Barrett MRAD VS DTA SRS?

mustang979

mustang979

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So it looks like I may have the option of buying a "forever gun". For years now, I've drooled over both the MRAD and the SRS. I find they are both purdy, but what attracts me to them most is the switch caliber ability. I can buy one good scope, and effectivly have multiple rifles I can shoot with the one optic. They are both stupid expensive, and they only begin to "pay for themselves" once you have more then 2 calibers kits. My idea is to start with a 308 and 300WM, and maybe pick up a 6.5 or 338 down the line. While I see the 2 rifl;es as being competitors to each other, I don't seem to find many reviews comparing one to the other so I guess I'm looking for opinions on which way people favor and why. It looks like the MRAD has double stack mags, so I can get 10 rounders where DTA is single stacked, 5 rounders for 500WM and anything bigger if I go that route, but I can't find many other reasons to pick one platform over the other aside from the obvious bullpup VS folder angle.
 
bsand said:
DTA magazines suck. I have had them double feed multiple times while on the clock. Extremely disappointed in DT.
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I have read this about DT mags a few times, if I remember correctly you also have (had?) a hard time getting 10 rounders?

I have also read that MRAD conversion kits are pretty rare - it could be old information though.

To the OP, have you considered an AI AXMC? You can go from the 308 family, to 300WM, and the 338? There is also the Unique Alpine TPG, the Sako M10, Remington PSR (I think it is like unicorn poop though in Canada though), and if I remember correctly Cadex is coming out with a switch barrel.
 
nthrxx said:
Are the mags the only thing you dont like about the DT? I'm in the process for saving for one.
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Yes, biggest thing is magazines. But it really isn't a good prs rifle. Mostly because I have to reinvent the wheel so to speak, i can't copy others positions due to length of rifle more so lack of. Puts the balance further back making you almost teeter totter on barricades.
 
I'll give you my opinion on them as I've owned all three of those switch barrel guns. I had an MRAD for several years and sold it to buy a DTA SRS because they came out in left handed, and also bought an AI AX308MC this summer, which is currently up for sale on the EE. (The AI is not for sale because it's not as good as the DTA, but I am a leftie and the DTA suits me better).
Bsand is right, the DTA single stack mags are the weakest part of that system, the Barrett mags are the best mags I've ever used, and the AI ones are right there as well.
The AI 2-stage trigger is also the nicest trigger, and it's close between the MRAD and DTA single stage triggers, with the DTA being more adjustable.
MRAD is the physically biggest gun, even with the folder on it. The DTA is the most unconventional set up, and takes a little getting used to.
The barrel swaps are easiest on the DTA, but all are quite simple and quick. The Barret has the least barrel kit options and only factory options as far as I know? The AI barrels are the cheapest aftermarket barrels to buy as they need no barrel extension threaded on to them to make them fit in its chassis, they simply screw right in. The blanks them selves between the DTA and AI can be the same though, and the sky is the limit. I own multiple barrels for both chassis. Very easy to clean a loose barrel as well as opposed to one hard mounted in the gun.
The action and smoothness of the gun, plus fit and finish can not be beat on the AI, close to perfect. The Barret was a well made piece too and the DTA is best described as more industrial and not as polished. The DTA feels like it's an outstanding idea that needs a bit more refinement but the bullpup set up is very very addictive, the Barrett feels like you could abuse it all day and it would never miss a beat, and the AI runs like a Swiss watch but super tough as well.
I purchased the Barrett and the AI thru Wolverine and they are such a great company to deal with and would always have your back if you needed service or support too. May be a consideration? The DTA also has dealers in Canada now but as an example, I needed a new ejector spring for mine DTA and 2 months later, DTA still hasn't shipped it, due to US-Canada paperwork. Frustrating.
All three are capable of great accuracy. I think the Barrett was maybe just a hair better then the other two for me, but the lack of being able to run any other calibers but the factory options, made me sell it to try the other two. I do think though that each individual could find any of the three the most accurate depending on their shooting style. They are that close.
Because I am a leftie I use my DTA the most and I have found it's weak points don't really bother me as it fits me best. If the AI was a left-handed chassis, it might come out on top though.
The Barrett and AI also have an MOA cant built into their rails so if you are going really long distance you may need an adjustable scope mount on the DTA? I know I did, and they are pricey, whereas I could shoot 1200 yards with the Barrett with no hold overs with the same scope.
I'll also add that if I could've gotten more caliber choices for the MRAD, I probably would've never bought the other two as it was a fantastic gun. I had the 308/6.5 Creedmoor/338 barrels for it, and now you can get the 300 Norma Mag kit as well for it. There may be a way to spin its extension off too and get a smith to spin a barrel up for it? I never went down that road though.
I've had Insite Arms do up three barrels for my DTA and two for my AI and they were all fantastic though! Love that I do not have to order from the States or wait months and months for barrels and caliber swaps now that I have the chassis here. The Barrett in Canada does not have that option at present.
I do not compete in PRS, and the DTA may not be a good choice there plus the Barrett is a big gun, so the AI may be the winner if that's your end game for your rifle, but I do shoot a lot, and lots of long distance stuff on steel, groups etc, and all 3 of these will all run with anything out there in my opinion.
There is no wrong answer here and all are close in price when kitted out with several barrels.
I am in full agreement too that the one barrel/one trigger to get really familiar with/one awesome piece of glass is actually cheaper in the long run, then 3-4 custom built or pricier factory guns, all with a pricey scope on top.
This is all just my own personal experience and others may have different opinions, but my shooting buddies have all put rounds thru these chassis as well, and we all have had similar views after.
 
Damn you Redrams! When I saw that you wrote a longer response I thought for sure there would be information in there that would be an "AHA!" for me, driving me decisively to one platform or the other.... Instead I read that they are all great guns, with varying limitations and advantages with no real "winner" if you are a glass half emptykind of person or no real loser if you are a glass half full kind of guy. The fact that caliber conversions are apparently still limited for the mrad is a disappointment and may be enough to push me away from the platform :(

TBH I never really considered the AX. I'm not sure why. I think for some reason, in my mind the DTA and MRAD are a little "###ier" since they are a little less common in my neck of the woods. I find I gravitate to the road less travelled, but you have certainly given me a lot to think about. So much so, that now I'm thinking maybe the AX is the right one for me.
 
If you want the road less travelled you should get the Remington PSR. Euro Optic out of the states has the whole kit for only (hahaha only...) $21k USD.

Includes the rifle, 3 barrels (308, 300 WM, 338LM), 20 mags, soft and a hard case, cleaning kit. Practically a steal! Sarcasm for those not understanding.

It would probably be the only one in Canada.

Where are you located? I have an AX you can get behind.
 
I just started getting into the PRS game and looked at the available offerings. I loved the AI and SRS rifles but was put off by the high cost of the calibre swaps and struggled to really find the performance difference between the MRAD, SRS, AI and others versus a custom build for each possible calibre that I was interested. In the end I decided to go a cheaper custom build route and picked up a Tikka action, CADEX chassis, AI mags and had a custom barrel put in. What am I missing? Why aren't most people just buying actions/barrels in the calibre they want and just swap them in and out of a chassis? Is there really a significant performance difference or is it just a different way of "playing" the game with the results being very similar in the end?
 
Rickster66 said:
I just started getting into the PRS game and looked at the available offerings. I loved the AI and SRS rifles but was put off by the high cost of the calibre swaps and struggled to really find the performance difference between the MRAD, SRS, AI and others versus a custom build for each possible calibre that I was interested. In the end I decided to go a cheaper custom build route and picked up a Tikka action, CADEX chassis, AI mags and had a custom barrel put in. What am I missing? Why aren't most people just buying actions/barrels in the calibre they want and just swap them in and out of a chassis? Is there really a significant performance difference or is it just a different way of "playing" the game with the results being very similar in the end?
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Lots of guys run customs and do so very successfully, I actually think the winners are guys with customs rather than the high-end factory guns. AI guns are bullet proof, you very rarely hear about an AI going down during a competition yet you hear it quite often about other guns.

As an example, at the last match I ran here were the problems with custom guns: feeding issues (improper seating depth of BM and poorly adjusted feed lips), the bolt stop pin on a tikka sheared off, the bolt handle on a 700 fell off, and dead triggers (triggertech if that matters).

Problems that have hit AIs: a double feed after a guy admittedly short stroked it.

The other nice thing about AIs is the quick change, it is more common these days and lots of guys have switch barrel rigs but it is super easy with an AI. I currently only have a 308 barrel that I use for practice. Come match day I can spin it off and put on my comp barrel. It will have the exact same ergos, same scope, same trigger, etc.

Admittedly ever since I got into shooting I have had a boner for AIs so I am biased.

Edited: A barrel for an AI (no brake) should run about $1,200, so more than a normal job but you also don't lose your gun for a month.

Good choice on the Tikka though, I think they are better than 700s.
 
Hmmmm,

Interesting, love reading the perspective of others on these very expensive pieces of kit. I have not shot or seen an AI before so excuse my ignorance. I did own a 97B, and a friend of mine owns a srs (yet to shoot it though only handle and dry fire). They both definitely are unique from each other. I liked the barrett but it is a very big gun, and very well made the fit and finish is amazing. The take down of this rifle is probably my favorite take down of any rifle. Its basically a gigantic AR when it comes to take down. So if you like AR take downs you'll like the barrett, its simple and efficient. The trigger on it is exceptionally crisp too.

From handling the SRS i'll have to disagree with the gents on here, I LOVED the balance of it. There's more weight further back, not muzzle heavy. Bolt movement is of course very different as its closer to your head but still very smooth and efficient. The trigger on it is nice... the barrett is nicer though. Accuracy wise, thats a hard one I'd probably have to give it to the desert tech, Barrett makes very nice rifles that are very accurate, but everyone you talk to about the SRS will tell you that they shoot tacks all day long period.

Now the biggest thing that would be my deciding factor is customer service, both are US companies so you're going to have the same issues with both IMO, Wolverine speaks for itself and the Desert Tech dealers are the same.

Ultimately it is up to you, having owned the barrett, I'm going to get a SRS, the rifle being able to be so short yet keep the longer barrels is something I find very appealing. The host of military arms channel on youtube, uses the SRS, and he's handled just about every gun ever made. That tells me something. But still it is your choice, Rifle fit is probably the most underrated thing, be good if you could handle both.
 
Rickster66 said:
I just started getting into the PRS game and looked at the available offerings. I loved the AI and SRS rifles but was put off by the high cost of the calibre swaps and struggled to really find the performance difference between the MRAD, SRS, AI and others versus a custom build for each possible calibre that I was interested. In the end I decided to go a cheaper custom build route and picked up a Tikka action, CADEX chassis, AI mags and had a custom barrel put in. What am I missing? Why aren't most people just buying actions/barrels in the calibre they want and just swap them in and out of a chassis? Is there really a significant performance difference or is it just a different way of "playing" the game with the results being very similar in the end?
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I feel like you are missing the cost of the optics.... A custom rifle, lets say you drop 4K on it (700 for an action, 800 for a barrel, 1100 for a cadex stock, some extra odds and ends for another 500$ add some taxes), then you put on a 4-5K optic, and you are in it for just under 9K. You get a second, similar rifle, and you are doubling the cost, and you are in it for 18K for 2 similar rifles in different calibers.... with a switch caliber, a new caliber "only" sets you back 1800-2500, but saves you the cost of the optics. So for 1 rig, it is NOT cost effective, but once you hit 3 it is absolutely cheaper to get a system you can switch calibers out, and maintain the same optic.
 
I just shot all three not too long ago. 338 MRAD, 308DT and 308AI

I personally was not a fan of the DT. Its neat, but I am more comfortable and confident shooting with a traditional system. The AI was gem to shoot. The MRAD though, wow, that thing instantly made it on my "I need this" list. I was only able to shoot it at 800 but it was very easy to group very tight. Hard to quantify a lot of this though. Most of it was "Feeling" though as I can group all of them very well.
 
mareshow said:
Hmmmm,

Interesting, love reading the perspective of others on these very expensive pieces of kit. I have not shot or seen an AI before so excuse my ignorance. I did own a 97B, and a friend of mine owns a srs (yet to shoot it though only handle and dry fire). They both definitely are unique from each other. I liked the barrett but it is a very big gun, and very well made the fit and finish is amazing. The take down of this rifle is probably my favorite take down of any rifle. Its basically a gigantic AR when it comes to take down. So if you like AR take downs you'll like the barrett, its simple and efficient. The trigger on it is exceptionally crisp too.

From handling the SRS i'll have to disagree with the gents on here, I LOVED the balance of it. There's more weight further back, not muzzle heavy. Bolt movement is of course very different as its closer to your head but still very smooth and efficient. The trigger on it is nice... the barrett is nicer though. Accuracy wise, thats a hard one I'd probably have to give it to the desert tech, Barrett makes very nice rifles that are very accurate, but everyone you talk to about the SRS will tell you that they shoot tacks all day long period.

Now the biggest thing that would be my deciding factor is customer service, both are US companies so you're going to have the same issues with both IMO, Wolverine speaks for itself and the Desert Tech dealers are the same.

Ultimately it is up to you, having owned the barrett, I'm going to get a SRS, the rifle being able to be so short yet keep the longer barrels is something I find very appealing. The host of military arms channel on youtube, uses the SRS, and he's handled just about every gun ever made. That tells me something. But still it is your choice, Rifle fit is probably the most underrated thing, be good if you could handle both.
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DT distributor is a real piece of work, talks all big but no action. I'm still waiting for mags that were promised to be be a week away in September, Zero replies to emails since then.

The balance is great off hand, put It on a barricade and watch it teetertotter.
 
JoKa said:
I just shot all three not too long ago. 338 MRAD, 308DT and 308AI

I personally was not a fan of the DT. Its neat, but I am more comfortable and confident shooting with a traditional system. The AI was gem to shoot. The MRAD though, wow, that thing instantly made it on my "I need this" list. I was only able to shoot it at 800 but it was very easy to group very tight. Hard to quantify a lot of this though. Most of it was "Feeling" though as I can group all of them very well.
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The beauty is they sell for dirt cheap on the EE...

Buy... buy... buy... buy...

(I took the day off to go shooting. Stoked! Leaving soon.)
 
bsand said:
DT distributor is a real piece of work, talks all big but no action. I'm still waiting for mags that were promised to be be a week away in September, Zero replies to emails since then.

The balance is great off hand, put It on a barricade and watch it teetertotter.
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yeah that sucks... Dunno though knowing that would still be hard to pull me away from wanting one lol
 
If you don't run your rifle in PRS, then the weight distribution of the DTA is not an issue. I have really grown to love the way the DTA feels and am not bothered by it's rougher edges. I do wish the mags were easier to load and the gun does feel like it could definitely be more refined, better machined and upgraded at the factory level though. It is huge fun to shoot though and the bullpup is very addictive once you get used to it.
That said, the AI really does feel like the pinnacle of what a standard rifle configuration can be. It literally has no weak points that I can think of?
 
Soooooooo......


Came across this thread. Kind of good timing I suppose. Have a kit coming in the next few days here, kind of seems like it will fit the bill for exactly what you are after. This is an AX MC .300WM with a complete .308 Conversion.
The gentleman who is consigning this through us has already sent it on its way. Never fired, never loaded. Cant beat it $9,995.00 plus shipping and tax and she is yours. Give me a holler if you want her. sales@wolverinesupllies.com

• Accuracy International AXMC
• .300 Win. Mag. Barrel, Dust Cover and Bolt
• .308 Win. Barrel, Bolt and Short Action Magazine Insert
• 2 300 Win. Magazines
• 2 .308 Win Magazines
• Extra Stock Spacers
• 3 Picatinny Rails for AI Mount System
• Spuhr Scope Mount 30 Degree with Spirit Level 34mm

Never fired/mags never loaded and entire kit handled very gently – it truly is “As New”.

 
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