I saw that Steyr has ended production of the AUG A3 US.  I remember that they were planning on a production run of ~3000, but it looks like they stopped short of that goal.  Does anyone know whether they'll be starting up again or maybe partnering with another manufacture for 922r compliance?


http://www.specialistgunshop.com/steyr.htm

http://www.pjs-steyraug.com/USAUG.html

No, Steyr will not be partnering up with anyone elae.

U.S. made Steyr AUG production has officially ended.

Poduction has ended with only 2100 AUG A3 produced.

xxx

Okay MSAR, it's time to start up again.  You own the AUG market now.  

Please start production NOW!   I want to buy different length barrels...  

Huh...pulling out again....that sucks.

I guess sales weren't what they wanted.

If only a reputable company would step up and make a AUG clone with support and accessories......

I hope they will be back. Im wishing for longer barrels, 9mm conversion, and maybe a carrying handle optic that mounts to the A3 receiver and a redesigned ar15 mag stock.  Boy do i wish for alot !  WOW , no word from MSAR and now Steyr does this.  Im shaving my head so my hair wont fall out !!

Don't worry. There will always be folks telling us that we should get the AUG for parts interchangeability, even if there are 3x more MSARs than AUGs.

Hmmm.  One platform sells for slightly over 1k and one platform sells for slightly over 2k...who's going to win that competition?

Dude this is what Steyr does they pull out and then don't tell you anything, but sooner or late they'll be back.



I don't expect that this is the end of the AUG A3 production in the US for all time. They'll be back.



In the mean time just so we don't get folks in a panic know that all Steyr firearms are fully backed by warranty service through Steyr Arms here in the USA.



There are probably a good number of of those 2,100 rifles still for sale as well. Even though Steyr itself only has a reported 250 in stock you know there are a number with dealers out there.  Whether there will be some B.S. price hike by dealers now that production has ended though is another question.



Market sucks right now. Welcome to the Obama Administration.

Halted.. they may resume production if/when the economy gets better

Still holds true.

Still plenty of "preban" era parts floating around, and worst case, there are grey market imports from the European civilian market.. Especially for the stuff that is likily to break.


MSAR will fold eventually.

Every single civilian only "assault rifle" company does eventually; At best, they "reorganize" and sell out to the AR.

So we will look for them back in 2025????

Scottsdale Gun Club has 2 in stock.

There's panic selling on GB already.  Just saw a new A3 starting at $1595.  How low can you go????

So, I take it we won't see the .22 cal conversion and new 20" barrels anytime soon from them like Steyr told me. Great.

they will shoot lasers by then

While that seems stupid to me, seems like a great time to buy an A3. I'm thrilled I bought mine. The standard stock and mags are being shrink wrapped and put in the safe and I'll be shooting the he'll out of my Nato stock gun.

If they only built 2100 rifles they will be worth plenty down the road. Plus if I can't get parts from Steyr, Pete will always have stock.

I think then A3 is superior to the A1 & A2s and even if MSAR gets there act together someday the original AUG will always  get a premium. YMMV but Id definatley buy an A3 again if I knew this was coming.  

I'd take a real Steyr over a clone any day....just like with HK's.

Yes, but the American Steyr A3 is only branded "Steyr."  It's a Sabre Defense AUG clone.  So what's the difference?  ...other than price?

Well that is dumb. Get the price down $200 and they would have sold better.
And I don't think you'll find anybody that says the real AUG isn't the best.

Even still they should finish out the run of 3000
Guess I'm getting an AUG before my SCAR now...

Sabre only made about half the parts.  The other half was still made by Steyr.  And what Sabre did make was made to Steyrs specs on Steyr Tooling with Steyr Supervision...  Thats the difference...





 

Supposedly it they were built with strict Steryr supervision and many if not most of the parts are made by Steyr Austria and imported. I was considering an MSAR but went with Steyr simply because I wanted a system that was proven and not go through growing pains, been there and I didn't want to be an early adopter. Glad I did, the rifle has ben flawless with PMAGS and I don't miss the bolt release, I run it quite well without. From what I read, the E4 release is not well placed.

I'm sure they'll get it together but I didn't want problems out of the box. And like I said, for me it was a great choice.

Umm, look who's selling it, Jewelry and Loan, they probably got it cheap as a trade in.

Beat me to it with a better post

Here we go.

Not to mention, Sabre Defense is a real contractor, with experience making gun parts.

Not some knife company that bought an AUG, and then used a notepad and a micrometer to design their "clone".

. MSAR does not make an AUG (Armee Universal Gewher) only Steyr does.

The Steyr Arms website does not make the announcement found on the website for PJInvestments.



So this leads me to question whether this is a hault with the contract with Sabre Defense while Steyr seeks another contractor, a temporary hault, or a hault without plans for future production. We simply don't have enough information at this point. I do know that Sabre has recently obtained additional military contracts and as a consequence might have been looking to concentrate more of its company on that task. Not sure if the new Sabre mil contracts played a role in the early termination (2,100 instead of the planned 3,000 rifles) of production.



We do know that Steyr remains invested in the US market. They have a large warranty facility in the USA under Steyr Arms and they are bringing in their MA1 pistols again for sale and continue to sell their line of bolt action rifles.





Let's assume though that alternative production plans in the USA of the AUG A3 are not yet planned, which would create some issues. The question will be how available parts will continue to be now that AUG production in the US has ceased. Many of the compliance parts may become increasingly rare and in turn expensive. Now folks will have to continue to count parts under 922r restrictions and you'll see price gouging just as we saw in the wake of the final 92' ban on the USR. Let's hope that Steyr Arms has stocked a large number of US compliance parts to continue to provide.  I have LONG advocated that Steyr have complete US Production of their firearms instead of depending on production overseas and contractors here in the USA.  Maybe they'll move in that direction?



The good news is that the Ratworx hybrid bolt for the Steyr AUG A3 is available and makes use of AR parts. It's very affordable and gives Steyr AUG owners an option that they didn't have when the Clinton Admin banned the USR in 92'.



The other good news is that MSAR E4 stocks will fit the Steyr AUG A3 as has been demonstrated here at AR15.com so that gives AUG A3 owners a source for stocks. In addition, the older NATO stocks can be converted by Pete Athens to fit the new AUG A3 as well.



This does throws into question whether Steyr still plans on proceeding with the .22LR conversion kit for the AUG A3. It does make it very clear that 6.8 SPC, a 9mm para AUG A3 version, or other calibers are highly unlikely at least for the foreseeable future at this point.



In the end all AUG A3 folks will survive just fine and dandy even if they have to shell out a bit more money for a part here and there. I certainly wish them well and hope for the best for all Steyr AUG owners even if they do constantly attack MSAR and those of us who own MSAR rifles again and again as if they have nothing better to do.

Did the market become saturated?  From the looks of things I'm begining to wonder if MSAR could be having issues too?  I really hope they bring the .22 kit to market.  And just for the record I've never made fun of an MSAR owner or their product.  These are strange sad days for the bullpup crowd.

FYI, I bought my A3 from Steyr USA (I'm an FFL) and bought the Nato stock with it as well. Both stocks came with trigger packs. There was no conversion needed to put the A3 receiver and bbl into the Nato stock. Again, both the standard stock and Nato stock came with trigger packs.

Don't you lose your bolt release though by going with the NATO stocks?



Point being you can get stocks if you're of of the A3 guys. Stocks and of course the hammer packs (not trigger packs) are easy to come by for AUG folks here.



And they've got the Ratworx bolts too, which is cool.



With the other parts you're going to have to watch 922R compliance though. Guessing you can't slap on an old Steyr A1 or A2 barrel on an A3 and stay 922r legal, but maybe I'm wrong on that. I remember when Dave worked for MSAR though I believe he could do MSAR barrels for AUG receivers. No clue whether they'd do that now though that he's gone?



There is no reason though to freak out out for anyone here.

I thought for sure they'd end up making more than the projected 3000 run... maybe they still will. Shit, I ended up with two, I'm happy! Going to keep one as a user and one as a safe queen given the scarcity of these guys. I can't really see any A3 owners being concerned about this (if anything it seems like they will be happy about the small number produced and the resulting value going through the roof over time), seems like replacement AUG parts have been around for a long time now. Not to mention these guns are built like tanks so it's not like you're going to need to replace tons of shit on it anyway. Stock up on some small parts and an extra bolt and you should be pretty safe for the long haul.

that is pretty idiotic, as the old steyrs were insanely expensive. If anything, having 1 of 2100 US made steyr augs is an investment

I thought for sure they would drop the price before giving up.  I thought they had plenty of margin to spare at current prices.  If not they are doing something wrong.

Now I wish I bought one although for the money I still think the MSAR is the better gun, but the better collectible will always be with the Steyr.

I guess this just shows how far out of the mainstream a non-AK/AR assault rifle is, even in the shooting community.  Only 2100 made and at least a quarter are probably unsold.  Now I understand why so few of non-AR15 assault rifles were sold before the first ban in 1989.

They cost more and they're not as familiar to American shooters.



Plus, a lot of folks still purchase their rifles at ma and pop stores, retail stores, and gun shows.  Sure, you'll see bullpups at some of those stores, but not in all of them and not in the same numbers.  

Yeah, that's full retard. Someone with more brains will take advantage of it though.

Like I said, no bolt release on the Nato stock. Not needed IMO, just thumb the charging handle forward. Just as fast.

True, at the NRA annual show in Phoenix a couple years ago, people would walk by Steyr and MSAR and make comments like space gun...  damn design is only 30 years old and been in a bazillion movies.

Sad day for us gun owners

Steyr Arms –– Halts AUG A3 production

MSAR –– Halted STG production and went back to knife production

TPD –– Halted production and is special order only?

I guess this was waiting to happen, look around and tell me what guns are really selling at a profit margin for a dealer to stock them? I'm talking about all guns.

All major firearms distributors and manufacturers have had cut backs and lay offs!  

Its really a buyers market out there, look at the prices of the Colts, its been 30 years since I have seen new Colt 30 round mags selling for $10 bucks.

As in Steyr's case it's not feasible for them to continue AUG production selling 10 or 20 a month, is it?

You guys think that Sabre Defense would stay tooled up just to make 20 AUGs a month? That's in sane!

Does Steyr Arms have the money and room to have 500 AUGs built and then stock them? Maybe not.

No one likes to sit on large quantity of stock!

Bottom line, AUGs, STGs & AXRs were not selling well and all have halted production on them.

Thats a bit of a stretch,  i think your getting Aug owners confused with frustrated MSAR owners.

I was writing to Mike at Specialist about this yesterday.  He seems to think it is because they are planning to focus on the Anschutz and Merkel lines that they have taken over from GSI.  Atleast for now...



He said that with the import taxes and SDI's cut, there was an extremely low margin in the AUG in this market.  This was just his read on the situation though, and he made it clear that this was not the official line...



 

Maybe TPD will step forward again or another company to provide a source for AUG A3 parts?

It's a stretch that a rifle dependent on US compliance parts that now are not being produced may rise in price?



Ok...yeah sure. They wont raise a dime in price.

What?

Bolt handle locks back I can flip it forward with my thumb like an MP5. Is that more clear?

It's a niche market and in this economy it's no surprise they cut back, especially if the margins were too low.

Did you reply to the right post ? and no , its a stretch that AUG owners are constantly attacking MSAR owners again and again.   I dont see it on these forums, sure you had the us vs them when the MSAR came out and there are a few die hard AUG owners on USAaug.com that constantly trash MSAR . . But i dont see AUG owners going out of there way to attack MSAR owners. Your comment is lumping  all AUG owners into mean group. Lawyer ?

The majority of parts on the gun that break or are perishable are not US made parts.  Specifically Bolts, Bolt Sleeves, Extractors, Firing Pins, Carriers, Gas Rings, Springs, Hammer Packs, etc...  These are not US made parts, so imported parts can be used without worrying about 922(r).  Spare barrels and magazines are the only US made parts I am concerned with...  
 

What for? Is Steyr going away or something?

I see RatWorx is starting to make replacement parts for the STG, has MSAR closed shop?

No, Steyr isn't going anywhere it seems.  They are just halting production...  Doesn't necessarily mean forever, but certainly for the time being





 

MSAR is still in business, Steyr is still in business.  Steyr apparently is not making AUGs for the civilian market anymore.

That is all anyone can say definitively, everything else is speculation.

Steyr should just take their tooling they apparently have at Sabre and move it to their facility in Trussville, Alabama and start production there.