....Robinson Arms M96....

[glockguy07]

What's the general consensus on the M96?

I see that it is chambered for 223, so I'm guessing it's not recommended to shoot 5.56 Nato - that's a bummer.

What type of options do I have for changing the stock/flash hider/sights?

The reason I ask is because I'm thinking about trading my:
NIB PTR 91 for a Very Good Condition (200rds Fired) Robinson Arms M96

What do you guys think?

 

[Timradcliffe345]

hold onto the PTR, its quality. You'll be glad you did when
obama is around.

 

[Marcus L.]

I used to own the M96. It was an interesting concept and had some promise, but Robinson Arms doesn't make them anymore and isn't really interested in bringing them back. Now if he wanted to trade you a Robinson Arms XCR, then I would say go for it. However, between the PTR and the M96......keep your PTR.

 

[nalioth]

I see that it is chambered for 223, so I'm guessing it's not recommended to shoot 5.56 Nato - that's a bummer.

I think some guns are marked ".223 Remington" so they appear more "sporting".

The M96 was designed for military contracts, so I'm sure it'll run 5.56 Nato just fine.

If it actually does have a dedicated ".223 Remington" chamber (which I highly doubt it does), the worst that will happen if you shoot 5.56 Nato in it is that you might get a stuck case.

The Saiga is also marked ".223 Remington" and happily digests all kinds of 5.56 Nato.

 

[Marcus L.]

I think some guns are marked ".223 Remington" so they appear more "sporting".

The M96 was designed for military contracts, so I'm sure it'll run 5.56 Nato just fine.

If it actually does have a dedicated ".223 Remington" chamber (which I highly doubt it does), the worst that will happen if you shoot 5.56 Nato in it is that you might get a stuck case.

The Saiga is also marked ".223 Remington" and happily digests all kinds of 5.56 Nato.

Been there, done that with my old M96. I could shoot that NATO stuff just fine so long as I emptied the magazine. Leave a live round in the chamber and it will get jammed in there. You'll need a mallet to pound on the charging handle to extract it.....then of course you run the risk of damaging the extractor. If you want a Robinson Arms weapon, their XCR is head and shoulders above what the M96 was. RA learned from the mistakes they made with the M96 and made probably one of the best rifles out there with the XCR.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Huh, it appears that Robarms is back to at least making parts for the M96, and possibly making another run of them this year:

http://www.robarm.com/Forthcoming_Products.htm

M96 Expeditionary Rifle

M96. We will be starting to make M96 parts again. We may perhaps build a few more M96s in 2009.

I will admit, I'm a sucker for the unusual and funky, and the M96 is a little appealing...

 

[variablebinary]

I got to spend a day shooting the M96 yesterday. It's pretty damn amazing. It shoots great, has nice clean styling and very good ergos. The QD barrel is a nice extra as well

If Robinson starts selling it, I would buy one right away. Hell, I'd get one over a SIG 556, AK47 or AR15 at this point.

Couple of pics here:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=420996

 

[MatthewVanitas]

@vb

Right, I saw your thread, which was what led me to go dig on RobArms site.

You mention you'd take an M96 over that whole list of guns, but how do feel about the M96 vice the XCR?

I'm also curious as to whether RobArms will totally give up on making upgrades/options for the M96, or if folks will be able to get a 6.8 barrel for it someday...

Is it supposed to be a somewhat "retro" offering? Or why does RA continue to produce it after coming out with the XCR?

 

[briansmithwins]

I'd stay with the PTR. It's based on a rifle that was made by the millions. In the long run, that's invaluable as spare parts are always going to be more available than those for the M96, which was only made for a limited time by one manufacturer.

BSW

 

[ny32182]

I love every RA product I've ever tried... I had a VEPR (sold it like a moron), and now an XCR. I have a good friend who has an M96. My personal opinion is that it is a fine rifle in its final iteration. I intend to own a Recon carbine one day whether they are ever brought back into production or not. If they were brought back, like variablebinary, I would probably order one immediately.

That said, due simply to logistics issues (future parts availability), I would not trade off all my AR/AK/FAL/PTR/whatever else you got that has been produced in the millions in favor of RA rifles. We all know what could be coming on the horizon politically, and having only proprietary rifles is not a position I would recommend.

BUT, if you do have a few of the super common rifles already and are just looking to add to the collection, now is a GREAT time, relatively speaking, to be an RA fan. Prices on their stuff have remained rather reasonable while everything else has been shooting through the roof; I guess their limited following is the only explaination I can think of. I want an FN SCAR as well (just for variety's sake I guess), but if they are still $5K+ this time next year, another XCR might be joining my current one in the safe.

 

[ny32182]

I will add that if I could only have one, between the XCR and M96, it would be the XCR. While I do like the M96, I also think the XCR design is superior, and will probably have better support going forward as well.

 

[MatthewVanitas]

Is there any good site for detailed reviews/breakdown of the M96?

The Wikipedia article on the Stoner 63 (on which the Robarms is loosely based) is not reassuring, as it basically says "neat design but fragile." Is Robarms version considered to be more robust?

If there is any wealth of M96 info tucked away on the internet, I'd be curious to see it.

 

[ny32182]

There are a few owners at the XCR forum. They could probably either answer all your questions or point you in the right direction.