DesertTech Releases Several New Products at SHOT 2014
DesertTech, formally Desert Tactical Arms, of Utah has released several new rifles as well as a chassis system from the Remington 700. Most of the buzz was around the MDR, DesertTech’s new modular, bullpup styled rifle design. They are being released in .308 and .223 to begin with, and will hopefully a .300BLK in the future. The .308 version is being released with a 16″ barrel, and accepts SR25/DPMS patterned magazines, meaning it will be compatible with the Magpul LR/SR .308 magazines. Also featured on the rifle is a non-reciprocating charging handle, that is also user movable to be ambidextrous. The rest of the rifle controls are built into the rifle as ambidextrous without having to move anything.
Handling the .308, the package was build well, even though the rifle in their booth was a prototype. Having worked in LE, I can see the application of the bullpup design with an OAL of 27″, making the rifle easy to maneuver in the drivers seat of a patrol car, even with a steering wheel and mobile computer terminal.
There is also a .223 version that will their MDR-C, or carbine that will be available in an SBR and 16″ barrel version for those that live in non-SBR states. The SBR will be 10.5″ barrel, and have an OAL of 21″ and use standard AR magazines.
The receiver of the rifles, as well as the barrel and furniture are replaceable, and a .308 version can be easily converted to a .223 with a simple barrel swap.
Also released was a light, polymer version of their chassis system. While the version they had at SHOT was a prototype, there are a very innovative design, and will be super light and user friendly for the operator. The chassis was 3D printed in polymer, but will feature a metal block for the receiver to be attached too, with the rest being made from molded polymer to help reduce the weight.
In their sniper/precision shooter line, they released the Covert, with an 18″ barrel and 38″ OAL bullpup, it is chambered.338 Lapua Magnum with a detachable box magazine system. So a sniper is able to deploy and use the rifle in very confined spaces. Handling the rifle, I can see the usefulness of the rifle in an LE role, and how one could deploy the rifle directly from the drivers seat of a patrol car. While I would definately want to make sure the single baffle brake is out the window before firing the rifle, the muzzle blast from a single baffle 18″ .338LM would do damage to a patrol car and the hearing of the operator.
There is also a .308 version available, with a 16″ barrel and OAL of 26″ also in a bullpup design.
DesertTech is looking to revamp their image, put some cool, innovative new stuff out. There were some changes to the MDR that DesertTech was looking to make after some suggestions to SHOT Show attendees. They plan on extending the handguard on the .308 to that in a panic, the operator doesn’t put their hand over the muzzle of the rifle. Also there is a plan to make the charging handle fully ambidextrous, and not just user movable. I look forward to a production model coming out and being able to test and evaluate the new rifle. DesertTech has some great guys with some really great ideas. They are definitely a company to look out for.
More by TFB Staff
![[SHOT 2020] New Leapers UTG Products to be Released Soon](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2024/05/16/14335612/shot-2020-new-leapers-utg-products-to-be-released-soon.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2024] Infinite Product Solutions Releases New Shotgun Choke Adapters](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2024/05/16/14527306/shot-2024-infinite-product-solutions-releases-new-shotgun-choke-adapters.jpg?size=350x220)
Comments
Join the conversation
Incredible MDR - worth the $$$. The high quality that DT has is impressive and the MDR will satisfy. Even tho it won't be out till later this year, it gives me time to save up some nickles and get this bad boy.
Some say the 2K price tag is high but consider the ability to swap barrels and change calibers is... priceless. You essentially get two guns for the price of 1 or 1.5 guns purchased separately.
Good stuff IMHO
Definitely picking up an MDR in .300BLK, need more Blackout! GemTech G300 cans arrived, absolutely wonderful!
Only fired the DTA .338LM twice, befriending someone at the range after I noticed his rifle and he noticed my AWSM is an actual Accuracy International AWSM and not another of the countless R700's in the AI chassis. Actually, he first asked about my suppressor, saying that he'd been looking to add a nice one to his DTA and if I was happy with mine (shooting from a custom Surgeon Rifles 22.8" Bull Barrel w requisite threading; fully-free-floated with the receiver 5pt bedded in the black, folding-butt AI stock). I told him yeah, absolutely, and that I don't remember the last time not using a suppressor for any of my firearms, but that he'd have to see for himself, and let him fire ~12-15 rounds through my long gun (Leupold 5-25x56mm, or possibly a Nightforce 4-20x58mm optic, don't recall what I had on it; Harris 4-6.9" balanced bipod, 3.125lb "glass rod" trigger setup with very short travel, Surgeon Rifles did a rifled bolt and installed the full-titanium bolt handle assembly).
He was shooting a bit off, I gave him a few of my match loads (300gr JBTHP ultra-low-drag bullets, as I believe he was firing 225gr; my barrel's rifled for 250-300gr) and, wow, he was impressive.
We go so he can show off his new pride and joy (I love listening to people tell me about their latest purchases!), how he'd been waiting to get it for like 15 months, and how it was his first day at the range to shoot just for fun (the previous time he came to zero, I guess, but it started raining after an hour and he only managed to get the "work" done).
The rifle was "naked" except for Swarovski glass, 3.5-21x55 or so, very nice. He was actually shooting better with my rifle than he now was with his, but familiarity is important to keep in mind.
I went and, now that it was cooled off, grabbed the not-insignificant in size titanium/inconel suppressor and brought it over, suggesting he try it on his own rifle before he goes and spends 1500+ on a quality big bore can.
I am seriously impressed with how well the DTA bullpup bolt-actions suppress! 25.5" barrel, firing 300gr Lapua Gold Scenar Super Match, through my suppressor (8.5" long, 2.13" diameter, semi-shroud design so adds a total of 6.15" to length of gun), and my decibel meter recorded drops between 29.82 and 34.77dB (I do professional studio recording, editing, mixing, and mastering/producing; thus, I have some quality sound metering gear). Not all that different from mine, which even with the shorter barrel avgs 33.75dB with up to 37.5dB drop when the perfect amount of water is added to the baffles.
I'm no long range shooter, but the DTA, my first time on the platform, and in 10 shots (2 to figure out the zero/drop) I was hitting center mass at 800-900yds every shot. I was JUST as consistent with it as I am with my AI AWSM, but I've had the latter for a few years and put ~1100 rounds through it or so.... Yet, the DTA, it just feels "natural".... Hard to explain.
I will just say that, if you are used to shooting .308 from a Savage, CZ, R700, whatever, and shoot a .308 DTA, you'll not need any time to adjust to the rifle.
If you shoot .300 Win Mag, same thing.
If you are a masochist like me and shoot .338 Lapua Mag, same thing.
It's impressive enough that the "carbine" bullpup variant is already ordered....