{"id":1348,"date":"2024-10-08T22:57:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-08T22:57:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1348"},"modified":"2024-10-08T22:57:02","modified_gmt":"2024-10-08T22:57:02","slug":"steyr-aug-historic-review-of-the-other-green-meanie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tactical-dailynews.com\/?p=1348","title":{"rendered":"Steyr AUG: Historic Review Of The Other Green Meanie\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: Rock Island Auction Company.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

We take a deep dive into the Steyr AUG, possibly the most iconic bullpup military rifle ever built.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You probably remember the first time you laid eyes on a Steyr AUG. When most people do, they either love it or hate it. With its bullpup layout, green polymer stock and integrated optic, it still looks as futuristic today as when it was first released in the late 70s.\u00a0The AUG wasn\u2019t the first bullpup rifle, but it\u2019s one of the most successful versions ever to be fielded and almost certainly the most famous and recognizable of the bunch. So, here we\u2019ll discuss the history, design, function and legacy of the Steyr AUG.<\/p>\n

Steyr AUG A1 Specs:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Cartridge:<\/strong> 5.56x45mm NATO
Action:<\/strong> Gas-operated rotating bolt short-stroke piston
Capacity:<\/strong> 30- or 42-round proprietary magazines
Barrel Length:<\/strong> 20 inches
Weight:<\/strong> 7.9 pounds
Overall Length:<\/strong> 31.1 inches
Sights:<\/strong> Swarovski Optik 1.5x scope ; backup illuminated 3-dot iron sights<\/p>\n

Origins Of The AUG<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Designed in the 1960s with production beginning in 1977, the Steyr Armee-Universal-Gewehr (<\/em>Army Universal Rifle) or AUG, pronounced \u201cA-U-G\u201d (some incorrectly pronounce it as \u201cawg\u201d), featured a polymer stock body that housed the action and magazine well rear of the trigger, a radical departure from traditional rifle designs. Another detail that made the AUG stand out among its contemporaries like the AK and the M16 was the fact that it featured an integrated optic. Introduced at a time when iron sights were still the norm on military rifles, this was a very forward-thinking concept.<\/p>\n

The Austrian Army adopted the AUG as the Sturmgewehr 77<\/em> or StG77 in the late 1970s to replace its aging FN FAL rifles chambered for 7.62 NATO. Transitioning from a full-power cartridge to the AUG\u2019s intermediate 5.56x45mm was a big step toward modernization on its own, but it was the rifle\u2019s other features that set it apart on the world stage.<\/p>\n

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Photo: Rock Island Auction Company<\/a>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It didn\u2019t stand up there alone, however, as the world was experiencing a bit of a bullpup craze in this period. The French adopted the FAMAS at about the same time as the Austrians did the AUG, and the British were working on developing the SA80 that would enter service a few years later in 1985. However, the AUG distinguished itself with its extensive use of polymer and its integrated optic.<\/p>\n

For these reasons, combined with Steyr\u2019s reputation for excellent quality, the AUG was easily the most successful of these three prolific Cold War bullpup designs. While the French and British rifles saw some limited international use, mostly with ex-colonial possessions, both pale in comparison to the number of military and law enforcement groups that have adopted the AUG over the years.<\/p>\n

Outside of its home country of Austria, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Argentina and several other nations have all adopted the AUG as their primary service rifle, and many more special forces and law enforcement agencies around the globe have procured them as well. A further testament to the design\u2019s success is that it has been produced under license in Australia, Malaysia, South Korea and India for official military use as well as in the U.S. by Steyr Arms USA for the American civilian market.<\/p>\n