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Posted: 2/2/2004 11:53:29 AM EDT
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I was wondering how the HK 33 compares to the AR. I just some some used LE ones advertised for $650. We are looking at getting some rifles for our department and was wondering if the 33 would be good at that price, or if we would be better off getting some AR's. Thanks |
| Our PD got NIB Bushmaster 16 carbines all LEO stamped and complete with evil features for around $600-650 each. We got eight at a time so I don't know if that was group purchase price or what. It was about 18 monthes ago from Keisler's in Indiana. I haven't priced hk33 mags, but I know AR mags w/ LEO stamp are about $12/each |
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Hollywood, The HK 33 is a great gun. For pure accuracy, you can probably better off with an AR. ARs are also lighter weight. Cheaper/easier to maintain as well. HK is tougher to do full maint on unless you've got an HK armorer (or maybe you're trying to get HK33s so you can get sent to Armorer school :) ). HKs are rugged. I've shot the civ version and they are sturdy, much more steel than an AR like my RRA. And if it is a true 33, then you get select fire, which the standard LEO ARs are not. And truly speaking for LE purposes (except maybe in SWAT), select fire is not probably desireable(well at least full-auto, burst is very useful). I have an RRA A2, HK (91 and 94 clone) and while I don't a 93, I'd feel comfortable with any, but suspect that the general PD populace is more AR familiar (except maybe with MP5s). Can't comment on the pricing to much, but that sounds very reasonable... as most MIL/LEO guns are in that range. -ken |
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I had an HK93...traded it for an AUG. It was heavier than my AR's, and the recoil was sucked up a bit better by the rifle as a consequence. Mine shot really, really well. To me, shooting the thing felt like squeezing a stick of very soft butter, for lack of a better description. The downside was that it was a real pain in the ass to clean. Because of it's design, a lot of carbon accumulated in the receiver/breech area. If you're anal about your weapon's state of cleanliness, it's not fun to clean it completly. Disassembly was pretty easy. If you didn't mind a coat of carbon in the receiver, you could clean it pretty quickly by quickly wiping down the bolt group and doing the bore. You'll NEED some kind of a brush to clean the flutes in the breech. If those get gunked up, the rifle will malfunction. That, to me, was it's only downside. If you get real HK33's with the flapper mag release, mag changes will be pretty fast and painless. Easier to change than an on AK (but not as fast/easy as an AR)..the lack of a bolt hold open is also something to consider. There's no real comparison between them...their only similarities are that they both fire the same round. Two totally different rifles in principal and in design, otherwise. If you have a knowledgable department staff/armorer, who knows how to care and maintain their weapons...the AR may be a better choice. It's finickier, but if it's maintained, it'll always work. If you have guys who aren't really into maintaince..the HK might be a better bet. Stuff an old stock down the receiver to get out the worst of the gunk, wipe down the bolt/carrier, quickly brush out the breech flutes, and you've "cleaned" the rifle inside of 5 minutes. It won't pass any inspections anywhere, but it'll run. |
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