Desert Tech WLVRN
The Desert Tech WLVRN, pronounced as "Wolverine", is a multi-caliber bullpup semi-automatic rifle and the successor of the MDRx.
The WLVRN was first showcased at the 2024 Shot Show convention in Las Vegas. The WLVRN aimed to improve various aspects of the MDRx platform that were determined to be limitations of the platform that were acknowledged to the public for the first time by Desert Tech several weeks before the announcement of the WLVRN at shot show.
Design details
The WLVRN was initially launched in three color options: Black, Flat Dark Earth, and Tungsten. Several calibers were supported through the various configurations possible including.223 Remington,.308 Winchester,.300 AAC Blackout, and 6.5mm Creedmoor, which barrel lengths ranging from Short-barreled rifle lengths to up to 20" in length, depending on the caliber. The WLVRN has a caliber quick change feature where it can easily swap between intermediate cartridges and full-powered rifle cartridges. The Colt CM901 is one of the early designs able to accept different cartridge categories on the same platform with a caliber conversion kit.The WLVRN is a multi caliber gas operated, conventional rotary bolt bullpup semi-automatic rifle. The gas system features a gas piston located above the barrel and a 6 position manual gas regulator.
The WLVRN is similar to the Desert Tech MDRx that it replaced when it launched in January 2024. The WLVRN's specific improvements over the MDRx include a machined trunnion into the receiver, new barrel/barrel extension design, replaceable feed-ramps, new bolt carrier design, updated charging handles, a new magazine release system, new enhanced sealing gas block design with the picatinny rail removed, new chassis, and removal of the forward eject system resulting in less gas required to cycle the action.
One of the big changes to the barrel and chassis system design was a change to use a 3 lug barrel clamping system, an increase from 2, with an increase from 65 in-lbf of force to 80 in-lbf of force resulting in a significantly more rigid barrel to chassis clamping system.
On April 11 2024, a design defect in the receiver around the front takedown pin, was discovered by the Military Arms Channel resulting in a movement between the upper and lower receivers. The Military Arms Channel asserted this would not affect performance of the rifle. On the MDRX live Q/A, Desert tech acknowledged the problem and is implementing a design change to correct the defect.