After searching for a while for a semi auto Colt 703 or Stoner63, I stumbled across the Robinson M96. I haven't really heard or seen much about this rifle. Anyone know anything about it or own one?

My understanding is it's a Stoner clone with different internals.  It is no longer made, and has very limited support from RA since they've moved on to the XCR.

I haven't fired one, or even seen one live myself, so I can't offer any other insights.

Great gun.



Internally it is NOTHING like a Stoner and is, in fact, quite inferior.



Externally, it's mode of operation is very poorly designed ergonomically.  You cannot flip the safety of from the shouldered position.  The weapon didn't even have an external bolt lock until its' final iteration.



It was made of stellar materials and had an AWESOME surface finish not unlike Melonite or Tennifer.  It pointed like a dream and was very acceptably accurate.  Reliability varied.  Mine was AWESOME.



All things being equal, Robinson should have stuck MUCH closer to the Stoner 63A in operational design and ergonomics and used the advanced plastics, metals and surface finish for the "step up" from the 60s.



 

Yes.
Awesome rifle but not without a couple of quirks. It's the closest thing you can get to a Stoner 63.
The only '63 part that will fit is the but stock, nothing else interchanges.

Constructed of mostly from nitride or melanite treated stainless ( CroMo barrel ) the receiver was designed to last a minimum of 80,000 rounds.
Tortuously difficult to manufacture and ridiculously expensive when new, it was produced from 1999 to 2006 with an estimated 3,500 made.
There were a few bugs worked out along the way and few upgrades. Some were free and some were optional at the owners expense.

First out was the Expeditionary rifle, followed by the carbine. Both used the long gas tube and op-rod.
Later came the Recon Carbine which uses the shorter gas tube and op-rod.

There were a few shipped with heavy stainless match grade barrels and a few chambered in 6X45mm.
The heavy barrel BREN models caused quite a stir but were expensive and few were made.
The much anticipated belt feed kit was never produced and hence the advantages of its modularity was never fully realized.

 Ergonomics are fantastic. Accuracy is better than AK but not as good as an AR and it is boringly reliable.
Mine 100% reliably digests steel case ammo from crappy mags that will not function in my AR15 type rifles.
USGI, Pmags, H-K, Orlite, Thermold, ChiCom drums and Beta-C's all fit and function.

The op rod system system is remarkably similar to the Beretta AR70 or SIG 550. The bolt unlocks at zero or near zero residual chamber pressure. Function is butter smooth. Recoil is very soft and straight back with virtually no muzzle jump only a bit of disturbance,sights stay on target.

"Spare" parts are few and hard to find but only a bare minimum is really needed keep it running for a couple of life times.
AR15 extractor, a few pins from the hardware store and a couple of springs will suffice, anything beyond that is just to make one feel comfortable IMHO.

Learn more about it here

My M96 trades places back and forth with my AR180 as my go to gun in case of SHTF/ Zombie apocalypse/TEOTWAWKI unless I get an XCR which, IMHO/E is a better rifle but even then I won't be parting with my '96,,ever.

Wow!! Hi D.M.,

You posted while I was still fat finger typing my reply.

Thank you for all of you contributions on the old M96.org

I had one. Notice I said "had". It made three trips back to Robinson before I wised up and sold it. My barrel would eject when randomly shooting. After they finally figured out the problem and me paying $30.00 each time to send it back I had had enough.

Customer service stinks. I would never buy another over engineered Robinson product ever again.

I miss those days.  I was heavy into experimenting and tweaking the M96.  





It is truly a shame they didn't stick closer to the older Stoner 63, I think that was what a lot of people wanted.  Particularly the trigger group.





Here's a pic of mine with some pretty rare stock sets to go with it:





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I wish the steel lower with modular magwell would have carried over to the XCR. Then they could use the right mags for the 7.62x39 conversion.

I had one.......totally regret selling it.....one of the best rifles I owned

Very cool guns. It's impossible to get parts for them.

I spose we can take that as fact.

still have mine. I had one of the first before the recalled trigger groups have the original setup and the newer carbine barrel and folding stock

The gun had even less recoil than my SCAR, I could double tap a steel plate from standing at 200 yards and the sights would not move.

after the recall trigger the trigger sucked, became a weird 2 stage trigger

I wished they still made the BREN configuration and made a belt fed mod

also wished they made a Stoner 63 type folding stock instead of the ACE type stock which had a weird up sloping comb to it like the adaptor was not machined right

Your safety probably had something to do with it. 50% of the time,  the safety had to be changed out to work with the new parts.

Yup.  (as far as factory supplied goes)
Interweb and auction purchase from individuals who bought parts from the factory when they were available?,,,,it happens from time to time.

But hey the '96 is built like a friggen tank as far as wear parts go.
Other than a few pins and springs you likely won't need any parts unless you loose them.

Kinda like the M1 Garrand or AK in that they were built to last.

I like my M96.  Parts are somewhat hard to find these days, but its a good rifle.  You can also turn it into a top feed "Bren" style weapon.  The conversion is pricey, but pretty cool.  Here's mine...

So.......what's an un-molested 96 with green furniture and less than a hundred rounds through it worth?

It depends on what barrel and gas system are on it.

Prices have been all over the chart as so to speak.

As far as desirability Its a tie between the Expeditionary ( long gas system ) rifles and carbines and the Recon ( short gas system) Carbines IMHO.
Recon Carbine is a bit lighter and the balance point is a bit more rearward. There were no rifle length barrels for it.
Expeditionary uses the same gas system for both rifle and carbine barrels.

Pick which ever you prefer or better yet get both.

I had one when they first came out.  Very front end heavy.   Mine had the front gas block crack after a short while and the rifle was replaced by Robinson.  

The retaining pin at the back of the mag well and the mag release were right beside each other.  I would always hit the retaining pin instead of the mag release.

Accuracy was nothing to brag about.