DTA SRS A1/Barrett MRAD Oshawa Skeet or Silverdale

JNA

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
245   0   0
Hey Guys,

I was wondering if anyone who shoots either a DTA SRSA1 or Barett MRAD shoots at Oshawa Skeet and Gun Club or Silverdale as I was interested in purchasing one of these systems and wanted to try them out.

Hopefully they would be willing to let me shoot a couple of rounds and I would be willing to buy them a box of ammo or some beers.

Also any input on either of these systems would be greatly appreciated.
 
I’ve got a Barrett M98B, and you’re welcome to put some 308 rounds through it.... this baby is stupid accurate, which means way more accurate than I can hold it....

And the Barrett Mrad Wolverine lent me for a few seasons was also stupid accurate! They are both dedicated Precision rigs, not the usual tweaked (grandads hunting rig) Remmy M700. Before anybody gets mad at me , I have THREE of my own Remmy 700s. :evil:

Cheers, Barney :wave:
 
I've shot a friend's MRAD and didn't think it was very impressive. Accuracy is good - it's an honest 1/2 MOA rifle. Trigger is decent. Barrett has been really slow to release caliber conversions - they haven't done a good job supporting their system, part of the reason why it has a very small fan base. Quite honestly, the MRAD is a big "meh" for me. Doesn't really excel at anything in particular.

Although I've handled and dry fired a DTA SRS, I've never fired one. Trigger is decent by bullpup standards, but doesn't compare to a great bolt action trigger. The magazines suck and aren't the most reliable. Ergonomics are different, being a bullpup. Some love it, most hate it. If you value compactness and the ergonomics work for you, this is a neat rifle. If you don't need such a compact system, you may very well be served better by something else.

If you are lusting after these rifles because they are factory rifles that have caliber conversions, I would look at AI rifles. Better rifles than the Barrett's or the DTA's. I'm personally a big advocate for custom rifles. You can build a rifle to whatever spec you want. A factory rifle is like an "off the rack" suit - fits most kind of okay if you get the right size, but rarely will it fit you very well. A custom rifle is like a tailor made suit - fits perfectly on your body and is designed specifically for you. However, this requires that you know what you want - an important caveat.

If it was me and my money, I would talk to Insite Arms and have them build a rifle to my specific specs.

Is there a specific reason why you chose those two rifles?
 
Last edited:
I’ll give you my 2 cents impression, as I have owned or own all of these rifles.
Started with the MRAD. Good gun, decent trigger, built like a rock, and good factory barrel accuracy. Barrel and bolt swaps were the weakest of the 3 mentioned but still just a few minutes total for short to long action conversions. Very poor availability of any aftermarket barrels, I don’t know of any actually. Easily 1/2 or less MOA with handloads in all 3 caliber I owned, 6.5 Creedmoor/308/338 Lapua.
Desert Tech SRS, average single stage trigger, very comfy, and easily the best barrel and bolt swap system. Under 90 seconds to go from short action to long action. Best repeatability in barrel poi. Very rarely more then 1/4 moa difference. Tons of aftermarket barrels and calibers. I have the standard, magnum and long action bolts and you can order any caliber under the sun, as long as it fits the bolt heads. Insite Arms has made me more then 10 barrels for mine and have used Kriegers/Bartliens/Benchmark barrels in my SRS and it hammers with everything. Just quick hand load work up and that chassis is just a rock. The biggest factor in accuracy between this chassis and any other, to me, comes down to your gunsmith and their magic. Can’t beat Insite in my opinion. Harley is gold in over 15 barrels so far. Ask anybody who gets one of his barrels. The mag system is not smooth but does work ok, and the mags Do have huge coal for long handloaded stuff. It’s a unique piece and fit, but I absolutely love it!
I also own an AI AT, with 2, and soon to be 3, Insite barrels. Best factory precision sniper rifle on the planet in a standard configuration, inmo. Stock trigger can be tuned quite good, and aftermarket triggers now coming available. Great barrel swap system too, but you are confined to just one bolt head size. So no long and short action swapping. Great factory and aftermarket mags. Super accurate, same as the SRS, but better trigger. Tons of aftermarket barrel options. Insite makes profits for these too.
I also own a full custom MPA chassis build from Insite, with a short action Surgeon 591 action and 4 barrels. Harley made it a switch barrel system as well. Run Bix n Andy Comp trigger, and it is the best trigger of all my rigs. With a custom you don’t save any money over the high end factory stuff, but you get exactly what you want.
All the barrels cost the same.
I sold my Berrett because they only make right handed rifles, and I’m a leftie, but it would still be my last choice between these. Great rifle though and not dissing it. Least flexible system and caliber options. Mags were smooth as glass though.
The other 3 systems are all tied, lol, like them all equally. Honestly can’t go wrong with any of them. All will shoot tiny groups with good ammo and good barrels.
The AI and SRS are heavier chassis systems though, if that’s a consideration.
 
I’ve got a Barrett M98B, and you’re welcome to put some 308 rounds through it.... this baby is stupid accurate, which means way more accurate than I can hold it....

And the Barrett Mrad Wolverine lent me for a few seasons was also stupid accurate! They are both dedicated Precision rigs, not the usual tweaked (grandads hunting rig) Remmy M700. Before anybody gets mad at me , I have THREE of my own Remmy 700s. :evil:

Cheers, Barney :wave:

Thanks for the offer Barney. I will most likely take you up on it when i attend a PR course/match next year or if your at either of those ranges any time soon.
 
I've shot a friend's MRAD and didn't think it was very impressive. Accuracy is good - it's an honest 1/2 MOA rifle. Trigger is decent. Barrett has been really slow to release caliber conversions - they haven't done a good job supporting their system, part of the reason why it has a very small fan base. Quite honestly, the MRAD is a big "meh" for me. Doesn't really excel at anything in particular.

Although I've handled and dry fired a DTA SRS, I've never fired one. Trigger is decent by bullpup standards, but doesn't compare to a great bolt action trigger. The magazines suck and aren't the most reliable. Ergonomics are different, being a bullpup. Some love it, most hate it. If you value compactness and the ergonomics work for you, this is a neat rifle. If you don't need such a compact system, you may very well be served better by something else.

If you are lusting after these rifles because they are factory rifles that have caliber conversions, I would look at AI rifles. Better rifles than the Barrett's or the DTA's. I'm personally a big advocate for custom rifles. You can build a rifle to whatever spec you want. A factory rifle is like an "off the rack" suit - fits most kind of okay if you get the right size, but rarely will it fit you very well. A custom rifle is like a tailor made suit - fits perfectly on your body and is designed specifically for you. However, this requires that you know what you want - an important caveat.

If it was me and my money, I would talk to Insite Arms and have them build a rifle to my specific specs.

Is there a specific reason why you chose those two rifles?

Thanks for your insight. I have yet to try an Accuracy International, so I will add it to my list.

Not yet knowledgeable enough to go the custom route and looking more for a factory rifle with caliber change capabilities.

Chose these two rifles as I have read about them previously and currently although I love my SAKO TRG22, I may go for other calibers and would prefer to be on the one system, rather than switch between guns. And a trg 42 is about 5k even on the EE.

I was looking at getting additional magazines for the TRG and the cheapest in Canada I saw was 300 each and a new aftermarket stick would run me 1500-2000.

I tried a DTA SRS (Not A1) and liked it however the scope that was mounted was too low for my liking.
 
Thank you for your insight. So far from the comments, it seems I should take out the MRAD and try the AI or SRS if I choose not to go the custom route.
 
Thanks for the offer Barney. I will most likely take you up on it when i attend a PR course/match next year or if your at either of those ranges any time soon.
Thank you for your insight. So far from the comments, it seems I should take out the MRAD and try the AI or SRS if I choose not to go the custom route.
 
Thank you for your insight. So far from the comments, it seems I should take out the MRAD and try the AI or SRS if I choose not to go the custom route.

I think discounting the MRAD is a mistake. Mine can shoot like a laser (I just printed a 10 shot, .4 moa group at 200 yards today). It's built grunt proof, and very simple to work on (for example taking out and adjusting the trigger is something even my mother could do). The mags are superior to start and AI mags (yes I said it). Caliber conversion kits are easy to get (I have 3) if Barrett doesn't make one in the calibre you want, you need to sacrifice a barrel to get the extension (Barrett doesn't sell the extension so it requires you to cannibalize a barrel to get one).

The caliber conversion is as fast as an AI (you listen two Allen keys and slide the barrel out which is faster then an AI, but you then swap the bolt face which takes slightly longer)

The dta looks bad ass, and can shoot, but you don't see them in many prs matches. The ease of use/ergonomics just aren't there for finding comfortable shooting positions that aren't prone or on a bench.

There is a reason the ASR competition is down to the MRAD and the AI
 
I think discounting the MRAD is a mistake. Mine can shoot like a laser (I just printed a 10 shot, .4 moa group at 200 yards today). It's built grunt proof, and very simple to work on (for example taking out and adjusting the trigger is something even my mother could do). The mags are superior to start and AI mags (yes I said it). Caliber conversion kits are easy to get (I have 3) if Barrett doesn't make one in the calibre you want, you need to sacrifice a barrel to get the extension (Barrett doesn't sell the extension so it requires you to cannibalize a barrel to get one).

The caliber conversion is as fast as an AI (you listen two Allen keys and slide the barrel out which is faster then an AI, but you then swap the bolt face which takes slightly longer)

The dta looks bad ass, and can shoot, but you don't see them in many prs matches. The ease of use/ergonomics just aren't there for finding comfortable shooting positions that aren't prone or on a bench.

There is a reason the ASR competition is down to the MRAD and the AI

Although the DTA is a poor PRS rifle, I've seen more than a few at PRS matches. I've never seen a Barrett at any PRS match, and I've been to multiple national level PRS matches in the USA and a lot of sanctioned club level PRS matches.

I also wouldn't put much stock in military bids for the average consumer for many reasons.
 
I own A DT SRS A1, It is an absolutely amazing rifle.

I have been impressed by a number of precision rifles, but none that have hit the spot like my SRS.
 
I was looking at the DTA SRS for PRS use as well as reaching as far as possible with a 338 lapua.

Currently my TRG although it is a laser is handicapped by the magazines as well as the stock, which is not helping with offhand shooting.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top Bottom