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

[a1fabweld]

I hate to bring up the question of "Are the current production PTR91 rifles good?", but after poking around on various forums I'm still not sure what to think. From my reading it seems like most of the problem guns come from 2012 and earlier and the more recent ones seem to be ok, but I'm curious if that's because they are good or if people haven't been shooting them as much lately due to ammo costs. I'd like to pick up a PTR GI model to have a halfway decent example of a roller locked rifle for range fun, but I don't want to drop around a $1000 on something that's junk.

Read the "HK" thread. Lots of info. The new ones are GTG.

[SoDak]

I've read through this one and it's been one of the more encouraging sources of info on the newer ones. I've just been down that road before where a company is supposed to be "GTG now" and some new problem crops up, so I'm a bit shy of these still. I suppose I was curious if any of the people who have had good experiences with the new ones were still happy with them as well as if anyone else has seen any issues with the new ones.

[Hootiewho]

I have found what appears to be NIB HK SR9T local to me. It has the PSG1 lower, MSG90 stock, steel claw 30mm scope mount still in the HK wrapper. It is stamped SR9T and the markings are very clean; meaning I do not suspect it to be an SR9 that someone added a T to. It is a private sell from an HK collector.

I have been reading on HKPro about these rifles, and was curious what you guys might have to say about it.

What would you consider a fair price for it?

Does anyone here have any experience with the the 9T or 9TC, and how did they shoot. I think it has the 1:11 twist polygonal rifled barrel. I will be going back tomorrow to look it over a bit more.

I know it would piss off the true collector, but I was thinking that it would make an awesome MSG3K build with maybe an Elcan or low powered varible; especially if I could snag a Spuhr front end.

Any info would be appreciated.

[Hootiewho]

Well here she is.







175 gr FGMM at 100 yards on the first trip out.



Best I can tell it has not been fired since it left HK. It still had the thick assembly grease on everything and no wear marks or carbon anywhere.

Couple of shots down the bore of the poly barrel with a light on the other end...

[hotrodder636]

Looks very nice! Take good care of her when you take her out shooting!

Well here she is.







175 gr FGMM at 100 yards on the first trip out.



Best I can tell it has not been fired since it left HK. It still had the thick assembly grease on everything and no wear marks or carbon anywhere.

Couple of shots down the bore of the poly barrel with a light on the other end...

[5 Commando]

PTR "GI" rifles supposedly have the correct number of flutes and the right contour now. They still lack the grenade ring on the triple frame and the paddle release, which only the early HK and CETME imports had.

My earlier production JLD/PTR fed everything well and I've read that the early CETME's didn't even have flutes, but were put in some time during the model C run. PTR's other US parts (the fire control group and navy housing) are universally well regarded in quality. The receiver is made on FMP semi-auto tooling and is the only in-spec G3 receiver on the market.

The BATFE changed their mind and banned all MKE carbines from import (no 9mm, 5.56 or 7.62), the pistols will continue to be imported. MKE pistols and carbines started life as military spec weapons (possibly used in some cases) and were modified before import.

Century rifles usually have two problems (or a combination of two problems), US barrels and improperly set barrels. They try to fix the latter in the build process by doing everything except the only thing that will actually correct the problem they created (IE putting the barrel in correctly). They ship a lot of rifles with next to no bolt gap, bad barrels, the wrong size rollers, crap receivers, or improperly ground bolts. Fixable? Errr, sort of. Sometimes a competent gunsmith can fix them, and sometimes the smith will tell you they're going to beat the pavement with your wondermonkey rifle. The HK33's century rebuilt seem to have been on average much more serviceable than all the good G3 and CETME kits they butchered.

Oh yeah, one last thing with the century guns, the sights are regularly crooked, reaaally crooked, unadjustably crooked. In short, I've never known anybody who ever got a working century CETME, but I don't know too many people stupid enough to buy one either.

I love the G3, it makes the AK look overly compex. Godless teutonic killing machine.

This is a shot of my father. I will have to ask him where it was taken. I was given that beret and belt by him, and can remember growing up with that canvas pistol holster. Memories, Mike Hoare (Jr.)

[RAM Engineer]

Bumping this back up.
New PTR GI guns have the steel lowers WITH a paddle catch added. HOWEVER, they have now changed the muzzle threading from 15x1 to 5/8x24. Two steps forward, one step back.
What say you HK experts? Drop the money on one of these (and plenty of mags and ammo) or spend 3-4x that on a NIB HK91 with no paddle?

[RetroRevolver77]

Bumping this back up.
New PTR GI guns have the steel lowers WITH a paddle catch added. HOWEVER, they have now changed the muzzle threading from 15x1 to 5/8x24. Two steps forward, one step back.
What say you HK experts? Drop the money on one of these (and plenty of mags and ammo) or spend 3-4x that on a NIB HK91 with no paddle?

I wouldn't own a PTR simply because the barrels aren't hammer forged. Plus if you're going to go with an old battle rifle design, get a real one.

If you don't want to spend HK prices I'd look for either an FMP import or a Greek Ebo SAR. Those are both direct license HK production weapons and are equal in quality to HK. If decide on this route then people can chime in to guide you but if you get a SAR 8 make sure it's an overstamp gun with a threaded barrel.

[Auto426]

Bumping this back up.
New PTR GI guns have the steel lowers WITH a paddle catch added. HOWEVER, they have now changed the muzzle threading from 15x1 to 5/8x24. Two steps forward, one step back.
What say you HK experts? Drop the money on one of these (and plenty of mags and ammo) or spend 3-4x that on a NIB HK91 with no paddle?

I make no claims of being an expert, but I think the answer here largely depends on what you are looking for in the rifle. I'm sure there are many people who think the change in the muzzle threads is a positive one, since it means the gun is now compatible with many more aftermarket muzzle devices.

If your looking for a collector piece, then you should probably pay up for a real HK marked gun. If you want a shooter, then the PTR's will give you all the feel of the originals with a few modern concessions to make your shooting life easier. The models that Atlantic carries with the welded top rails make optics mounting a breeze compared to the older style claw mounts.

[SteyrAUG]

Bumping this back up.
New PTR GI guns have the steel lowers WITH a paddle catch added. HOWEVER, they have now changed the muzzle threading from 15x1 to 5/8x24. Two steps forward, one step back.
What say you HK experts? Drop the money on one of these (and plenty of mags and ammo) or spend 3-4x that on a NIB HK91 with no paddle?

I'd have to know more about the actual barrel. I think they were using TC barrels originally. Is that still the case?