STG-556 vs Steyr AUG

[Future_Nightmares]

I was reading the thread about the exploding STG but from what I have read, they are a faboulous firearm.

I didn't read all the details, but they were saying that the new STG improved on many of the original Steyr's problems.

Now I never had a bullpup rifle before and they seem really neat to me.

Has anyone had experience with an STG compared to a Steyr? I would think they are basically the same.

I just dont want to have to pay 2500 for a Steyr when a Stg-556 is 1300 right now.

Any input?

[KG_mauserman]

I'd go with the steyr

2500 is a bit much for one though

MSAR made or still makes (who knows) a decent product when they work but they seem to have a lot of quality control issues. However they seem to take care of them if there is an issue. Many have some that have gone thousands of rounds with no issue so please dont think i'm saying they all have issues. I have a Steyr and it runs like a champ.

[variablebinary]

Real Steyr's are around 1800 locally

[Ed L.]

Not a comparison. Go with the Steyr if you can afford it.

The STGs have suffered from erratic quality control. Proponents of the STG brag about the company's customer service. This is a reflection of how many of the guns had to be sent back because they did not work fron the factory. The evaluation copy that I received would not go more than 10 or 15 rounds without a failure to feed. It had to go back to the factory for repairs. My friend, on the other hand, had one that worked fantastically. I am not sure how the reputation for great customer service holds because the guy who was responsible for it has left the company.

Some of the so-called improvements were stopped because they caused problems or made things worse in some respect.

The MSAR was originally designed the guydie rods to have holes to drain water, unlike the regular AUG guide rods. Well, MSAR later omitted the holes after they discovered that the holes allowed foreign materieal in.

MSAR decided to lower the integral optic about a half inch. This made it hard for many people to get a decent cheekweld because the optic was too low. They ultimately had to change that.

[Ed L.]

Just a minute. It occurs to me that this is in the wrog category.

It is in the Precision Rifle - Semi-Auto Semi-Auto Only, while it should be in the other assault rifle category.

[sgtlmj]

I've owned all 3 of the AUG manufacturers. I now only own a Steyr.

[SteyrAUG]

I was reading the thread about the exploding STG but from what I have read, they are a faboulous firearm.

I didn't read all the details, but they were saying that the new STG improved on many of the original Steyer's problems.

Now I never had a bullpup rifle before and they seem really neat to me.

Has anyone had experience with an STG compared to a Steyer? I would think they are basically the same.

I just dont want to have to pay 2500 for a Steyer when a Stg-556 is 1300 right now.

Any input?

I'm not aware of a single problem with the original Steyr rifles, let alone one that was corrected with the MSAR. I own both, the MSARs are cheaper for a reason and it isn't due to brand name.

[lloydkristmas]

Sorry, but in my experience, the STG 556 and E4 models are both decently built guns that have a startlingly high failure rate and malfunction rate. I've put somewhere near 800 rounds through both the 556 and E4 variations of MSAR's product, and I remain less than impressed.

The way I see it, guns can have two main types of malfunctions. There are the type that are consistent, predictable, and easily remedied. Then there are the random, unpredictable kind. The STG 556 is one of those rifles that tends to suffer from the latter. There have been some consistent issues, but there have also been some "isolated" issues that randomly pop up. (i.e. kabooms, broken bolt sleeves, etc). I try to stay away from guns that have any sort of known reliability issues, but I DEFINATELY avoid the ones that are so hit or miss in quality that any number of problems could occur at any given time. Unfortunately, in my experience, the MSAR rifles have made their way into this category.

I applaud their efforts for bringing a cool and (semi) affordable product to the market. However, the company itself is on the rocks, and even a casual plinker might find himself with a broken gun and no company left to repair or warrant it.

Cliff Notes: Buy the AUG A3. If I remember right there is a member here who is selling his for somewhere around 1800-1900 bucks. Not a bad deal considering its original Steyr quality, and has been (as of now) discontinued.

[MadDog]

I know I will get flamed for saying this but when you actually tally up the "real" number of people with problems it is very low compared to the number of units that have been made and are out in use. What you do see is the "same" people on every Forum talking about a problem they had and 20 or 30 times as many people "that don't even own MSAR's" repeating the stories of those legitimate problems.

There has been only one catastrophic MSAR trunnion failure that I know of. The odd thing is that the trunnions of both Steyr and MSAR are made in the exact same way (both cast from the same type of metal). I personally know of two people (about three years ago) that had the same type of trunnion failure but theirs were real deal Steyr's. Since most Steyr owners do not post problems (like trunnion failures) everyone assumes they do not exist.

I must be lucky because my E4 has performed 100% will all ammo and all mags that I have tried. I not only use mine for range use but monthly 3-gun matches as well. I am going on 6,000 rounds through my first E4.

Purchased one of the limited run E4's chambered in 7.62x39 three days ago from Ratworx. It should be at my dealers tomorrow. Eval to follow shortly.

MadDog

[BR870]

I won't speak to MSAR... But I will say my AUG A3 has been superb. It has given me no problems, and the Customer Service guys at Steyr are great.