Desert Tech Owners

KePet said:
I’m an old guy. I’ve shot a few rifles over the years. I’m no benchrest or F class shooter, but I’ve put a few rounds downrange over the years. With a Desert Tech in .308 I have been able to put 5 rounds into a target at 100 meters that you can cover with a nickle. Almost a dime, but not there yet. People can discuss the trigger, lack of aftermarket options, and whether it’s as good as the aftermarket options all day, and not come to an agreement. It doesn’t matter, because any rifle that lets me shoot groups that small is good enough for me.

I will agree that it doesn’t feel quite right when you first start shooting it - the bolt is a long way back from where I’m used to. But it doesn’t take too long before it becomes natural. The only real downside that I’ve run into is that she’s a heavy pig to carry in the field. Definitely not a mountain rifle. But that’s not what it way made for. And to be fair, it doesn’t weigh any more than comparable rifles in standard configuration.
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The A2 version is over 2lbs lighter than the A1, accuracy is also better now
 
I have a Desert Tech and I also absolutely love it. It is as accurate as any of my other high end rifles, but is Unique in form and feel and you need to use one, if you can, to be sure you like it.
My observations between it and my AI rifle and custom bolt guns are: trigger in my SRS is definitely not up to Triggertech Diamond or BixnAndy Comp triggers, or even the aftermarket trigger in my Accuracy International, but it is very usable and can be adjusted to work nicely as a target rifle.
The SRS also has the best barrel swap system of any rifle on the market, and can go from 6BR to shooting 338 Lapua in 2 mins, at the range. Plus very repeatable zeros with barrel swaps. Also nice to have one rifle/scope, and just buy barrels/bolts, and use any caliber you’d like all on the same gun.
Mine has seen well over 20000 rounds, and 8-10 different barrels, and is still going strong.
They are a very accurate system, and no less accurate then my AI or Insite built custom rigs. The new one is supposed to be even more accurate, but I think that’s a little bit of marketing hype, and the barrel is what truly makes or breaks the accuracy potential.
My SRS is a leftie, so I will have to wait another year or more before we see new leftie versions, but I see no reason to upgrade. If you can find a good deal or a good used one on the EE, grab it and save some cash.
I have had Insite Arms spin me up at least 8-9 barrels for mine, so no shortage or good Canadian smiths to get barrels from too.
These rifles are pricey, maybe same as a good custom build, but no regrets from me and the bull pup design is fantastic, if it suits you?
It is heavy, but not way more then my AI AT, with similar barrels on them.
 
Brian46 said:
The A2 version is over 2lbs lighter than the A1, accuracy is also better now
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The 2 pounds would be nice, but the cost of a new one for that 2 pounds isn’t in my future. As for the accuracy - its already more accurate than I am so that’s kind of a moot point. Doesn’t matter how accurate the gun is, it’s the shooter behind it.
 
Some places in the south were having fire sales on the A1 when the A2 came out. Definitely were some good deals to be had, and hopefully still some out there for people looking to pick up a DTA for a deal.

Glad they got rid of the monopod, that pretty much useless anyways.
 
kthomas said:
Some places in the south were having fire sales on the A1 when the A2 came out. Definitely were some good deals to be had, and hopefully still some out there for people looking to pick up a DTA for a deal.

Glad they got rid of the monopod, that pretty much useless anyways.
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They didn't get rid of it, you can purchase it separately for the A2
 
Epoxy7 said:
I just went through this and very recently bought an A1 covert. From the research I did, the weight and cost savings consist of not including the $500 monopod and the extra fluting on the barrel/extension. Another thing to keep in mind, if you find a really good deal on an A1 Covert is that it will be lighter due to the shorter handguard, and you can use A2 barrels. Take off the monopod and you are pretty much at the same weight as the A2.

The A2 trigger also isn't as adjustable as the A1 from my reading. Some of the benefits of the A2 seems to be lower cost of manufacturing by deleting the monopod and making the trigger less complicated/adjustable. In my case I bought my A1 in 308 and will likely be buying an A2 barrle/bolt etc in 338LM. A1.5 ?

Just a thought as there have been some decent deals with the older A1. Just make sure it's an A1 like the Coverts all are. There are older ones out there that might not work with the new stuff.
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I would assume the covert A2 is still over 2 pounds lighter that the A1 covert. I am actually doing the opposite, A2 chassis with A1 barrel but A2 muzzle brake which is more efficient
 
Brian46 said:
They didn't get rid of it, you can purchase it separately for the A2
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*Correction - a completely unnecessary piece of equipment is no longer supplied with the rifle.

Won't be a loss for anyone except those hunkered down in observational positions for hours on end, and those people/units have the ability to purchase them if they feel the need. I think it's a good move on their part.
 
I'm watching this thread like a hawk. The A1 Covert was tempting me for years; the lighter/more accurate A2 is almost irresistible. But...I need to handle one first.

I've fallen in love with just about every bullpup semiauto I have handled or owned...and I much prefer bolts to semis. Do any of you Desert Tech owners have negative feelings about cycling the action of a bolt bullpup? Looks like it could be awkward.
 
jjohnwm said:
I'm watching this thread like a hawk. The A1 Covert was tempting me for years; the lighter/more accurate A2 is almost irresistible. But...I need to handle one first.

I've fallen in love with just about every bullpup semiauto I have handled or owned...and I much prefer bolts to semis. Do any of you Desert Tech owners have negative feelings about cycling the action of a bolt bullpup? Looks like it could be awkward.
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I find it very comfortable. Even better than traditional in my books.
 
jjohnwm said:
I'm watching this thread like a hawk. The A1 Covert was tempting me for years; the lighter/more accurate A2 is almost irresistible. But...I need to handle one first.

I've fallen in love with just about every bullpup semiauto I have handled or owned...and I much prefer bolts to semis. Do any of you Desert Tech owners have negative feelings about cycling the action of a bolt bullpup? Looks like it could be awkward.
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Its like an AR, guys who have them for years can't get use to a g36, Swiss arms, etc

I had g36, Sig, Swiss, etc all before an AR so I find them awkward because I am not use to them.

Expect something similar if you have no experience with a bulpup and don't like adapting to change
 
My SRS has seen many thousands of rounds and the bolt cycles very easy, but is just different then a standard design bolt action, so no worries there. Just takes a bit of a different wrist flick and finger lift motion to learn is all.
The mags are a love/hate thing for sure. They are single stack, but load easy and the 10-round 308 mag I have has an incredibly long coal, and can load crazy long rounds you’d never get in standard mags, if that is of benefit to you? I’m a hand loader and that 308 mag will reliably feed everything from 6BR to 6.5 Saum. No 10-round long action mags though I don’t think? I have 5 and also 6 round long action mags.
They are pricey but not that much more then the factory AI mags I don’t think, and 50-60$ difference is not a consideration if you have 9-12k in a rifle/scope/spare barrels build.
 
Well, after years of buying ammo, dies and components for rifles that I didn't even own...yet...I took the next logical/illogical step and bought a barrel for a rifle I don't own...yet. A Desert Tech 22-inch .308 barrel/bolt/mag sit staring reproachfully at me as I type this; if I squint I can almost hear them saying "So...where's the chassis, a-hole?"

Still haven't handled an actual complete rifle yet, but I love bullpups, and I love bolt guns, so what can possibly go wrong?
 
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