View Full Version : Robinson M96 joins the family. (Pics inside)
variablebinary
01-31-09, 18:03
I decided I wanted an M96 after shooting Robarms test gun. 3 weeks later, I have one.
I still need to add ambi bolt release, flash hider and have it inspected by Robinson for upgrade needs, but otherwise, I think these are freaking cool guns. Finding a deal on one is tough. They are between 1600 and 2500 on Gunbroker.
They are good looking guns too. Very clean lines. I plan on keeping it kiss. No lights, rails or optics on this one.
As far as old school stamped steel guns, I think only the SIG 551 looks better
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/M961.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/M962.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/M963.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/M964.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/M965.jpg
I bought my M96 for about $1400 even back in 2002. I liked the rifle, but I decided that I prefered something lighter and opted for a Colt M4. I sold it in 2006 after I bought my XCR. Keep in mind that it is a .223 chambering, so military spec NATO ammo will get jammed in the chamber. Been there, done that and had to use a mallet to pound the charging handle to get the cartridge extracted.
Very Nice!
I have a Vepr K that will be here Mon/Tue and I am really loking forward to getting it in my grubby paws.:D
Let us know how it shoots....
Littlelebowski
01-31-09, 22:00
Nice looking weapon. Is it 5.56 capable?
How close are these to the Stoner 63a that they favor in looks?
variablebinary
01-31-09, 23:18
How close are these to the Stoner 63a that they favor in looks?
I personally am not qualified to answer that question. Hopefully someone can chime in and provide clarity here.
Nice looking weapon. Is it 5.56 capable?
Marcus said he had issues. However when I was flogging Robinsons Demo/T&E M96 and I was using LC M855 with NATO neadstamp and it was working fine and I easily gave it a few hundred rounds worth.
RogerinTPA
01-31-09, 23:37
How close are these to the Stoner 63a that they favor in looks?
I had to do a double take, I thought it was a Stoner. Most Nam Vets would probably think so. Good looking weapon. Good score!:cool:
How hard is it to get parts?
Nice looking rifle. I'm hoping to add one to my inventory.
Did you get my PM regarding my call to Robinson?
variablebinary
02-01-09, 01:30
Nice looking rifle. I'm hoping to add one to my inventory.
Did you get my PM regarding my call to Robinson?
I saw your PM. And what you heard is what Alex said to me personally when I was last onsite
He has some really cool plans for the M96. I hope they are all realized. Robarm is up to their eyeballs in XCR orders so it will be interesting to see how the M96 is brought back and when
Can we get some detailed photos of the entire bolt carrier/piston assembly?
I thought that was a Stoner as well when I saw it.
I saw your PM. And what you heard is what Alex said to me personally when I was last onsite
He has some really cool plans for the M96. I hope they are all realized. Robarm is up to their eyeballs in XCR orders so it will be interesting to see how the M96 is brought back and when
It's good that we both got the same info. Makes me hopeful that they will produce the rifle again.
The mag release looks like it's a little too far forward from the pics. How is it in practice?
The mag release looks like it's a little too far forward from the pics. How is it in practice?
On mine I can get about half of the tip of my finger on it. Its enough to release it, but by comparison, the mag release starts about where my AR's mag release ends.
VB: I guess this means you managed to find one and your interest in mine has waned? ;)
Actually, they look very much like a 63A, but in operation, much closer to a Beretta AR70.
Wow, I love it.
Maybe later this year I will be able to spring for one.
http://biggerhammer.net/m96/
variablebinary
02-02-09, 00:38
On mine I can get about half of the tip of my finger on it. Its enough to release it, but by comparison, the mag release starts about where my AR's mag release ends.
VB: I guess this means you managed to find one and your interest in mine has waned? ;)
Ha! Yeah, I am out of the market. Terra (Robarm) text me the other night saying there was an M96 for sale in Provo about 25 minutes away. I was at the guy's door at 10am the next day.
And the mag release works the same for me. My finger tip reaches it enough where I dont need to shift my grip.
It's an extended mag release. If it was just a button like the SIG 556 I wouldn't be able to reach it.
On a side note, speaking of the Stoner 63, think of how far progressed our weapon systems would have been had we embraced the multi-role, common receiver, modularity and parts interchangeability offered by the Stoner 63 forty years ago. The Stoner 63 was clearly ahead of it's time; perfectly illustrated by our coming full circle with the SCAR and IAR initiatives.
I saw the 63A thing too, but also a bit of the Daewoo..? Where does this beauty fit in, exactly?
dog
variablebinary
02-02-09, 02:42
I hope I can coax Robarm to getting more Bren kits out. The M96 recon carbine is only part of the fun...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3244565656_940053a8ff_b.jpg
That magazine doesn't block your optics?
That magazine doesn't block your optics?
The rail sits slightly off to the side.
The M96 is cool, but that Bren set up does nothing for me! Anyways, congrats on the purchase variablinary. I know those are tough to come by.
variablebinary
02-03-09, 23:43
Went to Robinson today to have the M96 inspected and ensure all the parts are up to spec.
Also got a ban-free barrel, and XCR style ambi bolt release/magwell installed.
One thing interesting I learned is the M96 will take AR15 extractors as replacements
I also learned the M96 is chambered for 5.56 but is labeled .223 to comply with certain Federal restrictions. I fired about 200 rounds of NATO stamped M855 tonight and everything was great. I also did 200 rounds of Wolf, and it ate that too on the weakest gas setting.
So far, everything is great.
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/m966.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/m967.jpg
I've always thought the M96 was one of the best looking rifles out there. That's a cool blaster, VB. :cool:
What are the sights like on this bad boy? How big is the apeture? Looking nice by the way!
Did you get the Bren kit? Heck all you need now is the belt feed....
variablebinary
02-04-09, 01:15
What are the sights like on this bad boy? How big is the apeture? Looking nice by the way!
Sights are like an an AR15. In fact the M96 uses an AR15 windage knob, or it looks pretty darn close.
The larger aperture is the same as AR15 carry handle. The smaller aperture looks slightly smaller than the AR15.
Also, I am sure everyone has heard about M96's supposedly launching barrels downrange. I wanted to test this theory, so I purposely pressed the barrel retention button to see what happened.
4 rounds fired fine. 5th round wouldn't chamber. I pulled back the charging handle and tried again and the gun fired. Next round chambered, but it wouldn't fire because it was out of battery..
I tried this multiple times and never once did the barrel go flying, but it would fail to fire.
Also, I am sure everyone has heard about M96's supposedly launching barrels downrange. I wanted to test this theory, so I purposely pressed the barrel retention button to see what happened.
4 rounds fired fine. 5th round wouldn't chamber. I pulled back the charging handle and tried again and the gun fired. Next round chambered, but it wouldn't fire because it was out of battery..
I tried this multiple times and never once did the barrel go flying, but it would fail to fire.
This is really dangerous, and I strongly recommend that you discontinue this practice...
B
Out of curiousity what type of federal restriction would require that it be marked .223 if it is really 5.56? Am I missing something here? I smell some BS...
variablebinary
02-04-09, 05:49
Did you get the Bren kit? Heck all you need now is the belt feed....
Sadly, the Bren kits he had on tap were incomplete. The only extras I have planned next is desert furniture, which I hope Terra can provide before the weekend
I did talk to Alex about a belt fed conversion. He had some concerns related to the economics of making it, and who would buy it. He didnt rule it out, but didnt want to be in a Shrike situation. I dont see it being on the road map anytime soon, especially with the XCR doing well.
He is redesigning the M96 to be easier and cheaper to manufacture. His plan was to roll them out after the XCR-M was done.
RogerinTPA
02-04-09, 09:14
That magazine doesn't block your optics?
The Mag at the 12 O'Clock position on the MG version are not an issue. If you look closely, the sights and rail are offset to the left, just like the Bren gun. It's weird I know, but it works.
Sadly, the Bren kits he had on tap were incomplete. The only extras I have planned next is desert furniture, which I hope Terra can provide before the weekend
I did talk to Alex about a belt fed conversion. He had some concerns related to the economics of making it, and who would buy it. He didnt rule it out, but didnt want to be in a Shrike situation. I dont see it being on the road map anytime soon, especially with the XCR doing well.
He is redesigning the M96 to be easier and cheaper to manufacture. His plan was to roll them out after the XCR-M was done.
Did he say any comments about making the M96 more compatible with a Stoner 63?
He is redesigning the M96 to be easier and cheaper to manufacture. His plan was to roll them out after the XCR-M was done.
XCR-M?
XCR-M?
.308 version of the XCR that uses SR-25 magazines in order to keep the same control locations on the rifle and keep all the same features. They had considered FAL and G3 magazines, but there would be different magazine release locations and no hold bolt open option. Supposed to be available within the next 6 months.
.308 version of the XCR that uses SR-25 magazines in order to keep the same control locations on the rifle and keep all the same features. They had considered FAL and G3 magazines, but there would be different magazine release locations and no hold bolt open option. Supposed to be available within the next 6 months.
WWWHHHHAT? 6 months? Is this like the typical "2 weeks" thing or is it going to legitimately be available in 6 months? Because I'd buy that right up.
Oh my god, an ergonomic rifle, that uses straight locking ar10 mags that are dropping in price, that uses a rugged AK style operating system, that is very modular......:eek:
If this XCR-M is to be priced at around $1,500, I will jump for joy. I was thinking about a DPMS LR308 to start things off in the 308 world, but with something like the XCR-M being available in the near future, the hell with the ar10/15 family and all its issues.
variablebinary
02-08-09, 03:59
Oh my god, an ergonomic rifle, that uses straight locking ar10 mags that are dropping in price, that uses a rugged AK style operating system, that is very modular......:eek:
If this XCR-M is to be priced at around $1,500, I will jump for joy. I was thinking about a DPMS LR308 to start things off in the 308 world, but with something like the XCR-M being available in the near future, the hell with the ar10/15 family and all its issues.
I cant really talk too much about the XCR-M because I swore to Alex I would not if we gave me some non-public details and a sneak preview.
I do think people will be pleased with the end product though. It will, like the XCR-L, have the best dollar to feature ratio in the industry and be an outstanding value.
Sadly, I dont think I will be getting one this year. My impulsive M96 purchase, and SCAR-L are going to blow my gun budget big time for 2009 :(
WWWHHHHAT? 6 months? Is this like the typical "2 weeks" thing or is it going to legitimately be available in 6 months? Because I'd buy that right up.
I think the "2-weeks" days of RA are behind us. Back then they were short on engineers and manufacturering personel and even though they had a lot of their M96 designs ready to go, they were unable to get products to us in a timely fashion. I think we'll see the XCR-M before we see the SCAR-M or Massoud.
Variablebinary,
Did you by any chance ask Alex if he had plans to sell 5.56 barrels in 1/8 or 1/7 twists any time soon? The RA site says they "might" be selling some in 2009. I'd like to pick up a 1/7 or 1/8 18" heavy barrel for my XCR.
variablebinary
02-14-09, 00:16
Finally done. Desert furniture was added today. I picked up a manual as well. I have "classic" ported barrel, and ban free barrel. Switching back and forth takes a whooping 5 seconds.
I finally have the gun I wanted to buy 4 years ago. The M96 is very cool
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/m968.jpg
Finally done. Desert furniture was added today. I picked up a manual as well. I have "classic" ported barrel, and ban free barrel. Switching back and forth takes a whooping 5 seconds.
I finally have the gun I wanted to buy 4 years ago. The M96 is very cool
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/m968.jpg
You da Man!!!!!!! That is HOT!!!
dog
Finally done. Desert furniture was added today. I picked up a manual as well. I have "classic" ported barrel, and ban free barrel. Switching back and forth takes a whooping 5 seconds.
I finally have the gun I wanted to buy 4 years ago. The M96 is very cool
http://home.comcast.net/~firearmspics/m968.jpg
Where did you get the threaded barrel? I was under the impression they never came like that.
That looks great! Congrats on getting it "just right" for your liking.
That is a fine looking weapon VB.
Didn't Robinson tell us on the XCR forum that the chamber on those is actually a 556, and that they had to label it as 223 for some wierd legal reason?
Ned Christiansen
02-15-09, 10:41
I've only seen a few of these, a small sampling fer sher, but keep your eyes on the screws that hold the folder to the receiver and the recoil buffer. One went to pieces and stopped the gun and it looked to me like the only thing for it was to run it without, but then as I recall the bolt was bottoming out on one of the aforementioned screws, which was a coarse pitch (and therefor more come-loose prone).
Not trying to rain on anyone's parade, other than this they seemed to run fine, clean and cool. And maybe it ain't supposed to count but they do look cool and I love the Stoner nostalgia.....
variablebinary
02-15-09, 14:54
Where did you get the threaded barrel? I was under the impression they never came like that.
The barrel came from the factory in that config, but I think you are correct. No guns were shipped with a threaded barrel
That is a fine looking weapon VB.
Didn't Robinson tell us on the XCR forum that the chamber on those is actually a 556, and that they had to label it as 223 for some wierd legal reason?
Yep. I've shoot a few mags of M855 and M193 and both worked fine. Wolf was good too.
I've only seen a few of these, a small sampling fer sher, but keep your eyes on the screws that hold the folder to the receiver and the recoil buffer
The M96 does not feature a folder or buffer.
I'd love to see some pics. of it field stipped? I've always been interested in what the innards looked like.:)
Earlier in this thread someone asked if a Stoner 63 beltfeed would fit on the M96.
It won't. The Stoner 63 has a different spacing on the feed tray and top cover. I also discovered that the ejector on the M96 is located in a different position than where the ejector is located on a Stoner 63.
Dam, another gun I must have. My wallet thanks you. :D
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