Desert Tech MDRX
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 410 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.95 kg
- Introduced
- 2020
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Desert Tech MDRX (Micro Dynamic Rifle X) is a multi-caliber bullpup semi-automatic rifle that represents the evolved successor to Desert Tech's original MDR platform. The MDRX's bullpup configuration delivers a remarkably compact overall length of just 26 inches with a 16-inch barrel in 7.62 NATO, making it one of the shortest full-power battle rifles available. The rifle uses a gas piston operating system with a manual gas regulator and a seven-lug rotating bolt that locks into the barrel extension, providing reliable cycling across a wide range of ammunition types and suppressed/unsuppressed configurations. A key feature of the MDRX is its multi-caliber convertibility -- with barrel and bolt changes, the rifle can be configured for .308 Winchester, 5.56x45mm NATO, 6.5 Creedmoor, or .300 Blackout using factory conversion kits and included tools. The impact-resistant polymer outer shell provides durability while keeping weight to under 9 pounds.
The MDRX achieves what few rifles can -- full .308 Winchester power in a package shorter than most 5.56mm carbines. Its multi-caliber capability means a single rifle can be converted between four calibers in minutes with just included tools.
The MDRX is the refined production version of the original MDR, incorporating user feedback to improve the trigger, ejection system, and overall reliability. The forward ejection option allows fully ambidextrous operation without concern for brass ejection, while side-ejection kits are also available. The rifle uses standard AR-10 (DPMS/SR-25) pattern magazines in 7.62 NATO configuration and standard AR-15 STANAG magazines in 5.56 NATO configuration. The 16-inch barrel achieves a 26-inch overall length -- comparable to an AR-15 with the stock fully collapsed, despite firing full-power 7.62 NATO ammunition. The Micron variant features an 11.5-inch barrel for ultra-compact configurations.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Desert Tech
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- United States
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2020
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 410 mm
- Overall length
- 661 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.95 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.45 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke piston
- Firing mechanism
- Rotating bolt
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Barrel
- 4140 steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 790 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 2965 J
- Effective range
- 600 m
- Maximum range
- 3500 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Bullpup configuration- Multi caliber convertible
Forward ejection
Ambidextrous controls
Adjustable gas regulator
Picatinny rail
Suppressor ready- Tool free barrel change
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 3.95 kg | 5.04 kg | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 661 mm | 1116 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Barrel lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 410 mm | 559 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 20 | 15 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the Desert Tech MDRX
How much does the Desert Tech MDRX weigh?
The Desert Tech MDRX weighs 3.95 kg (8.70 lb) empty and 4.45 kg (9.81 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Desert Tech MDRX?
The Desert Tech MDRX is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, 5.56x45mm NATO, and 6.5 Creedmoor.
How many rounds does the Desert Tech MDRX hold?
The Desert Tech MDRX holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Desert Tech MDRX?
The Desert Tech MDRX is 661 mm (26.0 in) long overall, with a 410 mm (16.1 in) barrel.
Who makes the Desert Tech MDRX?
The Desert Tech MDRX is made by Desert Tech (United States). It was designed by Nick Young.
When was the Desert Tech MDRX introduced?
The Desert Tech MDRX was introduced in 2020.
How does the Desert Tech MDRX operate?
The Desert Tech MDRX uses a gas operated short stroke piston action, and its firing mechanism is rotating bolt.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
82%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/desert-tech-mdrx' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "desert-tech-mdrx", "name": "Desert Tech MDRX", "manufacturer": { "id": "desert-tech", "name": "Desert Tech", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 2007, "website": "https://www.deserttech.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "updatedAt": "2026-04-05 22:24:37", "version": "dc44519af9814e839b3ba8ee4edc5de5ae211ae9c34cc65c9af57c91e0a8e3bd" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "US", "year_introduced": 2020, "barrel_length_mm": 410, "weight_empty_g": 3946, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke_piston"}