Preview – The Long And Short Of It

Desert Tactical Arms’ Second-Generation Multiple-Caliber Precision Rifle

Desert Tactical Arms (DTA) is a relative newcomer to the tactical precision-rifle market, but in the nearly five years since Nick Young founded the company, the company has developed one of the most versatile rifle platforms on the market. He founded DTA with the intent of bringing to market a uniquely modular rifle capable of meeting the needs of shooters across the tactical spectrum, from civilians to law enforcement snipers and military personnel. Even to this day, there is stiff competition in that arena from legendary companies, such as Accuracy International, Barrett, and Remington. However, Utah-based DTA decided to approach the platform in a different way that would set its rifle apart from the others. The result of that effort was the debut of the Stealth Recon Scout (SRS).

The first thing one notices with the SRS is its bullpup configuration. In a traditional bolt-action rifle, the trigger assembly is directly below the action, making the system simple by placing the firing hand close to the bolt and allowing for the trigger to be tuned to perfection. In a bullpup configuration, however, the action is moved to the rear, behind the trigger and main grip assembly, efficiently filling the space between the firing hand and shoulder of the shooter. The primary benefit of this configuration is that it allows for a more compact overall length without reducing the length of the barrel.

For example, a standard configuration .308 Win rifle, such as a Remington 700 with a 22-inch barrel, will average about 40 inches in overall length, while a bullpup SRS with a 22-inch barrel is about 32.5 inches long —  nearly a foot shorter without sacrificing barrel length. However, the compact configuration of a bullpup rifle necessitates connecting the relocated trigger assembly to the action in a way that retains as much of the quality trigger feel and control found in a traditional bolt-action configuration as possible.

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