Barrett MRAD or Desert Tech SRS-A1

cndgunguy

cndgunguy

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Hi all,

Looking to pick an accurate long range rifle that has a caliber conversion kit available for it in .308 win and .338 Lapua Mag.

So far the 2 front runners are the Barrett MRAD or the Desert Tech SRS-A1.

I haven't been able to shoot either of them so I am looking for some input.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
There are current owners of both on here. You'll get good answers very quickly, and I look forward to reading them. Right now and SRS is on my radar.

I'll be going with a zippy 6.5 and a .338 rather than a .308, but if that's what you want, that's what you want.

I just got pricing from Epps today. PM me if you want the email.

-J.
 
At the recent Sniper Concentration at Gagetown, all the manufacturers were there with their products, including Desert Tech, AI, and Barrett. The only manufacturer that permitted their barrel to be removed, and reattached, was Desert Tech. All the other manufacturers refused.

The Desert Tech .338 shot a 1/2 MOA group at 1250 yards, followed by a 1/4 MOA group after the barrel was removed, and replaced.

Regards.

Mark
 
Wow...that says a lot...... firms up my choice even more.

Epps tells me 6.5x47 isn't available in Canada as of yet....I'll be waiting on that.

-J.
 
MWL said:
At the recent Sniper Concentration at Gagetown, all the manufacturers were there with their products, including Desert Tech, AI, and Barrett. The only manufacturer that permitted their barrel to be removed, and reattached, was Desert Tech. All the other manufacturers refused.

The Desert Tech .338 shot a 1/2 MOA group at 1250 yards, followed by a 1/4 MOA group after the barrel was removed, and replaced.

Regards.

Mark
Click to expand...

That's very interesting.

Thanks Mark

I've been leaning to the DT. Seems there is less availability in Canada than the Barrett but worth searching it out I think.
 
The compact size and light weight make the desert tech very inviting over other brands. The quality is second to none, which is obvious by a company that allows barrele to be swapped at shooting demonstration unlike other brands with switch caliber rifles
 
I am also very intrigued by the Desert Tech stuff, but from the rumours of pricing I've heard on them, (in the 8500$ range?- hope that's wrong), I think it's out of my price range for another gun that is in same calibers as the rifles already in my safe. Plus I have an order in on the new Ruger Precision Rifle for 1/5 the price, so will wait and see how it shoots before buying another big dollar gun.
I can tell you though that my Barrett is easy and quick to caliber swap between .308 and .338, and that at ranges between 600-1000 yards, there isn't really we much difference at all in poi between the calibers. In fact, I wouldn't say it's anymore then when I switch Ammo of the same caliber between different hand loads or switching to factory Ammo from hand loads. To me, as long as the impacts are still close and all you need to do is a little tweaking of the scope, that's all you could ever expect when I do a complete barrel switch.
Is it really all that important that it will still print the same tiny groups after you barrel switch, or you have to tweak poi a little? Not to me anyways. By far, my main concern is accuracy of each barrel and each caliber overall.
If it is also true that the cost for the Desert Tech stuff is 8500$ish for the gun and one caliber, (can anyone chime in on an actual quoted price for the Desert Tech?), then that is what my Barrett cost for the gun and all 3 calibers, (.308/.6.5 Creedmoor/.338). That spare cash you save on the Barrett certainly pays for a really nice high end scope, compared to the Desert Tech.
My Accuracy International AT, in .308, was about the same price as the Barrett initially, in that 5500$ range, but my 6.5 Creemoor barrel was even cheaper then the Barrett, around 1000$ imported thru Prophet River. Unfortunately the AI ATs can't be swapped between the short action-long action calibers, so no .338 for the AI, but for the cost of the Desert Tech, you could buy the AI, and another .338 and still be talking the same money.
Truly no wrong answer here though, and I would absolutely love to have a Desert Tech as well, but will be an investment that I will have to wait another year or two to swallow.
 
We just sold the MRAD we had in stock for $6299. The conversion kits are approximately $2000 (we haven't had the opportunity to order one in for a customer yet). The customer has been very happy with it and is shooting groups out past 800 meters right off the hop (he picked up a Steiner T5Xi on it).
 
All good rifles with a few different features depending on what you like.

Magazines: Mrad and AX are dual stack 10 round (.338). DTA is single stack 5 round (.338)

Safety that blocks firing pin: AX

Adjustable cheekpiece: Mrad, AX

Most compact: DTA

LOP adjustments: Mrad and AX quick adjust. DTA removable spacers.


PSR_Contenders.jpg
 
I had this same choice to make myself, I choose the DTA SRS A1. .338lm and .308. barrels.
Best choice i have made in a rifle ever worth the extrz money.

Had a chat with Russ at DTA and was put in contact with Chris who is their Canadian Rep. looks like Reliable will be their Dealer and is who brought mine in.
 
J996 said:
All good rifles with a few different features depending on what you like.

Magazines: Mrad and AX are dual stack 10 round (.338). DTA is single stack 5 round (.338)

Safety that blocks firing pin: AX

Adjustable cheekpiece: Mrad, AX

Most compact: DTA

LOP adjustments: Mrad and AX quick adjust. DTA removable spacers.


PSR_Contenders.jpg
Click to expand...

Thanks. I hadn't thought of the AI.
BTW the DTA Gen 2 does have a Adjustable cheekpiece. 0.43" of adjustment. Not much but it's also much flatter from the stock to the rail.
 
Got to try one of the Desert Techs at the CSAAA show a while back. The trigger in the Desert Tech is really nice, and the quick change barrel system is well thought out and gives a very repeatable zero. They're a blast to shoot, I wish I could have taken the .338 Lapua I got to try out past 300m, but that was the maximum distance the range had.
 
I was intrigued by and was seriously considering a Desert Tech a few years ago. Until I was talking to someone, and they mentioned that they odds of a catastrophic failure are extremely slim, but if, in the rare occasion that one does happen, with a bullpup, it happens right below your right eye.

No matter how slim the odds, that was enough to make me think twice.
 
Hoag said:
I was intrigued by and was seriously considering a Desert Tech a few years ago. Until I was talking to someone, and they mentioned that they odds of a catastrophic failure are extremely slim, but if, in the rare occasion that one does happen, with a bullpup, it happens right below your right eye.

No matter how slim the odds, that was enough to make me think twice.
Click to expand...

Better never drive a car again. Might get hurt.
 
Hoag said:
I was intrigued by and was seriously considering a Desert Tech a few years ago. Until I was talking to someone, and they mentioned that they odds of a catastrophic failure are extremely slim, but if, in the rare occasion that one does happen, with a bullpup, it happens right below your right eye.

No matter how slim the odds, that was enough to make me think twice.
Click to expand...

If there's a catastrophic failure, I'd rather have it right at my head and finish me off rather than leave me with half a face, and brain.....

I'm guessing that you were talking to someone one the MRAD or AI sales team?? (but not the 95 or 99 sales team.....)

-J.
 
All of these rifles have strong actions with a lot of steel around the cartridge. They are also designed to vent gas into the bolt and down through the mag, blowing the mag out during catastrophic failure. If concerned I would email the company and ask them how the action works during a kaboom. IMHO, nothing to worry about.
 
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