Current/updated Steyr AUG meditations...

[TED]

Here are a few thoughts based on ongoing experience with my AUG...

I still think the A3 SA receiver is better than the M1 as far as optic rail design and options. It saddens me that they are no longer made. I feel strongly enough about this that I recommend looking for a used A3 SA as opposed to a new M1.

I really do prefer the NATO stock. Using AR mags, including Surefire 60 and Schmeisser 60, with all the logistical and cost benefits is just too great to not do. The downsides of the NATO stock is that it does not have a left hand ejection port and no bolt release. However, there are NATO stocks in Europe that do have one or both of those things. They should eventually migrate here.

The 2020 precision sear is the best possible trigger upgrade for the AUG. Worth every penny! Makes a night and day difference.

Midwest industries makes a section of extended MLOK rail to replace the right side short pic rail. It's only $30. Very appealing!

The corvus brass deflector really does work. Make sure you get the correct one. They are different for the regular stock or the NATO stock. I learned that the hard way.

I like an extended forward rail for the option of mounting bipod legs to the rail instead of the barrel.

Although it is blasphemous, the MSAR E4 stock works on the AUG (with use of an MSAR trigger pack) and is very nice and has some great features like more sling mount points, a finger groove, and a left hand ejection port. However, it will not allow the Schmeisser 60rd mag to lock in. The Surefire 60 works great.

You can still easily go prone with a 40rd or 60rd mag because your body, the ground, and the mag form a scalene triangle with its highest point at the mag.

Although I love the Tork mags and highly recommend them they don't work in the AUG with NATO stock.

The Magpul AUG mags are great. They are less bulky and slimmer. Easier in and out of pouches. Work great. If they made a 40rd I would consider replacing all my Steyr mags with them.

If you want to carry a spare mag onboard an Australian company called plat-a-tac used to make a stock mounted mag pouch. They are long since out of production but can, rarely, be found on Ebay once in a blue moon. They work well and are the only way I know of to carry a spare mag.

TED

[mig1nc]

Here are a few thoughts based on ongoing experience with my AUG...

I still think the A3 SA receiver is better than the M1 as far as optic rail design and options. It saddens me that they are no longer made. I feel strongly enough about this that I recommend looking for a used A3 SA as opposed to a new M1.

I really do prefer the NATO stock. Using AR mags, including Surefire 60 and Schmeisser 60, with all the logistical and cost benefits is just too great to not do. The downsides of the NATO stock is that it does not have a left hand ejection port and no bolt release. However, there are NATO stocks in Europe that do have one or both of those things. They should eventually migrate here.

The 2020 precision sear is the best possible trigger upgrade for the AUG. Worth every penny! Makes a night and day difference.

Midwest industries makes a section of extended MLOK rail to replace the right side short pic rail. It's only $30. Very appealing!

The corvus brass deflector really does work. Make sure you get the correct one. They are different for the regular stock or the NATO stock. I learned that the hard way.

I like an extended forward rail for the option of mounting bipod legs to the rail instead of the barrel.

Although it is blasphemous, the MSAR E4 stock works on the AUG (with use of an MSAR trigger pack) and is very nice and has some great features like more sling mount points, a finger groove, and a left hand ejection port. However, it will not allow the Schmeisser 60rd mag to lock in. The Surefire 60 works great.

You can still easily go prone with a 40rd or 60rd mag because your body, the ground, and the mag form a scalene triangle with its highest point at the mag.

Although I love the Tork mags and highly recommend them they don't work in the AUG with NATO stock.

The Magpul AUG mags are great. They are less bulky and slimmer. Easier in and out of pouches. Work great. If they made a 40rd I would consider replacing all my Steyr mags with them.

If you want to carry a spare mag onboard an Australian company called plat-a-tac used to make a stock mounted mag pouch. They are long since out of production but can, rarely, be found on Ebay once in a blue moon. They work well and are the only way I know of to carry a spare mag.

TED

Do the Tork mags work in an E4 stock? I have one of those and always thought the Tork mag was a neat design and wanted to try some.

I generally only use pmags and they work fine in an E4 stock. If you want to use M3 pmags you have to Dremel out a little bit on the stock for the over insertion tab to fit. But it's not hard to do at all.


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[TED]

I'm not sure if the Trok mag works in the E4 stock. I'll have to check on that.

TED

[Diamondback]

If you want to carry a spare mag onboard an Australian company called plat-a-tac used to make a stock mounted mag pouch. They are long since out of production but can, rarely, be found on Ebay once in a blue moon. They work well and are the only way I know of to carry a spare mag.

TED

Failing that, if your AUG is setup for AR mags, CAA does have a mag-carrier that mounts on 1913 rail. They intended it for one of their own stocks, but it works just as well on a handguard mount, possibly better if you reload with your support hand.

[Bret]

I really do prefer the NATO stock. Using AR mags, including Surefire 60 and Schmeisser 60, with all the logistical and cost benefits is just too great to not do. The downsides of the NATO stock is that it does not have a left hand ejection port and no bolt release. However, there are NATO stocks in Europe that do have one or both of those things. They should eventually migrate here.

I agree with you regarding the NATO stock. However, I wouldn't count on anything arriving from Steyr. I've been waiting for a new full auto stock and a couple of other full auto parts for my transferible AUG for over two years. Nothing and no indication that anything is on the way. You can't give some people money.

[JoshNC]

I disagree re: the A3 being better than the M1. I dislike the extension of the optic rail aft of the receiver, because it makes the rifle longer for stowing when removing the barrel. It’s also great that the M1 can accept optic housing or rail. The M1 is what the A2 should have been.

What the AUG needs in my opinion is:
- Corvus m1 optic rail with integral QD sling mounts as standard.
- Add ambi mag releases that can be activated with the trigger finger like the X95, while keeping the standard mag release.
- Offer ambi NATO stock.
- Add ambi bolt release, including on NATO stock.
- Add case deflector to the stock.
- In house US made CHF CL barrels.
- Updated forward mlok rail that is lighter in weight than the current Steyr handguard rail.
- Improve the trigger from the factory.
- Suppressed gas valve offered standard.

[TED]

"I disagree re: the A3 being better than the M1. I dislike the extension of the optic rail aft of the receiver, because it makes the rifle longer for stowing when removing the barrel."

The A3 SA gives the user more options, the rail you use does not have to extend past the receiver its your choice. By contrast, with the M1 you either can;t go forward of the receiver or structural integrity of the rail is hugely compromised.

TED

[JoshNC]

"I disagree re: the A3 being better than the M1. I dislike the extension of the optic rail aft of the receiver, because it makes the rifle longer for stowing when removing the barrel."

The A3 SA gives the user more options, the rail you use does not have to extend past the receiver its your choice. By contrast, with the M1 you either can;t go forward of the receiver or structural integrity of the rail is hugely compromised.

TED

Truncating the A3 rail similar to that of the A1/A2/M1 removes the rotational travel stop for the barrel. And they don’t look correct.

I have multiple AUGs. I had a first run Sabre produced A3. It’s gone. Only a USR turned A2 and A3M1s remain. I just could not warm up to the A3 rail.

Why would anyone want the rail to extend forward of the receiver? The beauty of the AUG is it’s compactness and rearward weight distribution. Start adding too much up front and you lose both attributes.

The AUG can only be taken but so far. Try to make it do too much, ie ultra-accessorized with a handguard extending aft of the receiver, etc is analogous to over kitting a SIG 550 or 551. You end up with an overly heavy, cumbersome rifle that is outclassed by a properly outfitted AR. The AUG is already outclassed in general by a quality AR. The benefit of the AUG is its compactness and weight distribution. It’s SBR length without being an SBR, and stows to 22” with the barrel removed (A1/A2/M1). In my opinion, all updates should maintain these attributes. Those extended MI rails elicit the same feeling as an M4 stock on an MP5. Yuck.

As an aside, if one were so inclined an A3M1 receiver could be milled to A3 spec. But in my opinion the juice would not be worth the squeeze.

[Firefly]

Agree with all JoshNC said. I like the AUG but the A3 had some fleas. I got out of my A3s and am just going to get the M1. Far more versatile per optics and rail length.

The A3 made sense if you had the CQC mod, but even then the CQC mod arose from the late 00s concept of putting Quad Rails on everything.

[mig1nc]

Agree with all JoshNC said. I like the AUG but the A3 had some fleas. I got out of my A3s and am just going to get the M1. Far more versatile per optics and rail length.

The A3 made sense if you had the CQC mod, but even then the CQC mod arose from the late 00s concept of putting Quad Rails on everything.

And it weighed a ton because of it!

I managed to score a claw gear handguard on the European used market and import it.

Feels and looks better than any other I've seen.

Just remember to wear gloves.


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