Robinson Arms M96 - good or bad? (money no object)

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dave3006

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If money did not matter, what is your opinion of the Robinson Arms M96? I live in California and the AR is banned.

You can buy this rifle for about $1600. I have a bunch of AR15 mags that I bought several years ago. And, I could keep a spare pistol grip (detached from the rifle) around in case the gun laws ever change.

What do you think of the rifle?
 
I'd prefer it to a Mini-14 (one of the few other semiauto rifle choices you have there). It's very modular, even moreso than the AR series, and you can quickly change barrels, stocks, positions of the scope mount, etc.

Steep price, but again, you're limited by what's available to you in Cali.
 
I've got a good friend that has one. It was problem plagued from the start, although it seems that months and much money later, it might finally have all its issues worked out.

It does have every bit as much potential for modularity as the AR, and once you find a decent barrel for it, its accurate.... not sure what kind of rail systems are available for it though.

All things considered, its not a hard decision to keep my ARs.

If I were in cali, I'd be looking at mini-14s.
 
dave3006,

Try searching the archives both here and on TheFiringLine.Com (where most of us came from) for "Robinson Arms" or "M96". There have been numerous threads. Here are some:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=114163
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=79678

Etc.

I had one for about a year. It ran fine until the pin linking the two halves of the gas piston broke, and then it was "down" for about 4 months while I was waiting for replacement parts from Robinson. It is disproportionately heavy for a .223. The trigger is poor.

I traded it for a Rock River AR15 which has been as reliable as the M96 was, but the RR hasn't broke yet. And if it does, parts are easy to get.

-z
 
Wow, you can get those in California? Cool! :)

Tough choice...

I can say if *I* was stuck in the PRK, I'd probably be looking at an M1A bush or scout variant, or possibly one of the top-loader FALs. Probably the former, because it's *meant* to be used with the traditional style stock and handles really well that way. And you get detatchable box mags.

Likewise, the Mini-14 will probably shoulder much faster for you than the heavy beast that is the Robinson. It's a much lighter, faster rifle. If the speed for getting your first shot off is important to you, that's something to consider. Likewise if you plan on carrying it much. The M96 rifles I've played with have been very well built, the guys I've known who had them weren't complaining of problems like over on TFL (different production run? don't know..:confused: ), but they are HEAVY suckers for a .223.

But if you had to have a tough, military-style semi .223 that eats out of AR mags... you could do a lot worse than a Robinson. I don't think I'd buy one at that price, but if you're flush with the cash and want those features, and that's what you're limited to in CA... might as well get it while you can I reckon. :(
 
I rather buy another Daewoo DR-200 for half the price. At least that's a proven design, and used by 650,000 active ROK troops. Oh, and it's also collectable since they are no longer imported thanks to Clinton's 97' Executive Order. It also weights less than the M96. I put a Ace stock on my DR-200 and it makes it lightweight and perfectly balanced.
 
We can't have AR-180s. The bullets they shoot are too deadly. The M96, on the other hand, shoots much friendlier bullets.
 
Call Robinson Arms and ask them if they are going to continue making the M96. Ask them if they are planning to phase it out...
 
I think I read on some board(can't remember which one however..) that the M96 was recently deemed a no-no by the CADOJ-even without the pistol grip. Might be internet rumor only, but worth checking into.
 
ARM USA was selling them without the pistol grips, check with them to see what the scoop is.

I would be careful if you buy a early model, a friend had his go KABOOM. If you do, make sure to send it in and get all the updated parts or call and make sure it has been updated.
 
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