Quoted:
Honestly, I smell a troll. If you know who Dave is something tells me you should know the differences between the MSAR and Steyr.
If you honestly don't:
The biggest difference really between the A3 and the STG-556 is that outside of the 16" barrels there were never any other USA made barrels made in different length. The barrel is also part of the parts count under 18 USC 922r.
The biggest difference between the A3 and the E4 is that the E4 takes STANAG mags whereas the A3 with the Steyr Stock can take STANAG mags, but looses its bolt release lever feature on the stock.
The advantage to the E4 over is the STG 556 is the STANAG mag feature and the rear flank rails make it a bit easier to run a wider variety of single point slings.
The biggest issue with the MSAR are that some of the black colored nitrided bolts were improperly heat treated leading to nitrogen embrittlement.
The casting is more rough on the MSAR bolt carrier and slightly more rough with the MSAR receiver.
The barrels of the MSAR and A3 are both button rifled, but the honing of the A3 barrels are more consistent in quality.
IMHO the bolt sleeve design of the MSAR is an improvement over the bolt sleeve design of the A3. The bolt sleeve of both is your most likely part to need replacement during service of the rifle.
Currently there are more accessories available for the MSAR rifles, because frankly there is a larger market to support them with some 15,000 MSAR or more out in circulation so about 7 times as many as the A3.
Both are backed by customer service and warranties.
Obviously you're going to pay about $800-$1000 more for an A3 than an STG and about $400-$600 more for an A3 than an E4. Unless the MSAR rifle is an Gebirgjager or some limited edition rifle like the ones with the FNH made barrels I would do more shopping, because most are well under $2K.
I'm gonna be honest here, I had never heard about AUG until I played with one in a video game (I know that sounds really childish or what not, but I'm comfortable with saying that because I'm being honest, and I do have many other very nice firearms and scopes and I have hunted my whole life, I simply have recently gotten interested in AR15s and for the past few days AUG...)
I just finished watching a review by nutnfancy when he was at the microtech booth in 2010 I believe... He was interviewing the son of the company... I am a frequent member of another forum and they recommended this forum for bullpup talk (isn't so much talk on thehighroad)... So I came here, browsed around, and decided to post... On the first page of this forum there is a locked thread that discusses some guy named Dave leaving... I posted my questions about Steyr and MSAR and just wanted to see what the Dave thing was all about, I have no clue about what happened or who he is other than he worked for microtech and their quality seemed to be better when he was there. I dunno if he retired/was fired/quit nothing... I simply didn't want to put down a few grand on a rifle and not be able to get it repaired if it needed it... I'm not a troll and I do appreciate the help I have received already from this post. I had no idea there was any animosity in this guy leaving or what not...
On their website they state in early 2011 to mid 2011 they are getting modular mcs, does anyone know anything about this? Should I wait to get this rifle?
thanks again and we don't ever have to discuss this guy again if it's going to cause any problems, I'm here just because I think the bullpup design is great and it felt awesome yesterday when I held the MSAR... (Plus I sorta like getting things that aren't quite mainstream, it's just how I am)