| WLVRN (Wolverine) | |
| Origin: | United States |
| Type: | Bullpup Semi-automatic rifle Battle rifle Carbine |
| Is Ranged: | yes |
| Designer: | Desert Tech |
| Manufacturer: | Desert Tech |
| Unit Cost: | $2499 (January 2024 for 5.56)[1] |
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| Action: | Short-stroke gas-operated piston, rotating bolt |
| Feed: | 10, 20, & 30-round box magazine |
| Sights: | Picatinny rail for mounting Picatinny mounted iron sights or various optical sights |
The Desert Tech WLVRN, pronounced "Wolverine", is the successor to the company's MDRx bullpup multi caliber weapon system. The WLVRN was first showcased at the 2024 Shot Show convention in Las Vegas. [2] The rifle 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 Rifle at shot show.[3]
The WLVRN was initially launched in three color options: Black, Flat Dark Earth (FDE), 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 (less than 16") to up to 20" in length, depending on the caliber. The rifle's can be quick changed to accept both intermediate cartridges and full-powered rifle cartridges on the same serial number platform (such as 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO magazines). 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 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 Rifle that it replaced when launched in January 2024. The WLVRN's specific improvements over the MDRx include a machined Trunnion (for retaining the Barrel Assembly) into the Receiver, new Barrel/barrel extension design, replaceable feed-ramps, new bolt carrier design, updated charging handles (from the 2023 MDRX updates), a new mag release system, new enhanced sealing gas block design with the pic rail removed, new chassis (to fill the hole where the pic rail was removed), removal of the forward eject system resulting in less gas required to cycle the action.[4] [5]
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.[4] [5]
On January 19 2024, A stand alone conversion kit the "MICRON" for the WLVRN was announced, featuring an extremely short handguard to minimize the rifle's overall length. These kits allow WLVRN rifles to be classified and regulated as a short-barreled rifle (SBR) requiring the user to apply with the appropriate regulatory bodies before install of the conversion kit in their rifle. This kit is similar to the Micron kit sold for the Desert Tech MDRx.[2]
On April 11th 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.[6] On the MDRX live Q/A, Desert tech acknowledged the problem and is implementing a design change to correct the defect.
Sabertooth
A military / Law Enforcement rifle similar to the WLVRN is the Desert Tech Sabertooth, featuring select-fire capabilities and several other design changes. However this rifle's select-fire capabilities are not interchangeable with the WLVRN and as such it is considered a separate firearm to be compliant with ATF select fire regulation requiring lack of interchangeability between firearms. [7]
Bullpup rifles