Steyr AUG, American-Made

A3?

Easy to take down and clean, fits me pretty well as far as ergonomics on a bullpup go, weak ammo like Tula require using the "dirty" setting on the gas regulator, trigger pulls straight back like a 1911's and at least on mine the trigger really is pretty decent.

I like the rifle, it feels good, points good, shoots good, but when I look at that plastic stock a little voice in the back of my head says "You paid $$$$ for that?".

Thats been my experience, and those are my impressions of the AUG.

There's a very informative thread over on pistol-forum.com about the AUG. Long story short, I want one...

http://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?14062-Let-s-talk-about-the-AUG

They are great rifles. Heavier than many ARs but better built too.

BSW

I'm seeing little mention of the integral 3x optic version I have here.
They don't hold up, or people just prefer dots?

Click to expand...

A lot of the posters on that thread are either LE or train LE, and for CQB/entry type stuff I would assume 3x is slower than a 1x with a dot. On the other hand, 3x would be more usable at range, so it probably depends on what your primary purpose for the rifle is.

Brian,
The weight's an issue.
Two pounds heavier than my Colt 6720 Lightweight AR.

Click to expand...

Yep, by eliminating the operating rod, using the bolt and bolt carrier as the gas piston, and using aluminum forgings the AR type rifles can have a very low weight compared to pretty much anything else.

The advantages the AUG gets you are:
1) Better balance for for shooting. By placing the action and magazine in the rear of the rifle the majority of the weight is supported by your shoulder and strong hand. It's much easier to shoot offhand or hold one-handed than a conventional rifle.

2) Compactness. A 20" barreled AUG is 31" long, or about the same length as a 16" AR. But I can swap barrels on the AUG in seconds and make it 4” shorter, w/o NFA silliness. With NFA papers the AUG can be made ever shorter.

3) Handiness. Working in and out of vehicles or around barricades really makes the bullpup concept make sense. The shortness and balance combine to make the bullpups easy to deal with on confined settings.

3) Build quality/durability. The AUG doesn't use steel sliding on aluminum anywhere. The op rods run in steel bushings, the barrel trunnion and front support are steel, and the gas piston and CH bushings are steel.

4) Ergonomics. The AUG is set up for use when wearing bulky gloves or mittens. The trigger guard, CH, and mag release are all easily accessible no matter what's going on.

5) Adjustable gas system. My AR won't cycle Tula when it's cold out. I pretty much have to live with that. Neither will the AUG on the standard gas setting, but I change change to the adverse setting and get function back.

6) Gas system design. Because the gas piston is up front, away from the action, the recoiling parts stay cleaner and wetter than an AR.

BSW

I previously had an MSAR AUG years ago. About 3 years or so back, I wanted a SCAR. But, the crazy gun rush had prices up to $3k. So, I bought a Steyr AUG A3 instead (as, I liked the MSAR AUG I had before that).

I also had two PS90s before, so I am familiar with bullpups. I didn't like the Steyr AUG A3 as much as I thought I would. The one I had needed some rounds thru it each time before it shot nice groups. Others I was with speculated that the barrel needed to heat up... I don't know...

On my 3rd trip, the screws holding the optic rail shot loose. I had to blue locktight them down and rezero my optic. That was rather annoying. I had never seen this mentioned by anyone on a Steyr AUG thread on any forum.

Steyr also had to replace my stock, as there was a fitting issue with the buttplate.

And, as stated - I was used to bullpups, but the trigger just sucked. I liked the PS90 trigger more than the one on the AUG.

In the end, I sold the A3 AUG and got the SCAR 16S I wanted originally - as the prices had returned to normal.

There was some clearances on A3 model AUGs like a year or so back... Pretty good prices. I personally would not buy one again. I like my SCAr 16S much more

I really like my A3 SA. Have Leupold Mk 4 CQ/T on it.

I've had a Sig 556, AK47, AK74, AR, and this is a rifle I love.

I have the A3 with the Vltor receiver and factory 1.5x "donut of death" scope (rail mounted, not integral). The trigger pull as received wasn't bad and improved considerably with the addition of a Neu-Trigger.

Honestly, I have this rifle simply for the hell of it. It's an interesting design and fun to shoot. The compact size makes it easy to transport to the range.

Mine was 100% reliable . . .until a snapped extractor roll pin turned it into a single shot. Steyr USA sent me another pin and the rifle was back up and running. No idea how rare that extractor pin issue is, but I guess anything can happen once.

No plans to get rid of the rifle.

Thanks, Ship.
That screw thing is why I'm preferring the integral scope versio

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the factory optic is mounted to the receiver with screws also.

I removed my rail to go with a high rail from PJ. All of my screws were well secured with locktite and required considerable force to break loose.

BSW

briansmithwins said:

They are great rifles. Heavier than many ARs but better built too.

BSW

Click to expand...

Better built than which $1800 AR15? Not all AR's are built to minimum specifications, I can't imagine how well built an AR15 at the AUG's price might be.

Thanks, Ship.
That screw thing is why I'm preferring the integral scope version.

The SCAR's a conventional length gun, which I already have in 16-inch ARs & AKs.
A main feature of the AUG is its compacticity, and if I leave the AR as a main defensive gun it'd only be for something handier.

Click to expand...

This is true. It is a traditional length gun. Still, I like the SCAR better. I wouldn't buy another AUG, honestly. I don't wanna start spending $ on trigger mods, personally (there are a couple of options for the AUG). They make a $300 aftermarket trigger for the SCAR too, but the factory trigger is good enough for me. Especially compared to the AUG

Concurrent with deciding on it, I'm also working on a Beretta Storm in 9mm with Aimpoint for something of the same role (after replacing most of the guts).

Beretta's longer, but about three pounds lighter.
AUG has more range, and magnification.

Click to expand...

Well, I have a Beretta CX4 9mm as well. I just bought a piston based Rock River AR, and I was considering selling it. But, I decided to keep it afterall.

Now, I have the exact same model optic on my SCAR, Rock River PDS Carbine and my CX4 carbine - a Mepro 21 reflex sight with the triangle reticle.

The CX4 is really not that great of a longer range weapon. I just rezeroed my CX4 and shot the new Rock River at the same time. I can do a 1" group with 8-9 shots at 50 yards with the 5.56 Rock River PDS. At 50 yards, the 9mm CX4 will do 3-4" groups.

At 25 yards, the groups make 1 big hole and the gun shines. But, it's really a 50 yards or less weapon.

At 100 yards, I get 8-9 inch groups. I can put 90% of the rounds in a 12x12 shoot N C target, but not in what I would call a collective group. I was a bit disappointed in this, and it wasn't until AFTER I had it that I asked on the Beretta Forum and I was told this was the norm for most owners (at 100 yards).

Now, the plus - it's a GREAT home defensive weapon. It's short and light. And, I like the ergonomics. But, it's not a battle rifle, and don't expect to use it at 100 yards. CAN it hit a target at 100 yards? Yes, but you would be much better off with something in 5.56.

So, it depends on what you plan to do with the gun (it's use)

Yea, as long as you understand that, it's fine. I almost bought a Kriss carbine years ago (45 ACP carbine). But I was reading the accuracy people were getting at 50 yards. I was disappointed... Figuring that if a high end 1911 can shoot a better group than that, why can't an expensive carbine (the Kriss is NOT a cheap carbine). It just seems that pistol caliber carbines (no matter what the caliber is) can't do what a rifle cartridge can do.

Brian,
Have not disassembled yet, but I see no visible external screws attaching the scope/housing to the receiver.
Inside?

Click to expand...

Yep. Field strip and pull the barrel. Flip the receiver upside down and you'll see the screws through the bottom. Metric 4mm if I remember right.

BSW

I've no AUG yet but am saving my pennies for a new green A3.
My question is optic ? I'm looking at a mini ACOG. Larue has the 1.5x16 ACOG with green reticle with mount for about 1100$. I thought about a 3x ACOG with RMR also but the simplicity of the MINI ACOG appeals i.e.. one place to look, large field of view and 1000$ cheaper. Gun will be run at Gunsite tactical carbine class intent is SHTF and home defense weapons well as buy 200% politically incorrect gun.

The 1.5x ACOG is a great little optic. Almost as fast as an Aimpoint close up, but just enough mag for better target ID at longer ranges. All in a tiny and light but robust package.

BSW