Austrian Hammer: Steyr AUG USA A3: Long Term Review
Oct 14, 2014 14:17:37 GMT
scbrian and Browning35 like this
Post by Gingerbread Man on Oct 14, 2014 14:17:37 GMT
The Austrian Hammer: Steyr AUG USA A3
By GBM
WASR 10/63 and 7.5" SBR 5.56 AR-15 vs Der Wunderbar Austrian Hammer
The Austrian AUG is a bullpup firearms desgined and fielded in the late 70's. It's intermittently made it's way into the US in various forms and at various times. It was a quantum leap in design breaking wildly from the tradition rifle or carbine design. AUG is a abbreviation for Universal Army Rifle and it fits the design parameters it set out to meet. It can be configured to be a light machine gun with an open bolt operation and 24" barrel, a DMR with a 6x scope and a 24" barrel, an assault rifle with a 1.5x scope and a 20", a carbine with a 16.5" barrel with a flat top rail, a CQB weapon with a 13" barrel and a flatop as well as 9mm versions. The Austrians also wanted a rifle that could easily be reconfigured and repaired in the field, the AUG achieves this design goal. It breaks down into 5 major components those being the barrel/gas system, the receiver, stock, bolt carrier group and trigger pack. Each of these groups can be 100% changed between every rifle. It's also designed to have the barrel removed and stowed for easy transport for vehicles and paratrooper use.
This specific long term review and overview is address the latest and most common US version, the AUG A3. IF you haven't heard the AUG doesn't meet import requirements and Steyr has moved to Alabama to manufacture weapons for the US market. Steyr wasn't sent up to produce the AUG in the US so they farmed the manufacture of most of the components out to US companies, chiefly the barrel and receiver.
Steyr is quite particular on who they would allow to produce these components and wants to maintain high quality. They tasked FN to produce the barrel which is one of the best barrel makers on the planet. This version is equipped with a cold hammer forged double chromelined and 1/7" twist. The receiver is made by Vltor then over stamped with the Steyr logo. The flashhider is a US made component as well and frankly, lacks the excellent Steyr finish as it's only deep blued. These are the only components I can confirm or Steyr will admit to being US made however just by 922r there have to be more yet I can't find any marks indicating they're US made. Meh.
I purchased this rifle earlier this year once the price stabilized post-PANIC AT THE DISCO. Equally, the price of mags came down from "If you can afford an AUG you can pay $50 per mag" to a reasonable $15-20 level. Maybe someone realized no one buys expensive stuff with expensive accessories to show off anymore. I've always wanted an AUG but $3500 for a used one is just stupid. I guess someone finally thought, hey, if I lower the price people will buy these and I'll make more money. Yeah, Walmarts been doing that for years.
I paid a patriotic $1776 for the rifle and promptly bought 30 mags then a few more here and there. I had a US made MSAR but there are serious issues with QC on those rifle and there is little support from the company that can't get it's stuff straight. I'm happy to have unloaded it as none of the parts interchange with the AUG. All AUG models and generations interchange their parts. You can even upgrade the A1 to the A3.
Now, the AUG doesn't like steel case ammo unless the gas system is set to adverse conditions. The AUG was designed to run with full power ammo. Contrary to popular thought, steel case is not optimal. There isn't anything wrong with your rifle if it will not run steel. Simply turn the three position system to adverse. Do not set it on grenade, ever. Well, unless you're launching grenades, but if you are, call me.
To date I've got about 500 rds of factory brass ammo and reloads through the rifle with no issues what so ever. The action remains very clean and is easily serviceable. Accuracy is dependent on the ammo however 77 gr OTM will group around 1" and 62 gr FMJ will produce approx. 3" groups which is on par with the AR-15. Granted, no a tremendous amount of ammo however I've run about ever kind of brass off the shelf ammo surplus ammo through the gun without issue.
By GBM
WASR 10/63 and 7.5" SBR 5.56 AR-15 vs Der Wunderbar Austrian Hammer
The Austrian AUG is a bullpup firearms desgined and fielded in the late 70's. It's intermittently made it's way into the US in various forms and at various times. It was a quantum leap in design breaking wildly from the tradition rifle or carbine design. AUG is a abbreviation for Universal Army Rifle and it fits the design parameters it set out to meet. It can be configured to be a light machine gun with an open bolt operation and 24" barrel, a DMR with a 6x scope and a 24" barrel, an assault rifle with a 1.5x scope and a 20", a carbine with a 16.5" barrel with a flat top rail, a CQB weapon with a 13" barrel and a flatop as well as 9mm versions. The Austrians also wanted a rifle that could easily be reconfigured and repaired in the field, the AUG achieves this design goal. It breaks down into 5 major components those being the barrel/gas system, the receiver, stock, bolt carrier group and trigger pack. Each of these groups can be 100% changed between every rifle. It's also designed to have the barrel removed and stowed for easy transport for vehicles and paratrooper use.
This specific long term review and overview is address the latest and most common US version, the AUG A3. IF you haven't heard the AUG doesn't meet import requirements and Steyr has moved to Alabama to manufacture weapons for the US market. Steyr wasn't sent up to produce the AUG in the US so they farmed the manufacture of most of the components out to US companies, chiefly the barrel and receiver.
Steyr is quite particular on who they would allow to produce these components and wants to maintain high quality. They tasked FN to produce the barrel which is one of the best barrel makers on the planet. This version is equipped with a cold hammer forged double chromelined and 1/7" twist. The receiver is made by Vltor then over stamped with the Steyr logo. The flashhider is a US made component as well and frankly, lacks the excellent Steyr finish as it's only deep blued. These are the only components I can confirm or Steyr will admit to being US made however just by 922r there have to be more yet I can't find any marks indicating they're US made. Meh.
I purchased this rifle earlier this year once the price stabilized post-PANIC AT THE DISCO. Equally, the price of mags came down from "If you can afford an AUG you can pay $50 per mag" to a reasonable $15-20 level. Maybe someone realized no one buys expensive stuff with expensive accessories to show off anymore. I've always wanted an AUG but $3500 for a used one is just stupid. I guess someone finally thought, hey, if I lower the price people will buy these and I'll make more money. Yeah, Walmarts been doing that for years.
I paid a patriotic $1776 for the rifle and promptly bought 30 mags then a few more here and there. I had a US made MSAR but there are serious issues with QC on those rifle and there is little support from the company that can't get it's stuff straight. I'm happy to have unloaded it as none of the parts interchange with the AUG. All AUG models and generations interchange their parts. You can even upgrade the A1 to the A3.
Now, the AUG doesn't like steel case ammo unless the gas system is set to adverse conditions. The AUG was designed to run with full power ammo. Contrary to popular thought, steel case is not optimal. There isn't anything wrong with your rifle if it will not run steel. Simply turn the three position system to adverse. Do not set it on grenade, ever. Well, unless you're launching grenades, but if you are, call me.
To date I've got about 500 rds of factory brass ammo and reloads through the rifle with no issues what so ever. The action remains very clean and is easily serviceable. Accuracy is dependent on the ammo however 77 gr OTM will group around 1" and 62 gr FMJ will produce approx. 3" groups which is on par with the AR-15. Granted, no a tremendous amount of ammo however I've run about ever kind of brass off the shelf ammo surplus ammo through the gun without issue.
