*UPDATE w/Pic* Considering the Steyr AUG, have a few questions.

[Renegade0100]

Personally, if I were in the market for a reliable, GTW bullpup I'd look more towards IWI's offerings. The X95 is a really solid rifle.

[TED]

Hey all,

I want to replace my BCM 16in mid with the Steyr AUG as my new HD rifle. I want a shorter rifle but want to keep the benefits of the 16in barrel so I am looking to get a bullpup. The AUG is the only one that appeals to me. In 09 I was in Kandahar, and had a chance to work with some Aussies, I loved the AUGs they were issued and since then have always wanted one. But I have a few questions about the AUG A3 M1.

1. Are they chambered in 5.56 or .223?
2. Should I go standard stock or NATO?
- I was thinking standard because I am under the impression the NATO stock doesn't have a bolt hold open?
3. I heard the Steyr magazines are great, is this true?
4. My HD ammo choice is SPEER GDSP 64gr, will the AUG cycle these fine?
5. Anything else I should know about the AUG before potentially buying one?

Thanks for the help!

I offer you my thoughts...

I strongly encourage you to get an AUG. I love the AUG and can not say enough great things about it. Reliable, durable, simple, compact, easy low maintenance.

It is definitely a 5.56 chamber, if it says .223 it's just for semantic political purposes. I am not aware of any Steyr AUG barrel ever made with anything but a 5.56 chamber.

Yes, the Steyr mags are truly freaking amazing!! Up until the P-mag, they were, and possibly still are, the best 5.56 mag ever made. Also until the P-mag they were one of the only RELIABLE 40rd mags made. When I was using AUG mags (still do in one of my AUGs, but I mostly use the one with the NATO stock now), I used the 42rd mags almost exclusively, they are easier to handle and get in and out of the gun it seems to me.

All that said, I actually prefer the NATO stock and would order it as such. I prefer the NATO stock for the mag commonality and logistics as well as the ability to use the Surefire 60rd mag which is actually shorter than a 40rd and works in the prone very nicely. It is true that the Steyr NATO stock does not have a LH ejection port, nor does it have a bolt release. If you want those things, one possible solution, albeit heretical, would be to use an MSAR E-4 stock and corresponding MSAR trigger pack (steyr trigger pack don't fit in the MSAR stock). I have tested this, it works, and I love it. Here is an excerpt from something I posted about this on another board...

The E4 stock is better than the AUG stock!!!

I like the single finger groove. It really does help.
There are more rail mounting location options.
There is a small rail forward of the "trigger guard" (grip pod maybe?).
Left side ejection port with AR mags!! The AUG NATO stock does not even have a left side port!!
Bolt release buttton with AR mags!! The AUG NATO stock does not have this!!
Texturing on the grip (minimal, but still).
More sling mount options!! And QD sockets at that!!
Larger storage space in the stock.
Textured/ribbed nicer butt plate.

I have never used Speer 64gr GDSP so I can't answer that.

Other stuff you should know...
Steyr has a military and law enforcement purchase program that is GREAT and saves big bucks!! Check into it!!

About running it one handed...from a previous post here...
https://www.m4carbine.net/archive/in.../t-183431.html

"I have recently acquired a renewed appreciation for it due to a severe and permanent left shoulder injury. I can't hold my left arm up and out at extension and have great difficulty with position, height, and weight. With the AUG having the forward grip and being relatively close in as well as the rear biased weight distribution it really works for me. I used to be all about the M4 platform as I was in the service. However, I have also had the past opportunity to train a one armed Veteran (my left arm is trashed, his was gone, at the shoulder) up on using the AUG. It was one of my most proud accomplishments. He would charge using the handle on his belt or pocket, in the same way that you would a pistol. By rolling the gun inward he could lock the bolt to the rear. He would let it hang on the sling for mag changes (which worked amazingly well)....He had a pic rail installed in place of the forward grip and a grip pod installed. He rocked that thing. He could field strip and reassemble it one handed also. I had the initial idea, I made the plans and techniques, but he did the work. Pretty freaking amazing."

The purpose of the grip pod was so he could one button one hand deploy it an then go prone.

ENJOY!!

[SteyrAUG]

All that said, I actually prefer the NATO stock and would order it as such. I prefer the NATO stock for the mag commonality and logistics as well as the ability to use the Surefire 60rd mag which is actually shorter than a 40rd and works in the prone very nicely. It is true that the Steyr NATO stock does not have a LH ejection port, nor does it have a bolt release. If you want those things, one possible solution, albeit heretical, would be to use an MSAR E-4 stock and corresponding MSAR trigger pack (steyr trigger pack don't fit in the MSAR stock). I have tested this, it works, and I love it. Here is an excerpt from something I posted about this on another board...

If you want high capacity get a 100 round beta drum which is made with a AUG tower.

[TED]

If you want high capacity get a 100 round beta drum which is made with a AUG tower.

No way!! Interferes with cheek weld and grip for me.

TED

[The Rat]

They are 5.56 just like a Colt.
I would go standard stock, AUG mags are high quality and affordable and NATO stocks don't have a bolt hold open last I checked.
Most barrels are 1/9 so will handle most ammo options.

Mag changes won't be as fast and going weak side requires some getting used to but those are the only negatives I can think of.

If you are one of those people who replaces a stock AR trigger you might have a problem.

The NATO stock DOES have a bolt hold open. It just doesn't have a bolt release button. You have to run the charging handle after loading a fresh mag.

[JoshNC]

As an unapologetic AUGphile, I strongly support the decision to buy one. It’s a phenomenal rifle. I could easily sell off all other 5.56 rifles and standardize on the AUG.

As for NATO vs standard stock, I recommend you buy both. I favor the AUG mags over AR mags, but I like the option of using AR mags too.

[SteyrAUG]

The NATO stock DOES have a bolt hold open. It just doesn't have a bolt release button. You have to run the charging handle after loading a fresh mag.

Thanks, couldn't remember and mine is in the bottom of a footlocker. I've had it for about 15 years but never used it.

[RetroRevolver77]

They are 5.56 just like a Colt.
I would go standard stock, AUG mags are high quality and affordable and NATO stocks don't have a bolt hold open last I checked.
Most barrels are 1/9 so will handle most ammo options.

Mag changes won't be as fast and going weak side requires some getting used to but those are the only negatives I can think of.

If you are one of those people who replaces a stock AR trigger you might have a problem.

AUG NATO stocks have bolt hold open but don't have a bolt release- like the older A1 models.

The fact that your user name is SteyrAUG and you don't know this- jeesh.

Personally, if I were in the market for a reliable, GTW bullpup I'd look more towards IWI's offerings. The X95 is a really solid rifle.

No, sorry but it's not a Steyr. It's some cheap copy.

[SamM]

Get the Steyr AUG. You’ll love it. Mine shoots very well and has been 100% reliable, over the past several years. I had a Tavor SAR and switched back. The AUG is world’s better in every way. Many are starting to revisit the AUG platform and switch back. I’m a big fan of Steyr products and will add a few more. The L9A1 is my favorite pistol and the Steyr Scout .308 is my favorite boltgun. I’m giving my wife back her G43 and I’m going back to the S9A1 for my everyday CCW. You can’t go wrong with Steyr.

SamM

[MountainRaven]

No, sorry but it's not a Steyr. It's some cheap copy.

There's nothing cheap about the X95. Having owned both, I'd buy another X95 before I'd buy another AUG.

But I don't think I would pick either of them over a good AR or a good AK.