DTA covert ( owners questions )

[charles]

Hi guys

I just purchased a new DTA covert Gen 1 where i lived with a 20 % knock off on the price. ( 1000 $ that i can put on ammos and trigger time ) I live in Canada, so theses rifles are complicated to get there and we still don't have the A1 version ...

I know that DTA is now at the gen 2 and was wondering if the gen 2 is a must compared with the gen 1. The cheek piece seem like a nice upgrade but i never shoot a DTA and can't tell if the cheek rest is correct with the gen 1. I have also heard that the gen 1 barrel index with a pin that are subject to brake but again no confirmed infos here.

Also, what you think of the deployment kit ?

All infos will be appreciated !!

 

[Abq-Defense]

There is a small DTA thread here that may help. While reading the whole thread will take a while, you could do some searches that will tell you a lot about these rifles. DTA Thread

Welcome to DTA ownership. It's a terrific rifle system.

 

[SRSDriver]

The pin can break if you drop a conversion kit into the rifle, but if you slide it in gently, you will be fine.

If you break one, it's not a big deal and just takes a few minutes to install a new one.

 

[newguy2k3v2]

Having a gen 2 rifle with gen 2 extensions is not a must. Better? Yes, but not absolutely necessary. I wouldn't feel bad at all getting $1000 off for getting a gen 1. The only real drawback would be if it doesn't have a monopod, which it can be modded to accept.

 

[charles]

Abq-Defense: thanks for the infos on the big DTA thread i have reading for all the night

SRSDriver: I will be cautious to not slam the barrel and brake this pin but i'm more comfortable if they are easy to change.

Having a gen 2 rifle with gen 2 extensions is not a must. Better? Yes, but not absolutely necessary. I wouldn't feel bad at all getting $1000 off for getting a gen 1. The only real drawback would be if it doesn't have a monopod, which it can be modded to accept.

Yes, i don't have the monopod with it and i think i will have to send the stock to DTA for that. The good new is that we are in the off season here, the super winter and minus 30 degree.

Anyone have a good starting load with the 16 inch barrel ? Did the famous .308w load: Lapua case with 46 gr of varget, berger bullets will do it ?

 

[PRDRIVER]

I have sold a number of these rifles over the past few years. The Gen 1 rifles are great. You can even run a Gen 2 conversion in a Gen 1 rifle if needed, though getting it to index properly can take a little longer.

With the Gen 1, be gentle when putting the barrel into the chassis. I have never seen an indexing pin get smashed in a Gen 1 chassis, but it could happen if your barrel was to slip out of your hands before it is seated properly in the chassis.

I have been running an SRS for a couple years now and have never felt the need for a cheek riser. Just get a 1.5" mount and you will be good to go.

I believe some of the last produced Gen 1 rifles were milled for the monopod. You can easily check by taking off the stock skins and looking underneath the rear portion of the chassis for an area that is tapped to accept the screw in monopod.

I haven't loaded up any ammo for the 16" Covert, but had great success with Lapua Cases, 168 gr SMK, and 45 gr of Varget. As always, I would recommend starting your charge lower and working your way up, checking for pressure signs along the way.

 

[Mgordon]

We are currently talking with DTA on the possibility of handling all/any of the Gen1/Gen2 to SRS A1 conversions. This means that Gen1/2 owners may have the ability to have their rifle converted into the new style A1 chassis if they desire. We will know more in the first quarter of this year. Either way you cut it, Gen1/2 owners will have the option to upgrade to the new A1 chassis/skin design.

Mark Gordon
Short Action Customs.

 

[biffj]

I've had a gen 1 rifle for almost 4 years now and have 4 different barrels for it. I have no issues with the locating pin for the barrel and have the original pin in the rifle. There are no accuracy issues I know of due to this method of locating the barrel and I've fired some very good groups with my rifle so I don't see any issues in real life. As others noted you just need to have a care when swapping barrels and don't be ham-handed. My gen 1 is in the later 1300 range on the serial and it had the receiver modded for the monopod from the factory. All I had to do was order the monopod and skins. Installation was simple and I did not need to send the rifle back. I primarily shoot my rifle suppressed and have over 1000rds of .338 Lapua + a pretty good number of 12.7X48, .338BR and 6.5X47. I do a lot of demo's with my rifle so the barrels get swapped frequently. I do recommend putting some anti-seize on the barrel pinch bolts, both the threads and on both sides of the brass washers. It will prevent galling down the road. I also suggest using purple or blue (low strength) loctite on the nuts/screws that hold the skins on. My stock started coming apart early on at a shoot when the rifle was new. Its tough to keep the nuts tight when you're clamping plastic so the loctite will help a lot.
I've tried out the new A1 buttpad and cheekrest and see no value to them for myself. The suppressor knocks down the recoil substantially and even my little wife will shoot the .338 Lapua mag when suppressed. I tried one of the A1's and it seemed to kick harder with the soft pad....maybe just me. It is a personal preference thing and some seem to need the soft pad. The cheekrest is the same deal. I've had a couple hundred different folks shoot my rifle and not one complained that the scope was hard to see through or not aligned with the stock. On the other hand there seem to be a few out there who can't make it work without the adjustable rest. To each his own and you will be best served by checking your own rifle to see if it fits you before going to any of the expensive upgrades.

My 2 cents and worth every penny.

Frank