Who sells or imports Desert Tech

[Brian46]

Actually the AI AXMC would be the close to the same price in canada, they go for $7600.

Also your posting comparing in USD prices, that doesn't work for us here. Try getting quotes from dealers in canada for the DT then compare them. For the AI AT I just seen one on wolverine going for $4600 a week ago.

I own a DT and know some of the retailers here are asking more (much more) than others as they are buying them at full retail to re sell. Currently there is no actual dealer in canada that stocks desert tech unless blue line has finished the deal and inventory has arrived.

It came down to PGW and DT for my choice in the end and I went with DT due to price, multi caliber and an overall lighter and shorter package that is way more portable.

 

[Brian46]

However AI rifles have a quick change barrel system.

does this allow you to swap calibers or just barrels?

 

[valtro12]

does this allow you to swap calibers or just barrels?

Yes, calibers as well provided that the action is of sufficient length. For example you can order a 308 or 300 barrel and bolt for a 338AW or AX. For the AT you can switch to 243 or 260.

 

[RobertBarrie]

Try Dlask Arms got mine over a yr back almost right at 6k current exchange rate is going to hurt you though. Its a lot more work but if i could do it again id buy just the chassis from europtic then conversion kits from short action customs and import through I Run Guns.

 

[Horse96]

I wouldn't go custom at all, I already posted my reasons for that earlier in this thread.

AI AT (in .308): Wolverine as of today, $5,199

Custom (in 300wm):
Action: $600 (rem 700, $700 minus say $100 for stock and barrel after takeoff)
Timney trigger: $200
Match Barrel: $450
AX AICS Stock: $1,495
Pic rail: $180
Corlanes Gun smith work: $675 (action truing $275, bbl install $250, tactical bolt handle $125, or if you know a good local like I do, then it's a better price)
Total: $3,600

So, for a difference of $1,600 you can buy an AI. Or build one that will shoot just as well (maybe better depending on the barrel). Unless you take a $1,600 hit on the resale, there really is no reason to go for the AI over a custom rig; unless you are deployed in extreme weather conditions. In either case, if you shoot it, you will burn through the barrel. You will always take a hit of at least $450 by shooting it. If you don't shoot that much I do not know why you would be looking into any of these guns!

Once you shoot through the AI barrel, replacing it is like a minefield. If you opt for an AI replacement barrel, you're looking at a US price of $675 through eurooptic (not including paperwork and etc to get it up here). And that's to keep it 'spec.' If you opted for a true flight barrel for eg, you've made a franken gun, and resale there will hurt you; negating any of the 'spec-ness' of the AI rifle in the first place.

Of course, if a guy went with a savage 110 hs precision in 338 for $1,500, then he'd have a lot of money left over for glass and ammo... And you could do your own barrel conversion kits (as long as the bolt faces matched) thanks to the barrel nut plus a go and no-go gauge. I think you can even swap the bolt face due to the savage design. Not as easy as the DT.

At any rate, it looks like the price to pay for a DT bullpup and 2 caliber conversions is just shy of $10,000 for a DT SRS (corlanes), and that is a lot of cheddar. I am a huge fan of portable sized rifles that fill big shoes, but not sure if I am a fan to the tune of $10g's.

 

[swissinn]

The ability to change calibres on the SRS is a HUGE selling point and is definitely the future of Sniping IMO. Having one rifle to train on and another rifle to use operationally is wasted money. But unfortunately I don't believe that the SRS is employed by a single military on the planet. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong! I want to know why it hasn't been chosen.

 

[Horse96]

The ability to change calibres on the SRS is a HUGE selling point and is definitely the future of Sniping IMO. Having one rifle to train on and another rifle to use operationally is wasted money. But unfortunately I don't believe that the SRS is employed by a single military on the planet. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong! I want to know why it hasn't been chosen.

I think another huge selling point is that you do not need to bed the action; there isn't one! There is just the stock, the barrel and the bolt. One less thing to go wrong. Keeping It Stupid Simple!

 

[RobertBarrie]

Remington beat the SRS in its highest profile bid to date (the PSR comp). But then and again I have a hard time believing Remington can make something better than AI or Sako who also entered. You'd have to be directly involved in that decision/testing to know why the desert tech wasn't chosen. Its also not like major NATO players go looking to completely change their SWS on a weekly basis. Time will tell if anyone picks it up.

 

[Brian46]

Unless you take a $1,600 hit on the resale, there really is no reason to go for the AI over a custom rig; unless you are deployed in extreme weather conditions. In either case, if you shoot it, you will burn through the barrel. You will always take a hit of at least $450 by shooting it. If you don't shoot that much I do not know why you would be looking into any of these guns!

First of all I would not buy the AI. My experience with custom rifles are that they sell for about half of what you spent on a good day so suggesting one is good vale is not something I can do unless you are buying used, although I will never consider that either unless I know the full history of the gun and owner since new.

At any rate, it looks like the price to pay for a DT bullpup and 2 caliber conversions is just shy of $10,000 for a DT SRS (corlanes), and that is a lot of cheddar. I am a huge fan of portable sized rifles that fill big shoes, but not sure if I am a fan to the tune of $10g's.

They are not a dealer according to DT so they must be buying at retail and marking it up after converting our dollars. The srs in USD is cheaper than an AI AT so if everything is equal once there is an actual dealer in Canada for DT with inventory, the prices should come back to reality

 

[valtro12]

So, for a difference of $1,600 you can buy an AI.

Exactly!

Once you shoot through the AI barrel, replacing it is like a minefield.

I have to disagree with you on this. Wolverine is great to deal with and they can order barrels directly from AI England. Then, of course, swapping the barrel only takes about 1 minute which is a key feature of the some the best rifles like AI and of course DTA, MRAD's...they are user serviceable.

 

[Horse96]

Remington beat the SRS in its highest profile bid to date (the PSR comp). But then and again I have a hard time believing Remington can make something better than AI or Sako who also entered. You'd have to be directly involved in that decision/testing to know why the desert tech wasn't chosen. Its also not like major NATO players go looking to completely change their SWS on a weekly basis. Time will tell if anyone picks it up.

I find it hilarious that remington is using a savage like system (floating bolt head and barrel nut) in the msr (modular sniper rifle). Guns snobs everywhere that have a hate on for savage should have to publicly put their foot in their mouth! Of course remington made it easier than savage does, but regardless, they still ripped off the idea!

 

[Horse96]

Exactly!

I have to disagree with you on this. Wolverine is great to deal with and they can order barrels directly from AI England. Then, of course, swapping the barrel only takes about 1 minute which is a key feature of the some the best rifles like AI and of course DTA, MRAD's...they are user serviceable.

Touche' What do their replacement barrels cost? But I guess what sucks is that you are stuck with the same bolt face. Being able to go from a .308 bolt face to a 300wm or 338 lm bolt face and barrel would excellent. And I am guessing that the AI AT is only a short action?

 

[valtro12]

Touche' What do their replacement barrels cost? But I guess what sucks is that you are stuck with the same bolt face. Being able to go from a .308 bolt face to a 300wm or 338 lm bolt face and barrel would excellent. And I am guessing that the AI AT is only a short action?

IIRC a 308 AI barrel is about $1100 but don't quote me on that. The AT is a short action. If you want to run 338, 300 & 308 you need to go to a 338AX

 

[swissinn]

And Remington is asking 20k for their POS modular system. That right there is a friggin joke!

 

[swissinn]

Remington beat the SRS in its highest profile bid to date (the PSR comp). But then and again I have a hard time believing Remington can make something better than AI or Sako who also entered. You'd have to be directly involved in that decision/testing to know why the desert tech wasn't chosen. Its also not like major NATO players go looking to completely change their SWS on a weekly basis. Time will tell if anyone picks it up.

Ahhhh but that's where you are wrong my friend. SOF forces around the world change equipment non stop in search for the best gear possible. Something bought last week can be replaced this week for some units. And I can all but guarantee that SOF has tried the SRS out. Who knows what they think of it though.

 

[Horse96]

I still think if you want a the compactness of a bullpup and be able to switch calibers in a hurry, the DT SRS is the best bang for the buck. If you are not in a hurry, ie, you want to practice with a lighter 308 one week and move up to a harder hitter the next week, savage is the best bang for the buck. And you are not using proprietary barrels. Feel free to support Canadians and go with true flight and or whatever else you like. As long as you buy a long action version, like the 110 that is.

I think next time I chat with a gunsmith that knows rifles, I am going to ask if he thinks he could make a barrel indexing notch like the DT and other switch barrel rifles. If he could notch the barrel and action and make it work, then no need for a go and no-go gauge. Just pop the barrel nut off, swap the bolt face of a savage bolt, and off to the races. I wouldn't be concerned about mags, because if I am just practicing with a 308, bombing then in single style is no problem.

 

[J996]

I agree with you. There is no advantage or reason to buy an ai over a custom rig. I'd rather get a good action and hang a heavy barrel off it, even with an ai stock. The only thing ai does is have some fluting so their bolts won't freeze up in extreme cold.

Umm...no.
There are features that an AI offers that no other action has.

- They use a breaching ring inside the receiver. It is a hardened cylinder which houses the locking lug recesses for the bolt. This is why you can disassemble several AI rifles, mix up the parts, reassemble and they will all headspace. There are AI receivers from the 90's out there that have hundreds of thousands of rounds through them. The armourers just change out the ring and bolt head and they go on indefinitely.

- They use four action screws, everyone else has two.

- The receiver is bonded to the chassis for life. No bedding, it is never coming off.

In addition to those unique features you can change your own barrels/calibers and you get true double stack mags.

No custom offers these features and instead of some cobbled together parts you get an action and system that's been put through the wringer in military service since 1988. Oh and yes the back of the bolt has flutes.

 

[swissinn]

Go and No go gauges are cheap! I'd stay with that route.

I still think if you want a the compactness of a bullpup and be able to switch calibers in a hurry, the DT SRS is the best bang for the buck. If you are not in a hurry, ie, you want to practice with a lighter 308 one week and move up to a harder hitter the next week, savage is the best bang for the buck. And you are not using proprietary barrels. Feel free to support Canadians and go with true flight and or whatever else you like. As long as you buy a long action version, like the 110 that is.

I think next time I chat with a gunsmith that knows rifles, I am going to ask if he thinks he could make a barrel indexing notch like the DT and other switch barrel rifles. If he could notch the barrel and action and make it work, then no need for a go and no-go gauge. Just pop the barrel nut off, swap the bolt face of a savage bolt, and off to the races. I wouldn't be concerned about mags, because if I am just practicing with a 308, bombing then in single style is no problem.

 

[Horse96]

Umm...no.
There are features that an AI offers that no other action has.

- They use a breaching ring inside the receiver. It is a hardened cylinder which houses the locking lug recesses for the bolt. This is why you can disassemble several AI rifles, mix up the parts, reassemble and they will all headspace. There are AI receivers from the 90's out there that have hundreds of thousands of rounds through them. The armourers just change out the ring and bolt head and they go on indefinitely.

- They use four action screws, everyone else has two.

- The receiver is bonded to the chassis for life. No bedding, it is never coming off.

In addition to those unique features you can change your own barrels/calibers and you get true double stack mags.

No custom offers these features and instead of some cobbled together parts you get an action and system that's been put through the wringer in military service since 1988. Oh and yes the back of the bolt has flutes.

Thanks for the info! I stand corrected. They are very nice rifles. I'm just a civilian and so those things are really great for military's, and a great expense of my tax dollars, just not so great for my bank account.

 

[J996]

Thanks for the info! I stand corrected. They are very nice rifles. I'm just a civilian and so those things are really great for military's, and a great expense of my tax dollars, just not so great for my bank account.

No worries mate