Desert Tactical Arms SRS Covert Rifle

Steve Johnson
by Steve Johnson

The Desert Tactical Arms SRS Covert Rifle was definitely one of the niftiest guns at SHOT Show. With a short 16″ barrel, chambered in 308 Win, .300 Win or .338 Lapua Magnum, this gun has an overall length of just 26″. It is tiny but powerful package.

My only concern would be firing a .338 Lapua Magnum with a muzzle brake so close to my hears. The blast must be ear shattering.

I heard some interesting news about Desert Tactical Arms at the show. Apparently they have sold sniper rifles to Georgia (the country).

UPDATE: I found a note I took when I was at the booth. DTA has been using .338 LM loads with a 300 grain bullets, being pushed at 2250 ft/sec and 250 grain bullets at 2500 ft/sec. That is slightly slower than a .308 Win., but with a much heavier bullet. Not bad for a 16″ barrel.

Steve Johnson
Steve Johnson

I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!

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  • Cory Cory on Jan 18, 2012

    It would have been nice if the OP would have included more info.

    The Covert and the SRS share the same chasis with a different forearm which can be swapped but you could put a longer barrel on the short Covert forearm.

    I bought the SRS in 338 which is a 26" barrel and an SRT Suppressor. It shoots like a dream with sub moa accuracy and a very nice adjustable trigger (mine is adjusted down to bench gun trigger pull weight). I load 300 gr Sierra hpbt, 250 hpbt and Gamekings. DS will actually discuss loads with you (not recommendations for the lawyers out ther) and their staff is very available and helpful.

    The 338 with muzzle break is loud as hell because it's a 338 LM. It will set off car alarms at your range. With a suppressor it is extremely fun and tame to shoot.

    Later I decided to buy the Covert kit with the short 308 barrel which is 16" 1 in 8 twist. It's short with a high twist rate to stabilize subsonic rounds. You can buy the 22" 308 barrel as well with a slower twist rate.

    I shot the Covert converted 308 rifle with THE SAME 338 Suppressor. Yes you buy the 338 suppressor and it will work on any of their barrels. I was shooting my semi-auto reloads that are not built for accuracy in .5 to .8 inch 3 shot groups at 100 yards (some fliers on longer strings to be expected with this ammo). This was during barrel break in and it was quiet with the 338 can. No doubt subsonic will be movie quiet.

    After barrel swap from 338 to 308, removing the scope and putting it back on, the first shot was not only on paper but 4 inches high and 2 inches left at 100 yds.

    Ergonomics are great and the bolt is smooth.

    One rifle to rule them all!

    I'm selling my Rem 700 PSS in .308.

  • Steve Steve on Oct 01, 2012

    I have seen videos on youtube with people doing testing on this rifle. One guy hit targets at 1100 yards with the Covert .308 and suppressor. The accuracy does not suffer with the shorter barrels, although velocity does drop about 4% from the 16" barrels vs the 22" barrels in the regular SRS. the nice thing about the Covert is you can have the short .308 with the .338 Lapua suppressor for closer ranged shots, and swap out for the full sized .338 Lapua barrel for your longer shots outward of 1600+ yards. This gun is amazing and I fully plan on getting one once I save up enough money. ^_^

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