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Over the past couple months, I’ve had an opportunity to put 500 rounds down a Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle). This is the same rifle that was awarded the illustrious Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) contract, and now is being used by our elite special ops snipers. And for the first time, Remington Defense is making weapons like this available to civilians!
Update: 10/7/2015: EuroOptic.com already sold out of their first batch of Remington PSR Rifle Kits, but they have another 50 on order and those are scheduled to arrive this month.
The PSR Contract
The Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) program launched in 2009 as a US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) sponsored program, which supports Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps Special Operations Forces. The goal of the PSR program was ambitious: to replace all bolt-action sniper rifles used by special ops snipers with a single bolt-action rifle chambered for magnums like the .300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Mag.
USSOCOM defined an exhaustive list of requirements this new rifle must meet. You can read the full 34 page solicitation, but here’s some highlights:
- Sub-MOA accuracy from 300-1500 meters (just under 1 mile!)
- Able to be broken down into major components in under 2 minutes, and reassembled in under 2 minutes … with no change in weapon zero!
- Overall length of 52″ or less (excluding suppressor), with no single component being longer than 40″
- Weigh 18 lbs. or less (including loaded 5 round mag)
- Integral mil-spec picatinny rail on top
- Mean Rounds Between Failures (MRBF) of 1000 rounds
The competition for the PSR contract was a huge catalyst for innovation. Brilliant engineers worldwide pushed themselves to create more modular, adaptable, and lightweight rifles … all with uncompromising precision. Several companies fiercely pursued the large military contract worth up to $79.7 million for 5,150 rifles and almost 5 million rounds of ammo over 10 years.
The Remington MSR was awarded the contract in 2013. … I have to admit, I was disappointed when I saw the contract had been awarded to Big Green over companies like Accuracy International, Sako, and others who’ve built their reputation on extremely-accurate, super-high-end precision rifles. There have been major advancements in the rifle world since Remington’s M24 rifle! I was concerned we’d missed an opportunity to provide our troops with a modern weapon, and instead signed up for more of the same or an incremental improvement at best. I was wrong.
The PSR program was 100% focused on military use. Remington Defense says the rifle was “designed for operators, by operators.” But, the civilian precision rifle community is clearly benefiting from advancements and concentrated research and development this program set in motion. Do you want an accurate rifle that is modular and lightweight? How about a multi-caliber platform with unlimited extensibility options?
Recently, Remington Defense announced that for the first time ever, they’re making a limited number of these rifles available to the public. It’s a rare opportunity to own the exact same rifle carried by our military elite. And I was lucky enough to land one to test! Man, this is a fun gig! 😉
Remington MSR Rifle
Here are a few key features on the Remington MSR:
Action & Quick-Change Barrels
The XM2010 is a rifle similar to the MSR that has been issued to Army snipers since 2010, a couple years before the Remington MSR won the PSR contract. The XM2010 looks similar, but it’s based on a conventional Remington 700 action and doesn’t have interchangeable calibers. To be able to change barrels and calibers on-the-fly, Remington designed a completely new, billet titanium receiver. The MSR receiver features a barrel extension with steel-on-steel lock-up and barrel nut, which automatically sets the headspace for the selected caliber. It features a few other upgrades over a traditional Remington 700 action, like an integral recoil lug and ambidextrous bolt release.
The operator is able to change cartridges from 308 Win (7.62 NATO) to 300 Win Mag to 338 Lapua Mag in just one minute. The barrel nut is accessible without removing the handguard, which allows for barrel changes without disturbing optics or mounted accessories. The supplied torque wrench ensures that barrel installation is consistent, reliable, and repeatable. Remington Defense explains “This patent-pending system addresses the long range and medium range needs of the modern battlefield in one package designed to meet multiple emerging US armed forces requirements. The MSR is mission-adaptable with just a change of the bolt face, barrel, and magazine.” You perform a couple mods, and it’s like you have a different rifle, but with all the familiarities of the old rifle.
Remington points out “this adaptability also makes it possible for the operator to replace a barrel once it has reached the end of its service life without requiring the weapon to be returned to the depot or manufacturer.” No gunsmithing required … self-service at its best. When it’s time to rebarrel, how would you like to be able to do it yourself in less than 1 minute?!
It’s common for competitive shooters to build a “trainer” rifle, which is identical to their competition rifle, but chambered in 223 or 308 to reduce the ammo cost, barrel wear, and time spent handloading. I’ve seen some of the top shooters in the Precision Rifle Series use a trainer rifle to practice improvised positional shooting. In those cases, really consistent muzzle velocity, high BC, and tack-driving precision isn’t as important as getting lots of time behind the trigger sending rounds down range. But since the trainer (ideally) has the same stock, action, barrel, trigger, and optics setup as their competition rig, they’re still building a familiarity with the weapon that is directly transferable. Now duplicating your competition rig for a trainer setup can be an expensive proposition, but think about how the MSR addresses that scenario. You can use 308 ammo to train on the same exact weapon system you’d be using for 300 WM, 338 Lapua, or whatever other cartridge you chambered for. There is no need to duplicate anything, because the platform itself is so adaptable. This seems to be the way of the future for high-end rifles, and I predict many high-end rifles will have this kind of feature within the next 10 years. These rigs are such a large investment, and consumers would love for them to be more flexible. I sure wish my rifle could do that!
The match-grade barrels feature 5R rifling, and a Melonite (ferritic nitrocarburized) finish, which surface-hardens barrels. “The main advantage of Melonite barrel treatment is that it reduces friction in the bore and lessens bore surface wear, potentially extending barrel life,” explains AccurateShooter.com. The 308 and 338 barrels were both fluted, but the 300 Win Mag barrel wasn’t fluted.
The PSR kit comes with twenty Accuracy International (AI) magazines: Five 10rd 308 mags, five 5rd 300 WM mags, eight 5rd 338 Lapua mags, and two 10rd 338 Lapua mags. The magazines are all Teflon coated for positive feeding. The 300 and 338 are long-action cartridges, but the 308 is a short action cartridge. To address that, Remington Defense includes a “magazine block for training or field expedient use” that is used when firing the 308. It forces the shorter magazines to the front of the mag well, so you don’t have to cycle the bolt as far back to pick up that shorter cartridge.
The MSR bolt features 3 radial locking lugs, providing a shorter 60° bolt throw, compared to the 90° bolt throw on the Remington 700 and most custom actions.
Chassis, Handguard, Grip & Magazine
I’d heard the outrageous price tag of this chassis, and I’d almost made up my mind that there is no way it could be worth such an audacious price. $3,000 for a chassis?! But, over several weeks of handling the rifle … it slowly won me over. I like it. I like it a lot. I actually have to (reluctantly) say it could be the best stock or chassis I’ve ever handled. Now, is it worth 2-3 times more than an AI chassis, or a McMillan or Manners stock? I didn’t say that. Really, that’s up to you. But keep an open mind as we look at what it has to offer.
The chassis is a skeletonized and lightweight version of the Remington Accessory Chassis System (RACS), which “incorporates state-of-the-art operator-defined attributes such as a free-float tubular design and a fully featured front handguard section” (according to Remington Defense). Rumor has it that the military wanted further weight reduction over the original RACS, which topped the scales at over 6 pounds. So Remington stripped every stitch that wasn’t adding value, and named it the RACS Lightweight or RACS-LW model.
One great aspect of many chassis designed for the PSR contract is most folded toward the bolt-side of the rifle. This design means the bolt is captured when folded, preventing bolt loss during transport.
The bolt-side fold also means one side of the rifle is flat, minimizing overall profile and making it more convenient to transport. The graphic below shows a couple of popular folding rifle stocks, but notice how much thinner the profile is on the MSR.
The buttstock features a ton of tool-free adjustments. Adjustable features normally add weight, but the skeletonized design meticulously stripped everything that wasn’t absolutely necessary. Locking throw levers allows you to make quick, silent adjustments and then lock them in. It includes recessed flush-cup sling attachment points and accessory rails for other sling mounting points or a monopod. Not only is this design very functional, but from an engineer’s perspective … it’s elegant. It reminds me of a great quote from Einstein: “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.”
I’m personally not a fan of handgaurds, because I prefer to mount my scope as low as possible and don’t find myself running night vision or accessories on the fore-end of the rifle. But, I can certainly see how that can be important for military applications, and this chassis seems to have it all. The handgaurd has an octagonal shape, which allows you to attach accessory rails at any 90 or 45 degree angle. The PSR rifle kit includes several rails of various lengths that can be attached at any position on the handguard. The full-length top rail has 30 MOA of cant built-in, which allows you to make use of more of your scopes elevation adjustment for those long-range shots and allows an operator to install in-line night vision and other optics. The handguard features multiple sling attachment points, good barrel ventilation for cooling, a unique cable management system for electro-optics, and a flat bottom for increased stability while firing.
As an added bonus, the chassis can accept any AR-style pistol grip. A grip is a very personal thing, so the ability to easily swap to any of the 20+ AR grip designs is a nice touch.
Trigger
The MSR features the field-proven M24 SWS Trigger, which is spec’ed to be adjustable from 3.5 to 5 lbs. This is a two-stage trigger, and while some guys love those … I personally prefer a single-stage trigger. I don’t want to blow that out of proportion, because many accomplished shooters (like David Tubb) prefer a two-stage trigger. Here is an article on the advantages of a two-stage trigger. There is no right or wrong here … it just comes down to personal preference.
I measured the trigger pull weight on the test rifle to be 1.5 lbs. for the 1st stage, and then 3.0 lbs. to break on the 2nd stage. Wait a second … I thought it was adjustable from 3.5 to 5 lbs. Yeah, that’s what Remington has published … but they do say that is +/- 8 oz. I definitely measured a 3.0 lb. break on the rifle I tested, which I liked. I run my hunting rifles around that weight, because it seems like a wise balance between safety and light trigger that won’t pull you off target. The 2nd stage broke crisp, with no perceptible creep.
Materials & Coatings
Remington Defense claims the MSR has “optimal material selection for performance and corrosion resistance – this system truly never has to leave the battlefield.” That might sound like marketing fluff, but it seems like just about everything on this rifle has been meticulously covered with some kind of space-age coating.
- Teflon® coated magazines for positive feeding
- TriNyte® coated action and components are impervious to corrosion
- Cerakote Gen II coating on chassis, which is extremely tough and reduces the infrared signature of the weapon (Color: Pantone 30118)
- Melonite (ferritic nitrocarburized) barrel treatment, which increase surface hardness, wear and abrasion resistance, fatigue strength and corrosion resistance
Complete PSR Kit
Remington Defense is making the complete kit available, which includes a ton of cool accessories.
These kits are available from EuroOptic.com. (Update 10/7/15: EuroOptic.com already sold out of their first batch of PSR Rifle Kits, but they have ordered 50 more and expect to receive those this month.)
Here’s a list of what it includes:
- 3 Match-Grade 5R Barrels
- 27”.338 Lapua Magnum (1:9.5 twist)
- 24” .300 Win Mag (1:10 twist)
- 20” .308/7.62 NATO (1:11.25 twist)
- 20 Teflon® Coated Accuracy International Magazines
- 338 Lapua Mag: 8 @ 5rd Mags, 2 @ 10rd Mags
- 300 Win Mag: 5 @ 5rd Mags
- 308/7.62 NATO: 5 @ 10rd Mags
- 308 magazine block
- Bipod: Atlas PSR Bipod with American Defense Manufacturing AD-170S Quick-Detach Auto-Lock mount, plus many accessories for the Atlas bipod like leg extensions, ski feet, and cleat feet to make it adaptable to any terrain.
- Viking Tactics Sling: Padded, adjustable sling with flush cup attachments and quick-release features
- Tool Kit: Pelican 1120 case with spare firing pin assembly, torque wrench, Snap-On bit driver, 1/8″ hex bit, 3/16″ hex bit, trigger adjustment wrench, T15 TORX bit, 1/2″ socket, 3/8″ drive, stock adjustment allen wrench, spare screws, and cable clips
- Barrel Torque Spanner Wrench
- 7+ Accessory Rails: Includes the integral 30 MOA monolithic rail, 2 integral rails on the buttstock, and then 7 other user-adjustable rails that can be attached at various locations.
- 2 Recoil Pad Spacers: One 0.75” spacer and one 1.5” spacer allows you to extend the length of pull even further.
- Cleaning Tools & Kit:
- Dewey 40” cleaning rod
- Dewey adjustable bore saver rod guide
- 30 & 338 caliber-specific bore brushes, chamber brushes, jags, and patches
- Barnes CR-10 Copper Bore Cleaning Solvent, Shooter’s Choice MC #7 Bore Cleaner, Shooter’s Choice FP-10 Lubricant Elite, Shooter’s Choice All Weather High-Tech Grease Syringe
- Armageddon Gear Precision Rifle Soft Case: At risk of sounding like a complete fan boy, this is an awesome rifle case. It has a removable, full-length, zippered pouch inside, a lightweight shooting mat that can be laid out and attached to the case, internal MOLLE pouches for mags and other accessories, and backpack shoulder straps and belt. This just shows the level of detail and thought that went into every component of the kit.
- Hardigg Hard Case: Includes custom high-density foam inserts, and seems to be built like a tank. I’d bet it could be dropped out of a helicopter without damaging the rifle.
These are all the accessories, tools, and spare parts you typically buy over time to compliment a rifle like this, but this kit includes them all. And honestly, I’m impressed with the product choices. Someone clearly put a lot of thought into this. It’s all really high-end, field-proven gear, and the fact that most of the accessories are painted to match the rifle gives it a very polished, custom look.
I carried this kit with me on an annual trip to the NRA Whittington Center recently, and have to say it was very nice having everything I’d possibly need neatly organized in one case. On that trip, we shot for groups on their 1000 yard pits, rang steel targets out to 2228 yards, and competed in their sporting rifle match. I actually took several rifles, but I might have been able to do all that with this one setup. The only thing that would make it better is if I could trade the 308 barrel for a 6.5 Creedmoor. Now that would be one rifle to rule them all! (In related news, if you’ve never visited the NRA Whittington Center, you should! It’s the largest range in the world, and like Disney World for a gun guy.)
The price tag on the Remington PSR Kit is $21,000. Sticker shock? Consider a couple things: the kit includes around $2,000 of AI mags. I’d bet the Hardigg hard case it comes in would sell for at least $1,300 (here is a similar case, but it’s smaller and has less handles). The RACS-LW chassis alone sells for $3,000+. It includes 3 match-grade barrels that have all been Cerakoted and Melonited, and have the special shank to work with the quick-swap system. Those finished barrels could cost over $1,000 each. There is a $300 AAC Titan muzzle brake on each of the 3 barrels. The bipod and related accessories total up to almost $500. The soft case from Armageddon Gear retails for $440. There is a lot of gear included in the kit, and it adds up pretty quick.
Clearly most of us are priced out by this kit … but I’m sure Remington Defense isn’t expecting to sell thousands of these to civilians. This is a rare opportunity to own the same exact gear carried by our elite Special Forces snipers. I bet there are some guys out there that can appreciate that, and have the discretionary income to support such a purchase. I wish I was in that position! Hey, if you’re one of those guys … please buy two of them, and ship one to me in Texas! 😉
Results from the Field
I fired 500+ rounds of match-grade ammo from this rifle over a few months, and got really comfortable with it. As I mentioned, I was originally put off by the huge price tag of the Remington RACS-LW chassis, and may have started off a little biased against it because of that. But it slowly won me over, and at this point I have to admit that it could be the best stock or chassis I’ve ever handled. I don’t say that lightly. Now, is it worth 2-3 times more than an AI chassis, or a McMillan or Manners stock? Honestly, that’s up to you. I personally own custom precision rifles with AI, Manners, and McMillan stocks … and I’d gladly trade any of them for this RACS-LW chassis.
The barrel-swap system was surprisingly quick and easy. The first time I did it, I bet it took me 5-10 minutes, because I was reading the instructions, fumbling around, and checking and double-checking everything. By the end of my review, I’d swapped cartridges over 10 times and could do the full conversion in less than 1 minute.
If you take a barrel off and put the same barrel back on, there is no change in Point Of Impact (POI). But, in my experience, if you change cartridges, there is still only about a 2 MOA POI shift, and that seemed repeatable. That made it quick and easy to rezero the rifle after a cartridge change. Only seeing a 2 MOA shift between cartridges surprised me, because you could have that much variation with different bullets and loads of the same cartridge. So that’s pretty impressive, and says a lot for the precision and repeatability of Remington’s barrel swap system. I hope it catches on and becomes more widely available.
When it comes to precision, the MSR easily delivers on the sub-MOA requirement for the PSR contract. I fired over 20 five-shot groups at 100 yards with the Remington MSR. I measured all those groups, and the results are shown below.
| Cartridge | Avg. Muzzle Velocity (fps) | Best 5-Shot Group (MOA) | Avg. 5-Shot Group (MOA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 308 Win Federal Premium Gold Medal 168gr Sierra MatchKing | 2564 | 0.37 | 0.61 |
| 300 Win Mag Applied Ballistics Munitions Match Ammo with 230gr Berger Hybrid | 2715 | 0.52 | 0.70 |
| 338 Lapua Mag OCD Match-Grade Handloads with 300gr Berger Hybrid | 2710 | 0.33 | 0.53 |
| All Barrels | 0.33 | 0.61 |
I always try to add a disclaimer to results like this by saying that I’m not a benchrest shooter. Although I’ve never used a true benchrest rifle, the smallest group I’ve ever recorded with a tactical rifle is 0.1 MOA, and I’d bet that is about what I’m capable of holding. I’m a practical/tactical shooter, so I’m sure some guys could coax better precision out the MSR. But I loathe reviews that speak in generalities like “it shot well, as long as I did my part.” That isn’t helpful. So I always try to provide real numbers over a large sample size. The numbers above are based on 110 rounds sent downrange, so hopefully they adequately represent what you can expect from the Remington MSR.
One downside of the PSR kit is the case with all the accessories is a back-breaker. The case does include everything you need, but the downside of that is everything you might need is in one case. 😉 I weighed the whole package with rifle to be 103 lbs! I’m a younger guy and still fairly active, but I struggled to lug this case around. I loaded up the rifle and case several times to head out to the range, and I found myself dreading to lift it into my truck. It does have wheels, which worked great if I was on somewhat even terrain. Of course, you could always break out the lightweight soft case if you just needed the rifle. The rifle itself weighed in at 14.8 lbs with the 300 WM barrel (before optics, unloaded, no bipod), which is relatively light for this kind of precision rifle. But if you have to lift or carry the whole kit very far, you might hire a Sherpa to help.
Take-Aways
One of the things I got most excited about through this review was knowing that we’re equipping our soldiers with amazing weapons like the Remington MSR. It is a very capable weapon system that I’d love to own personally. I’ve never said that about the M24 or M40. Don’t get me wrong … those are legendary workhorses that I have immense respect for, but the MSR is very different.
The thought that went into every detail of the MSR and related kit is staggering. I know this review was long-winded, but I could’ve pointed out several more cool features on each aspect of the rifle. I had to stop myself from turning this into a book! Well done, Big Green. Thank you for serving our soldiers well.
We’ve already started to see innovation set in motion from the PSR contract infiltrate down into precision rifles intended for the civilian community. I’m sure we’ll continue to see those advancements be integrated into more mainstream rifles over the next few years. While your guess may be as good as mine, I’d bet we see more chassis-based precision rifles.
I also hope to see the industry move to multi-caliber platforms. We put so much money into our precision rifle rigs, and each of my rifles have a slightly different feel and purpose. I’d love to have one primary setup that I could swap out with a 6mm or 6.5mm cartridge for competitions, then a 7mm magnum when I’m hunting, and a 338 when I’m wanting to really stretch out beyond a mile. Would it be possible to do all that with one rifle? The MSR makes me want to believe that could become a reality. If that were to happen, it could usher in an era where barrels were more standardized.
It’s funny to think how the firearms industry was where the concept of interchangeable parts was born, but most custom rifle barrels are still fitted to a specific action, one at a time by highly-skilled gunsmiths. When I need to rebarrel, I usually have to ship off the action it will be used on. What if barrels became so standardized they became a commodity you could buy pre-chambered at your local gun shop like you’d buy a scope or trigger? What if the operator could order a barrel online, receive it within a couple days, and screw it on themself in just a minute or two without worrying about headspace? The MSR could be a precursor of what’s to come. And if so, the future looks bright. 😎
You think they are going to make just the rifle available? Cause I know with the new Ruger Precision that just came out is killing it in sales and is super hard to get.
I’m not sure, Kurt. The only place I know of that has actually received any of these is EuroOptic.com, and believe they only had the full kit. It would be cool to have the option to just buy the rifle, because the accessories do add up. In the same breath, it is cool to have all that stuff that not only matches the rifle, but was specifically built for the rifle and has all the space-age coatings and stuff on it. But having the option to just buy the rifle would be nice, and would likely put the price of the MSR within grasp of a few more shooters.
Thanks,
Cal
the best gun for the money!!! i love mine in .308
It’s a great rifle. I just posted a review of that rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor: Ruger Precision Rifle Review. It’s very different than the Remington MSR … but it’s still a great rifle. But the MSR is a better system handsdown. Is it worth 5-10 times as much? I don’t know. But it’s EASILY twice as good. I handled both quite a bit, and can say that with confidence. They’re very different systems.
Thanks,
Cal
Thanks for the review. I was excited about this rifle since it’s inception, but I since I work for a living I had to get by with an AI. I am glad to see that it exceeds the expectations a lot of people were probably expecting. I’m honestly surprised this is a Remington branded rifle, but just like the Ford Mustang getting independent rear suspension, I’m glad to see Remington come through with a modern bolt action rifle.
Hey, John. The AI is certainly no slouch! Glad you enjoyed the review. It’s a sweet rifle.
Thanks,
Cal
Its been a long time coming, about 400 years to get away from furniture makers designing gun stocks. All metal guns have only been around since the 1890’s , Germany took it a step closer in WW-1 and big advances in WW-2. Ergonomics became a science and time was needed for the public and military organizations to consider the benefits. Then Gene Stoner in the 1950’s put guns into general circulation that were all plastic and metal. My monolithic tube rifle has a single aluminium tube from the forend to the butt, all one piece! The next transition will be cost effective mfg like my design for general usage at much lower cost than conventional stocks. The future is here.
I believe it, Mitchell. I think your spot on. I appreciate your well thought-out comment. The MSR is the cutting edge, and part of the high price stems from the all the research, development, and testing that went into it. But in the not so distant future, they’ll find ways to make systems like this more affordable and cost effective, and it will begin to enter the mainstream. It’s like when plasma and LED TV’s first started to come out … they were $10,000+. Today I can buy a 50″ LED TV for $379, but it just took some time to get there.
Thanks,
Cal
It’s much easier to buy/use such over priced weapon systems when money is coming out of tax payers pocket.
Flame away but that doesn’t change the truth
Hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and there is some truth to that comment. I certainly can’t afford this rifle, but the government can. I’m also not using my rifles to keep people from killing fellow soldiers, so they probably should have a nicer rifle than me. Personally, I’m okay paying for that. But to each his own.
Thanks,
Cal
Nice informative write up. As usual, good job.
Thanks! I put a lot of work into trying to organize all the information. There are a lot of cool things about this rifle, and I hope this post inspires other manufacturers to integrate similar features into their chassis.
Thanks,
Cal
I’d def love to see a 3 lug Remmy with switch barrel capability and more robust extractor.
Amen! I second that motion.
My first thought after reading this excellent piece, “Are our new female combat troops going to be able to carry this heavy rig?” I don’t think so.
Great review as always Cal.
Hey, I’ll admit it was a struggle for me to carry this kit! The hard case seems to be mostly designed as a deployment kit, so that you know you have everything you need when you leave the country or move to a different base. You’d likely leave the big case back at base camp, and just pack the rifle on a mission. Most of my precision rifles are heavier than this one, so the weight of the rifle itself wasn’t a problem for me and probably wouldn’t be for some females. … But the 100+ pound kit was a struggle. My wife is a CrossFit nut, and is in outstanding shape … but she probably couldn’t get the full kit into the back of my truck or carry it very far. It’s just the truth of it, so you make a good point.
Thanks,
Cal
I propose a timeshare type of purchase. Each week would only cost $403. If you want more than a week, you pay for a many as you would like.
Ha! There is probably a market for that when rifles get this expensive. You might be on to something!
Thanks,
Cal
CAL,
Great job as usual… I’m already invested in the Desert Tec SRS-A1 Platform with the .338/.300 and 6.5CM barrels. If I come up with an extra $21K I’m sure this would be added to my list but for now the SRS-A1 platform serves me great at half the price. Have you ever use the Desert Tech system?
Keep up the great work!! I enjoy reading your Blog…
Best Regards,
Mark
I haven’t, but it does look interesting. The huge shank on the Desert Tech system seems like it would aid in accuracy. Maybe I’ll test one at some point, along with the Accuracy International AXMC. Both look pretty interesting. I just did this as a one-off review, because I had the opportunity. There is a lot of lore around the rifle that won the contract, so I jumped at the chance to try it out in the field.
Thanks,
Cal
Cal:
Convergent evolution? The Blaser R8, Mauser M03 and the Sauer S404 are all switch barrel rifle systems. with some stock interchangeability within each system. The S404 can be broken down within a minute, or so, into forend, barrel, buttstock and the bolt face changed. The S 404 also has provision for four trigger weights easily selectable by the user. As one might expect they do not give these beauties away.
As always an interesting blog.
Rick
That’s an interesting way to put it, Rick. There does seem to be several approaches all headed in this direction, but all of that seems to be shotgun-style takedowns related to hunting rifles. The PSR contract just motivated the precision rifle community to wake up and get in on the action. It’s clearly something that consumers would love, so it’s exciting to see so much R&D being thrown in that direction. In the end, it’s us as the shooters that win.
Thanks,
Cal
$21,000? Let’s see… I’ve got a $20 and a few singles in my wallet. That puts me just three orders of magnitude away from one of these. I’m almost there!
(Even at that price, EuroOptic says they’re now out of stock. I don’t know how many they had, but apparently there are at least that many people out there willing to write that check. Wow.)
That’s exactly what I thought! They’re about to have one more slightly used PSR kit back in stock, since I’m about to send this one back. So try to save up quickly! If I know those guys, they’ll try to get more in stock if/when they can.
Thanks,
Cal
I honestly don’t think this gun is an intelligent investment. It really doesn’t do more than a normal precision rifle. hell that $2,000 action you posted about earlier (it was the best of shot show I believe) with a nice chassis would be maybe $5,000 and maybe $7,000 after a scope. That is $14,000 you are spending basically so you can switch calibers. Now here is the thing, if you built it in 338LM, and even if you had to spend $8 a round (which reloaders know is being VERY generous) then you can buy 1750 extra rounds.
So you can still get all the practice you want on the actual combat rifle, with the actual combat ammo (instead of a practice round like 308) and still spend less money.
Adith, I think you’re talking about a PSR-style prototype American Rifle Company had at SHOT Show 2014. It was very cool, but they never got it past the prototype stage. I’m anxiously awaiting the day that rifle goes into production, because it was a very cool setup. But you can’t buy one, so there is no telling what it’d sell for. I’ve tried to talk Ted out of the prototype, but he hasn’t relented yet.
If you could compare this to something, it might be the Acurracy International AXMC. MC stands for Multi-Caliber, so that is their multi-caliber platform. It can also “be reconfigured to .300 Win Mag or.308 Win in minutes simply by changing the barrel, bolt and magazine/insert,” according to AI. EuroOptic.com also sold some of the only AI AXMC PSR Rifle Systems, and those were $18,200 … and didn’t include all the mags and accessories that come with this kit.
The most affordable version I know of that is comparable to the Remington PSR kit is the Desert Tech’s SRS-A1, but that setup is just over $10,000 for a base 338 Lapua rifle, conversion kits (barrel, mag, bolt) for 300 Win Mag and 308 (like the Remington PSR kit comes with), and all of the spare magazines. Once again, after you add in the hard case, tools, muzzle brakes, and all the accessories … you’re still talking over $13,000.
This is just expensive stuff. The multi-caliber platform is an emerging technology, so we’re paying the early R&D costs that went into developing the weapon. It’s like LED or plasma TV’s that sold for over $10,000 when they first came out. Now you can buy a 50″ LED TV for $380 at Walmart. This stuff will come down to, but if you want to be an early adopter … you’ll pay a high price tag.
I totally understand if you don’t think it’s worth jumping on board yet, but there isn’t anything close to $5k that is like this. The closest I’ve personally seen to something comparable with this kit would start around $13k. And notice that EuroOptic.com has already sold out of their first batch of PSR kits. So there are guys out there that disagree. “Is it worth it?” is a relative question. It has a lot to do with your individual circumstances. Something is worth it if its benefit exceeds its cost – to you.
As always, Adith, I appreciate your thoughts.
Thanks,
Cal
The YT videos “do not exist” anymore on your American Rifle article.
I wonder if a larger competitor bought him out to make him go away?
I went and checked that post, and all the videos worked for me. Ted’s still pumping them out as quickly as he can. You might try again in another browser or different computer, because they’re still there.
Thanks,
Cal
It looks like a combination of the Remington 770 and the Savage 110 rifles. Plus an expensive stock.
Can’t say I didn’t think the same thing! That Savage barrel nut system is just a great idea. Next thing you know we’ll see floating bolt heads on these high-end rifles! 😉
Thanks,
Cal
The price of the Remington Defense PSR is eye watering but probably in line with other similarly equipped PSR rifles from Sako, Barrett, Desert Tech and Ballista, to name a few.
And that is what makes the Ruger Precision Rifle such a screaming deal – and also why I can’t seem to get my hands on one. If anyone has EVER seen this much demand for a new rifle I’d like to know what rifle that is because, as a certified geezer I’ve never seen it.
Do I think a .308/7.62 X 51 Nato Rem. PSR could outshoot a .308 Ruger Precision Rifle? Nope. Not from the reports I’ve seen in print and on video of the RPR.
I agree, the price does seem inline with similar “full PSR kits” from those other companies.
And that Ruger Precision Rifle looks very interesting. The reports from the small group of gun writers that got to try the first rifles did say they experienced groups in the 0.6-0.7 MOA range. That is similar to what I experienced with this rifle, and I can’t say that is the first time I made that connection. The flexibility and completeness of this platform is what sets it apart (along with the nostalgia of owning the same rifle and kit the best snipers in the world use) … not the accuracy. But the Ruger Precision Rifle certainly has a lot of cool features itself, and pretty much covers the bases regarding “deal-breakers” for me in a precision rifle. For around $1000-1200, the Ruger Precision Rifle appears to be a huge value … if you could actually buy one. That might be a while. I’m hoping to do a budget precision rifle field test next year, and if the stars align … maybe I’ll be able to include the mythical Ruger Precision Rifle! 😉
I appreciate the thoughts! Certainly a great point.
Thanks,
Cal
Cal,
Great review. This is the first since I signed up to get your blog notices. I like your organization and style.. This is a great firearms system, and I foresee that the concept will revolutionize the long-range shooting and hunting industry. The quick change barrel system is great, and probably a beneficiary of Gene Stoner’s work in the ’50’s designing the AR series. The 60 degree bolt lift will be a great help in follow up shots, and in conservation of energy during extended shooting sessions. With a proper amount of trigger time, I can see that the shooter need not disturb his firing position while manipulating the bolt.
I’m impressed, keep up the good work!
Thanks, Jim. Glad you found it interesting. I try to present things in as organized and straight-forward of a manner as possible. I put as much effort in the presentation and content as I do testing this stuff out in the field. Both are important!
And, yeah … Remington
stolewas inspired by many designs, like the Stoner and others. That is the American way. Integrate the best ideas from different places, add a little bit of original innovation, and voila … a better product emerges. If you want to see a great example of that, you should read my post on the Mausingfield action … it’s the same song, different verse.I did appreciate the 60 degree bolt. I don’t know why that isn’t more common than it is. Many custom actions are spin-offs or improved versions of the Remington 700, so that is probably where it stems from.
I appreciate the feedback!
Thanks,
Cal
Hi,
Thanks for this nice revue 🙂
On the picture ” The evolution of sniper rifle ” with M24, I see something connecting the suppressor with the chassis.
Is it anti-mirage band or leach to avoid to lost suppressor ?
Regards
Bernard
I mean ” suppressor cover “
It’s just a tether that connects to the mirage cover to the chassis, so the mirage cover isn’t lost or accidentally launched off the front of the rifle during a long string of fire. Ask me how I know! No joke: Last weekend, I shot my own mirage cover off the front of my rifle. I saw something land in front of me a few yards and it was smoking. I didn’t know what it was for a minute. Yeah, these guys came up with a clever way to keep that from happening. I recognize the genius of it now! You can still slip the mirage cover back over the barrel to let the suppressor cool … you just can’t slip it off the end of the suppressor without unclipping that tether.
Thanks,
Cal
Interesting, it mean they put the thick edge, who usually block the suppressor cover, on the over side.
Very cleaver idea, thanks for the tips 😉
Ya gotta remember this eye-watering price is a complete KIT with 3 barrels, 3 bolt heads and 3 sets of magazines plus tools. Ask Desert Tech or Ballista for that and see what the price is.
But this kind of pricing also tells us why the Ruger Precision Rifle, at $1,300. MSRP, is so wildly popular.
If they were available I imagine two extra barrels (from Ruger) would run an extra $600. and no additional bolts or magazined required since they all use the same cartridge case necked to different calibers.
Thanks for THE most detailed review on the Rem. PSR I have ever seen.
Good point. I added up what it would be for the Desert Tech setup, and it would be $10k for a base 338 Lapua rifle, conversion kits (barrel, mag, bolt) for 300 Win Mag and 308 (like the Remington PSR kit comes with), and all of the spare magazines. After you add in the hard case, tools, muzzle brakes, and all the accessories you’re probably looking at over $13,000.
The Ruger Precision Rifle can’t support big cartridges like the 300 Win Mag or 338 Lapua like the MSR, so they’re completely different animals. Both are precision rifles, but you can’t compare a multi-caliber, quick-swap platform to one that is just a traditional, single caliber setup.
Thanks,
Cal
Looks like a Savage or Ruger maybe Savage was right all this time with there 110 design thanks for the revue nice work.
Gene
Yes, sir! I know some people have a low-brow view of Savage, and I even used to be that way. But I think they are a pretty innovative company, and turn out a high-value product. Big Horn actions is a custom action manufacturer, and they’ve even integrated the floating bolt head design that are featured on Savage actions. That seems like a pretty good idea as well.
The seller for me on the barrel nut design is that you can buy a great barrel like the Shilen Select Match that is threaded, chambered, and ready to install for just $340!!! Normally a barrel blank costs that much, and you still need to pay a competent gunsmith an additional $300-400 to thread and chamber it. Plus you have to send off your action for them to set the correct headspace. It’s just a hassle … but not on a Savage. I hope the whole industry heads in that direction. I know if they do, the cost to replace a barrel will drop dramatically. Who wouldn’t be excited about that?!
Thanks,
Cal
I have a Desert Tech HTI 50BMG (love shooting an 18lb middle launcher)
I’m looking at the DT SRS
I desperately want to see a head to head shootout between Desert Tech, AI & this new Remington.
I would be shocked if DT wouldn’t send you a rig to test.
That does look like a cool rig. I bet Desert Tech would send me one. EuroOptic.com offered to send me one too. I just didn’t have time to do a really in-depth comparison, which is what I know that would turn out to be. My personality wouldn’t let me do a surface-level comparison! It’s a character defect, honestly.
I did see Bryan Litz’s video recently where he mentioned that he uses a Desert Tech HTI for several big bore calibers … that got me thinking about one myself. That is pretty sweet to be able to change out to different big calibers that easily.
I’ve heard of great results when it comes to precision on the Desert Tech SRS. They have that huge barrel shank, so I think that design would lend itself well to serious precision. I may test one at some point!
Thanks,
Cal
Thanks,
Cal
If you don’t want to shell out for the entire MSR package but like the chassis and general setup, you could get a similar build by Drake Associates – using the same chassis, albeit without the switch barrel facility or custom titanium receiver.
https://www.drakeassociates.us/tag/remington-msr/
On the other hand, if you want just the chassis, I believe the people behind the MSR (and the drake associate above) are Cadex Defence, your friendly neighbours from the north. Their Dual Strike chassis is essentially the same as that used on the MSR. If you chose the Lite Strike, you could plumb in a Savage action to give you the same switch barrel capability, especially if using savage aftermarket barrels (e.g. Shillen, Lothar Walther, Pac Nor, Bartlein etc…).
Any of the above would be WAAAAY cheaper than getting the MSR and you probably wouldn’t notice any dissernable difference in performance.
Yeah, Konrad. Thanks for the tip. If it doesn’t have the new receiver and do the switch-barrel feature, it is actually an XM2010 (not a MSR). That is a different gun that the army has been issuing for a couple years before the PSR contract was awarded (starting in 2010). I’m sure it is a very capable rifle, but it is very different from this one, in that is has the heavier chassis and just uses a standard Remington 700 action and not the new one with the barrel extension and nut, 3 lug bolt headspaced on the barrel, etc.
And I’m not sure Cadex is behind the Remington RACS chassis. That is the first time I’ve heard someone suggest that. They look similar, but I’m not sure there is truth behind that. EuroOptic.com actually sells the RACS chassis by itself for around $3k. I know cost is very, very close to that number. They are making almost nothing on that chassis. I’ve handled the Cadex, and while it’s nice … it isn’t as nice as the RACS-LW, in my opinion.
But those are good options if you like the idea, and willing to compromise on a few things. Most of us would have to do that to be able to get anything like this, so I appreciate you putting thought into how that might play out.
Thanks,
Cal
Hi Cal,
Yes you’re right that the Drake Assoc. build isn’t the MSR but the XM2010. However, comparing the chassis as demonstrated by Drake Assoc. on their XM2010 and the RACS chassis available through Eurooptic, they do appear to mightily similar.
I don’t believe the MSR chassis (as is being made available through Eurooptic) includes the same switch-barrel/locking nut system as used on the actual MSR, but appears to be the same system as used by the XM2010.
We’ve also got to bear in mind that the MSR has a unique receiver, it’s not your regular R700 LA. What i’m not sure about are the dimensions of the MSR receiver – does it use the standard R700 LA footprint or not? If not, then the chassis from Eurooptic can’t be the ‘true’ RACS chassis, because if it were it would likely need modification to fit a standard R700 LA. My point is that seeing as the MSR receiver won’t be made available to the public, we really only have the option to build a XM2010 clone anyway…unless a lucky few dig deep into their pockets for the real MSR (chassis, receiver, switch barrel system, bolt heads etc).
Personally, I wouldn’t go either XM2010 or MSR – primarily due to costs. You could potentially create a Rem/Age build, turning your XM2010 into a switch barrel gun, but I think there are better options.
Instead, i’d build on an Eliseo RTM tube stock, with an additional RTS lower. I’d plumb in a Defiance Machine Mutant action. With the inbuilt recoil lug, you’ve got all the head-spacing you need and it’s easy to switch barrels. The integral recoil lug and stock design is super strong and distributes recoil beautifully. Add to the list a couple of Defiance bolts and you’ve got yourself an entire platform that can handle anything from .308 class all the way up to .338 Lapua / .338 Norma (my preferred) simply by switching the barrel, lower receiver, bolt and mag. A hell of a lot cheaper than the MSR, more versatile than the XM2010 and just plan ole bad-ass. Simples. 😀
Oh, I forgot to thank you Cal for all your hard work on this blog. I truly respect your approach to providing impartial and transparent research for all of us to benefit from. Many thanks – keep up the good work!
Konrad
Seems like good logic to me on all accounts. I’ve certainly looked at the Eliseo tube guns. Last year I watched a competition at the NRA Whittington Center where several guys were using those. They seem similar to the Tubb T2K rifle, which was super-modular and customizable to fit the shooter. That does sound like a sweet setup.
And thanks for the kind words about the content. I put a lot of work into this, so it’s good to hear you appreciate the approach. Luckily I don’t have to worry about making money off this website. I’m just looking for the truth and trying to provide good information.
Thanks,
Cal
I have a real issue with the Canadian designed/made Drake chassis on the XM 2010. The forearm diameter is too large, necessitating the cheekpiece be raised quite high. Take a look at the Pic. rail on the receiver and note how hight it has to be to line up with the rail on the forearm. WHY is that forearm diameter so large??
Other military tactical chassis style rifles with tubular forearms do not have this problem. My Ruger Precision Rifle does not suffer from this design flaw either, thankfully.
Oh, your preaching to the choir on that one. I totally agree! I actually don’t like handguards on my precision rifles, because I want to mount my scope as low as possible. That’s just how I prefer to shoot, although I know that is just a personal preference thing. It did feel like I was way above the boreline on this rifle.
I think Remington MSR need to explain this.
http://www.law360.com/articles/537520/remington-cadex-hit-fnh-with-firearm-ip-suit
Adjustable stock has been there decades, and now become Rem and Cadex’s IP.
Very interesting. Looks like Remington and Cadex are suing FNH, claiming “FNH’s popular Ballista rifle infringes their patented modular firearm stock system.” It looks like Cadex has a US Patent on a modular stock. View the patent.
But, just because you have a patent doesn’t mean it is defensible. I agree that many of the features mentioned on the patent seem to have prior art, but there may be some substance to the claim. I’m not an attorney, and don’t care enough to read the whole thing. But it is interesting to see that they are going to try to keep others from designing similar chassis.
Here is the official complaint if anyone wants to dig into it deeper.
Thanks for pointing it out. That’s the first I’ve heard of it.
Thanks,
Cal
WOW that rifle is heavy and expensive! 15lbs even with a titanium receiver.
The Ruger PR with the 24′ tube is 10.6lbs, and $14,000 less. I wish the Ruger had stainless or melonited barrels.
Yeah, it’s probably not fair to compare this to the Ruger Precision Rifle. The Remington MSR has a butt-load of features and gear the Ruger doesn’t, plus the intended audience is completely different. Now you personally might not value those features or gear, but that doesn’t mean nobody should.
And you must be newer to the precision rifle world, because 15 pounds is very standard for a precision rifle. The two rifles I use most of the time weigh 16-18 pounds with optics. I’d bet 90% of the rifles used by the top shooters in the Precision Rifle Series weigh within 2 pounds of the Remington MSR. Here is a look at the test rifles I used on my recent muzzle brake test, and 3 of the 4 represent a typical precision rifle.
Many shooters prefer the added weight, because they find they shoot better with a heavier rifle, felt recoil is reduced, and the barrel doesn’t heat up as quickly or have a tendency to walk or have a significant cold bore POI shift. There is no way I’d ever buy a magnum rifle that weighed under 12 pounds, especially not a 338 Lapua. I shot around 60 rounds of 338 Lapua out of this rifle one day, and I was pretty sore the next day. I was wishing it weighed about 5 pounds more that day. I think 14.8 pounds is probably the right call on this rifle.
I’m not saying the Ruger Precision Rifle isn’t a good one … I just don’t see it as a valid comparison with this kit. This kit includes $2000 of AI magazines! That is more than that whole rifle. I’d bet one of the Remington MSR barrels cost as much as the whole Ruger rifle … and the kit comes with 3 barrels. The RACS-LW chassis alone costs 3x as much as the Ruger Precision Rifle, and it’s in a different league. They’re very different.
Thanks,
Cal
Cal,
This is not the exact place for this request but likely the best on your site.
Another innovative rifle just out is the Ruger Precision Rifle, available in .243 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, and .308 Win.
Could you do a review of it soon? Given the demand for it, it seems there are a lot of folks interested in it.
Eric, I’d love to review that at some point. I’ve heard those are really hard to get, but I will try to get one when I get time. I definitely have heard lots of guys talk about that rifle (as you can see here), so I’d love to try one for myself. If I can’t get one to test, I might just try to buy one. I know they’re a hot commodity right now.
I LOVE the idea of an entry/mid-level precision rifle at that price point. I’ve been trying to convince a few gunsmiths to try to do a more production/efficiency focused build, because when you make 50 identical rifles all at once, you can strategically use high-value components, order those in bulk to get a discount, and then do the work in a way that is really efficient for labor. If you do that, you could dramatically reduce the cost over a full-custom build. There just needs to be something between a Remington 700 or Savage rifle ($500-800) and a full-blown custom rifle ($3,500-5,000). I’m glad to see that someone has jumped in and tried to fill that gap with what looks to be like a very capable and well thought-out platform. I can’t wait to put it through the paces, and see what it can do.
Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks,
Cal
Would love to hear your thoughts on the AXMC. I just got a .338 Lapua AXMC myself and the Remington MSR looks like its long lost twin lol.
While I haven’t personally fired any rounds through an AI AXMC, I love the idea of the rifle and I’ve handled one at SHOT that seemed really well made. I think “really well made” is all AI does! 😉 There were a few PSR kits sold from AI that were essentially the same kind of setup. I think EuroOptic.com had an exclusive deal on them, and had them priced at $18,200. That had all the spare barrels and most of the same stuff the MSR kit came with.
I hope to do a 338 shoot-out at some point, and that is definitely one that I’ll include in the mix. But for now, I can only say that I lust over it! It looks like an awesome rifle. AI doesn’t do things halfway, so I’m sure it’s a good one.
Thanks,
Cal
i have seen a few Barrett MRADs, one FN Ballista and a SAKO TRG 10.
I think I’d take the Barrett over the others for several design reasons, seeing how the quality is virtually identical.
The Remington Defense MSR has a Canadian Cadex designed forearm that is much too large in diameter which puts the rail too high and forces you to raise the cheekpiece quite high. This bigger difference between the bore center and scope center is also not the best setup.
I’ve actually heard the Barrett didn’t meet the accuracy requirements for the PRS contract. An industry insider told me that in testing USSOCOM only found a handful of candidates that were able to meet the accuracy requirements they outlined for the contract (1 MOA or better out to 1500 meters): Remington MSR, Surgeon Rifles PSR, Accuracy International AXMC, and the Sako TRG. I haven’t heard that first-hand from USSOCOM sources, so I can’t say that for certain. But I’ve never heard this guy exaggerate or make stuff up. His company actually sells all of those rifles, so he would have no reason to exaggerate one way or another.
I do agree about the downside of the huge handgaurd. That’s why I said in the article “I’m personally not a fan of handgaurds, because I prefer to mount my scope as low as possible and don’t find myself running night vision or accessories on the fore-end of the rifle.” But that is just a personal preference thing, so I tried not to overstate it. Some guys feel more comfortable with the scope a little higher up, and if you get the right scope height in the ballistic calculator … it doesn’t matter either way. I’m like you though, and I think the lower the better. It just feels more stable and compact to me, and I think I shoot better like that.
I appreciate the input!
Thanks,
Cal
It is only a matter of time before they start breaking this kit up in financially manageable chunks and then my wife won’t have to guess on what to get me for Christmas for years to come 🙂
Thompson center is already making this idea a reality with the dimension. 5R rifling,10 calibers to choose from and I can swap caliber barrels in a couple of minutes tops.
Comes with tools to to the swap and barrels are under 300 each.
TC says and guarantees moa accuracy and after about 20 rounds mine are all sub moa.
How long the barrels last is still unknown to me.
Thompson Center is ahead of the curve here and in an inexpensive platform. I had a hard time up here in Canada sourcing barrels and bolts however my sporting goods store had them on sale so I bought 2.
I’ve got a 243 and 7mm rem mag. I’ve gotten out to 800 yards with the 7mm so far tagging milk jugs.
So you are right. The future is in one platform with switchable barrels and Thompson center has it first inexpensively to the consumer.
I had never heard of Thompson center prior to buying this rifle. Now I’m not buying anything but.
Hey, Everett. Thanks for sharing your experience with Thompson Center. I agree that they seem to be on to something, and I really appreciate their fresh approach. Most people just copy what everyone else is doing, or try to offer some incremental improvement. It’s rare to see someone vary from the norm much, but I love it when I see a company thinking differently and taking risks. They do seem to offer some similar benefits to the Remington MSR. However, there is still a huge difference between this rig (and related kit) and a Thompson Center hunting rifle. That’s why there is a 5 digit difference in price. But I always tell people “Don’t fix happy.” If the Thompson Center rifle is working for your application, I’d stick with it! I have heard a lot of good things about their rifles. They may be the lowest cost route to a sub-MOA rifle, and it’s good to hear someone with experience with one say they believe in them. Thanks for the comments.
Thanks,
Cal
A+ job on this review, Cal. Thorough, detailed and clear. Why do I feel like I’ve just watched a Lamborghini drive by?
Ha! Thanks, Jeff. That is exactly what that felt like! I actually haven’t heard it said any better than that. I sent this rifle back to EuroOptic.com a few months ago … and I’ve missed it more than I thought I would. I got to handle the new Ruger Precision Rifle recently, and shoot a hundred or so rounds out of it, and that made me appreciate this rifle even more. Especially the handgaurd and butt stock. It is just in a different league. Now it costs more than 10x as much, so it should be. But there just isn’t a lot to improve upon with the Remington MSR. I’ve handled a lot of high-end rifles, and even personally own 1 or 2 that cost over $10k fully outfitted … but this is a great one. I’ve certainly thought about buying one more than once. It is very expensive, but it is also very, very nice. And all the gear that comes with it is top-notch. I also think this a very limited opportunity to personally own a rifle like this. It is a Lamborghini! 😉
Thanks,
Cal
Great review. Wish most reviews were this good. ALMOST made me go to EuroOptics and check it out. ALMOST (ok well I actually did and as of today it is in stock! DAMN). It is a pretty amazing system and probably worth the price with all that is in that system and have to admit that the idea of owning something that is top military is appealing, but not for 21K lol. I did go down the AI AXMC route in 338 Lapua. It is an amazing weapon but does not live up to the MC tag since it is impossible to get any caliber or even barrel changes for that system. So I would not even put it in the same class for that reason (very disappointing I might add). Although as an standalone 338 LPM it is great. I just love the feel and fit of AI AX rifles I recently acquired the DT SRS-A1 and it is truly a neat gun system with amazing accuracy but takes a LONG while to get use to the bull pup design. Primal Rights has some custom barrels for it that seem to have bench rest accuracy (I have one in 6.5 Cred on the way) and am very excited about that.
Bottom line is I think the DT system has as good or better accuracy, and incredible variation and choice in calibers and for me seems to be the way to go. It just takes time to get use to. For sure though it is not a Lamborghini! So I will say that if I had 21K and I didn’t know what to do with it…my first choice would be buy the PSR for sure. It is an amazing weapon system. Thanks again for a great review, enjoyed drooling!
Thanks, Steve. This review was a lot of fun. I definitely miss that rifle. I’ve thought about saving up for one, but I’m with you … $21k is a lot for a guy like me. I’ll probably buy a 338 this year, and I’m leaning towards one of those setups you mentioned. I didn’t realize the AI AXMC didn’t have other calibers readily available. That certainly makes the Desert Tech rifle more attractive. I’d love to hear what you think about the 6.5 Creedmoor setup in that platform. That’s the combo I’d be interested in as well. Let me know how it goes!
Thanks,
Cal
I just moved to Dallas Texas.
I do have a Desert Tech HTI chambered and 50 BMG that I would be willing to lend for to you for testing.
I appreciate the offer, but I’m a little overwhelmed with stuff to test at the moment. I definitely can’t take on another project at this point. But I do appreciate the generosity.
I know Bryan Litz uses a Desert Tech HTI for a lot of his big bore testing. It seems like a solid choice for those huge cartridges. Here is a video he published recently talking about using the HTI: http://youtu.be/jUDFsynxZvo
Thanks,
Cal
Great review; very thorough, and the more info the better!