At the SHOT show, I dropped by the Steyr booth, long and behold they had 2 Steyr AUGs on displayed, one black and the other in an unique camo pattern. I asked the staff about the AUG and was told the following. Steyr in partnership with Saber Defense-they will make the bbl for Steyr will be offerring the AUG in the American market. The staff said the AUG had been in the market for the past 10 months.
The AUG will be offerred for mil/leo and civillian market. A discount will be offerred to mil/leo. I handle the AUG and WOW, this will be a hard choice for those in the market for a bull pup design rifle. A conversion kit will be offered for L/H shooters as well as the ability to use AR style magazines. Earlier in the day I was at the MSAR booth, very tough choice, but I liked the original AUG. The staff did not mention any pricing sorry. I was given a very nice post card from Steyr with the picture of the AUG A3 SF.
The AUG has been available for quite some time now and there have been some good discussions here about the merits of the Steyr and MSAR versions. Thanks for the LEO/mil info.
I had to double-check the date of your post to make sure I wasn’t in a time warp. Steyr started selling the A3 in the US last April. I bought mine in September.
MSAR has had their clone out for a few years now, and TPD has been out for about 2 years.
Didn’t I mention, past 10 months somewhere. Steyr will offer the mil/leo discount and a receiver able to use the AR platform mags, this would be my "OK "now we’re talking. The MSAR booth was rocking but ever since “Diehard” where the badguy pulled out the AUG, I always told myself gotta get one. This years SHOT was fun but a lot of floor space to cover.
You did mention that, but the title of your post along with “will make,” “will be offered,” etc, might lead one to think that they weren’t for sale yet. Conflicting syntax.
Steyr has had an AR mag compatible stock since the early '80’s, but an updated version with an external bolt release would be welcome. (It’s the stock that determines the magazine, not the receiver.) Just hope they don’t pimp it out with all kinds of rails everywhere like MSAR did with the E4 stock.
I just picked up a new MSAR E4 railed model with 5 30rd. Mags for 1300. You can’t beat that!! The AXR was going for over 2K and the E4 was going for 1800ish last year so I couldn’t pass that deal up.
I got the opportunity to fire an MSAR E4 last Friday. I was very impressed with the handling characteristics. The one I shot had a factory scope mounted. The quality looked great to my amature eyes. $1350 for one with the scope seems fair to me. I don’t know if the price will go any lower. How much are the Steyr Augs going for? I’m not a brand snob, but less expensive isn’t always best. I’ll probably just take the one that’s the better value. For those who have handled both, which do you like better and why? One thing that I liked about the MSAR E4 is that it takes AR15 magazines. The only thing that I didn’t like about it is that they wouldn’t drop free.
I was considering the original Steyr, but two things dissuaded me. First, the 1:9 barrel twist rate. Second, the fact that MSAR has demonstrated itself to be extremely responsive to customer desires in terms of incorporating features for the rifle’s future iterations. The MSAR’s 1:8 twist, 4150 CMV barrel suggests to me that MSAR is a company concerned with putting out a really high quality rifle.
The salesmen selling the Aug copy must be paid on a commision basis as he is just plain full of shit on many points. I am happy to have a US company offer this weapon but they have issues and the great customer service is needed to get them to run sometimes . The MSAR are great for a range toy but always try to buy the REAL DEAL if you can.
I watched at the beginning of the video where he explained that he is the owners son. Can you elaborate on how he is “full of shit on many points”? I’m in the market for an Aug or this clone and would like as much information as possible before I throw down the money.
Bret ,
Just trying to help you out man . Msar is nothing but a copy of the original. In Austria they have been making the AUG for 30 plus years and know all of the ins and outs of the system. They know what materials to use and how to use them . When the Australians decided to adopt the AUG over the m16 years ago they made a huge mistake by not buying the technical package and had many problems because of it . Msar does not have this package either . I dont like ar15.com but do a search on MSAR and find out the many, many problems people are having with them. It should speak for itself . I have seen the Msar close up and fit and finish is great but alot of them don’t run right away . As always , you get what you pay for. Just my .02 Jerod
The “real deal” with a 1:9 barrel twist and a compensator instead of a FH? At nearly twice the price of a gun that comes with a 1:8 CMV barrel and an actual flash hider?
I agree that MSAR has had teething problems, but once you get one up and running, it’s a beast of a gun that I believe is better suited for today’s “black rifle” market: 1:8 barrel, standard AR flash hider and mag compatibility (E4 version).
Actually it is more of a flash brake, and a lot like the one found on military rifles like the Para FAL. And I guess I need to throw all my 1:9 AR15s away cause they are broke. And it’s not like it’s IMPOSSIBLE to replace the flash brake with a more traditional flash hider.
Why buy a copy that is NOT made to the original factory specs. and has had ALOT of problems when you could buy the real deal and be done with it ? Just because the MSAR is less expensive ? I wish that every MSAR ran 100% out of the box and folks never had a single problem with them , but that is just not true . I am just trying to tell the guy “Buyer Beware” from what I have seen . 9 times out of 10 you do get what you pay for.
In fairness to MSAR the initial runs were the runs with problems from my understanding. It is normal for a new company to have some problems. My roomates MSAR has worked like a Champ to date. Also I would much rather have a 1/8 barrel than a 1/9 because I like heavy bullets.
Pat
They may be a new company but it’s not a new design.
I’d rather get the real deal, or at least get it from someone with a proven record record and reputation. I’d gladly swap “great customer service” for reliability and NO customer service. Specially way out in the back 40 w/o cell coverage.
MSAR may make some fine looking and shooting rifles for civie use for the civie market, but that’s a far cry from real use.
MSAR does not have any real contracts other than maybe a few depts. just trying them out. Otherwise if it’s not being tested and fielded to the real grunt level. It’s an untested liability.
And the 1 in 9 thing just means I’ll be sticking to 69 gr. or lighter, something that there is no real shortage.
(and I know it wasn’t you that brought up the customer service issue, but it was earlier and always is when MSAR quality is brought up every single time).
