Re: Idea! Official DTA SRS, HTI, Covert, Hunter Thread
The <span style="font-style: italic">primary</span> difference is the rail...that and the Covert currently only comes in black (LOL). There may be other more subtle differences I'm not aware of. I don't want to steer you wrong, so getting an "official" DTA response is probably the best idea for that question. The barrel is not a difference, per se. I have the 22" 11-twist .308 barrel for my Covert in addition to the 16" 8-twist. The longer barrel uses the same bolt and works just fine in the shorter chassis. However, until the rail conversion/mod kits are available, the reverse is not true (16" barrel is too short for the full-sized chassis).
As far as scope swapping, sure you can do that. I currently have an NXS 5.5-22x50 in a LaRue LT-158 QD mount that has 10 MOA cant. But a lot of folks don't like to do that. The LaRue mounts are VERY good at return to zero when removed/replaced on the same rifle, but no QD mount on the planet is as stable as a permanent mount. Also, when swapping a QD mount scope between two <span style="font-style: italic">different</span> weapons, return to zero would essentially be on the order of a biblical miracle. Further, when switching between barrels in a single DTA SRS, you're still going to have to re-zero, regardless of whether you have a QD or permanent mount, same as when switching between different ammo loads in any single weapon. The POI will change with regard to the POA. The key is to know what the change is so you can dial in a good starting point after the switch. But it still won't always be dead on and therefore require some sighting in.
Although this is a small point, another plus for the DTA system can be if you're changing from one specific caliber to another, such as .308 to .243 for example. I believe those two calibers use the same bolt and magazines, so you save some $$$ over buying two complete conversion kits. The point being, when you consider the overall cost/other issues such as storage space, multiple gun cases and mags, etc., that go into having separate weapons of different caliber, the difference in the cost of a DTA as compared to multiple rifles is not as great as it may seem initially. Plus, it's the SAME rifle. No need to adjust to a different stock, scope placement, trigger pull, mag release location, etc. It's all the same.