Desert Tech A1 vs A2

I think they were released at SHOT, as the A1’s started clearance around that time. I don’t know many people would have hands-on experience yet.

If you post in the DT thread at the top of this Rifles forum, I know a couple of DT employees frequent the thread, and they may be able to help.

I’m also very interested in the A2...

I have both. I like the A2 primarily for the ability to switch handguards easily. Having said that, the trigger is very nice - it is on par with my A1 trigger that I did the Orkan mod to reduce creep on. It is also noticeably lighter, although I will be adding the monopod so some of that weight will come back.

Can't really go wrong either way.

SuperPollito said:

I have both. I like the A2 primarily for the ability to switch handguards easily. Having said that, the trigger is very nice - it is on par with my A1 trigger that I did the Orkan mod to reduce creep on. It is also noticeably lighter, although I will be adding the monopod so some of that weight will come back.

Can't really go wrong either way.

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Details on the Orkan trigger mod? A quick glance at Primal Rights doesn't show anything that I could find (though I admit that I could have missed it).

I just looked and was unable to find that on his page, maybe he took it down?

Going solely from memory, you take the skins apart and remove the safety bar. Then lightly file the middle part of the safety bar until the creep is virtually eliminated. But if you overdo it, it messes up the safety. I realize this is worthless without pics but hopefully if you take your skins apart and visually inspect how the safety bar and trigger interact, you can picture what I am trying to say.

EDIT => Guide with pictures here: https://forums.gunhive.com/topic/97/official-desert-tech-srs-hti-covert-mdr-thread/3

SuperPollito said:

I just looked and was unable to find that on his page, maybe he took it down?

Going solely from memory, you take the skins apart and remove the safety bar. Then lightly file the middle part of the safety bar until the creep is virtually eliminated. But if you overdo it, it messes up the safety. I realize this is worthless without pics but hopefully if you take your skins apart and visually inspect how the safety bar and trigger interact, you can picture what I am trying to say.

EDIT => Guide with pictures here: https://forums.gunhive.com/topic/97/official-desert-tech-srs-hti-covert-mdr-thread/3

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Thanks, I'll check it out; I really appreciate you hunting that down!!

SuperPollito said:

I have both. I like the A2 primarily for the ability to switch handguards easily. Having said that, the trigger is very nice - it is on par with my A1 trigger that I did the Orkan mod to reduce creep on. It is also noticeably lighter, although I will be adding the monopod so some of that weight will come back.

Can't really go wrong either way.

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Could you notice any difference while actually chambering a round between the A1 bolt and the A2 bolt ?

Anybody get there a2 covert yet? How r they? Smoother bolt then a1?

Andielouroo said:

Got mine. Not sure if it’s any smoother than the A1 because I never handled an A1, but I’m very happy with the A2. Trigger is excellent and bolt is plenty easy to run whether fast or slow.

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Looks great! Hows it shoot and how much does it weigh?

Awesome. Im gonna have to order one. If theres any improvement over the A1 then itll be hard to beat. The A1 is a solid piece of equipment. Most favorite rifle i have.

Andielouroo said:

Thanks. Not sure on the weight, but it’s plenty light that I’ll be hunting with it this year.

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Are we talking walking to a ground blind and sitting kind of hunting or trekking hills and adventuring miles a day kind of hunting?

Houseminers said:

Also curious if it is compatible with the old trigger.

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They have stated that the triggers are not forward nor backwards compatible.

Houseminers said:

Changeable handguard would be nice for those who have both short and long barrels.
Weight savings will be nice if there is really a significant savings. I haven’t thought about pulling out my monopod and plugging the hole to save weight, but that would work.
Might be worth the swap if trigger is still good. Also curious if it is compatible with the old trigger.
This might allow for aftermarket handguards in the future, although it is not really necessary.

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Hi,

Yet another copy and paste post....

https://forums.gunhive.com/topic/2925/desert-tech-srs-a2/3

Sincerely,
Theis

Wonder if the 33 percent better accuracy is true? Seems pretty unlikely. My A1 shoots bugholes.

No adj trigger, No monopod and No Left Hand version, So no Bueno for me.
It's lighter and has M lok cut out's to store your skittles though, Genius !
SJC

Farmerbrown32 said:

Wonder if the 33 percent better accuracy is true? Seems pretty unlikely. My A1 shoots bugholes.

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Agreed... But DTA did say that they tested a barrel in the A1 and A2 chassis and that was the actual accuracy improvement, 33%. Same barrel, same ammo, different chassis. If you look at the way the A2 is made you can clearly see how the clamping forces will / should be more uniform.

I am a diehard TRG & AI guy, but this SRS A2 has really peaked my interest!! I would to be shooting an American made rifle as opposed to these damn imports.

Andielouroo said:

Can’t speak to the A1, but my A2 shoots. In fact, I like it so much I picked up a DT HTI too. It’s funny, since I picked up AI and DT stuff I have little interest in anything else.

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That is how my last 9-10 years have been with shooting AI's and TRG's I just lost interest in all the custom stuff, and I have had plenty of them. I did spend a little time behind the original SRS in both 308 & 338 and was very impressed with the accuracy, but the trigger was a turnoff for me. Now that they supposedly have a better trigger...

jbell said:

That is how my last 9-10 years have been with shooting AI's and TRG's I just lost interest in all the custom stuff, and I have had plenty of them. I did spend a little time behind the original SRS in both 308 & 338 and was very impressed with the accuracy, but the trigger was a turnoff for me. Now that they supposedly have a better trigger...

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Even on the A-1, a minor trigger mod will give you a very respectable trigger pull. Mine is about 1.5 to 2 lbs with no creep. It's not as crisp as a TRG and has a bit of over travel, but it doesn't bother me or negativity effect accuracy. I have 5 different conversations now and they all shoot great.

I have several really nice rifles. But, if I could only keep one, it would definitely be the DTA.

Picked up an a2 yesterday

Update.....first 3 rounds same hole group! I’d say this one is a laser!

Awesome! Great lookin rifle. I have the same one!

Farmerbrown32 said:

Awesome! Great lookin rifle. I have the same one!

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Looks great! As much as I love my A1, I think an A2 covert is in my future.

I own both. Accuracy claim would have to be substantiated with a microscope — both shoot extraordinarily well. I like both triggers, but they are different. The A1 trigger (unmodded) has some squish in it, but is very, very consistent. It feels like the stock AXMC trigger to me. The A2 trigger breaks like a glass rod. It’s not a TriggerTech diamond, but it’s exceptional. I’d go A2 for the weight. With a proof barrel and 7-35 ATACR, mine weighs about 14 lbs.

That A2 with the proof 338 lapua barrel and bipod is 12 pounds. Used it again today on this big guy. My 7 year old boy hiked over 7 miles in rough terrain with me.

That’s awesome

Get

ChadL said:

Looks great! As much as I love my A1, I think an A2 covert is in my future.

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Get a a2 covert brother. Best damn bolt rifle ever made.

Just got my A2 Covert in .308 with a 16.75 inch Bartlein barrel. This thing is a laser!!! Here are pics of it and my 100 yard zero!

I've shot both, and yes the trigger is very much improved on the A2!

Bison Tactical is running a cash price black Friday sale on Desert Techs. I just picked up an A2 Covert. Call Fred, he'll set you up.

Fred’s a good dude.

Planning on getting the SRS A2 - if I went with a 22" Proof CF Barrel in 6.5 Creed and a flash hider for hog and predator duty (night ops)- would the lighter weight up front cause an issue with recoil management ?

Thanks for your responses.

TP...

I would think No issue. I have that exact setup but with an area 419 brake.

TacticalPlinker said:

Planning on getting the SRS A2 - if I went with a 22" Proof CF Barrel in 6.5 Creed and a flash hider for hog and predator duty (night ops)- would the lighter weight up front cause an issue with recoil management ?

Thanks for your responses.

TP...

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You will still be shooting a +11lb 6.5 creedmoor. I think you'll manage.

Reviving this thread .... need some info from DT owners.

I'm left-eye dominant, and prefer to shoot left-handed when I can. DT has no plans to make lefty A2s. I could get a LH A1, but I like the sound of the improvements on the A2s. Resale on a RH rifle is always better, too.

Questions:
I've never handled one ... would the RH bolt knob get manipulated accidentally or be unwieldy when carrying LH patrol style (knob against belly) and scrambling over and through stuff, etc.?

How is it shooting support side on a RH A2 (how I would probably shoot it), with the bolt channel where it is on the LH shooting side of the stock?

Thanks Fellas

I think it would be awful. The knob is large and protrudes a good bit. It also doesn't really lock it into place so you will likely bump the bolt to where you will just get a click if you have to pull up and shoot quickly. The bolt channel is very large. You would 1, have lots of beard hairs grabbed, 2 have a grease streak on the side of your face, and 3 have to break cheek weld every time you cycled the bolt.

I love the DT SRS but I don't think the A2 is adaptable in the slightest to lefties. Best to just look for an A1, methinks

Unless having mlok is an absolute requirement, A1 all day.

If you'd prefer to shoot left-handed with an SRS you'll be significantly more comfortable shooting a LH A1. The A2 is a little bit lighter and you can change the handguards a lot easier than with the previous models, but the A1 is still a great platform and many consider its trigger the best of the bunch.

I'd suggest you just keep your eyes out for a used LH A1

You will not enjoy shooting any SRS from the "wrong" side. Get a lefty A1. I have one. It's the cats pajamas, meow, etc.
You'll have a harder time finding bolts and barrel extensions, but that's just part of being a lefty.

Thanks, Fellas. I really appreciate your collective wisdom. LH A1 it is. I'll start looking.

One last question .... I'll be using it chambered in .308 or 6.5CM for eastern whitetail, black bear, etc., but I might also want to put on a 300WM or .338LM barrel for hunting out west occasionally (probably Proof barrels to save a little weight). Any practical reasons to pick Covert/SRS chassis? Once again .... I've just never laid hands on either of them ....

Many thanks

I've got a Gen 1 SRS and added the Covert handguard when it came out around 2012. Because changing the handguards was a PITA, I ended up just sticking with the Covert handguard 100% of the time. It's honestly just too versatile not to use, it still long enough to use a bipod and shoot unsupported.


(old pic from 2015 - I've got twice as many barrels now).

However, recently I did a 2000 yard match and put the long handguard back on so I could run a different over-bore bipod and get a bit extra stability (the bipod location on the Covert is fine, but it's quite a bit closer to the rifle's CG than with the longer handguard). It had been many, many years since I shot with the long handguard and really liked it, so now I'm planning to get a second SRS so I can keep the Covert and the many short barrels I have on a dedicated platform.



TL;DR - the Covert handguard is the most versatile setup, but the longer handguard is good for added stability (ELR shooting) and mounting real estate.

Solid advice. Thanks Brother

Stay with the A1 if left handed is essential. I don't believe you're missing out on much apart from weight savings.

Fellas ..... a Hide member responded to my WTB request for a lefty DT A1. Getting a beautiful rifle from a solid dude. Now I'm looking at barrels.

I can still get some factory barrels from DT, and I understand they are very good (Bartlein?), or I can also get the folks at Special Purpose Rifles to whip me up some Proof barrels for it. I would like to shave weight, but not at the expense of barrel quality/accuracy.

Thoughts on factory DT barrels vs. custom Proof barrels .... ?