Springfield Armory SAR-8

[Kramer Krazy]

All this talk of HK91/G3 clones and parts kits made me want to post this. I've got a 1999 SAR-8 that I picked up at a local pawn shop a little over a year ago (I decided to get this instead of the CETME or G3 clones, mainly because it is all original, as it left the factory and not a pieced together unit). It is one of the first SAR-8s with the newly designed receiver that will not accept the reciever mounted accessories, such as the telescoping buttstock and the removable scope mount. It has the Weaver rail as part of the receiver. I have three questions for anyone in the "know".

1) Will the wide forearm guard and bipod from an HK91/G3 fit with no mods?

2) Can I replace the gas tube plug for the bayonet adapter and mount a bayonet on this rifle?

3) Will all the HK91/G3 stock kits fit my SAR-8? I'm thinking of purchasing a set of wood stocks.

I appreciate any assistance you have on this subject.

Kramer Krazy,
Terry

 

[Feanaro]

I'm not a SAR-8 expert so this might be of little or no use at all. But I'll try.

Question 1: If some receiver based accessories don't fit then the forearm might require modification. Quick test. Take the current forearm off and check for a small ring around the barrel close to the triple sight post. If the ring is there you may have to grind it off. Assuming the rifle is on the butt, just above the ring would be a little "notch" that sticks out from the triple sight frame. That would have to go too. And the receiver has to "mate" with the rear of the stock so that might be a problem. See http://www.cetmerifles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=43

Question 2: Does the SAR-8 have a flash hider? I don't think the bayonet will be stable without that. Otherwise it should go on as normal.

Question 3: Should fit. On some rifles the stocks are very tight though. If it doesn't fit it might be the little nylon ring on the end of the buffer. If it is you'll have to shave some of the ring down.

 

[Destructo6]

I decided to get this instead of the CETME or G3 clones, mainly because it is all original, as it left the factory and not a pieced together unit). It is one of the first SAR-8s with the newly designed receiver that will not accept the reciever mounted accessories,

I hate to break it to you, but those SAR8s are nothing more than parts kits, assembled onto newly made receivers. The "factory" SAR8s were those made by Hellenic Arms in Greece and ceased importation in the early 1990s.

As to your questions:

1) Will the wide forearm guard and bipod from an HK91/G3 fit with no mods?

No. The receiver is too wide for the wide forearm's channel. You would have to carve some of the material out of the rearmost inside to make the forearm fit.

2) Can I replace the gas tube plug for the bayonet adapter and mount a bayonet on this rifle?

Possibly. As mentioned above, the bayonet needs the flash hider up front to stabilize.

3) Will all the HK91/G3 stock kits fit my SAR-8? I'm thinking of purchasing a set of wood stocks.

Probably. The wood forearm is very similar to the plastic slimline. They don't need to wrap around the receiver or anything. The buttstocks should be identical for mounting purposes.

 

[ckyllo]

correct me if i am wrong. but isnt the sar-8 imported into the country built as a complete rifle? if it is than puting a pistol grip stock, bayo lug, F/H and folding stock a no-no, since it is still covered upder the 89 import ban. the no more than 10 parts bs to put anything good on it. might be worth looking into before buying parts.

 

[Destructo6]

correct me if i am wrong. but isnt the sar-8 imported into the country built as a complete rifle?

The old ones were. Old ones being those built by Hellenic Arms in Greece, as previously mentioned. Model numbers include the SAR3, SAR8 (SAR3 with an '8' overstamp), and SAR8 (as stamped at the factory). These all used the standard stamped-steel receiver construction of the HK G3, and are of similar quality as the HK.

The blocky cast aluminium receivered SAR8 was assembled in the USA from new US-made receivers and imported parts kits of sometimes wildly varying quality. They deleted enough imported parts to allow a pistol grip configuration. Because the cocking tube cannot be welded to the receiver (aluminium/steel) they are instead welded to the front sight frame. This can cause cocking problems, particularly when the barrel is hot and the cocking tube has pulled away from the receiver.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Kramer,
I have one of the old SAR8's made in Greece. They have no issues with taking any HK parts.

I'm also familiar with your rifle (almost bought one of those in addition to the Greek one).

I think you may have a hard time with parts as already covered.
Might be best to find a buyer and get a more versatile rifle or learn to live with the Springfield's limits. It's a great solid gun, just made at an odd time and was caught up in a lot of legal BS.

One thing to look at is see if you can find a bipod adapter that will go into the bayonet mount point. Should let you put a bipod on it if the other options fail.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

I bought the gun because I've always wanted one and didn't want a pieced together Century Arms, or whoever makes them now, rifle. I didn't want to spend $2000+ for an actual HK91 and I picked up this SA at a decent price. I'm the same way about the FN FAL rifles, but haven't bought one of those, yet. The originals for the FN and HKs are just too expensive and the pieced together ones listed in the Shotgun News have not impressed me with their fit and quality, as I've seen in several local gun shops and pawn shops compared to that of this SA and the slight price difference between them.

Anyway, I was just looking for info on the 'net the last several weeks and saw where the bayonet adapter is a small, simple to install piece that I was thinking of buying just to have (my SA came with the flash supressor....and pistol grip, as have all the post '99 SAR-8s that I've seen). I've always liked the practicality of a bipod for the heavier rifles, which is why I have been looking into the converted forearm stock and bipod arrangement. I prefer a stock arrangement over an aftermarket one. I can easily get a barrel clamp or Harris bipod and put it on there. I prefer the "factory", though.

If a factory HK wide-forearm guard and bipod assembly fit on the gun, I'd probably purchase them and mount them, but it doesn't sound like a direct swap, so I'm not worried about it, but appreciate the info. I've had the gun for a year and a half and only shot it once, so that should tell you how much I've "enjoyed" the gun. I'd rather shoot my Colt AR-15 or my old Inland M1 carbines.

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[blfuller]

Kramer Krazy,

Just a side note on the Springfield SAR8 that have the aluminum receiver with the integral rail on top. If anyone has any problems with them and send them in for service you most likely will be given the option for it to be replaced with an M1A. As these do carry the Springfield lifetime warranty they have opted to replace them with an M1a instead of actually try to fix the more difficult problems with them.

I would suggest you get out and shoot it a little more to see if yours might develop any issues.

 

[Risasi]

No WAY!!!

Price check on Springfield SAR-8's please...

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Risasi asked for a - "Price check on Springfield SAR-8's please..."


I paid $725 for mine over a year ago, the pawn shop I got mine at has another one with an asking price of $999 (it is a post-1999 model, also), and I see SAR-8s on the internet in the $800-$1200 range as asking prices.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

*Update - The wide forearm guard will NOT fit the Springfield Armory SAR-8 with the aluminum, weaver-base top, receiver.....without a LOT of modifications.

I really wanted a bipod and love the look of the wide forearm guard and factory HK bipod, so I picked up a set. The aluminum receiver is too thick/wide for it to just slide onto the rifle. I had to cut a panel of about 2 1/2" x 1" off of each side of the upper section of the guard (nearest the receiver) to clear this extra thickness. I also had to trim more off of the bottom of the guard where it goes around the magazine well. To further make it fit just right, there is a little "nub" of plastic that goes on the outside of the receiver where the mounting ring goes around the barrel at the receiver. This nub had to be removed to clear that thicker receiver. I also filed, just a little bit, off the inner portions of the "U" where the mounting pin goes near the front sight. It now snaps right into place. I took just a little bit off at a time to make it a very close fit. I thought about just cutting the handguard at the reciever to make it a "short" guard, but this would leave two open holes that may allow dirt and filth into the guard, which I didn't want. Now, I just have to take the rifle to the range and test out this bipod arrangement and the Aussie surplus ammo I bought.

 

[Bart Noir]

Thought I knew how the HK works....

but now I have to try and figure out what the "gas tube" does.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Bart says - "but now I have to try and figure out what the "gas tube" does."
==========================================================

You have me stumped on this statement. All I can figure is my reference to the "U" section that I filed down.......this is the metal section at the front of the forearm guard where the mounting pin goes through it. I only modified the forearm guard. No mods were done to the rifle itself.

 

[Feanaro]

He is poking fun at one of your original questions. You referred to the cocking tube(where the bayonet adaptor goes) as a gas tube. The HK is a blowback(delayed roller locking blowback to be exact). Bart is probably the admin for http://www.nitpickers.com/ .

 

[Kramer Krazy]

Oh...LOL....I never caught that. I just have too many different styles of firearms, I guess. Hard to keep them apart, sometimes.

 

[Micksta]

SAR 8 sliding stock broken - Need help

I was searching the web for some info on a folding stock that I have on my SAR 8 and I came upon a few posts here. Great site. Maybe you can help.

I have no idea who made this folding stock pistol grip stock, but its a two piece assembly. The pistol grip is fine, its the back end of the sliding stock that broke. The piece (a cap of some sort) right behind the release lever, came off and was lost. I have searched the gun parts catalog and everywhere else and I can't find it. I suppose I could trash it but I would imagine that replacing a sliding stock like that could be difficult nowadays.

So my questions are:

1. Any thoughts on where to find parts for this stock?
2. If not, what do you suggest as a replacement? Any HK 91 stocks that are interesting and available?

Thanks,

Paul Napolitano

 

[blfuller]

So my questions are:

1. Any thoughts on where to find parts for this stock?
2. If not, what do you suggest as a replacement? Any HK 91 stocks that are interesting and available?

First some clarification is in order regarding the stock you have. You mention that yours is a "folding stock pistol grip stock" and you mention the sliding stock portion is broken. There are only two types available for the G3 type rifles. A collapsible and a side folding. The collapsible looks like this:

And the side folding looks like this:

First we need to determine which one you have then we can go from there. The collapsible style is the version specifically developed for this weapon by Heckler & Koch. There are different sub contractors that have made this stock. Original German manufacture can be idenitifed by split rivet heads on the inside of the stock:

The second style is made by Choate and HK uses this type on their PDW type weapons. Depending on your preferences either it desireable. It is said of the collapsible that it is rather uncomfortable. The side folding would be more like the standard A2 fixed stock.

 

[dstorm1911]

The SA SAR8 you have as mentioned was built from a parts set (just like what ya wanted to avoid unfortunatly) on a Federal arms reciever these recievers are notorious for having problems and to make things even more cheery the parts sets used were some of the cheapest they could get...... Personally if ya want one thats all original ya will have to find either a stamped sheet metal version from the early greece imports OR spend a couple grand for an actual HK91 or an Early MARS Cetme import which again will run ya a couple grand the best USA made ones will be the PTR 91s running about $1140 right now..

As far as your Springfield Armory parts built SAR 8 they were actually farmed out for the builds there were so many returns for problems with the alluminum Federal Arms recievers used Springfield dropped involvement with the builder and now can only replace deffective SAR 8s as mentions...... Myself if I were you and while SA is feeling obligated I get a case of 7.62x51 and go run it through the rifle the front trunion will get loose and after it does send it back and collect your shiny new M1A

 

[Micksta]

blfuller - its the one in your first picture. The piece thats missing is on the other side of that middle section. I'm not going to find that piece anywhere, am I?

Dstorm - great info, thanks. However, this IS one of the stamped models from Greece. And the problem is with the aftermarket sliding stock in the picture I attached, not the rifle. Is this rifle worth keeping or should I sell it and look to upgrade? I do have a new M1A that I bought myself for Christmas but I would love to get a real HK91.