Official (DTA) SRS, HTI, Covert, Hunter Thread

If the question is actually about weight more than specific model, then I can give the following: The rig leaning against my shoulder is an AI in .308 with a IOR Recon, Ase Utra suppressor and Accu-Tac bipod. It's quite heavy, 15+lbs. I've hunted with it a few times. Not the best bipod choice as that specific unit lacks panning and it mightily sucks to carry that rifle very far but being such a great rifle to begin with it gives me another couple hundred yards of real capability. Standard off the rack hunting rifle I won't go past 400m. With a AI or Sako TRG or Steyr SSG or DT SRS I'm happy to reach out quite a bit further given amenable wind conditions.

My 12” oversized rails shipped this week, these are my samples to test before production starts. I should have my samples to take photos with this coming week.
Can accept any supressor under 1.79” in diameter. 12” length. 3.5oz (OEM 12” rail is 8 Oz)

$375 each. DM if you are interested. Let’s move some, so I can make more more improved DT accessories.

kthomas said:

Appreciate the replies!

Asking as I'm just getting into hunting. Just purchased an 18" 6.5 Creedmoor 3B contour barrel for my Mausingfield PRS rig, which will be put into a KRG Bravo for hunting. Hunting weight will be about ~13 lbs, so not light. Just don't have the funds to build a dedicated hunting rifle right now to the quality I would want it to be, so this is definitely a compromise.

I also have a .300NM ELR rig that I don't really use, as I don't have a spot to really stretch it out. As much as I love my .300NM and still want to shoot it occasionally, I have a hard time justifying a dedicated rifle for it when I hardly shoot it.

This has me wondering if I could consolidate my hunting and ELR rifles. Especially since I don't have the budget to fully build up a dedicated hunting rifle. Perhaps I could trade my custom .300NM rifle for a DTA SRS, and get a hunting and ELR barrel for it.

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This is the reason I went with a desert tech. I wanted the capability of a long range setup for the once a year I get to go out past 1200 yards but didn't want a dedicated rig. I like how short the desert tech is with a suppressor for hunting but I'm not really a fan of it as a hunting rifle. I don't like the heavy bolt lift that takes you off target and I've had brass not get ejected on quick follow ups. Pretty sure it somehow hits my hand and ends up back in the action.

Bradu said:

This is the reason I went with a desert tech. I wanted the capability of a long range setup for the once a year I get to go out past 1200 yards but didn't want a dedicated rig. I like how short the desert tech is with a suppressor for hunting but I'm not really a fan of it as a hunting rifle. I don't like the heavy bolt lift that takes you off target and I've had brass not get ejected on quick follow ups. Pretty sure it somehow hits my hand and ends up back in the action.

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That's my hang up with the DTA.

It has it's quirks and nuances. It's been a while since I've handled one, I don't recall the bolt lift being heavy, but I'll take your word for it. I'm not sure I would like that. The bullpup thing would take some getting used to as well.

Not 100% sold on it yet.

kthomas said:

How many people here hunt with their DTA's? What is the weight of your DTA hunting rigs, and what barrel specs (length, contour)?

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I've been hunting with my srs A1 fot years now, it's by no means a light rifle but it can be transported a little more comfortable then traditional rifles. I've found running a biathlon sling is nice but it can be a pain in the ass with pack. I now run my 2point match sling and it hangs to my side. Mine weighs around 7.1kg with the 338NM conversion with a Steiner M7xi 4-28 on-top. In covert form with a short carbon or light hunting profile barrel I think it'll be even better.
Pic for attention

kthomas said:

How many people here hunt with their DTA's? What is the weight of your DTA hunting rigs, and what barrel specs (length, contour)?

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I’ve been hunting for the past two years with my DT SRS A2 Covert. 20 in barrel, 6.5 CM, 14 LBs with a can at 36 inches. I’ve carried it over multi-mile varmint hike/hunts and while yes, it is heavy, the balance more than makes up for it. Especially when moving through heavy cover, I’d take my DT over my buddy’s nearly 5 foot long suppressed 22-250 Savage, even if he has 5 LBs on me.

bmicek said:

View attachment 7918063
This is my 16” 308. Could shed 7oz going to a Vortex LHT and probably a few more oz switching to tall rings instead of this heavy mount. That’d put it very close to 9lbs. Add 12oz or so for a suppressor and whatever the magazine weights. Not a mountain rifle but very very manageable as a hunting rifle. I’m having a 458 American barrel made on a “Hunter” contour barrel for sub 200 yard whitetail hunting. Should be even lighter with that large of bore cut out of the barrel.

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I guess that's why people don't hunt with their .50's...

kgall005 said:

I guess that's why people don't hunt with their .50's...
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Oh heck, under 30lbs is practically a mountain rifle yeah you’d almost need a cart to pull it in if you hunted with it

M77 said:

I've been hunting with my srs A1 fot years now, it's by no means a light rifle but it can be transported a little more comfortable then traditional rifles. I've found running a biathlon sling is nice but it can be a pain in the ass with pack. I now run my 2point match sling and it hangs to my side. Mine weighs around 7.1kg with the 338NM conversion with a Steiner M7xi 4-28 on-top. In covert form with a short carbon or light hunting profile barrel I think it'll be even better.
Pic for attention

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I chose exactly the same optic.

Being able to grab it in front of the triggerguard and have it reasonably well balanced is a definite plus. Being shorter than literally anything I have other than a folded AR is really super nice. I'm planning on taking a giraffe with it next June.

I have a srs a1 covert that a machine shop machined out the chassis like a a2 that took close to a pound off they said, have a march 1.5-15x42 and a 22 creedmoor hunter profile barrel and I use it for coyotes and it is very manageable weight wise, not to bad to carry but still enough to settle in nice on a tripod for longer shots, I would never give it up to go back to a traditional bolt gun, with my tbac 338 ultra is is a flagpole

jamieschulz said:

I have a srs a1 covert that a machine shop machined out the chassis like a a2 that took close to a pound off they said, have a march 1.5-15x42 and a 22 creedmoor hunter profile barrel and I use it for coyotes and it is very manageable weight wise, not to bad to carry but still enough to settle in nice on a tripod for longer shots, I would never give it up to go back to a traditional bolt gun, with my tbac 338 ultra is is a flagpole

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Who’d you use? Wonder if they are able to machine down an A2 even further

You know I honestly don't know, my co worker knows someone and I just gave him my chassis to take to them, I do remember him saying g the machinist thought desert tech did a good job removing as much material as they could in the right places on the a2, I only had it done because I'm a lefty and can't get a a2, I also like the a1 trigger better.

mountainman308 said:

I’ve been hunting for the past two years with my DT SRS A2 Covert. 20 in barrel, 6.5 CM, 14 LBs with a can at 36 inches. I’ve carried it over multi-mile varmint hike/hunts and while yes, it is heavy, the balance more than makes up for it. Especially when moving through heavy cover, I’d take my DT over my buddy’s nearly 5 foot long suppressed 22-250 Savage, even if he has 5 LBs on me.

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This. Deadfall and beetle kill aspen. Nasty to orient around or through. Add a cape and a rifle and I like cinching stuff *tight* down to me.

DoctorBen said:

This. Deadfall and beetle kill aspen. Nasty to orient around or through. Add a cape and a rifle and I like cinching stuff *tight* down to me.

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Which cape do you use? Genuinely curious about why you pick a cape over more standard hunting attire.

mountainman308 said:

Which cape do you use? Genuinely curious about why you pick a cape over more standard hunting attire.

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Hah; was walking a buddy’s elk cape out last fall. He had the rear quarter, guide had the other rear quarter.

DoctorBen said:

Hah; was walking a buddy’s elk cape out last fall. He had the rear quarter, guide had the other rear quarter.

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Ahhh, now I understand. I’m in the shorter mountains to the east, so it wasn’t immediately clear to me. Need to do a Rockies elk hunt one of these days.

mountainman308 said:

Ahhh, now I understand. I’m in the shorter mountains to the east, so it wasn’t immediately clear to me. Need to do a Rockies elk hunt one of these days.

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Honestly now that kind makes me want to do a ghille cape, just to be *that guy*.

Go for Colorado; can’t say enough good things. Over the counter tags, lots of outfitters and guides.

Hard to believe this stubby rifle is nearly 15 lbs. I ordered the 16.5" .223 SAC barrel in standard profile instead of a lighter weight, so I knew it would have some heft. Good thing is you can see what's happening downrange when you squeeze off a round. I will likely not go back to the traditional bolt gun setup. For me the bullpup design is almost impossible to refuse.

DoctorBen said:

Honestly now that kind makes me want to do a ghille cape, just to be *that guy*.

Go for Colorado; can’t say enough good things. Over the counter tags, lots of outfitters and guides.

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Do it!

Which guide did you use? I have a buddy in Colorado Springs who is always up for an adventure.

mountainman308 said:

Do it!

Which guide did you use? I have a buddy in Colorado Springs who is always up for an adventure.

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Jayden Wolfe was his name; outside of Kremmling CO. GMU 181? 20yo young man; solid guide. Public land “island” with the nearest public ingress about 10mi north of the higher elevation for elk. His family’s cattle ranch surrounding gives BLM access essentially as a trespass fee. Had a little cabin he’s built our group crashed in. We dispersed via side by side to a common point and then did 10mi loops walking trails or headed to glassing spots.

I got blessed/lucky.
Glassed a group opening morning at a mile, my first elk hunt, but no one else felt good past about 400yds.

I felt great to 800.

Spotted them at a mile, looped in to about half a mile, then belly crawled low (we were below them, shockingly) until about 800yds. Waited as they made their way across a hillside. Ranged at 725, I downed the 327” 6x6 with 1 perfect shot. Just dropped to his belly, rolled over. Was done and dusted and at the butchers back in town by noon. We quartered him out and packed it to the side by side, back to camp.

Anyone wants his info, he’s always looking for clients.

I’d be going this year for elk/mule combo, but I got Newfoundland in September, and I’m still eating the elk!

kgall005 said:

I guess that's why people don't hunt with their .50's...
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What all do you have on there to get to that weight?

Mister Ridge said:

What all do you have on there to get to that weight?

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Bipod, scope and a can… without the can its 25 lbs…

kgall005 said:

Bipod, scope and a can… without the can its 25 lbs…

View attachment 7920172View attachment 7920173

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Thanks. Good to know.

Mister Ridge said:

Thanks. Good to know.

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No problem, she’s an awesome girl, but she’s heavy…

Those that hunt with your SRS, what sling are you using to keep it close to your chest? I assume that’s the easiest method for trekking distances with it, correct me if I’m wrong. Looking for the best method to carry it a few miles.

bmicek said:

Those that hunt with your SRS, what sling are you using to keep it close to your chest? I assume that’s the easiest method for trekking distances with it, correct me if I’m wrong. Looking for the best method to carry it a few miles.

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I use a Tab Biathlon for ultimate comfort if I'm hiking any distance, but mostly a BFG VCAS padded or Magpul because of the quick adjust feature to cinch it up tight.

bmicek said:

Those that hunt with your SRS, what sling are you using to keep it close to your chest? I assume that’s the easiest method for trekking distances with it, correct me if I’m wrong. Looking for the best method to carry it a few miles.

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Tab PRS.
Biathlon if I didn’t do a pack.
PRS let me sling it over pack muzzle down and left; could still shoulder quickly enough.

bmicek said:

Those that hunt with your SRS, what sling are you using to keep it close to your chest? I assume that’s the easiest method for trekking distances with it, correct me if I’m wrong. Looking for the best method to carry it a few miles.

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Armageddon Gear PRS sling. It hangs close, absorbs shock, and has a hasty-cuff feature that becomes second nature with a bit of training.

First production example mounted.
18” 6.5 cm with a advanced armament 762 suppressor.

Minor adjustments and I will have these ready for pre-orders.

P.s now you have a reason to ditch those A1s and get an A2.

Can't ditch the a1 if your left handed

Nice job, the handguard looks awesome

Has anyone else had issues with bolts dragging going in and out of the extension when installed in the chassis?

I have a 308 barrel, a1 age, that was really tight and I had to polish inside the extension a bit to make it work well on my gen 2 chassis. Fast forward to the m2 and that one is even tighter and so is the 338lm that is also from the a1 timeframe. I ended up taking .010-.015” off the right side of the feed ramp so that I could clock the barrel a little more to get smooth function. At first I was thinking it was a barrel extension issue but now I’m not so sure.

Finally got the ES-Tactical 6GT barrel (Stainless) out for a couple shots. Ordered early January and just got here two weeks ago. 7 Saum Barrel that was ordered at the same time still has yet to be finished and shipped. Been trying to decide whether I'll sell the A1 and upgrade to an A2 covert. Been thinking of moving to mostly 18"-20" barrels for hunting and target shooting.

Black barrel is a 26" Short Action Customs 6.5x47 Lapua. Shooting 145gr Barnes match burners, CCI 450's, Lapua brass, and Varget
Stainless barrel is a 26" ES-Tactical 6GT 7.5 Twist, Shooting factory Hornady 109gr ammo for now

Just posted some of my DT barrels up for sale in the PX if anyone is looking to add a few to the stable. Several are brand new. Got some 404ModBB goodness as well as the 223 that a lot of folks are looking for. I waited over a year to get some of these so here's an opportunity to skip the queue

Good to hear yours arrived. Eric was sidelined for a while and really got backlogged but last I heard he’s been catching up.

I used to run all kinds of different length barrels over the past 13 years with the SRS, but in recent years I got to the point where I mostly run 18-20” barrels and added extra long 30-36” barrels for ELR. It got to the point where I just decided to get a second SRS that’s dedicated to the long barrels and is better configured for ELR shooting. That’s definitely an outlier position, but @ColdCanadian don’t dismiss the idea of buying a Covert handguard and running that full time. I did exactly that for 10 years. Yes, the long handguard has advantages, but the Covert is far more versatile, especially if you’re hunting.

Just arrived at or Aussie dealer.
I see Desert Tech have changed the rail/reciever..

wooferocau said:

Just arrived at or Aussie dealer.
I see Desert Tech have changed the rail/reciever..

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Looks like they made the rail much taller, and slightly longer? Can you confirm if it sticks further out at the end into the hand rail? Or if it just goes further back to the cheek weld.

wooferocau said:

Just arrived at or Aussie dealer.
I see Desert Tech have changed the rail/reciever..

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Making it easier for my carbon oversized rail to accept NV or thermal at the end of too on newer models. Haha

newguy2k3v2 said:

Has anyone else had issues with bolts dragging going in and out of the extension when installed in the chassis?

I have a 308 barrel, a1 age, that was really tight and I had to polish inside the extension a bit to make it work well on my gen 2 chassis. Fast forward to the m2 and that one is even tighter and so is the 338lm that is also from the a1 timeframe. I ended up taking .010-.015” off the right side of the feed ramp so that I could clock the barrel a little more to get smooth function. At first I was thinking it was a barrel extension issue but now I’m not so sure.

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I have had to massage that feed ramp notch on one of my conversions to get it to work properly. A2 rifle and A2 conversion.

I think it could be a combination of barrel extension and also the timing between bolt head/body as some other bolts cycled fine in that extension, but then again, the "problem" bolt cycled fine in some other extensions too.

^^^ mmmmm, tolerance stacking. Delicious.

Jrtex said:

Looks like they made the rail much taller, and slightly longer? Can you confirm if it sticks further out at the end into the hand rail? Or if it just goes further back to the cheek weld.

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It is MUCH taller........... front is the same length as previous but the rear now goes to the full length of the receiver top as per the original Gen 1 and A1..
Aesthetically ..... it doesn't "look" as nice as the original profile height..

Just a note on our Aussie Desert Tech importer/Distributer..."DELTA TACTICAL" ....."Danny from Delta drove 6hrs ( one way) to deliver Some Desert Tech goodies that i have had on order........we met him at out local gun shop and had a great chat and organised a shoot at my property in the coming weeks .
Danny is a great bloke and his service is VERY much appreciated...

Today was the first chance for myself and my good friend Ian to try one of 6 the new barrel conversions in our new SRS A2,s ..

I chose 300 Win Mag and..... Ian chose 338 Lap..

Ian recently sold off his Sako TRG and a few customs after sampling my Old SRS Gen 1 .

Ian first.....Bore sighted and took 2 shots to get roughly on at 105yds... first 3 shot group ...pic tells the story

My turn ...2 shots then first 3 shot group.....big big smile ...

Ohhh..these Desert Tech rifles certainly are something special!!

A young friend ( Stu ) came out for a look and bought a few of his toys along...Ruger RPR 338l . MDT/Tikka 308.

We set out some plates and fluro painted rocks at 600mtrs MANY groups were around 50- 70mm and 100% all broken rocks!!

Stu was so impressed with the SRS Platform he is purchasing my old Gen one from me... His other rifles are now up for sale !

How good is the Muzzle break on the current HTI 50 Bmg ? I have the HTI Chassis and am due to take delivery of the Barrel Conversion shortly..

Never!! shot a 50 BMG in my life Ammo will be off the shelf Hornady..

The HTI brakes are not very effective.

Edit: don't just take my word for it; this also seems to be the consensus if you ask around.

Thanks

DT brakes generally are not exceptionally effective upside A419/APA/JP. Seems like they're more intended to fit inside a DT can than to be a fantastic brake in their own right.

Bought an extra transfer bar and played with the sear a little bit on my m2. A few swipes with a diamond stone and I have a trigger that breaks like glass now. About as well as any TT diamond or geisselle hsnm in my gas guns. I did have to tweak the safety screw on the trigger for safe and reliable function. Go one way and it will still fire on safe, too far the other direction and it won’t cock with the safety engaged(I had this issue with the chassis when new.)

Hope to get some dry and live fire in this weekend to see if any issues arise.

newguy2k3v2 said:

Bought an extra transfer bar and played with the sear a little bit on my m2. A few swipes with a diamond stone and I have a trigger that breaks like glass now. About as well as any TT diamond or geisselle hsnm in my gas guns. I did have to tweak the safety screw on the trigger for safe and reliable function. Go one way and it will still fire on safe, too far the other direction and it won’t cock with the safety engaged(I had this issue with the chassis when new.)

Hope to get some dry and live fire in this weekend to see if any issues arise.

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Interesting info. My A2 trigger is fair. Wish it was a bit lighter but it’s usable. Tempting to try the same

bmicek said:

Interesting info. My A2 trigger is fair. Wish it was a bit lighter but it’s usable. Tempting to try the same

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The pull weight doesn’t bother me on mine. It’s set right at 2lb. Mine had a ridiculous amount of creep for a precision rifle. An out of the box r700 or savage would probably be better.

The trigger spring is just a coil spring and you could probably measure yours and get a replacement on amazon or McMaster Carr. Or trim yours if you’re brave. Too light and I could see potential reset/cocking issues.