So You Want To Buy A HK91/G3 Rifle...

[DiabhailGadhar]

Thank you steyr! Also I had another question and please forgive my ignorance, but if I was to get an older weapon like that is there anything I should be worried about due specifically to the age of the weapon?

[prdubi]

I went with a Preban FMP G-3. I didn't feel too much comfort in shooting a HK91 being it was collectible.

At least with the FMP, I did the flapper mag by GuillieBear and have a clipped and pin setup also.

Every person I met was telling me to have the flapper installed professionally would ruin the collector value of a 91 or 41.

[DiabhailGadhar]

I'm not particularly interested in the collectability of a weapon what I want is a quality firearm that goes bang every time I pull the trigger regardless of the ammo used (now I'm not incuding royally crappy ammo here) is marginally accurate and can go a larger round count before it freezes up from being dirty...now if that weapon happens to be collectable that's unfortunate cuz I just want to become proficient with it while shooting the crap out of it...;-) If I can get an hk 91 it's definitely going to get a paddle installed just because I would like to see how I like it. I may be leaning towards a PTR classic simply because I'm looking at trading a quality AR straight across for it. But if someone just wants to get rid of a HK91 and is looking at getting into the AR game and we could work something out that would be ideal.

The guilliebear fella who's that and is it a reputable company/individual?

Thanks again.

I went with a Preban FMP G-3. I didn't feel too much comfort in shooting a HK91 being it was collectible.

At least with the FMP, I did the flapper mag by GuillieBear and have a clipped and pin setup also.

Every person I met was telling me to have the flapper installed professionally would ruin the collector value of a 91 or 41.

[SteyrAUG]

Thank you steyr! Also I had another question and please forgive my ignorance, but if I was to get an older weapon like that is there anything I should be worried about due specifically to the age of the weapon?

Not really. Just as my 03 Springfield's and M1 Garands are running fine you don't need to worry about a 70s or 80s vintage HK unless it was used as a sear host and somebody rock n rolled the hell out of it.

[SteyrAUG]

Pop over the HKPro and you will find a decent 91, Greek SAR or FMP come up from time to time for a good price. At this point ALL of them are now collectible, and the contracts technically are probably more rare.

Some HK collectors freak out if you take it out of the plastic and expose it to oxygen. But so long as you don't buy a premium example, adding a paddle mag won't do much. It will be more valuable in some peoples eyes and less in others. Won't matter unless you plan on trying to sell it later.

But whatever you do, NO NOT install a port buffer or buy one with a port buffer installed. That little piece of spring steel has ****ed over more HK finishes than a gunsmith with a can of spray paint.

[prdubi]

Take it for what it is. I wouldn't bother too much with the HK91 series being I have read that well over 50k were imported to the US from the 70's until the 80's. So collectibilitiy wise, it doesn't ruin the value.

But nevertheless, I sold my HK91 and got a FMP G-3 preban in exchange and also a FAL Springfield SAR-48 from the deal.

Yeah the SAR48 ain't a Belgium correct but so what.

[DiabhailGadhar]

ok I know this is a NFA question really but since you brought up a full auto I'm going go ahead and ask..especially considering I have the attention of a resident expert. How does the full auto scenario work with the Hk 91 especially considering the numerous examples of pre-86 models and full auto parts being relatively available. For instance the saco model that I brought up previously, they were imported prior to 86 and they can be converted to full auto? I'm not overly interested in the auto ability having used m16a2/a4 in that capacity and knowing that there are very few given scenario's where the full auto actually shows its benefit. I'm really just curious as to the application of it to the 91? please correct where ever I am mistaken.

[SteyrAUG]

ok I know this is a NFA question really but since you brought up a full auto I'm going go ahead and ask..especially considering I have the attention of a resident expert. How does the full auto scenario work with the Hk 91 especially considering the numerous examples of pre-86 models and full auto parts being relatively available. For instance the saco model that I brought up previously, they were imported prior to 86 and they can be converted to full auto? I'm not overly interested in the auto ability having used m16a2/a4 in that capacity and knowing that there are very few given scenario's where the full auto actually shows its benefit. I'm really just curious as to the application of it to the 91? please correct where ever I am mistaken.

Any full auto conversions would need to be done PRIOR to the 86 ban.

So the fact that a rifle was imported in 62, 74 or 84 is irrelevant if the conversion wasn't done before the NFA registry was closed in 1986.

There were many ways to do conversions. You could register the receiver, register a sear (which is actually a sear trip lever), the trigger box or in some cases the trigger frame. These are the items that become the actual "machine gun" in ATFs eye's similar to how a Uzi bolt can be the actual "machine gun" if that was the part that was registered prior to the ban.

Now these registered items are regularly sold and can be transferred if you have the money for them. Since the registered item is the "actual machine gun" the rifle simply becomes the host (except in cases of a HK 91 receiver being the registered item which would have to have been done PRIOR to the 86 ban) weapon.

So if you bought a registered sear, registered trigger box or registered trigger frame you could then legally install it on ANY rifle from a preban hk41 or hk 91 to a current production PTR91.

Basically almost every G3 (the select fire .308 HK rifle) was at some point a 91 (or 41) that was converted prior to the ban or uses a part that was registered prior to the ban.

There are a few factory original HK G3s which were imported PRIOR to 1968 that are transferable but they are incredibly expensive.

There are also some really rare push pin semi autos from 1962 that can accept full auto parts. You can read about them here:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=33942

But just because they fit doesn't mean it is legal to do so.

[DiabhailGadhar]

AH HA! That makes way more sense. I got it in my head that provided you had a serial number that predated the 86 ban you were cleared for full auto launch. Making it very odd in my head that people would be selling these rifles sub $10k. Steyr I have just recently found a great interest in these particular weapon system and thank you so much for sharing your obvious great wealth of knowledge of the system with me. How is it that you got interested/became familiar with them?

Any full auto conversions would need to be done PRIOR to the 86 ban.

So the fact that a rifle was imported in 62, 74 or 84 is irrelevant if the conversion wasn't done before the NFA registry was closed in 1986.

There were many ways to do conversions. You could register the receiver, register a sear (which is actually a sear trip lever), the trigger box or in some cases the trigger frame. These are the items that become the actual "machine gun" in ATFs eye's similar to how a Uzi bolt can be the actual "machine gun" if that was the part that was registered prior to the ban.

Now these registered items are regularly sold and can be transferred if you have the money for them. Since the registered item is the "actual machine gun" the rifle simply becomes the host (except in cases of a HK 91 receiver being the registered item which would have to have been done PRIOR to the 86 ban) weapon.

So if you bought a registered sear, registered trigger box or registered trigger frame you could then legally install it on ANY rifle from a preban hk41 or hk 91 to a current production PTR91.

Basically almost every G3 (the select fire .308 HK rifle) was at some point a 91 (or 41) that was converted prior to the ban or uses a part that was registered prior to the ban.

There are a few factory original HK G3s which were imported PRIOR to 1968 that are transferable but they are incredibly expensive.

There are also some really rare push pin semi autos from 1962 that can accept full auto parts. You can read about them here:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=33942

But just because they fit doesn't mean it is legal to do so.

[DiabhailGadhar]

Also, I swore I read somewhere that you recommended some reading on it and I don't recall where I saw that if you could provide a reading list it would be greatly appreciated. Especially for the history and design theory. Thanks again.