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

How far out are they on delivery of the 223 conversions
I asked them if they had a 1:7 twist 223 Bartleins in stock for a 223 conversion and he said all he has in stock is 1:7.5 twist Barts in stock at the moment… so I said F it and added it on. They’re going to chamber my 300 PRC and 223 same day, said I’ll probably get them within 2-3 months. You have a 223 in the que?
 
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I asked them if they had a 1:7 twist 223 Bartleins in stock for a 223 conversion and he said all he has in stock is 1:7.5 twist Barts in stock at the moment… so I said F it and added it on. They’re going to chamber my 300 PRC and 223 same day, said I’ll probably get them within 2-3 months. You have a 223 in the que?
I was thinking about it, just to get more shooting time
 
I was thinking about it, just to get more shooting time
Yeah that’s why I did it. Save some money with relatively inexpensive ammo. Don’t know how many 1:7.5” they had in stock but he did confirm he had “some” in stock.
I've had a 1:7.5 223 in the que since June. Eagerly awaiting but in the meantime having fun with the 6.5CM!
They must’ve just got some in from Bartlein or recently. They must be ordering large batches directly from them I’d imagine. I’m having SAC spin up a 30 cal as well and I wanted it 1:9 but all they had in stock was 1:8 and said it would be months before they got some 1:9’s in
 
I have also had a 223 conversion in queue for a long time. I think the holdup was a process external to their outfit. Nitriding, if I'm reading it right. Anyways this is a quote from an email I got 5 hours ago,

"We just got all of our 223 conversion kit parts yesterday from nitriding so I am getting ready to schedule all the jobs..."
 
I have also had a 223 conversion in queue for a long time. I think the holdup was a process external to their outfit. Nitriding, if I'm reading it right. Anyways this is a quote from an email I got 5 hours ago,

"We just got all of our 223 conversion kit parts yesterday from nitriding so I am getting ready to schedule all the jobs..."
Dang I got lucky and timed it just right :D
 
Damnit now I want a 510 whisper after reading some of yins posts. Looks like a blast of a cartridge!! Only problem is I own zero reloading stuff and that cartridge seems like a big learning curve with all that case trimming and such 🤣
 
Yes, I stopped making brass for it last year. At least for me, it's still kind of a gimmick cartridge: fun to load and shoot for, but not entirely practical, especially if you can't run a suppressor on it. For that reason I shot mine a lot more in NZ than I do now in CA.
 
Lehigh still sells brass for it if I recall. RCC does as well
Nice, that definitely seems like a better option. Brass life is pretty damn long isn’t it?
Yes, I stopped making brass for it last year. At least for me, it's still kind of a gimmick cartridge: fun to load and shoot for, but not entirely practical, especially if you can't run a suppressor on it. For that reason I shot mine a lot more in NZ than I do now in CA.
Yeah definitely not practical it seems, but for a subsonic suppressed long range rig it seems like the one to go with. Was mulling over the idea of 300blk or 458 socom but figured since it’ll be a suppressed subsonic plinker 100% of the time 510 seems like the one to go with.
 
For comparison, a .510Whisper loaded with 650gr pulled bullets hits as hard at 100m as a full power 175SMK. But even the loads I did at 1000fps, it kicks a lot more than any .223 or .300BLK. And unsuppressed it feels so much like a 40mm shooting out of an M203/M79.

For extra fun, make some rounds with pulled .50BMG tracer and/or incendiary bullets (if legal in your AO).
 
For comparison, a .510Whisper loaded with 650gr pulled bullets hits as hard at 100m as a full power 175SMK. But even the loads I did at 1000fps, it kicks a lot more than any .223 or .300BLK. And unsuppressed it feels so much like a 40mm shooting out of an M203/M79.

For extra fun, make some rounds with pulled .50BMG tracer and/or incendiary bullets (if legal in your AO).
This is awesome!! Damn didn’t know. You can use a standard single stage press correct, like a Forster coax?? You don’t need a 50 cal one?
 
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Yeah, it's a short cartridge.

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Still kind of trippy to have a short barrel you can fit your thumb down...
 
I use Blue Force Gear padded vickers sling with QD swivels so I can pop them off/on real quick coming/going to my hunting spot
For the guys using their desert techs for hunting, what slings do you guys use. I'm sure that most of you just attach them onto your packs, but I usually like to have mine more accessible when walking.
 
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Just ordered my first barrel from ES-tactical. Went with a 26” 7 saum med Palma contour. Hoping to use it for mostly hunting and the odd NRL Hunter match. Any recommendations on scopes and bipods to try and stay under 12lbs? Was looking at a Mark 5 5-25 but it would be very close on weight
 
With that barrel contour and no fluting, it’ll be tough. I ran a factory 26in 6.5CM (it’s pretty skinny with fluting), an atlas cal, and a 23 oz scope in nightforce rings and just barely came in at 11.9 lbs. you might could get away with an atlas that mounts directly to the MLok, the Razor LHT in nightforce rings, a titanium muzzle device, and yank out the monopod.

Just a thought
 
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With that barrel contour and no fluting, it’ll be tough. I ran a factory 26in 6.5CM (it’s pretty skinny with fluting), an atlas cal, and a 23 oz scope in nightforce rings and just barely came in at 11.9 lbs. you might could get away with an atlas that mounts directly to the MLok, the Razor LHT in nightforce rings, a titanium muzzle device, and yank out the monopod.

Just a thought
I did go with spiral fluting on the barrel but I don’t really know how much that will save. Taking out the monopod is definitely something I’ve considered to bring it down A bit more. How do you like the LHT? I was looking at the new one but the capped windage for any competition might not be great
 
@ColdCanadian I haven't used the LHT. I just know its one of the lightest scopes that one might consider competitive for NRL Hunter. I also don't know a ton of folks that dial for wind but if you want to, like @srt-4_uk said, just take off the cap. I'm not sure how much weight you save with the fluting but if you are trying to get the SRS A2 to make Open Light, every ounce will count. That said, its not the end of the world to shoot open heavy. I've also petitioned them to add Desert Tech to the Factory division list but that's gone nowhere.

Regardless, good luck
 
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Got the twins out into the desert for some plinky plinky yesterday. The SAC 223 conversion was banging the shit out of the 18" plate at 1088 yards (I selected the day because winds 3-7 MPH and it was far more consistent wind than usual at this location). DT 308 barrel (22"), 338 LM Lilja barrel (32") and 375CT barrel (Lilja, 35") were also smoking it! New Zeiss LRP is phenomenal, though the glass is assuredly not as clear as the TT. LRP has other features I prefer however, and that's why it's on the HTI: 36.5 MRAD of useable elevation travel in a 18MIL Spuhr base (100 yard zero); lockable windage; reticle; illumination is killer. For the price difference, I'd take the LRP over the TT any day, but since I have the TT on the SRS, she's there to stay because the glass is soooo good, it's already dialed, and I don't need to go over the 27.5 MRAD it allows on the SRS (in a 13 MRAD Spuhr; 100 yard zero) since that gets the 338LM barrel out to 2300 yards and past transonic.
 
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Got the twins out into the desert for some plinky plinky yesterday. The SAC 223 conversion was banging the shit out of the 18" plate at 1088 yards (I selected the day because winds 3-7 MPH and it was far more consistent wind than usual at this location). DT 308 barrel (22"), 338 LM Lilja barrel (32") and 375CT barrel (Lilja, 35") were also smoking it! New Zeiss LRP is phenomenal, though the glass is assuredly not as clear as the TT. LRP has other features I prefer however, and that's why it's on the HTI: 36.5 MRAD of useable elevation travel in a 18MIL Spuhr base (100 yard zero); lockable windage; reticle; illumination is killer. For the price difference, I'd take the LRP over the TT any day, but since I have the TT on the SRS, she's there to stay because the glass is soooo good, it's already dialed, and I don't need to go over the 27.5 MRAD it allows on the SRS (in a 13 MRAD Spuhr; 100 yard zero) since that gets the 338LM barrel out to 2300 yards and past transonic.
Looks like a cool location, what state ?
 
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Got the twins out into the desert for some plinky plinky yesterday. The SAC 223 conversion was banging the shit out of the 18" plate at 1088 yards (I selected the day because winds 3-7 MPH and it was far more consistent wind than usual at this location). DT 308 barrel (22"), 338 LM Lilja barrel (32") and 375CT barrel (Lilja, 35") were also smoking it! New Zeiss LRP is phenomenal, though the glass is assuredly not as clear as the TT. LRP has other features I prefer however, and that's why it's on the HTI: 36.5 MRAD of useable elevation travel in a 18MIL Spuhr base (100 yard zero); lockable windage; reticle; illumination is killer. For the price difference, I'd take the LRP over the TT any day, but since I have the TT on the SRS, she's there to stay because the glass is soooo good, it's already dialed, and I don't need to go over the 27.5 MRAD it allows on the SRS (in a 13 MRAD Spuhr; 100 yard zero) since that gets the 338LM barrel out to 2300 yards and past transonic.
What is on the cheek rest?
 
I'm noticing an adjustable butt pad....Is that an early prototype from SAC?
It was one that they debuted about 5 years ago, but shortly thereafter quit making. I think it was a SAC partner of some sort. I quite like it. There is another guy on this forum who is making another version. I expect he will chime in.

As for "what is on the cheek rest" - it is the HopticUSA stick-on pad "saddle blanket". Like the notorious DT glued on thing which comes off after a while, so does it, but it's expected to be disposable and they send you two, or at least they did back when I bought mine. It has stayed put for years on the HTI, but sags a bit on the SRS and after a little while longer I'll replace it with another. Its foam rubber and makes a good cheek rest/pad, better than the DT offering:


Notice also the MKMachining single shot sled/mag replacement in the SRS - the latest version has ALL the bugs worked out, fits tight, and reliably feeds 223, 260, 308, 338 (all ELD-M - why shoot anything else?) without failure. Highly recommended:


Finally, since I'm shamelessly plugging my favorite aftermarket manufacturers, all my barrels except the 308 DT barrel (which is one of the 3 most accurate barrels of any gun I've owned in over 30 years, 5000 rounds and still a tack driver; and of course the proprietary SAC 223) are made by Eric Smith at ES-tactical. He knows DT like only a handful of smiths (no pun intended) in the world and I trust him completely, and depend on him exclusively, to "turn out" (quite literally) one-hole-wonders: https://www.es-tactical.com/
 
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Been a while since reading this thread, but for those that hunt with them, what’s the lightest (sans scope) that you been able to get one to?

Thinking this year I will try and budget for a SRS + proof 6.5 barrel and hopefully a 223 conversion.

Wasn’t DT going to make a lightweight receiver a few years ago?
 
The SRS A2 *is* their lightweight receiver. And they make lightweight barrels now (see link below) and there's proof and other skinny barrels and there's short barrels, and the Covert, and dispensing with a can and the monopod, and getting a light scope and rings, but that's about it. Somebody with one that's been on a diet will post soon I'm sure.

Here's their ultralight 6.5 barrel (God is their website hard to use in its current configuration - total pain in the ass if you're listening DT) https://deserttech.com/conversion-kits.php?item=2398

I'm thinking if you did that in a covert you'd have about a pound of weight savings overall. Maybe a tad more.
 
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Been a while since reading this thread, but for those that hunt with them, what’s the lightest (sans scope) that you been able to get one to?

Thinking this year I will try and budget for a SRS + proof 6.5 barrel and hopefully a 223 conversion.

Wasn’t DT going to make a lightweight receiver a few years ago?

Hey @Frankr, I found some time to sit and weigh stuff. My SRS A2 with 22.5in Proof CF 6CM, surefire brake, no monopod, and 1 buttpad spacer weighs 9lbs 4 oz

It could get a lot lighter though. Run no muzzle device, use the covert handguard, use the lightweight factory 308 16 barrel, and no buttpad spacers, and you could probably get it under 7 lbs. At that point, though, you've defeated some of the versatility of the system, IMO as you've probably also gone with an ultralight barebones bipod (or not one at all) and a bare bones ultralight optic.

Hope this is useful
 
Since we’re talking weight again, here’s my previous post on the weight topic.
Just add up your components to get to your weight.

A1 Covert Chassis + Skins, monopod removed: 4 lb 8 oz
Buttpad, no spacers: 7 oz
Buttpad spacer, each: 2.6 oz
A1 Bolt, “308”: 12.2 oz
A2 Bolt, “308”: 12.0 oz
SA 6 Rd Mag, empty: 6.5 oz
Monopod: 5.6 oz
RRS ARCA Plate: 6.2 oz
ARC M10 QD-L 30mm mount: 8.5 oz


Barrel examples:

260 Rem barrel, fluted barrel and tenon, 27”, .920 muzzle with Area 419 adapter: 5 lb 4 oz

300 Win Mag barrel, non fluted, 27”, .850 muzzle, Area 419 adapter, 5 lb 1 oz

6xc barrel, non fluted, 27”, .875 muzzle, Area 419 adapter, 5 lb 5 oz

308 barrel, non fluted, 17”, .890 muzzle, Area 419 adapter, 3 lb 8 oz

450 Bushmaster barrel, non fluted, 23”, .920 muzzle, Area 419 adapter, 4 lb 6 oz

260 Rem barrel, non fluted, 19”, .875 muzzle, Area 419 adapter, 4 lb 6 oz

Add up what you’ll need, pick your rings/mount, add your scope weight and total weight of ammo and you should be good.
The A2 chassis saves about a pound, so hopefully someone else can post the exact weight with the bolt, buttpad, magazine removed.
 
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Nice looking rifle there! Will do!!! I have some 77gr Norma match. I’ll try and find some of that imi, can’t wait to receive it.
I bought a case (500) from Midway a couple weeks ago for $567 shipped. Seemed reasonable the way things are and I’m super happy with my results at 100.

And it might look familiar, bought it from @65x55guy a little bit ago.
 
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My SAC loves 75 ELD-Ms with 25.5 RL15 (Varget would probably be a fine substitute) and a 22.5" flings them (loaded to max SAC mag length - loaded to AR15 mag length it would be compressed and way over pressure) at 2950 fps in cold temps and a good deal faster in hot, LOL. Bugholes too, and with that load the ELDs have the BC and the balls to realistically do 1.5 MOA steel work at 1200 yards.....as long as the wind ain't too wild
 
Hey @Frankr, I found some time to sit and weigh stuff. My SRS A2 with 22.5in Proof CF 6CM, surefire brake, no monopod, and 1 buttpad spacer weighs 9lbs 4 oz

It could get a lot lighter though. Run no muzzle device, use the covert handguard, use the lightweight factory 308 16 barrel, and no buttpad spacers, and you could probably get it under 7 lbs. At that point, though, you've defeated some of the versatility of the system, IMO as you've probably also gone with an ultralight barebones bipod (or not one at all) and a bare bones ultralight optic.

Hope this is useful
It’s very useful. I was hoping over the past few years deserttech would have made a lighter weight version (eg. carbon fiber handguard, slim barrels/heavy fluted barrels, lightened the buttstock). I wouldn’t want to loose the capability and features chasing lighter weight though.