Quick points about the MDR:
1) The rifle is not expected to be available until mid 2015.
2) Price estimation: 5.56 version ~ $2200 USD, 308 version ~ 2500 USD
3) The model display are prototypes, the lower is 3D printed and not the final production model at all
4) 5 Calibers envisioned to be offered: 7.62X39, 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO, 300 BLK, 6.8 SPC
6) Gas System: Short Stroke, with single recoil spring wrapped around recoil rod, stoner style multi-lug bolt lock up
7) Barrel attached to the upper receiver by 4 bolts
8) Used standard AR15 and SR25 patterned magazines. IWI X95 like magazine release in front of trigger.
9) Fire control parts are NOT AR15, they are Desert Tech proprietary
10) Forward extraction is achieved by a leveler in the receiver that pushes the spent casing into a channel on the ejection port cover. The channel directs the casing to a forward ejection path.
11) Polymer lower, aluminum extrusion tube upper.
My quick impression: The basic ergonomic is sound. However, the raised boundary above the pistol grip does not allow a high tang grip that can go as high as that with an AR. I also wonder if the juice is worth the squeeze for adding the forward pushing complexity to the system, but at least the feature can be disabled by simply opening the ejection port cover during IA. It is a bit too early to say how the final production will turn out . I do not see any major deficiencies with the way it is going. Based on the prototype on display, the project is about at the same stage where Magpul had achieved with the Masada some years ago. There will be some redesigns to make it manufacture-able. I think realistically, this will be available on the shelf in 2016 if it is actually put into production. I expect to see another design iteration in 2015 SHOT.
1) The rifle is not expected to be available until mid 2015.
2) Price estimation: 5.56 version ~ $2200 USD, 308 version ~ 2500 USD
3) The model display are prototypes, the lower is 3D printed and not the final production model at all
4) 5 Calibers envisioned to be offered: 7.62X39, 5.56 NATO, 7.62 NATO, 300 BLK, 6.8 SPC
6) Gas System: Short Stroke, with single recoil spring wrapped around recoil rod, stoner style multi-lug bolt lock up
7) Barrel attached to the upper receiver by 4 bolts
8) Used standard AR15 and SR25 patterned magazines. IWI X95 like magazine release in front of trigger.
9) Fire control parts are NOT AR15, they are Desert Tech proprietary
10) Forward extraction is achieved by a leveler in the receiver that pushes the spent casing into a channel on the ejection port cover. The channel directs the casing to a forward ejection path.
11) Polymer lower, aluminum extrusion tube upper.
My quick impression: The basic ergonomic is sound. However, the raised boundary above the pistol grip does not allow a high tang grip that can go as high as that with an AR. I also wonder if the juice is worth the squeeze for adding the forward pushing complexity to the system, but at least the feature can be disabled by simply opening the ejection port cover during IA. It is a bit too early to say how the final production will turn out . I do not see any major deficiencies with the way it is going. Based on the prototype on display, the project is about at the same stage where Magpul had achieved with the Masada some years ago. There will be some redesigns to make it manufacture-able. I think realistically, this will be available on the shelf in 2016 if it is actually put into production. I expect to see another design iteration in 2015 SHOT.
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