Springfield SAR-8 (HK91 clone) - opinions?

[Golden Hound]

Someone I know is offering to sell me his Springfield SAR-8, which is a clone of the HK91. He's asking $1350 for it, and that includes a bunch of magazines, three or four different fore-ends including one that has a bipod mounted on it, and a PSG-1 pistol grip (note - NOT the whole PSG-1 trigger group, just the wooden pistol grip.) It also has a buffer over the ejection port that protects the casings from being damaged. It is in almost new condition. It is an original, Greek-manufactured rifle, not one of the later clones with an aluminum receiver. On the receiver of this rifle, is stamped "SAR-8" but you can see that the 8 is stamped over what used to be a 3.


Does anyone here have an opinion on this rifle? How are the sights, trigger, recoil, et cetera?

 

[Onmilo]

The Springfield offered rifles are on par with anything that H&K and PTR are offering.
With all the goodies, it is a fair price.

 

[Golden Hound]

I've read that the SAR-8 and more specifically the very early SAR-3 model (which this rifle appears to be) is identical to the original HK rifle in everything but brand name. The later-made ones are supposed to be vastly inferior.

If anyone has one of these, what kind of groups do you get from it? What's the recoil like? On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being a .22 rifle and 10 being a Mosin Nagant or a Mauser, where would you put it?

 

[stubbicatt]

If the bolt gap is proper, it won't kick any more than say a M1a. Personally, I think the recoil impulse with the Vorgrimmler system is different in character... more like a push than a sharp stab. It is more than a SKS, but seems more spread out.

On your scale, I'd say it is a 7 or 8.

If you get a chance to shoot the rifle before buying it, do that and see what you think.

Groups with these rifles vary widely. Some will shoot very well, others at about 2 MOA.

 

[Southern Raider]

Clone? It's hard to consider these "clones" when they were made under license on HK supplied tooling.

If you want an HK pattern rifle, they are excellent and I would not hesitate to pick one up for the right price.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

On the receiver of this rifle, is stamped "SAR-8" but you can see that the 8 is stamped over what used to be a 3.

SA's original HK 91 model was called the SAR-3 instead of G-3 much like their FAL was SAR-48 after our military's FAL designation of M48. It was in the running for me when I bought my SAR-48. If you would pay that for an original HK91, then don't hesitate.

 

[W.E.G.]

That rifle sounds like "a shooter."

You can buy a LOT of rifle for $1350.

If I were spending that kind of coin, I can think of lots of other guns I'd rather have.

BTW, port buffers on CETME-pattern rifles don't "protect" the brass.
They just make the brass slightly less-ruined, and somewhat easier to find.

 

[stubbicatt]

BTW, port buffers on CETME-pattern rifles don't "protect" the brass.
They just make the brass slightly less-ruined, and somewhat easier to find

... says W.E.G.

I disagree. No dents, no bending, nothing other than soot marks on the cases when I use the buffer. I guess your experience is different than mine. The brass is not "ruined", nor even "slightly ruined" yet again, not even "slightly less ruined" with the use of the buffer, but completely serviceable for several trips through the rifle.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I had that very rifle until California got on the anti bandwagon and required registration.

It's a high quality rifle - get it.

 

[jburnett]

I've had a couple of them pass through my possession... Every bit as good as the original H&K 91 that still resides in my vault. Probably a pretty good buy too...I think the last one I saw the guy was asking over $1800 for; which is still $400-$600 less than I've seen HK's go for in the past year or two.
-J.Burnett

 

[Chipperman]

That's a very good price.
Buy it. If you don't like it, you could make a few bucks selling it.

 

[waterhouse]

I've got the same gun, as well as a PTR. If you really want one that is exactly like the HK, and you like all of the extras, get it.

If you don't mind a little heavier barrel, you might want to check into the PTR clones that CDNN had. Not sure if they still have them, but they had pretty good prices.