The current issue of “Guns and Ammo Combat Arms” has an article about the new Chinese QBZ97 assault rifle. The author concludes that it’s a pretty good rifle, and that it’s likely to garner some significant international sales thanks to its low, $450 price tag (in a large military order). The author compares this to the Israeli Tavor, at $1,000, or the Steyr AUG-A3, at an astounding $2,800! Sheesh, even if I were some Steyroid-crazed third-world leader, I’d still gag at the cost of equipping my troops with new AUG’s. Worse, if that’s the per-unit cost for a big military order, just how much will a new civilian AUG go for (that is, if they someday begin selling them again here in America)? $3,500? $4,000? Sure, I’d love an AUG, but at those prices . . . uh, never mind!
Well, a military should field the best assault rifle for its infantry that it can afford. That old saying "you get what you pay for," is more often than not true when it comes to assault rifles. The Steyr Mannlicher Armee Universal Gewehr (AUG) is superior in every possible way to the Chinese QBZ95 Assault rifle and is battle tested to boot. In fact, Steyr AUGs are the standard infantry rifle for Austria, Australia, Ireland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Steyr AUGs have seen combat in Afghanistan, East Timor, and Iraq. The Chinese QBZ95 is as of yet an untested and almost unfielded firearm. Not to mention that Chinese firearms manufacturing leaves a lot to question when it comes to consistent quality. I point out that in the article cited above published in "Combat Arms" the author states and I quote: I know little of Israel's Tavor Bullpup, but I'd like to point out that many others have tried to develop a bullpup design such as the FAMAS (which, is not a popular rifle among French Forces), the SA-80 (that was prone to many failures until H&K came onboard), and the SAR-21 of which little is known about in the west. I'd rather my forces carry a more expensive, battle tested, and battle proven weapon that has been perfected over the years into a wonderful infantry rifle than a cheaper, untested, and unproven systems with suspect manufacturing and quality control. The latest AUG A-3 offers a number of accessories add-ons and represents the latest version of the best bullpup ever produced.
Depending on the quantity, the costs for a military version (A1) are approximately 500-800 $, so the A2 must be a little cheaper (without optic). The civil-version (A2), inclusive everyone of rebuilds* (*regulation by austrian government) costs currently 2200$ in austria. (without optics). So it might be cost 1500-1800 $ in US. (A2 civil-version) because the prices always are a little better than in Austria and the stupid rebuild-actions are not necessary in USA. PS: civil version in austria is always a semi-auto-version because it seems the gouvernment doesn't trust us and every legal gun-owner could be a bad boy :roll:
I agree to every word of the statement of ministerofdeath. If your life depends on an gun, better trust the more expensive but better one. And I am sure, if any army will buy the AUG, they will not pay the price as stupid guys like me and you have payed for it.
While I don't have $2800 burning a hole in my pocket, it would seem to be a very small price to pay come crunch time. I am going to do my best to buy an AUG A3 semi auto when they are available. What price, my life? Kammerjaeger
