$1000 and you guys are #####ing that it doesnt have a bolt release? Neither does the SU16 but adding one is pretty easy. I'm already envisioning what material i'm going to 3d print the upper receiver hole plugs.
Lets take stock of rifles that checkmark everything or close to what this rifle can do....The closest thing to this in virtual everyway is the SU16. Same short stroke piston, rotating bolt head, STANAG mags, tactical looking rifle, but made of plastic. I have one, and after outfitting it with a pistol grip stock its coming out to be priced the same as the WK180.
No bolt release in stock form but making one is easy with some skills.
Mini-14. Overweight, nose heavy, hard to mount optics unless you put it in a Sparta stock at which point it becomes even heavier. Limited to 5 round proprietary magazines which are big $$ and finicky. again, no bolt release. not easily modified to accept one.
rock to lock sucks. Had one, sold it.
T97 - Definitively not lefty friendly. Hard to mount optics without a cheek weld unless you get the upper assembly but its past 1k at that point. it too has no bolt release (You starting to see a damn pattern here?!)
VZ58 in 223. Currently way above 1k mark, hard to mount optics, rock to lock mags unless you buy a magwell adapter, once again NO BOLT RELEASE in stock form...223 seems to be a bit more finicky.
So what have we discovered? Seems that a bolt release is not that high on the priority list on the majority of manufacturers.
Only real competition will be the up and coming Not Exactly Accurate AR15 NR version of the BCL 102, or Catatuna or whatever the latest ####ing name for that rifle is (i have one btw), and the bottom of the barrel parts assembled MacDef, neither of which one are actually in anyones hands either.
So who have i chosen to support? The one manufacturer who came out, made and priced what we have been asking for. I dont particularly need to spend another 1k on another rifle, but i'm a man of my word, and i'm going to put my wallet where my mouth is. This is the only way to try and steer the gun manufacturing where we want to see it go. The M10X would have been on my CC has it not been for Mickey Mouse playing stupid games, and thats how i will let the manufacturers know what i want.
I swear this rifle could be $200 and you'd STILL find something to complain about....
Want all the low drag high tacticool action as you punch paper in the woods? Wait for the MacDef at double the price when done...