Which G3 style rifle should I buy?

[Chevelle SS]

Been wanting a G3 style rifle for a while now. I used to have an old Century C91 but traded it off. I currently have a C93 which works pretty well.

I’ve been considering primarily a PTR-91 but a few people have told me to stay away from them. Are they actually good? Are there other good choices? Do I buy another Century? I’m not opposed to a HK91 either but is it worth the entry price?

Only caveat I have is it must have the “drum” rear sight. I can always change furniture if needed. I do like the idea of a picatinny rail up top but a lack of it is not a deal breaker.

Thanks

 

[ttarp]

PTR is good to go, they've been making the best production 91 stateside for years. Your other options are custom builders(top quality, but several bills more than PTR), or to pony up for an Hk.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would go PTR unless you want to pay a lot for a name. Or, maybe find a Springfield (Greek) clone IF you can get that at a reasonable price. Not sure what someone's issue is with a PTR. Do they have solid data to dismiss them?

 

[Tommygunn]

Speaking only from MY experience:


STAY AWAY FROM CENTURY!!!!!!!!! RUN AWAY!!!!! RUN FAR FAR AWAY!!!

I bought one, it wound up with a mystery jam just sitting around. Sent to factory for repair, it came back, ostensibly working, but with a snarky note saying customer should learn how to assemble the rifle.

I had never disassembled it. More over, it cycled fine....then it stopped. I dunno why.

Do I want to put a powerful .30 caliber round through a gun I just do not trust?


That's my $$$$$ learning experience.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I would go PTR unless you want to pay a lot for a name. Or, maybe find a Springfield (Greek) clone IF you can get that at a reasonable price. Not sure what someone's issue is with a PTR. Do they have solid data to dismiss them?

Nothing specific other than poor accuracy and generic references to poor fit and finish.

 

[js8588]

This one. https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/ptr-91-a3r-308-rifle

(When it's back in stock)

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

If you can dig one up, the Portuguese FMP G3S imports were built in their army arsenal, on H&K tooling to military standards. They are superb and every bit the equal of the German guns.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I have a CIA cetme that has been good. it used to be a turd but I polished it up with some HK parts (trigger pack, rear sight drum, wide forend with bipod, and properly sized rollers). it works great! the only caveat being, it only likes cetme mags. CIA is a very "hit or miss" proposition.

My dad had an HK91 that was just the bees knees. Loved that thing! but they are kinda spendy.

 

[Chevelle SS]

This one. https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/ptr-91-a3r-308-rifle

(When it's back in stock)

This is the one I was looking at, I prefer the slimmer fore end.
https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/ptr-91-a3s-308-rifle

 

[js8588]

This is the one I was looking at, I prefer the slimmer fore end.
https://www.atlanticfirearms.com/products/ptr-91-a3s-308-rifle

The only reason I'd suggest the wide forend is for heat dissipation. Otherwise, rock on.

 

[Chevelle SS]

The only reason I'd suggest the wide forend is for heat dissipation. Otherwise, rock on.

Ahh, good point. My C91 had the slim forend but wouldn’t work well enough to heat up

 

[ifit]

Agreed stay clear away anything built by Century Arms(hit or miss)

About a month ago debating which caliber to get my PTR in, so decided on the 7.62x39.
I have 2 zenith firearms of great quality, when my ptr arrived I was surprised on how great the build quality fit n finish was compared to my zenith.

But just a heads up...there is a break in period, a vigorous one at that...at least for me. this is per PTR manual including the .308.

 

[Chevelle SS]

I have a CIA cetme that has been good. it used to be a turd but I polished it up with some HK parts (trigger pack, rear sight drum, wide forend with bipod, and properly sized rollers). it works great! the only caveat being, it only likes cetme mags. CIA is a very "hit or miss" proposition.

My dad had an HK91 that was just the bees knees. Loved that thing! but they are kinda spendy.

Yeah, either spend $1100 on a PTR, $700 on a Century, or an HK for $2500.

 

[Ironicaintit]

I think, knowing what I know now...id still get the Cetme. I hated it for a long time, but after years of off and on fiddling....I really do like it.

If ya like to tinker, Cetme. If youd rather cut a check on a known quantity, PTR or HK. another factor: HK guys 'round these parts can be a bit snooty, so Id lean towards the PTR so as not to get all pretentious.

 

[AlexanderA]

The PTR-91 is OK, but it cries out for a few upgrades.

First, it comes with the plastic "Navy" style trigger housing. I substituted the metal SEF housing. When you do that, you also have to replace the safety/selector lever.

I don't like the slim forend. Replaced it with the beavertail forend that has the mounting point for the bipod.

If you want to mount a bayonet, you have to replace the cocking tube plug with the proper bayonet adapter.

Even with all these improvements, the G3-type rifle is not nearly as nice as an FAL. Of course the FAL costs more.

 

[shoobe01]

My suggestion:

• C93. The HK is SO much nicer in intermediate calibers as originally conceived. It's heavy and pretty harsh in .308. Shot a nice HK91 a whole bunch (and a lot less for some clones), expressly have never bought one.
• If you must have a .308 self loader, get a FAL. I am not super impressed with the current DSA things. QC seems to be drifting, so original parts are nicer. See what you can get that's older, or a nice kit.

I know others complain but I have had good luck with my CIA rifles. Replace the occasional stupid bit, remove the crinkle paint they love to apply, and you get a hell of a nice gun for a good deal. Of half a dozen, I've never seen a bad C93 for example.

 

[JONWILL]

As others said get the Portuguese or Greek made imports. They are built on original HK machinery

I have had an original HK91 and the other 2. No difference in the quality

 

[ifit]

MAC compares HK 93 vs C93 vs Z43

 

[Chevelle SS]

My suggestion:

• C93. The HK is SO much nicer in intermediate calibers as originally conceived. It's heavy and pretty harsh in .308. Shot a nice HK91 a whole bunch (and a lot less for some clones), expressly have never bought one.
• If you must have a .308 self loader, get a FAL. I am not super impressed with the current DSA things. QC seems to be drifting, so original parts are nicer. See what you can get that's older, or a nice kit.

I know others complain but I have had good luck with my CIA rifles. Replace the occasional stupid bit, remove the crinkle paint they love to apply, and you get a hell of a nice gun for a good deal. Of half a dozen, I've never seen a bad C93 for example.

I do enjoy my C93, it has been virtually flawless in shooting. I think I have had a couple failure to feeds but it runs well.
Object is not necessarily to get a 308 semi-auto, I just want a G3 type rifle in 308. Someday I'll get an FAL but a lot of other guns on the "list" before it.

 

[Texas10mm]

I bought an HK-91 back in '79 for the absurd price of $459. I rarely shoot it. One of these days I'm going to sell/trade it for something I'll actually use.

 

[FL-NC]

As someone who has extensively used the G3 and similar systems and a HK qualified armorer, I am at a loss to explain why anyone would want a G3 over any different semi 308. Since you have some experience with one and decide its the rifle for you, I will say that years ago I shot one made by Hesse (not sure if they are even available any more) and it was outfitted as you stated you like, and performed like a HK.

 

[Browning]

I have the PTR-91. It's great. I owned a H&K 91 in the 90's too. There's not much of a difference (unless you consider nostalgia and stamps a difference).

These are built on Portuguese tooling. There was a change in the number of flutes. Besides that there's not much difference except IIRC that the PTR's barrel is a little thicker. Not enough to justify spending an extra $2,500 bucks, least not to me. To me the PTR seems a bit more accurate.

Mine has the fat fore end (way better after a few mags than the skinny forend) and the MFI mount. Bought 36 mags for at as well as the sight tool, it's the one thing I've bought from Cheaper Than Dirt ($3 for aluminum and double that for steel last time I checked). They seem to have the market cornered on cheap G3 mags.

Had a SWFA 1-4 scope with A.R.M.S. rings on it, but I've returned to using irons.

This is at 100 yards with iron sights.



That group isn't typical (hence the picture). It's with a Hornady match load that it really likes. Average 20 rd groups with ball are about fist size at a 100 yards, double that at 200.

At 600 yards while I hit the target there wasn't much of a 'group'. Least not in my hands. Then again for using iron sights with that trigger it's not horrible. If you think of it more like a .308 AK it's not too bad.



My groups at 600 with a RRA NM A4 and dialed in loads are quite a bit better. Then again the PTR (and the H&K 91 and G3 before it) aren't exactly target rifles.

At any rate here's mine, it's painted in Duracoat. Mags are painted in Aervoe.
Couldn't quite get the mags to match, but close.


Here's how it looked with the scope later on before I took it off (the scope made it a little too top heavy, it gave it a chin weld instead of a cheek weld and that G3 cheek rest looks and feels kinda goofy). It still has the skateboard tape on the gripping points, I just don't feel like hauling it out of the safe for a current pic.

 

[cheygriz]

I had an HK-91 for years. Bought it new for $350. It was utterly reliable, and match accurate.

The ergonomics sucked hard, and the trigger sucked even harder.

I sold it for $2500 during Obama.

It's a good, solid, well built rifle, and I could recommend it at $750. But no more.

 

[LRDGCO]

I have a PTR91, GI with rail. Very happy with fit, finish, and accuracy. Has a metal trigger group. I fitted an improved recoil buffer and wider rubber butt plate. Comfy and about 2 MOA.

 

[jr_watkins]

I have the CAI G3 (308), bought it used for $500 out of curiosity around 2010. Overall I'd say I got a good one based on what I hear others complain about. I replaced the rollers to get the gap within spec (.35 mm currently). Is an OK shooter at 2-3 MOA , reliable, but destroys brass. I have started playing with it again in the last few months and just replaced the handguard with an aluminium Maglock and added a bipod. I added a Vortex diamondback scope as well. Last step will be replacing the stock with a Magpul PRS2 stock so I can remove my redneck engineering cheek riser. My next challenge will be improving that god awful military trigger, if even possible within a reasonable budget.