When Desert Tech introduced the Stealth Recon Scout (SRS) at Shot Show, it immediately caught the attention of SOCOM, leading them to rewrite their requirements for precision rifles: they reduced the weight limit, reduced size limit, and required multi-caliber systems that before then was unheard of.

The SRS was about to rewrite history...

When I set out to design the SRS, I really wanted to solve a whole list of problems that conventional rifles had. This mainly included their excessive length and weight, which together threw off the balance of rifles. In general, they did not have very good ergonomics either and did not fit well with me without adding attachments and accessories, which only made the gun heavier. Factory rifles didn't have the precision accuracy that we wanted and were not very compatible with the modern accessories at the time.  

Another issue was that of shooting various calibers; for example, if a shooter wanted an elk hunting rifle (which meant shooting expensive ammunition often), and wanted to shoot more than one cartridge, the only option was to buy more than one rifle. And if they bought two rifles, they had to buy two scopes, two bipods, two cases, and two full kits, which made things really expensive really fast.

So how did we resolve these issues? 

First, to solve the length issue, I decided to make the SRS a bullpup rifle and put the action and magazine behind the pistol grip. That allowed me to still retain a full-length barrel and full power, all in a package that was nearly a foot shorter than other rifles.

To reduce the weight of the rifle, the model that I followed was to understand the essence of what was absolutely necessary, and eliminate anything that was unnecessary. The majority of the rifle's construction is lightweight aircraft grade aluminum and lightweight polymers, and I only utilize steel components where I absolutely needed to have them; This bare rifle as a result weighs about ten pounds (10 lb), whereas most other rifles weigh over fifteen pounds (15 lbs).

By adopting a bullpup configuration, the SRS also solved the balance issue. With the majority of the weight being in the barrel, we just slid the barrel to the rear inside of the receiver so it would no longer be barrel-heavy. It put the balancing point right at the front of the trigger guard, the most perfect balance of any precision rifle that I have ever held.

We provide custom grade accuracy with all of our precision rifles and enhance it through match-grade barrels, a solid barrel-mounting system, and the multi-caliber capability of our rifles. We went so far as to make our own ammunition and our own muzzle devices so that we could guarantee every single incremental piece that was a part of our system maximized accuracy at an extreme level. Our precision and length-solving innovations also helped to resolve the ergonomic and compatability issues by designing ergonomics into the gun rather than adding them on as clunky expensive heavy afterthoughts. This included the instalation of sling mounts, a handguard with extended rail space for said accessories, comfortable grip and mobility of the gun, and with its short bullpup design. The SRS rifles could be compatible with any night vision or thermal clip-on attatchment, as well as a multitude or more accessories.

I also addressed versatility and high cost of rifles by designing the SRS to be multi-caliber, allowing users to swap calibers with conversion kits instead of having to purchase multiple rifles. Now if somebody wanted to buy a base rifle with a training conversion kit, maybe a 308 Winchester, and want to graduate to a .338 lapua, all it takes is buying a conversion kit. It drops right into the chassis, and they don't have to worry about buying an entirely new kit or a new scope.

Shooters get to use all of the same things, which also resolves the training problem of having to learn multiple rifles. The best riflemen in the world train with one rifle, so in essence by fixing all the problems that existed with conventional rifles, SOCOM was enthusiastic about the solutions that we came up with. This innovative approach led SOCOM to implement similar solutions across the board, pushing the industry toward more compact, modular, and efficient precision rifles. The SRS continues to be a benchmark in precision rifle design, offering users unparalleled balance, accuracy, and modularity.