Thinking About a PTR-91

[Fuzzy-Reticle]

I had one of the early second gen ones right after the Clinton Ban expired. There were some issues at that time with tight chambers but mine worked great. It had a metal lower and a heavier target barrel with flash hider and it might have had some actual Hk parts in it if I recall. It was honestly better looking than my Hk 94, Hk93. It ran flawlessly and I put several thousand rounds through it. That was when you could get cheap Portuguese and South African 7.62 battle packs. It was very accurate. I got rid of it during my 7.62 NATO purge when the cost of ammunition became too much to continue to feeding my rifles. Typical for the design it threw brass like nothing else and had a decent amount of recoil, more than a FAL IMHO but not overly so. I added an MSG90 stock & buffer and that made it so much more fun to shoot. The collapsible meat tenderizer stock that I purchased was cool but I shot it mostly with the fixed stock. It was as close as you could get to a 91 without selling a kidney. Every time I think I should have kept it I check the price of 7.62 and move on to something else. I am currently trying to convince myself to purchase a PTR32 Gen 2 in 7.62X39. Those look interesting to me.

[ramairthree]

An optic rail will do away a major hassle.

That I did love about my first one.
But it was way better to have it on a PTR receiver for longevity and function.
It does have the metal lower.

Newer factory PTR one is polymer group.

Anyways,
There are some outstanding ar10 options now compared to ten plus years ago.
And the ergs and many things are hassle free compared to an older 7.62 design like m14s, FAL, HKs, etc.

[Rogue556]

I've been on the fence here of late for a PTR91 GI R that are exclusives for Atlantic; paddle mag release, 1913 optic rail, gray finish, metal style lower trigger pack.

Over on HKPro there is a thread of recent PTR91s '15/'16 concerning lack of steel hardening in their bolts and some other issues. This is the stuff that keeps me from pulling the trigger on one.

I've been holding out for the MKE/Zennith Z-41s but the election and panics are nearing and no word when they will be here.

As for AR10's I've got the bug for a DD5V1 bad, handled one at a LGS and that thing is nimble.

Decisions, decisions . . .

Thank you, I had not seen that thread until you mentioned it. That kind of throws a bit of doubt into the back of my mind. Decisions indeed. Hopefully it's not as wide spread as they make it seem. I'd love to have a quality, decently accurate, sub $1000 semi-auto .308 with cheap mags, but not if it has to travel back to the manufacturer multiple times to get it there.

[MountainRaven]

I've been on the fence here of late for a PTR91 GI R that are exclusives for Atlantic; paddle mag release, 1913 optic rail, gray finish, metal style lower trigger pack.

Over on HKPro there is a thread of recent PTR91s '15/'16 concerning lack of steel hardening in their bolts and some other issues. This is the stuff that keeps me from pulling the trigger on one.

I've been holding out for the MKE/Zennith Z-41s but the election and panics are nearing and no word when they will be here.

As for AR10's I've got the bug for a DD5V1 bad, handled one at a LGS and that thing is nimble.

Decisions, decisions . . .

I bought mine from AA with no fear, in part because AA has a history of taking care of their customers should an issue arise.

What other issues might there be and how might one detect an issue with the hardness of the bolt?

An optic rail will do away a major hassle.

That I did love about my first one.
But it was way better to have it on a PTR receiver for longevity and function.
It does have the metal lower.

Newer factory PTR one is polymer group.

Anyways,
There are some outstanding ar10 options now compared to ten plus years ago.
And the ergs and many things are hassle free compared to an older 7.62 design like m14s, FAL, HKs, etc.

The GIs appear to be shipping with steel trigger housings once more.

And gratuitous PTR-91 GIR spam/porn:

[Moose-Knuckle]

What other issues might there be and how might one detect an issue with the hardness of the bolt?

Multi page thread here: BEWARE of PTR91 Bolt Head Wear

[MountainRaven]

Multi page thread here: BEWARE of PTR91 Bolt Head Wear

Working my way through it, and I don't want to cast aspersions on anyone, but I'm kind of reminded of how so many people keep saying that DSA FALs and Arsenal SLRs are junk, the companies have gone downhill, &c.

[misfit47]

I used to have a couple ptr guns, but let them go. Had a dsa gun as well. No issues with any of them but didn't want to press my luck. They were all made after new surplus parts dried up. Funny how our beloved rifles were once considered niche, yet there is tons of support for it these days.

[Moose-Knuckle]

Working my way through it, and I don't want to cast aspersions on anyone, but I'm kind of reminded of how so many people keep saying that DSA FALs and Arsenal SLRs are junk, the companies have gone downhill, &c.

DSA is more comparable to PTR however DSA has always had an outstanding reputation where PTR's has been spotty. IIRC neither company has had partnerships with FAL or HK.

Arsenal Nevada is cut from the same cloth as Arsenal Bulgaria, think HK Oberndorf and HK USA.

[KalashniKEV]

DSA is more comparable to PTR however DSA has always had an outstanding reputation where PTR's has been spotty.

Actually, DSA has been going down the tubes. They're a total crapshoot these days.

[SteyrAUG]

Actually, DSA has been going down the tubes. They're a total crapshoot these days.

Because...?

No more Steyr or Imbel parts?
US made parts are no longer FN spec?
Across the board or limited to certain models?
Just FAL rifles or everything like AR rifles and RPDs?