun. It’s also sup-pressor-ready. SRP: $479.
Nosler
The new Nosler Model 21 is a feature-rich production firearm that has the feel and performance of a custom build. The heart of the rifle is a new Model 21 action, which has been designed in collaboration with Mack Brothers, a South Dakota shop with a growing reputation for building some of the finest rifle actions in the industry, including their popular EVO action. The Model 21 blends the best features of the EVO with unique Nosler-engineered customizations, delivering a solid foundation for peak performance right out of the box.
Another key feature is a spiral, fluted, one-piece nitride-coated bolt made of 4340 chrome-moly steel. In addition to a sleek look and nearly effortless functioning, the fluted design provides a reduction in weight and helps to channel debris, preventing the bolt from jamming in environments where dirt and sand are an issue. In line with the M21 action’s practical design philosophy, the bolt’s upgraded M16-style extractor and fire-control group feature tool-less takedown.
Top-of-the-line components that round out the Model 21 rifle include a crisp, single-stage TriggerTech Field model trigger (user-adjustable to a pull weight of 2.5 to 5 pounds) and top safety. A Shilen match-grade barrel with a threaded muzzle is hand lapped for the ultimate in bore smoothness, and the lightweight synthetic carbon-fiber stock shaves weight off the complete build while providing extreme durability. Popular chamberings will include 22 Nosler, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 PRC, 26 Nosler, 27 Nosler, .280 Ackley Improved, 28 Nosler, .308 Win., .300 Win. Mag., 30 Nosler, 33 Nosler and .375 H&H. SRP: $2,495.
Savage Arms
A new left-hand version of the Savage Arms 110 UltraLite is made in collaboration with Proof Research. The 22- or 24-inch barrel is carbon-fiber-wrapped stainless steel; the stainless receiver is melonite-treated and skeletonized for weather resistance and weight reduction. The rifle also has Savage’s AccuFit stock and the adjustable AccuTrigger. Available chamberings include .308 Win., 6.5 Creedmoor, .280 Ackley, .270 Win., .30-06., .300 WSM, 6.5 PRC and 28 Nosler. SRP: $1,595.
Winchester
The Winchester Rifleman’s rifle is now more equipped than ever to tackle extreme conditions. The Model 70 Extreme Hunter Strata MB features a rigid Bell and Carlson synthetic stock with a sculpted cheek piece. The TrueTimber Strata camo finish pairs nicely with the FDE-colored Cerakote on the receiver and barrel. Other features include a threaded muzzle with brake and a Pachmayr decelerator recoil pad. As usual, the pre-’64-style controlled-round feed-and-claw extractor bolt design makes this action incredibly reliable. SRP: $1,679.99-$1,719.99
The XPR Extreme Midnight MB sports the new TrueTimber Midnight pattern on its rigid composite stock. Tungsten Cerakote gives the fluted barrel and receiver a stylish, corrosion-resistant coating to handle extreme conditions. This new model also features a radial-style muzzle brake that will reduce recoil. SRP: $769.99.