I have a friend who is wanting to get a bull pup rifle. He can’t decide between the Steyr AUG (Sabre, not original) and the FS2000.
He wants a serious social rifle, not a toy.
I have shot a FS2000 a couple of times and it was kind of strange, I have not even held a AUG before.
He asked me for advice, I didn’t know, but I knew a way to find out some good solid advice.
So which one do you prefer and why?
I can’t speak to the FS2000 because I have never shot one. I have looked at them but just can’t seem to like them but like I said I have never shot one. I do have a AUGA3 that I have over 1000 rounds through. It is my favorite firearm and I think your friend would be happy with one.
I would go with AUG A3, but thats just me… In fact I did, and I love my AUG A3
However, the AUG A3 is Steyrs rifle, it is not made by Sabre. Sure Sabre makes some parts for them, but under contract. Most of the parts are still made in Austria except the parts which by law are required to be made here. And even those are made to Steyr’s specs on quite a bit of original Steyr tooling and under the supervision of Steyr Engineers. Sabre is only being used as their facility for compliance reasons. Sabre did not set the specs, they just got contracted to make the parts required for 922(r) compliance…
It is no more Sabre’s rifle than a Noveske is CMTs rifle because Noveske sources parts from CMT…
Now I didn’t know that. That is good information to know. So they are the real thing then, not just a copy… And assembled close to home.
I used to really want one of those back in the day.
Damn, now I am interested. :mad:
Yep, it is a Steyr Arms rifle. No different than the FN rifles made in the US.
I own both, and while I like certain features of the FN, I’d always pick the AUG over it.
I prefer the FS2000 to the AUG. The FS2000 is truly ambidextrous whereas the AUG is not. To me, that is important. The FS2000 balances well (at least before a person adds the Tri-rail to it). In some ways, the FS2000 represents the next step forward from the AUG.
If you are familiar with the AUG and its internals, you will see some similarities between the two designs. Take a look at the FS2000 hammer pack. The FS2000 hammer pack is close to being a straight copy of the Steyr AUG hammer pack. The FS2000 has forward ejection and that is an interesting feature the AUG lacks. It directly addresses the problem of side ejection that most bullpup rifle designs had.
Some shooters are left eye dominant shooters and some are right eye dominant shooters. The AUG, the FAMAS, the TAVOR are all set up one way to eject to one side. If you want to reverse it, you have to physically change the configuration. If you have to switch sides and go to your weak side without changing the configuration, you could have brass, burning powder, hot gases, etc. being spit into your face. With forward ejection of the FS2000, that issue is removed.
Most of the problems/complaints I read or hear about from people regarding the FS2000 seem to be individuals who are not familiar with the proper operation of the rifle, are unwilling/unable to use it for more than a mag to get used to it, or are entirely beholden to PMAGs.
I think the AUG is a good design but the FS2000 moves the ball forward. Ideally, getting trigger time with both will help him make his call.
Well I have both.
Hands down if I had to do it over again it would be the Steyr AUG A3.
The AUG has a last shot bolt hold open, mags. come out easier, the barrel comes out and has a verticle grip already on it, and it has a side rail for flashlights built in. The trigger after putting a Trigger Tamer in it is light years better than the FS2000, and to boot the rifle comes with a super nice carry case that is padded and is actually usable, and comes with 2 30 round Steyr mags. The FS comes in a cardboard box with one $15 aluminum AR mag.
I actually have exactly the same money in each before optics and the Steyr is a better value also, and I feel it will hold value down the road.
Accuracy they are both extremely accurate, but the better trigger allows you to shoot the AUG better. The only thing I don’t like is the 1x9 barrel on the AUG but otherwise it is superb. If you are a lefty the FS comes out a little ahead, but you can get left handed bolts for the AUG and parts are available, the FS has very little aftermarket and factory parts around.
Have an MSAR E4 and an FS2000. Both good guns, but I’d choose the FS2000 if I had to pick one. For me, it balances and handles better, and the trigger is the best I’ve felt on a bullpup (I hear the new Kel-Tec is better, but I have yet to try it).
I have held both side by side, but have shot neither. I want an AUG some day
In my opinion,
The AUG’s hammer is also plastic. Never heard of this being an issue in decades of military use.
FS2000. This gunshop has had a couple Augs sitting for years at $1600 and they dont move. I dont like the look of them at all but have heard nothing but pros for them.
Go FS2000.
Wowzas. I didn’t know that. Thanks for the correction.
The Steyr AUGs have a 1/9 twist barrel, correct?
Correct.
There have been a couple of threads here where individual rifles did not like Federal XM193 at all (as far as grouping), but that could also be an issue with individual lots of XM193…
The only two cases I have read of this are:
1)KTR03, who later confirmed that it was in fact a lot of XM193 that was causing the issue.
Here is the post where he voiced his issues with XM193
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?p=655675#post655675
Here is the thread where he confirmed something was wrong with that lot of XM193.
https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=55904
Notice he had no troubles with the Federal XM193 lot from 2004…
and
2)JessR45 stating that his AUG did not like most 55gr projectiles (not just XM193, and it appeared to prefer heavier grain stuff…
found here
https://www.m4carbine.net/showpost.php?p=653784&postcount=9
That is the only two instances I’ve seen either here or on TOS. Given that one was a bad batch of XM193, I would not say a single case of a gun doing better with heavier bullets is a pattern. My AUG A3 does fine with XM193…
Both are nice rifles and I own each. The AUG wins in my book due to its less complicated mechanics, tried and true operating system, and the ability to quickly swap out barrels. I would prefer a 1:7 twist on the AUG, but I am sure these are eventually coming.
Decades of military use (since 1977) in just about every climate. Austria gets mighty cold, especially at altitude and the polymer hammer pack has never been an issue.
The hammer doesn’t actually strike fully against the metal firing pin. It hits a plastic “cocking piece” on the rear of the bolt carrier and makes just enough contact with the firing pin to detonate the primer.
Transitioning to weak side isn’t an issue with the AUG. I’ve done it dozens of times in classes and competitions, and usually beat out the guys shooting AR’s and AK’s.
I’m curious how you do this. Do you use the “hand as an impromptu brass deflector” technique? That’s the only way I’ve ever managed to shoot lefty on my E4. Wasn’t that tough, but something I think that needs to be drilled into muscle memory, or an AUG shooter trying shoot lefty under pressure will end up eating brass and probably jamming the weapon.
I haven’t shot the Aug but can attest to the FS2000 being a blast to shoot. It truly is an ambi rifle.
Another option will be available in the next couple of weeks; Manticore Arms “Brass Buster” for the MSAR STG-556 & E4 (I don’t know if it will fit TPD/AUG’s):
They’re also releasing a new charging handle that will eliminate the “snagged fingers/bloody knuckles” problem that can occur w/certain optic/mount combos (shown here w/the charging handle in the manual lock-back position):
Tomac