STEYR AUG A3 M1 REFERENCE GUIDE Jack A. Imparato 2023 1 INDEX Overview …………………………………………………………………..……………. 3 Technical Speci ications …………………………………………………………………….…..…… 4 Highlights …………………………………….………………………………………… 5 Main Feature Comparisons ……………………………………………………….……………………… 6 Available Con igurations …………………………………………………………………….………… 7 Standard vs NATO …………………………………………………………………….………… 9 Recommended Enhancements …………………………………………………………………….………… 10 Suppliers ……………………………………………………….……………….….…. 13 Resources ……………………………………………………….……………….….…. 13 FAQ ……………………………………………………….……………….…..… 14 Testimonial ……………………………………………………….……………….….…. 16 DISCLAIMER: This is not a service manual. Heed all warnings and instructions provided by the manufacturer located in the service manual included with your ri le. The user accepts all responsibility for any and all modi ications made to his/her irearm suggested by this guide. This guide contains information available at the time of its creation. Certain information may have changed since. It is encouraged for the reader to do their own research in addition to reviewing this guide. Additionally, there are several di erent variations of the AUG which include the A1, A2 and A3 variants, as well as their derivatives . This guide will mainly pertain to the A3M1. f f f ff f f 2 OVERVIEW The STEYR AUG was designed in Austria during the 1960s by Steyr-Daimler. In production since 1978, it was adopted as the StG-77 by the Austrian Army. Several modern variants of the ri e have also been adopted by numerous military and police forces around the world including the U.S. Customs, Dept. of Homeland Security, and the Australian, New Zealand and Irish armed forces. During the Australian military trials, the AUG competed directly with the M-16 for adoption as the country’s of cial service ri e. The AUG excelled in all trials, beating out the M-16 in reliability, durability, longevity, ease of maintenance, and was the preferred ri e to operate by the majority of personnel involved in conducting the trials. The STEYR AUG is a semi-ambidextrous, short-stroke gas piston operated, bullpup (action located rearward of the trigger) with a berglass-reinforced polymer stock, chambered in 5.56x45mm (as well as .223 Remington). The enclosed action keeps dirt, grime, sand and mud out of the ri e’s internal components, helping to prevent malfunctions. If the ri e becomes fouled, the adjustable gas piston can be changed from normal to adverse. This increases the volume of gas to impinge upon the piston, thus allowing the action to cycle when fouled by most contaminants, including carbon buildup. Additionally, the butt stock is designed to house a cleaning kit and bottle of oil. Ease of maintenance is aided by a modular construction which allows for disassembly without the need for any tools into the ri e’s six main components: barrel, receiver, bolt, stock, trigger and magazine. fl fl fi fl fl fl fi fl 3 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Caliber ………………………………..……….... 5.56×45mm (.223 Rem.) Length (16” barrel) ...……………..………...…. 28.15" / 715mm Length (20” barrel) ...……………..………...…. 31.75" / 806mm Height (without magazine) .………………..….. 9.37" / 238mm Height (with 30 round magazine) ..…..……..... 11.06" / 281mm Weight (without magazine) .....……………....... 7.8 lbs. / 3.55 kg. Barrel length ……………………………………..16” / 407mm (additional barrel lengths available) Ri ing ......……………………………………...... 6 grooves, 1:9" / 228.6mm right hand twist Standard magazine capacity .………………..... 30 rounds Weight of empty magazine (30 round) .……..... 4.27 oz / 0.12 kgs Muzzle velocity ……………………………..…… 3,182 fps / 980 m/s (5.56 NATO M193 FMJ) Action ……………………………..……………… Short-stroke gas piston impinged, rotating bolt Effective ring range ………………………….… 550m Area target range ……………….…………….… 800m Maximum ring range ………………..………… 2,700m - 3,600m fi fi fl 4 HIGHLIGHTS Accuracy: The STEYR AUG is regarded as one of the most accurate commercially available bullpup ri es. The barrel is cold-hammer forged, nitride nished with a 1:9 RH twist that will stabilize most 5.56x45mm/.223 Rem. projectiles with a slight bias towards lighter loads (earlier models may have chrome lined barrels, and there was a limited run of 1:7 twist 16” and 24” barrels). The use of standard military issue ammunition (M855, M193) will achieve ~2 MOA, while higher grade “match” ammunition will yield 0.8-1.0 MOA. This is shown in the declassi ed Australian military trials: Hot Barrel Accuracy, 10 round groups at 300m, FN SS109, xed test mount: M16A2: mean radius 4.94" AUGA1: mean radius 2.55" Additionally, the quick change barrel function yields extremely high machining tolerances and will have essentially no effect on return to zero. Reliability and Longevity: The STEYR AUG is just as, if not more reliable than most other modern military-issued ri es including all M-16/M4/AR-15 variants thanks to an adjustable gas piston regulator (not offered as standard equipment on the AR platform). The charging handle incorporates a forward assist feature and the gas piston system allows for cleaner and cooler operation, keeping carbon and hot gasses away from the bolt and greatly increasing time between service intervals when compared to other ri es that utilize direct gas impingement. Field stripping the ri e can be accomplished without tools, and the butt stock is designed to house a cleaning kit. Malfunctions: The STEYR AUG is a ri e designed for military use and therefore is extremely reliable. It is able to feed and cycle most ammunition, however malfunctions may still occur. This is typically due to user error (most commonly short-stroking the charging handle) and ammunition-related issues. Clearing malfunctions in and around the bolt and chamber is a very simple process thanks to a large magazine well and easily removable barrel. Most malfunctions can be cleared by removing the magazine and cycling the bolt. Double feeds can be cleared by removing the magazine, locking the bolt to the rear, and manually removing the jammed rounds. Unlocking the barrel to clear a double feed is another option but must be done with care, as accidentally releasing the bolt with the barrel unlocked could cause damage. fi fl fl fi fl fl fi fl 5 MAIN FEATURE COMPARISONS Bullpup Con guration Pros: - Shorter overall length with full size barrel - Even weight distribution - Ease of mobility - Ability to reload without breaking cheek weld Cons: - Unconventional manual of arms - Less modular - Poor trigger feel Short Stroke Gas Piston System Pros: - Cooler operation - Cleaner operation - Adjustable gas piston for adverse conditions Cons: - Increased recoil impulse - Non free oated barrel - Increased weight Polymer Parts Construction Pros: - Lighter weight - Low parts count - Extremely durable - Impact resistant - Ease of maintenance and cleaning without tools Cons: - Lower machining tolerances - Non adjustable length of pull - More temperature sensitive fl fi 6 AVAILABLE CONFIGURATIONS The STEYR AUG is available with either a Standard or a NATO pattern stock, the differences of which are highlighted in the chart below: Standard NATO Last round bolt hold open X X Bolt release X Std. vs NATO Stock STANAG* magazine compatible Left-hand ejection capable Trigger linkage bar X X** Dual Single*** *STANAG (NATO pattern) magazines are compatible with AR style ri es ** with left-hand bolt (sold separately) *** slightly poorer trigger feel For a more in depth explanation, see the STANDARD vs NATO chapter of this reference guide. Stock color options: White Black Mud Green fl 7 Optic rail options: The STEYR AUG has four variations of optic rails, all of which are removable, replaceable and interchangeable. Short Extended Tall 1.5x / 3x Optic (removable) Barrel lengths: The STEYR AUG has a 16” “carbine length” barrel as standard. 20” “ri e length” and 24” “LMG” barrels with an integrated bipod are also available, however the 24” barrel is temporarily discontinued, as the factory machinery is currently inoperable and in need of replacement components/servicing. Occasionally the 24” barrels are sold privately, however prices of $3,000+ are not uncommon. 16” Barrel (standard) 20” Barrel 24” HBAR Barrel fl 8 STANDARD vs NATO Standard Stock The standard stock requires the use of proprietary magazines. These are known as “waf e” magazines due to their unique design, and are made of an extremely high quality, semitranslucent polymer. It is regarded as one of the best performing magazines available for a ri e due to their incredible durability, reliability and performance. The Standard stock can only accept these waf e magazines. Manufacturers of the magazine include Steyr Arms GmbH & Co., Magpul AUS, and AC Unity. It features an external bolt catch and release lever. This lever acts upon the trigger pack, allowing the bolt to be closed by impinging upon the bolt catch located on the trigger pack, thus releasing the bolt catch from the open position. The Standard stock also has the ability to be swapped to left-hand ejection via a left-hand bolt. Simply replacing the bolt and swapping the ejection port cover from one side to the other allows the ejection to switch from one side to the other as needed by the user. Main Features: - External Bolt Catch & Release lever - Standard trigger pack which utilizes a bolt catch - Accepts only proprietary “waf e” magazines - Has a full length trigger linkage - Ability to swap ejection from right to left - Has unique ejection port geometry due to the ejection port cover NATO Stock The NATO stock is designated by its use of STANAG pattern M-16/M4/AR-15 magazines. It can only accept this pattern of magazine. The NATO stock does not have an external bolt release lever. This feature is replaced by a secondary magazine release. This secondary magazine release is an AR-15 style paddle that is located on the left side of the stock, just above the magazine well. Due to this feature, the bolt catch component present in the Standard trigger pack has been removed from the NATO trigger pack. This requires the user to manually cycle the charging handle in order to release the bolt from the open position. The NATO stock also removes the left-hand trigger linkage to prevent interference with the secondary magazine release. Due to this change in magazine well geometry, the NATO stock does not retain the ability to swap to left-hand ejection. It offers right-hand ejection only. Main Features: - Altered magazine well geometry to accept STANAG pattern magazines - Secondary magazine release - No external bolt release lever - Cannot be swapped to left-hand ejection - Requires the charging handle to be cycled to close the bolt fl fl fl fl 9 RECOMMENDED ENHANCEMENTS Manipulation of the STEYR AUG is greatly improved by certain enhanced aftermarket parts sold by 3rd party manufacturers. The following compilation will list those recommended parts as well as include a catalog of all manufacturers currently offering aftermarket components speci cally for the AUG: *All underlined text in this chapter will lead to a hyperlink* Charging handle: The OEM charging handle is fairly adequate, however certain large or extended optic mounts may interfere with the charging handle when cycled to the rear and locked upward with the bolt in the open position. This can be remedied with the addition of aftermarket charging handles. Two designs offered by both Corvus Defensio and ARID USA incorporate a pivoting arm. This allows the charging handle to be angled downwards, thus keeping it clear of any obstructions located on the upper rail. The Corvus Defensio charging handle can be purchased via SteyrArms US. The ARID USA charging handle is still in the development phase and will be available shortly. Manticore Arms offers the Switchback Charging Handle that folds forwards when not in use. This allows for the left-hand side of the ri e to be more streamlined despite the larger handle. A downside of this design is that mount is not solid and has a fair bit of play. Weapon-mounted lights: The most common mounting location for WMLs is the small 45° offset strip of picatinny rail on the right-hand side of the ri e. Users who chose to run pressure switches to the vertical foregrip typically require an extended arm to mount the WML in order to accommodate for short cable lengths. Two common mounts from T-Rex Arms are the Lightbar Scout Mount and Lightbar Pro Mount. Another option is the Extended Mount by Midwest Industries. Case de ector: The STEYR AUG was originally designed to allow for ambidextrous use with some minor modi cations. The safety for example can be removed and installed 180° to allow for ease of manipulation by left-handed users. The ability to change the ejection port location from the right side of the ri e to the left is another feature that adds to the ri e’s compatibility with lefthanded users. While the Standard stock version of the ri e retains this ability, the NATO stock does not allow for a left-handed ejection port swap. Therefore, a case de ector is required. Corvus Defensio and ARID USA have designed case de ectors that are compatible with both Standard and NATO stocks. The Corvus de ector can be found on Steyr-Arms US, while the ARID de ector is currently in the development phase and will be available shortly. If no case de ector is needed, it is recommended to add a small strip of tape behind the ejection port. This will prevent the stock from becoming scratched or chipped when a casing is ejected. fl fl fl fl fl fl fl fl fl fl fi fi fl 10 Foregrip: Many users nd the OEM vertical foregrip adequate in both the extended (vertical) and folded (horizontal) positions. The foregrip is a common mounting location of pressure switches for weapon-mounted lights, as they can be easily accessed with the support hand. Some users prefer to fold the foregrip to the horizontal position to utilize a “C clamp” style grip. The OEM vertical foregrip is removable. It is most can be replaced with either an extended picatinny rail available from 20/20 Precision or a keymod rail from Corvus Defensio, sold by Steyr-Arms US. These rails can accept any vertical or angled foregrips as well as other accessories which include bipods, weapon-mounted lights, etc. Barrel: The STEYR AUG includes a 16” barrel as standard. This barrel length is more than adequate for most purposes, from close range engagements out to approximately 550m with appropriate ammunition. The addition of a 20” barrel will increase the velocity of a standard 5.56x45mm 55gr projectile by approximately 100fps, extend the range by approximately 150m, but will not yield any additional accuracy. 20” barrels are readily available from V1 Tactical, complete with gas piston block and vertical foregrip. The installed tulip-style ash hider does a fantastic job of mitigating muzzle ash as well as downward blast (useful when ring in close proximity to the ground) so replacing it is not necessary. Bolt: The standard bolt is extremely durable, however OEM replacement parts such as springs, extractors, ejectors and pins are sometimes dif cult to source and can be relatively expensive. Ratworx / 20/20 Precision offers a Hybrid Bolt that accepts standard AR-15 bolt parts which are much easier and cheaper to source. Magazine release: The magazine can be released from two locations on the ri e (NATO stock): a lever just behind the magazine as well as a small push button on the left-hand side of the stock. These are fairly adequate, but certain users prefer to have a larger magazine release for easier manipulation. Corvus Defensio and ARID USA have designed Enlarged magazine releases that are compatible with the Standard stock ONLY. The Corvus Defensio release can be found on Steyr-Arms US. A magazine release compatible with the NATO stock is currently in development by ARID USA. Gas regulator: The OEM gas regulator is adjustable with three selectable settings: normal, adverse, and grenade (which cuts off gas entirely to the system). Users who choose to suppress their ri es typically replace the OEM gas piston with a Steyr Gas Regulator for Suppressed Firing. This gas piston has three selectable settings: normal, grenade, and suppressed. The adverse setting is not retained due to the physical diameter of the drilled hole (gas port) being too large and would intersect with either the normal or suppressed gas port. fl fi fl fl fi fl fi 11 Trigger group: The AUG ships from the factory with the trigger in a “loose” con guration. The ri e will still operate as normal, but the trigger feel (mainly takeup, over travel and reset) will not be optimal. It is designed to be tuned by the user. The tuning process is very simple and requires a few basic tools. Tn Steyr has an excellent instructional YouTube video explaining the tuning process. The trigger pull weight can be reduced by approximately 1.5 - 2 lbs with the addition of a Trigger Pack Spring Upgrade Kit produced and sold by Steyr. This kit will also reduce the amount of force required to manually cycle the charging handle while still maintaining reliability. A newly redesigned aluminum Trigger and Safety by ARID USA reduces trigger ex, incorporates a ball bearing to reduce friction and pull weight, as well as an adjustable over travel stop to remove excessive rearward travel of the trigger. These components are compatible with both Standard and NATO stocks, and the safety retains the ability to allow for ambidextrous use. Lastly, the trigger pack can be lubricated with Dry Powdered Graphite Lubricant applied in speci c areas. This YouTube video from 08:27 to 09:34 will demonstrate where to apply this lubricant. DO NOT apply oils or greases to any part of the trigger pack, as this can cause the polymer components to swell, soften or deteriorate. Note: The STEYR AUG is not 100% drop safe. It was designed to be predominantly drop safe with the trigger safety in the SAFE position. This is due to a mechanical block impeding the trigger from traveling rearward. The lightweight, all-polymer construction of the trigger and trigger pack, including the sear, should not have enough mass to be overcome by inertia when the ri e is dropped (or impacted) on the butt stock and cause the sear to trip, resulting in a discharge. The force of an impact signi cant enough to overcome the sear spring tension and cause the ri e to discharge (with OEM parts installed) typically also results in damage (cracking and buckling) of the polymer stock and it’s internal structure. Ratworx / 20/20 Precision offers a trigger bar to further reduce trigger pull weight and over travel. However this has been found to signi cantly decrease the drop safety of the ri e, tripping the sear when very little impact force is applied. This sear may also cause the ri e to burst re when the adjustable gas piston is selected to the adverse setting. Steyr has recognized these ndings and redesigned the trigger packs in newer production ri es to have a small protrusion which prevents the installation of this aftermarket sear. This can be removed with a dremel rotary tool, cutoff wheel and sanding bit, but is highly discouraged. Additionally, a drop-in trigger group that incorporates an AR style hammer and sear is currently in development by Moosey Creatures Co. fl fl fl fl fi fi fi fi fl fl fi fi fl 12 SUPPLIERS https://v1tactical.com/manufacturer/steyr-arms/ - offers Standard and NATO ri es, barrels, optics, magazines, and replacement parts https://www.bereli.com/ - occasionally has Standard and NATO ri es on sale for low prices https://www.steyr-arms.com/us/accessories/aug - offers OEM and aftermarket parts https://www.aridusa.com/ - manufacturer of aftermarket parts https://store.ratworxusa.com/ - offers Standard and NATO ri es, magazines, and aftermarket parts https://manticorearms.com/product-category/ rearm/steyr-aug/ - manufacturer of aftermarket parts https://www.gunbroker.com/item/966108383 - 90° offset receiver rail designed by @silverstarshootingsports (Abruzzo826 on gunbroker.com) https://corvusdefensio.com/ - manufacturer of aftermarket parts https://kawatec.at/?lang=en - manufacturer of aftermarket parts *DOES NOT SHIP TO USA* https://www.clawgear.com/a/en/Search/5/aug - manufacturer of aftermarket parts *DOES NOT SHIP TO USA* RESOURCES https://www.steyr-arms.com/us/media/ - AUG A3 M1 Manual (PDF) https://www.media re.com/ le/ - Declassi ed Australian Army AUG evaluation (PDF) fl fl fl fi fi fi fi 13 FAQ Q: Is the AUG available in other calibers? A: The most common and readily available caliber is 5.56x45mm, however there are other variations. A 9x19mm conversion kit is available, however these kits are extremely rare and occasionally sell via private transactions for $3,000+. A .40 caliber version of the AUG is currently in use by the São Paulo Police Department. This version of the ri e was specially made and is not in use anywhere else in the world. There have also been examples of AUGs chambered in .300 Blackout teased by Steyr. That being said, Steyr is known for taking their time during the testing and development phase, sometimes announcing products that will not be available for years. Q: Can the AUG be suppressed? A: Yes. While the AUG can be suppressed, it may not be the best suppressor host due to a few reasons. First, the OEM adjustable gas piston does not have a “suppressor” setting, thus it would be over gassed. This is remedied by replacing it with an adjustable gas piston for suppressed ring which is available from Steyr. Unfortunately, the piston vents a signi cant amount of gas from the vent port when red. This produces an audible crack known as “piston pop”. A suppressor designed by Rat Worx incorporated a modi ed gas system that fed from the gas port into the suppressor and prevented piston pop, but these units have been discontinued and are extremely rare. Gas blowback to the user is another factor. This can be reduced with the use of a “ ow through” style suppressor. Many other factors such as ammo type, suppressor and muzzle device selection, and cleanliness of the gas piston system must also be considered when suppressing the AUG. Q: Is the polymer stock actually that durable? A: Yes. Despite there being instances of stocks arriving cracked from the factory or after very light use, these cases are very rare. In fact, only an estimated 50 ri es have been effected by cracked stocks, and this was due to an improperly blended batch of polymer. This has since been addressed and corrected by Steyr who offer an excellent warranty and customer service. Q: If I own a Standard stock AUG can I swap it to a NATO stock (and vice versa)? A: Yes. All that’s required for the conversion is the appropriate stock, trigger group associated with that stock, and compatible magazines. The stocks themselves include all parts except for the trigger pack and butt plate. Functionally all other components (barrel, receiver, etc.) are identical. fi fl fl fi fi fl fi 14 Q: What is the MSAR (STG-556)? Should I buy one instead of an AUG? A: The STG-556 is a U.S. made Steyr AUG clone manufactured by Mictotech Small Arms Research (yes, the knife company) from 2007 to 2015. It is regarded as a lower quality, much less reliable ri e with its own proprietary parts and magazines not interchangeable with the AUG. To most AUG enthusiasts it is not a very desirable ri e. Q: What color stock should I get? A: Despite the fact that this is an entirely personal preference, I will offer a few points for consideration. The rst generation AUG, the STG-77, had a green stock, hence why this color is very popular among enthusiasts. Mud is a close second. Black offers a good canvas for which to incorporate your own color scheme with spray paint. And despite looking futuristic, it will be a bit of a chore to keep the white stock clean. The use of isopropyl alcohol or a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will help to maintain its appearance after use. Q: Are bullpups safe for the user in the event of a barrel blockage, out of battery detonation, overpressure load, etc? A: The AUG is a highly durable ri e made to not only meet but exceed the rigors of military trials. Despite this fact, certain users may feel uneasy about having their face within such close proximity to the ring chamber. This is an inherent design associated with many bullpups, not just the AUG. During the Australian military trials, the AUG was exposed to barrel obstructions which included water injected to the barrel and gas block, as well as projectiles lodged at various locations within the barrel with varying results ranging from minor damage (slight barrel bulging with water injected around the gas block) to signi cant damage (fracturing of the receiver with a projectile lodged close to the chamber). These tests demonstrated that there is a small possibility of injury to the user under a very speci c and uncommon set of circumstances. Despite this, there has never been a recorded incident of an AUG injuring a user due to a catastrophic failure or detonation of the chamber or barrel. Q: Should I get an AUG instead of an AR-15? A: This is a loaded and frankly subjective question dependent upon your personal uses and needs for the ri e. Ultimately the AUG is an excellent ri e that can be adapted to a number of different roles thanks to its swappable barrel system, generous rail size which can accommodate most any manner of optics and accessories, the ability to operate reliably when fouled, and rapidly increasing aftermarket support. The stock’s xed length-of-pull may not be perfectly suited to all users, but will accommodate most. And the unique manual of arms can be mastered with practice and repetition. Overall, the AUG is an underrated an often overlooked platform that can hold its own against most modern ri es. fi fl fi fi fl fl fl fi fi fl fl 15 TESTIMONIAL First and foremost, I am not, nor do I claim to be an expert on the Steyr AUG platform. The information presented in this guide was compiled from many different sources over an extended period of time, including my personal experiences with the ri e. The purpose of this guide is to provide information and answers to the most common questions that get asked about the AUG. Personally, this ri e has peaked my interest for many years. However I have not had a chance to become an owner until more recently. Despite this fact, I’d like to think I’ve had a fair bit of experience with the platform, and I have greatly enjoyed testing and experimenting with the AUG to learn what works best for myself as well as others. That being said, I am well aware that many individuals’ breadth of knowledge of this platform greatly exceeds my own, and I am open to any critique, feedback or information available to be offered. Additionally, I was not compensated in any way to include or withhold information regarding manufacturers, suppliers or vendors of the AUG and it’s OEM and aftermarket components. For those who are interested, I will detail my personal AUG below: STEYR AUG A3M1 White NATO Stock - Vortex AMG UH-1 holographic sight - Vortex Micro 6x magnifier - Magpul MBUS Pro back up iron sights - Magpul QD paraclip adapter - Surefire M640U scout light pro - Surefire UE07 pressure switch - One Hundred Concepts light cap - T-Rex Arms Lightbar Pro picatinny light mount - ARID USA trigger - ARID USA safety - Corvus Defensio charging handle - Corvus Defensio QD anti rotation takedown pin - Steyr trigger pack spring kit - Steyr 20” barrel - Rat Worx/2020 Precision TR-1A lower rail - BCM vertical foregrip fl fl 16