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Posted: 10/17/2009 5:58:04 PM EDT
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Ran my A3 in a class today. It was a class that I had taken in the past, but this time I ran the bullpup to see how it stacked up. I loaded 3-42rd and 3-30rd AUG mags and ran them empty, then switched to my E4 stock and ran the rest of the class with PMAGs. Between 500-600 rounds without a single malfunction, other than the drills where we intentionally set them up, and they were easy to clear.
Shooting on the move with the AUG was much easier than with an AR. I was able to keep it tucked in and put the rounds where I wanted them. Snap shooting, pivots, etc. were all a piece of cake. Reloads were no problem. I was faster than most of the AR shooters, even though I had to strip the mags out prior to acquiring a fresh mag. I didn't feel handicapped at all. This was a basic carbine class, so there wasn't any alternate position, weak-side, or barricade firing. I did transition to weak-side and fire a few times just to show some of the others how it could be done. Shot the whole course on gas setting 1. Very little lube at all. After the class was over one of the guys wanted to shoot it and loaded up a mag of Wolf (I was shooting my reloads all day). The Wolf black-box ran just fine on a dry, dirty gun on setting 1. I think I sold a couple guys on bullpups, especially if MSAR gets the 5.45x39 up and running. No pics, as the AI who usually snaps a bunch of pics wasn't there today. I'm absolutely confident in the AUG platform now, and would trust it with my life. I'm still an AR guy at heart, but the AUG fits in there somewhere. |
| I have discovered I can't really press check my MSAR. I did it earlier today at the range as I was busy setting up my spotting scope, etc..., then just wanted to see if I had a round in the chamber. I did, but later when I pulled the trigger I just heard a click. Was able to recreate the situation a couple more times. Unlike an AR, where you can visually see the bolt and notice it's not all the way in, then hit the FA, you just see a solid black piece of metal on the AUG. |
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Quoted:
I have discovered I can't really press check my MSAR. I did it earlier today at the range as I was busy setting up my spotting scope, etc..., then just wanted to see if I had a round in the chamber. I did, but later when I pulled the trigger I just heard a click. Was able to recreate the situation a couple more times. Unlike an AR, where you can visually see the bolt and notice it's not all the way in, then hit the FA, you just see a solid black piece of metal on the AUG. You can always pull out the mag to see if the round has been stripped off. Just have to remember that the AUG mag is backwards from an AR mag in that the even rounds will be on the left. The AUG A3 has a fwd assist as well, which shouldn't be used for malfunctions, but is useful if you have to ride the bolt forward, or close the bolt after a quick check. |
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Great range report, thx! Yep, running my STG's through a couple of carbine classes completely eliminated any remaining doubts I may have had as to its suitability for my needs. Speed of handling, reduced shooter fatigue, ease of maintenance, design modularity & love the 42rd mag! Like you I found mag change speed concerns to be a non-issue & the size of the 42rd mag never interfered w/shooting regardless of position (plus, the extra length makes manipulation easier in my book).
Tomac |
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Quoted:...the size of the 42rd mag never interfered w/shooting regardless of position (plus, the extra length makes manipulation easier in my book).
Tomac Agreed. I was just going to stick with a few 42rd mags, but I may pick up some more now. Easy out of the pouches, and I could seat them faster. Another really nice thing about this platform, is that even after a lot of shooting it cleans up in a snap. I take the gas system apart and soak it in solvent. Swab the bbl with a little solvent and let it sit. Wipe everything down, inspect and clean the bolt carrier group, hammer pack, stock and receiver. Brush and swab the bbl until clean. By the time I'm done with all that, the solvent has worked on the gas components and they wipe clean. Total time less than 30 min. I'd still be chipping away at the carbon on an AR for at least another hour. 
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You mention demonstrating shooting the MSAR from the weak-side.
I shoot alot of 3-gun matches and some of them really like to require weak-side shooting in some stages. For those matches where I expect weak-side transitions I've been leaving my MSAR at home and have been shooting my 16" AR. I would love to be running my MSAR because with the exception of weak-side transitions I think the MSAR is the best 3-gun platform out there. Fast target acquisition, fast shot to shot recovery, manueverability. Can you explain your weak-side shooting technique to safely switch from right handed to left handed without hot gas and brass blowing into the shooters face? Any pictures? Thanks |
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Quoted:
You mention demonstrating shooting the MSAR from the weak-side. I shoot alot of 3-gun matches and some of them really like to require weak-side shooting in some stages. For those matches where I expect weak-side transitions I've been leaving my MSAR at home and have been shooting my 16" AR. I would love to be running my MSAR because with the exception of weak-side transitions I think the MSAR is the best 3-gun platform out there. Fast target acquisition, fast shot to shot recovery, manueverability. Can you explain your weak-side shooting technique to safely switch from right handed to left handed without hot gas and brass blowing into the shooters face? Any pictures? Thanks It's an AUG, but same-same. 1. Switch to off-hand shoulder 2. Switch hands on pistol grip 3. Move off hand (formerly primary hand) to stock just behind the ejection port 4. Fire away You are basically using the heel of your hand as a brass deflector. If you've been in the military or seen someone shoot a belt-fed MG from the prone, it's essentially the same thing. You are resting your off-hand on top of the stock just behind the ejection port and resting your face on your hand. I've done this bare-handed and it works fine without any pain or other ill effects. The AUG is well balanced and it is easy to shoot this way. |
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no pics, but I use the strong side hand (right) when shooting weak side (left) as my brass deflector.
I transition the rifle to left shoulder (slack my vickers sling), use my right hand to block brass...I use the back of my hand (thumb away from rifle) behind ejection port. You do get some smoke in the face, but it's a small price to pay for barricade/weak side shooting. I'm a AR15 convert...just the STG platform now. |
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