During a time like this I find that it’s important to focus on the good in life and that which you enjoy. Unsurprisingly, one of these things is something which happens to be older than I am and had originated from across the globe in Austria. I’m talking about one of the most iconic rifles ever produced: The Steyr AUG.
The “Armee Universal Gewehr” or “Universal Army Rifle” was formally adopted by the Austrian military in 1978 under the name StG 77 and even now this bullpup 5.56 NATO rifle looks as streamlined and futuristic as if it had come right out of the science fiction prop department. Unsurprisingly the AUG has seen plenty of screen time in movies, TV and games, many Americans recognizing it from the first Die Hard movie in particular. But memorable looks aren’t everything, as the design of this rifle has proven to be so robust that it is still in service to this day.
Not all that long after the AR-10 and AR-15 families came out to their share of ridicule about feeling like toys with their use of polymers, Steyr took the idea and turned it up to eleven. The entire stock assembly is polymer. The magazine body, follower and baseplate are polymer. The trigger, safety, magazine release, and charging handle are polymer. Inside almost the entire trigger pack is polymer, including the hammer. Even more polymer helps to keep the firing pin secured to the bolt body. What isn’t made of polymer is made out of aluminum with steel only used where necessary.
There are a few downsides, however. Where Stoner’s intention with using polymer and aluminum was to save weight, the AUG still manages to clock in at 7.7 to 8.8 pounds depending on whether the fixed optic is included. Bullpups do tend to add a bit more weight, but the AUG balances these additional ounces exceptionally well. Another sticking point is that the trigger is not enjoyed by many shooters in this country. In fact, I personally find it to feel a bit “sticky.”
The original military trigger was a progressive design where pulling halfway would fire a single round and pulling all of the way would fire full auto. With the A3 M1, the newest version of the AUG commercially offered here, I honestly don’t mind the trigger at all. It has a tiny bit of take-up and a somewhat heavy break but it’s decisive and predictable with a solid audible and tactile reset. It’s not quite as good as the IWI X95’s factory trigger but better than the heavier pull found in a factory CZ Scorpion. If all you shoot are AR’s then the Steyr will be something to adjust to.
The AUG operates on an adjustable short stroke gas piston with the bolt riding along two full length guide rods much like the AR-18, a rifle which was also created by Eugene Stoner to be an alternative to the AR-15 back in the early 1960’s. The bolt itself is a rotating multi-lug design which looks quite a lot like an AR’s. The AUG’s ejection port can be switched for left handed use with a swap to a left handed bolt, however the charging handle is fixed to the left and clearly favors right handed users. The magazine release is a long hinged button at the bottom of the stock just behind the magwell and is positioned for ambidextrous operation. The safety is a cross bolt style just above the firing hand.
Of course, you can’t talk about the AUG without mentioning the forward grip and its biggest party trick. Right from the factory this rifle has a folding vertical grip up front which works exceptionally well. Pull down slightly and you can hinge it upward for storage, or give it a pull down and it’ll lock into position. It’s both comfortable and functional. In addition, it gives you something to hang onto for the next part.
These rifles have the slickest quick change barrel system I have ever seen. It’s as easy as pushing a button with the thumb while hanging onto the foregrip, twisting clockwise a few degrees, then pulling the entire barrel and gas piston right out of the receiver. Not only can you swap barrels in a pinch (and the original AUG was intended for use as an infantry rifle, a 9mm submachine gun, and a light support weapon with only a barrel swap) but this makes cleaning the barrel incredibly easy!
As it turns out this is doubly helpful as the AUG itself is an incredibly clean operating firearm…except for the barrel. I’ve cleaned plenty of AR-15’s, they make a colossal mess. Every time I’ve taken the bolt out of an AUG it looks like it hadn’t been fired. The barrel does pack on its share of dirt but the AUG is designed to run and run with minimal to zero maintenance for thousands of rounds. Looking at the internals I am inclined to believe such a claim.
Since the AUG had also been intended for use as a squad automatic weapon or a light machine gun there’s another uncommon factory option to be discovered: Forty two round magazines! You won’t even need to find one of the heavier LMG barrel/bipod combos to use them, either.
It’s worth noting here that all of the AUGs except for the newer “NATO” version take proprietary magazines which are translucent, incredibly lightweight, and quite durable. Not too long ago Magpul also came out with a PMag version for the AUG which compliments those rifles with black stocks for a proper “midnight” look.
The AUG’s gone through several variations over the years. The first generation rifles are collector pieces as they had only been in this country for a few years before the 1989 import ban hit. The current variant is the A3 M1, the M1 part designating that they can easily be swapped between Picatinny rail mounts and integrated optics via three bolts in the top of the receiver. The factory scopes really add to the AUG’s iconic look but they do add some weight.
The one I spent time with had a longer length top rail holding a Sig Romeo7 red dot sight. Compared to other bullpups such as the X95 I found that the AUG was excellent for a lower sight mount, thanks to the angular shape of the back of the stock you can really hunker into this rifle rather than feeling like you’re perched above it.
This lower sight axis made an appreciable difference in my shot pattern, too. Despite being a bullpup with a sticky feeling trigger and nowhere for a bipod or proper front rest and having zero magnification, I was able to turn out some really sharp groups at 75 feet with the Steyr! The AUG is renowned for having incredible accuracy through its cold hammer forged barrel. Clocking in a three quarter inch group at 75 feet has left me a believer.
I can only imagine what the integrated 3x scope would do for this accuracy potential. There’s also a 1.5x magnification option which matches the original A1’s profile.
So, yes, I absolutely adore the AUG A3 M1, and here comes the “but.” The factory charging handle is, in a word, awful. To lock the bolt back you have to pull rearward with your palm turned upward then rotate it a few degrees clockwise to catch within the receiver body. The first problem is that this charging handle is spring-loaded, sometimes all you’re turning is the polymer bit rather than the internal assembly. Once it’s finally locked back the handle will now be standing vertically while tight up against the receiver making it quite difficult to get to in a hurry. Having the integrated scope mounted could make it even more difficult to reach. Either way it’s incredibly awkward and an aftermarket solution is highly recommended.
Then there’s the ejection port, though this is more a cosmetic issue. The AUG has no shell deflector (which means do not try firing one off-hand!) The brass is known to chip away at the stock directly behind the port. A few aftermarket shell deflectors do exist, one made by Corvus Defensio in Austria is an excellent option but they are pricey and can be quite difficult to find.
Oh, and this rifle is a bit heavy. But honestly, those are my only complaints. I’m fine with the proprietary magazines, they work great and are not impossible to find. I’m fine with the trigger, it’s not meant to be match grade but if you want to get a lighter pull there are more aftermarket options available. I’m fine with the weight because the rifle balances so nicely and keeps its mass closer in toward the shooter.
Still, it’s more than being “fine with” the AUG. This rifle is a legend and I can overlook these few negatives given its vintage and how easily it can be upgraded to fix most of these points. There’s nothing quite like getting one of these rifles into your hands and doing so is immediately followed by that “action hero movie” vibe. To this day I still think the AUG is one of the most attractive rifles ever made and I smile every time I see one. They may occupy more of a niche market but they are still being made and for that I am very grateful. Even the newer designs such as the Lithgow F90 share the same mechanics and ergonomics of the Steyr with most of the alterations being for modern accessories (and a shell deflector.)
It’s been said that you should never meet your idols but when it comes to the Steyr AUG I can confidently say I’m very glad that I did.
