I've also owned both. For me the AI was better in every regard. Sold the DT long ago. Are the DT mags any better these days?
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Top four "switch caliber" precision rifle systems?
- Thread starter Milf Dots
- Start date
No, mags are still the same. The AI mags are light years better. To me the AI is better in every regard except for barrel swaps and compactness.
Whenever I’m shooting, running that AI bolt gets me slightly aroused every time… running the desert tech bolt makes me wish it was like an AI.
Barrett MRADs switch in 60 seconds once you become familiar with the procedure. There may be some high end rifles that will match the MRAD accuracy, but I have not found any that will surpass the MRAD. Like them well enough that I have the full color rainbow in MRADs, including the MK22. Deployment Kit with 3 calibers. Have all the calibers ever offered by Barrett, incuding the discontinued 7MMRM, except for the 260REM.....too close to 6.5 Creedmore.
I like my desert tech. Im shooting a 6.5 creed and a 338 lapua. Super easy barrel swap. But after shooting a prs match with it I have bought a bartlein barrel in 6.5 creed. Factory barrel copper fouls like crazy. If the new barrel doesnt shoot like I like, Im building a prs rifle on a Masterpiece Arms chassis. Or something similiar that I can just order a barrel already chambered and headspaced. Screw it on and shoot
I have only dealt with Savage barrel nut and American Rifle company Barloc. The ARC system is easy to do in the field with nothing more than a Allen wrench and headspace gauge. Savage slightly harder with a barrel nut wrench required along with action wrench. I switch between several of the Creed variations-.22, 6mm, and 6.5. Lately I have found myself gravitating towards the 6mm for most everything, hunting hogs to whitetails and recreational target shooting, paper at short range and steel at long range, though I gotta say the .22 creed is a blast as long as the bullets stay together.
To answer the OP question,
To me
the Mrad is #1
With the AI a close second.
Since Barrett doesn’t accommodate lefty’s
Buy an AI and be happy
Very few people who buy an AI regret it.
And unlike a custom rifle, if you sell your AI later you won’t lose your a$$ on the secondary market.
To me
the Mrad is #1
With the AI a close second.
Since Barrett doesn’t accommodate lefty’s
Buy an AI and be happy
Very few people who buy an AI regret it.
And unlike a custom rifle, if you sell your AI later you won’t lose your a$$ on the secondary market.
Just use the ole Jacob method. Works on any custom with a shouldered barrel.
“YoU nEeD tO bE aBlE tO sWiTcH aT a MoMeNtS nOtIcE aS tHe MiSsIoN cHaNgEs.”
Why are you changing barrels in the field? Why not just take all the rifle you need?
The mags were a key factor in me dumping the DT. They were pretty bad, and back then they were struggling to produce a 10 rounder. I do give ‘em props for producing a lefty though.
I have a Zeus QC, an Impact and an Origin. Of the 3, the Zeus is the “easiest” and “fastest” to swap. No need to remove the BA from the chassis or remove the scope however, as has been stated, pre-fits aren’t crazy difficult either. Takes a couple more tools, more disassembly and a couple extra minutes, but if you know righty-tighty, lefty-loosey, you’re halfway there.
I’ve never had the need to quickly swap out a barrel or, swap one out in field conditions, so they all work for me. I do appreciate the fewer steps with the Zeus.
I’ve never had the need to quickly swap out a barrel or, swap one out in field conditions, so they all work for me. I do appreciate the fewer steps with the Zeus.
Because I was testing the RTZ of my barrels, rather than doing to range trips and it was easy to do.
As I said it probably not something I would do often (if ever) but if you don't need and action and/or barrel vice then its a possibility.
As above you can just put the offsets into you ballistic calculator, if you only hold for wind dial out the windage and the elevation offset will be addressed as normal.
My Delta Stryker has tool less zero turrets so it only takes 30 seconds to rezero if you know what the offsets are.
I know the offsets for 3 different rifles and 2 barrels on my Tikka (the base zero is from my 22lr). With a decent mount you can switch a scope all over the place and zero will be spot on. If i get lost or screw it I can just rezero the scope on my 22 and be back to a known starting point.
You might ask why I do this?
Simply out i like trying out different things and having multiple scope combinations is surprisingly easy and fun.
Also has advantage if I buy a new scope i can just zero it on my 22lr then know the offsets for a different rifle so don't need to waste centrefire ammo zeroing a new scope.
I have the AI-PSR (AXMC) and the AI-AT. I have had Dave Tooley make 9 different and the all shot 1/3 Moa or better. The barrel swap take less than a minute and return to zero is excellent. The AI is probably the easiest to get barrels for many smiths will spin up up one. Eurooptics and MileHigh shooting both stock a good selection of barrels.
Switching from 25x47 to 223 is only .5MRAD right for me. I don’t even have to touch my elevation knob.
No time at all. If I need to switch calibers, I just grab another rifle…
That's just it, I don't think anyone needs to change on the fly really, but taking the BA out of the chassis and all that goes with that(if you have some different rails and such it's that much more to do) isn't all that fun to do. All that stuff and always relying on a torque wrench (which I had a brand new one not click and I over torqued it) is why I wanted a Zues. You don't have to fool with all that. With my beloved kahles scopes, resetting the zero stop is so easy, I am not concerned about rezeroing after, even though I'm not actually sure it will need to be done. I guess when I get the action I will see.
Also, I was told by someone who knows very well what they are talking about "not to change barrels in the field ", do it at home or in the shop where there is not dust and all that. Just putting it out there...
And without the first barrel installed makes it super compact. With a folding stock, an even more compact box..
I need a new laptop my keyboard is quite worn so my braille keys are hard to feel.How about your spelling and grammar?
Well..,, this dude makes most of the Zeus barrels, so I'm gonna go ahead and listen listen to him... I'm not suggesting there will be some catastrophic results if changed in the field, just as a SOP, I'd do it inside.Don't change barrels in a field, huh? Hmmmhow about a meadow? Or maybe a peaceful glade? Tailgate of a truck?
But seriously. You and your confidant are overselling it a little. Common sense dictates that maybe you don't pull your bolt out in a sandstorm and lay it on the ground, but swapping your barrel out of doors is certainly not foolish.
Also, maybe use scope caps and throw a poncho over your rifle in a rainstorm. If it needs to be said...
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AI just because they are barrels available for it from many sources. You can easily get a vast number of barrel contours and calibers for both the large and small shank AI's
I don't get it.... I've not heard anything bad about terminus ever I don't think... I talk to Joel pretty regular and he's always been very upfront and straight up. Am I missing something?
Made an incorrect assumption? It's all good man, but it wasn't joel who said that.See what I did?
Factory multi caliber options
-AI
-MRAD
-Cadex
-DT
AI is an amazing system and has tons of support, making it the go to.
The MRAD should have been miles ahead of the AI in popularity but Barrett insists on neglecting the civilian market.
Don’t overlook Cadex, they build some serious next level equipment. But no support from other builders in the barrel side of things.
Desert Tech has pretty good support and seems a nice system, some of us just can’t get past the bullpup configuration.
Sako has the M10 but it’s like finding unicorn dust to get the barrel swaps new. Perhaps in Europe this is better.
Steyr has their multi caliber set up as well and it looks amazing but has the same issues as the Sako.
If you want to do your own, the custom action market is amazing right now you just have to pick which action and treat it like a multi caliber platform. ARC, Bighorn, Terminus, Seekins, etc., etc.
You can also do it as mentioned earlier with a REM 700, Savage, Howa, and use barrel nuts instead of shouldered barrels.
The complete systems offer a lot of value and are very quick to change out. The custom options offer infinite options but won’t be made to swap calibers without removing everything from the stock/chassis (yes there are exceptions but I’m speaking in a generic sense here). It is something you could build a custom around.
EDIT: I said Sig made a multi cal, I meant to say Steyr.
-AI
-MRAD
-Cadex
-DT
AI is an amazing system and has tons of support, making it the go to.
The MRAD should have been miles ahead of the AI in popularity but Barrett insists on neglecting the civilian market.
Don’t overlook Cadex, they build some serious next level equipment. But no support from other builders in the barrel side of things.
Desert Tech has pretty good support and seems a nice system, some of us just can’t get past the bullpup configuration.
Sako has the M10 but it’s like finding unicorn dust to get the barrel swaps new. Perhaps in Europe this is better.
Steyr has their multi caliber set up as well and it looks amazing but has the same issues as the Sako.
If you want to do your own, the custom action market is amazing right now you just have to pick which action and treat it like a multi caliber platform. ARC, Bighorn, Terminus, Seekins, etc., etc.
You can also do it as mentioned earlier with a REM 700, Savage, Howa, and use barrel nuts instead of shouldered barrels.
The complete systems offer a lot of value and are very quick to change out. The custom options offer infinite options but won’t be made to swap calibers without removing everything from the stock/chassis (yes there are exceptions but I’m speaking in a generic sense here). It is something you could build a custom around.
EDIT: I said Sig made a multi cal, I meant to say Steyr.
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That’s a great question - I’ve been trying to decide myself. For 338 lapua you’d probably be great either way.
The AXSR looks like the better option overall. The only thing holding me back on it is I read of a trigger issue. (https://precisionrifleblog.com/2020/08/16/accuracy-international-axsr-review/). From my understanding they’re using a small firing pin, which is great if you want to use it for any short action PRS stuff.
The MRAD looks good as well, but the cons are:
-Large firing pin.
-Barrel/conversion availability. One example, Barrett’s factory 308 barrels are 1/8 twist whereas I’d prefer 1/10. Same with their 300 NM. They have barrel maker kits for that though.
Does anyone have barrel conversions for the MRAD? I know it can be done, but I have't seen any gunsmith make barrels available for their rifles.
I have owned multiple Blaser R8's, Blaser R93's and Sauer 202s.
The utility of switch barrel is interesting, but it depends on what your actual specific use is.
I find that I'd much rather have individual dedicated rifles.
The utility of switch barrel is interesting, but it depends on what your actual specific use is.
I find that I'd much rather have individual dedicated rifles.
Sounds like they had a custom trigger in his rifle that might of caused that issue, he stated other AI's didn't suffer that issue. Would seem odd that would happen on that rifle you would think it could run in the dirt.
Us mere mortals have to get the tools out, clean the threads, disassemble the rifle, put on anti-seize, put the tools away, check headspace, clean up the work space, reassemble the rifle in addition to taking the old one off and putting the new one on. I also tend to clean the new barrel at that point just to get any shipping 'junk' out of the bore.
You know, do the whole job right the first time.
I didn't realize this was a NASCAR pit stop on the clock.
Barrett MRAD Pre-Fit
Proof Research has years of experience manufacturing barrels for the Barrett MRAD rifle which is known world-wide for its ruggedness and adaptability. Recently, MRADs fitted with PROOF carbon barrels chambered in 300 PRC were adopted by the United States Department of Defense. Barrels are easily...
proofresearch.com
Yeah.... I'll stick with the AI.Barrett MRAD Pre-Fit
Proof Research has years of experience manufacturing barrels for the Barrett MRAD rifle which is known world-wide for its ruggedness and adaptability. Recently, MRADs fitted with PROOF carbon barrels chambered in 300 PRC were adopted by the United States Department of Defense. Barrels are easily...
Damn those are expensive, the barrel extension obviously adds a lot of cost.Barrett MRAD Pre-Fit
Proof Research has years of experience manufacturing barrels for the Barrett MRAD rifle which is known world-wide for its ruggedness and adaptability. Recently, MRADs fitted with PROOF carbon barrels chambered in 300 PRC were adopted by the United States Department of Defense. Barrels are easily...
That alone makes the AI a better choice than the MRAD if you intended to have switch barrels.
So I watched Pete Gould switch barrels on a Surgeon CSR and there is no reason that you couldn’t do the same thing on a TL-3 or any other integral lug action for half the cost of an AI, MRAD etc.
