JG AUG A3 Discussion

kevteljeur

As per rules...

Masada

great review kev, good info and the pics turned out well,
i actually thought it was a little longer than the G36c so thats a bit of a supprise, I have one on my list of "must haves" and and Id agree, its likely to be really popular as a first timers gun and as a primary rifle with regualr players alike, infact, you'll be supprised at the amount of people who have approached me and asked about them being in stock after seeing yours in HRTA.,
"Jayis dats deadly lookin, here mister!, have ya goh anie eh dem in the shop?"

weeder

as much as i hate augs, man them internals are brilliant for the price and the fact its a clone

TheDoc

yeah man i have to say im well impressed with its accuracy, thats the most impressive part for me.

But overall it seems to be some sort of a bargain.

richie can you swop that gearbox into my m16 haha

It does seem like JG are looking to go midrange/high end, and with products performing like this you cant complain.

NakedDex

(not an a3...)

Stercus Accidit

NakedDex wrote: »

(not an a3...)

lol

That is all

Masada

Its not sold by JG as an A3 anyway, its just an AUG RAS.,

ED E

Aug, shortcomings? Bah, maybe the asthetic argument, but bar that, well the JG I dunknow bout but my lovely A1 is great.

And Kev, if you need 12V you are just as bad as me and my you know what(Wont mention it, dex will have another hissy fit :P).

NakedDex

vtec wrote: »

Its not sold by JG as an A3 anyway, its just an AUG RAS.,

Which is what it is! An A2 RAS! Huzzah for JG naming it properly!

Kev, go change the title...

kevteljeur

NakedDex wrote: »

(not an a3...)

Read the review more carefully. You are correct, but it's what they are aiming for and for a clone manufacturer it's not a bad stab at it. JG's pieces rely on the accuracy of the AEG they are copying, and here they are copying a Tokyo Marui AUG and an after-market conversion kit.

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Aug, shortcomings? Bah, maybe the asthetic argument, but bar that, well the JG I dunknow bout but my lovely A1 is great.

And Kev, if you need 12V you are just as bad as me and my you know what(Wont mention it, dex will have another hissy fit :P).

Your A1 might be great but every design has shortcomings. Your A1, for example, is poorly designed for CQB. Internally, the AEG I've reviewed is superior to other AUG models and my point with the 12v battery is that it can run it without upgrading the mechbox - it is a high-performance mechbox off the shelf. It's just a hard fact that the internals are better as standard.


Lads, I forgot to thank Vtec for taking and assisting with taking the photos - he's a real pro! Thanks again!

NakedDex

Ah I know, sure I'm only messing. I saw that you noted the design difference. It's hardly an important factor in what is a great rifle with one of the best stock gearboxes I've seen.

Masada

yup kevs right, the usuall A1 hasnt a patch on the "A3" internals. even the CA one simon.,:)
kev, i was referring to your DOF shots., they tuned out really well.,kudos
actually kev, theres a load of internals pics on the thread i posted a while back, feel fgree to add them to your review.,

Captain Chaos

Great review of the A3, sorry, I mean A2 + RAS, damn you JG:D.

As an AUG fan I will be getting one or two of these once they're in.

I hope G&G do a nice job on the real A3 .

Now if only someone would ever make the sniper/support and smg barrels:pac:.

NakedDex

There is a crowd somewhere that make the shortened barrels. I can't remember their name off hand but some of the lads over on ASI have them from what I've seen.

ED E

Kev, CQB issues? Ehh, I know you cant do it as the RIS is bolted on but I can swap the barrel in literally 3 seconds! Just do what Hedgeganian on Arnies did and get a set of barrels, Support, DMR, Rifle, Carbine and SMG all in one AEG. Cant top that.

Captain Chaos

I'd love to see someone do a barrel swap in 3secs with my CA A1, I have it six months and I still find it hard getting the barrel to lock back in position.:o

Oh where did the guy on Arnies get a set of AUG barrels from or did he say. Need to know.:eek:

NakedDex

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Kev, CQB issues? Ehh, I know you cant do it as the RIS is bolted on but I can swap the barrel in literally 3 seconds! Just do what Hedgeganian on Arnies did and get a set of barrels, Support, DMR, Rifle, Carbine and SMG all in one AEG. Cant top that.

Jack of all trades, master of none...

ED E

NakedDex wrote: »

Jack of all trades, master of none...

Dex, you just described multicam, not Augs!

NakedDex

Actually, no, I described the AUG. That's why I quoted your malarky about barrel changing just before I wrote it. This is a thread about AUG's, not multicam. That's why I posted that here. If I meant it about multicam, I'd have posted elsewhere, maybe in a thread about multicam instead of AUG's.

On-topic:
The A2-RAS/A3, whatever you want to call it, is a technically more complete rifle than either the A1 or the standard A2. And this JG one outstrips every other brand; CA, TM and even previous JG offerings. They've really raised the bar.

kevteljeur

NakedDex wrote: »

Ah I know, sure I'm only messing. I saw that you noted the design difference. It's hardly an important factor in what is a great rifle with one of the best stock gearboxes I've seen.

Dex, did you... Did you just make a concession? Don't say it's so! I know you were kidding, I was typing away in a hurry on my iPhone so I didn't have time to articulate it better. We both know what we mean.

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Kev, CQB issues? Ehh, I know you cant do it as the RIS is bolted on but I can swap the barrel in literally 3 seconds! Just do what Hedgeganian on Arnies did and get a set of barrels, Support, DMR, Rifle, Carbine and SMG all in one AEG. Cant top that.

Lethal, I don't know where to start with this, and luckily I don't have to because Dex has done it rather well for me. But think of this: Steyr Mannlicher, the producer of the AUG, felt that the aging A1 design needed to be replaced with something more relevant to modern military needs. As to our airsoft versions, don't tell me that being able to replace your barrel in a hurry is any sort of stand-in for choosing your own sighting system and being able to attach any other equipment you need; more to the point, at this point in time you changing the barrel of your AUG in the field is still very much hypothetical.

I'm not knocking the A1, but the A3 will be far more popular for it's design. Why not just try the A3? You might like it.

NakedDex

As if to magically prove that point. I had 4 people ask me if we had A3's in stock in the shop today. Since we don't, I offered all 4 lads the alternative of the A1, which we did have in stock. They all declined and said they'd wait for the A3 to come in. Popular opinion is massing behind the A3 as the bullpup design is just as advantageous in airsoft as it is in real life. The only difference is now you can put on that M203 you wanted, and that scope you've got left over from your M4 that you love so much, and the rail-mount torch etc.

Between the unbelievably great internals (it's designed to take a li-po ffs, mosfet included and all), the adaptability (rails from here to ya-ya) and the general finish quality (it looks sexy and is as solid and robust as they come), coupled with the great accuracy provided by that bullpup configurated barrel, I can see these rivalling M4's and G36c's as the general purpose rifle of choice.

ED E

Personally I think RIS space on many AEGs is wasted weight. Yes, you could put on a 203, and a foregrip, and a torch, laser, taclight, PEQ, sight, magnifier and so on and so forth but the only two I personally consider anyway used are the Sight, which an A2 will allow and the 203 which can be added to an A1, A2 or HBAR anyways. If you want to lug an extra KG around, be my guest, personally the A1 is heavy enough as it is.

Also, this discussion has no end, I can never see us agreeing so I think leaving it here might be a good idea.

ED E

Captain Chaos wrote: »

I'd love to see someone do a barrel swap in 3secs with my CA A1, I have it six months and I still find it hard getting the barrel to lock back in position.:o

Oh where did the guy on Arnies get a set of AUG barrels from or did he say. Need to know.:eek:

The SMG and carbine are cut and rejoin jobs, the HBAR is a kit which all three retailers have abandoned:( and the Sniper is just a phantom kit which is quite common.

NakedDex

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Personally I think RIS space on many AEGs is wasted weight. Yes, you could put on a 203, and a foregrip, and a torch, laser, taclight, PEQ, sight, magnifier and so on and so forth but the only two I personally consider anyway used are the Sight, which an A2 will allow and the 203 which can be added to an A1, A2 or HBAR anyways. If you want to lug an extra KG around, be my guest, personally the A1 is heavy enough as it is.

Also, this discussion has no end, I can never see us agreeing so I think leaving it here might be a good idea.

Wasted weight? The most universal component adaptor system ever devised is wasted? An M203 can only be added to an A1 or A2 if you have the hanger module for it, which costs the price of a 203 in itself. That's wasted money, more important than wasted weight. That said, I would like an M203 adaptor for an A1, it's a shame noone does a proper copy of the real one.
Also, you can't fit an M203 to a HBAR variant. Clue's in the name, HBAR = heavy barrel, ie bigger than the standard, the mounts won't fit. It'd also look unbearably ridiculous since you'd have 18inches of barrel sticking out in front of the M203's throat. The equivalent of duct taping a rifle to a 40mm Bofors.

Captain Chaos

About 203 mounts for AUGs, I've noticed that there are at least two real steel types that our defence force use and I have seen a crazy looking real sett mount on the A1 in a book I have. It's the special M16/M203 heat shield mounted on the AUG barrel with the 203, it just looks so wrong.

There seems to be a new real steel launcher for the A3 and it looks right at home on it, hopefully there will be an airsoft version of it.

Lemming

NakedDex wrote: »

That said, I would like an M203 adaptor for an A1, it's a shame noone does a proper copy of the real one.

GB-Tech and King Arms (yes I'm contemplating it ... ) do ones that - as far as I can tell - look remarkably like the real deal. They are however also the cost of a CA M203 launcher as you said yourself.

ED E

Lemming wrote: »

GB-Tech and King Arms (yes I'm contemplating it ... ) do ones that - as far as I can tell - look remarkably like the real deal. They are however also the cost of a CA M203 launcher as you said yourself.

Patience, there'll be a chinese version eventually. They make a load as is, wont take long to realsie they can make aug ones for so much cheaper than the current manufacturers.

Lemming

Lethal_Bullet wrote: »

Patience, there'll be a chinese version eventually. They make a load as is, wont take long to realsie they can make aug ones for so much cheaper than the current manufacturers.

The reason the AUG mounts are so expensive is that they're a) a specialty part and b) there isn't enough demand for them thus economies of scale don't really drive down prices.

The Chinese clone manufacturers probably wont even bother with the AUG mounts since they wouldn't make large streams of revenue.

And, tbh ..... the cheaper price of the clone manufacturers comes with a cost in other ways. I'd rather something that's sturdy as hell with a good finish that wont crumble away as soon as I rub my thumb against it. And to raise another question; what would happen to airsoft tomorrow if TM and CA (to name a few) folded and all you were left with were the clone manufacturers. As I said, there's a price to be paid no matter how cheap it looks on paper.

NakedDex

The clone M203's are the perfect example. ~€100 for the clone launchers vs ~€160 for the high end versions, but I've gone through 3 clone launchers so far. For that money I could have gotten a high end and saved myself enough for a bunch of Madbull grenades. Not worth a toss.

I know the two adaptors you're talking about, they're both close but neither of them have the back piece that completes the trigger guard. I'd be desperately tempted to get one myself.

Lemming

NakedDex wrote: »

I know the two adaptors you're talking about, they're both close but neither of them have the back piece that completes the trigger guard. I'd be desperately tempted to get one myself.

Got a link to a picture of the real deal with the back-end piece?

ED E

Lemming wrote: »

Got a link to a picture of the real deal with the back-end piece?

Think he's talking about the piece like below, could be completely wrong though...

NakedDex

Not a good one no. I've handled the RS ones myself a few times so I spotted it just from memory. But, if you're in easons at any stage, there's a crackin' picture of one in Combat & Survival magazine which I was looking at the other day.

OzCam

A1 +M203 (technically, it's probably an Austeyr F88 GLA)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Austeyr_F88_M203.JPEG

Pity his left hand's blocking the view...

See also http://www.steyr-aug.com/ for A3 version.



PS: my US Navy mate was on that exercise in QLD where the photo was taken. All work & no play, he said.

Captain Chaos

That first pic of the F88 is an AUG A2 Commando, it has an extra rail above the gas piston.

kevteljeur

I have to pick up a railed scope from Tony in the next couple of days. I'll ask about mounting a 203 on the A3 (and try it). I don't really have an interest in having a 203 on the gun in practical use, but it would be interesting to see what it's like.

Captain Chaos

It does look the part with that railed scope, whats the quality and eye relief of the sight like?

NakedDex

I'd say avoid the 203 unless you're really going to use it kev, you risk going very front heavy.

kevteljeur

Captain Chaos wrote: »

It does look the part with that railed scope, whats the quality and eye relief of the sight like?

Thank you! I had forgotten the term 'eye relief' and went to tortuous lengths to write around it in posts today. It's great, complements the rifle perfectly except that the eye relief is 7cm, so ideally I would push the scope further out but then I risk coming up against the shortcoming of the JG A3, which the real one doesn't have; the sharp back edge of the top rail which could take my eye out. It means I have to keep back on the stock a bit and that's not as comfortable as I'd like.

I put some comments about it on the Eirsoft thread, I haven't skirmished with it but I think it'll be great. It's very high quality, big but lightweight, good, bright optics and adjustable magnification. A small downside is that it needs a screwdriver for windage and elevation adjustment but hardly a reason to not get it. Can't wait to try it out, the accuracy of the gun is truly excellent, really nails it and it'll reward good use of a scope.

NakedDex wrote: »

I'd say avoid the 203 unless you're really going to use it kev, you risk going very front heavy.

You are very right about that. I'm not going to do it, I was just curious about it. Now, not even curious... I was more interested to see if it was viable, or if it would fit on. It would have gone too far forward though and negated the main strength of the gun. I know they're toying with a concept that puts a launcher of sorts over the main barrel rather than under, pretty ugly thing it is too.

NakedDex

The M203 short type will fit that without being over extended, but it's an extra 2lbs of weight, plus another 1lb for the grenade. It doesn't sound like much but the balance point on the A3 with all that RAS on the front is already in front of the trigger, with the M203 on it'd shove the COG way out to your forehand.

If you did decide you wanted a grenade launcher later, I'd advise a Madbull XM203 long. It'd be exactly the right length for you, but weighs next to nothing and is quite low profile.

kevteljeur

NakedDex wrote: »

The M203 short type will fit that without being over extended, but it's an extra 2lbs of weight, plus another 1lb for the grenade. It doesn't sound like much but the balance point on the A3 with all that RAS on the front is already in front of the trigger, with the M203 on it'd shove the COG way out to your forehand.

If you did decide you wanted a grenade launcher later, I'd advise a Madbull XM203 long. It'd be exactly the right length for you, but weighs next to nothing and is quite low profile.

That's a good idea - thanks Dex!

[--SC(+)PE--]

Quick question for the lads who have this, how do you find the responsiveness when using semi auto? ive had a Jg a2 model for ages and it always locked up when using semi, just wondering if the superior wiring and mosfets make semi auto more useable?

Masada

Kevs one fires perfectly on semi, ive seen the problem you described though, it can happen if the trigger contact is worn and the cut off lever cant grip it.,

kevteljeur

The responsiveness in all situations I've found to be great. Vtec knows more of this than I do, but the only problem I've had that might relate to this is bbs going for a wander in the area where the trigger is housed - there isn't a real solution for this other than being more careful when swapping mags.

Oh, and while I'm at it:


The scope really rounds it out. It's accurate enough to make the scope truly useful, such as head-shotting Vtec through a 5cm gap from a distance - unfortunately, I wasn't holding the gun when it made that shot! *sigh*

So I'd recommend the tasco 2-6 x 28 for anyone who decides that this is the AEG for them. They go well together.

Masada

kevteljeur wrote: »

such as head-shotting Vtec through a 5cm gap from a distance -

Hey! I resent that!

It was about 3cm....

[--SC(+)PE--]

Kevs one fires perfectly on semi, ive seen the problem you described though, it can happen if the trigger contact is worn and the cut off lever cant grip it

The responsiveness in all situations I've found to be great

Thats what i needed to hear , the main reason i went off my old Aug A2 was because i couldnt use it in semi at all and it was as a DMR i wanted it for, had to fire burst's the whole time which cancelled out the silent treatment i gave it.
Methinks ill go back to the way of the Aug with this

-PornStar-

Omg necro :eek:

The "iron sights" that came with my aug wont fit on the top rail, they fit grand on the side and bottom ones. Anyone else have this problem?

Not that Im concerned about the piece o **** sights that come with the gun. Just worried that when I get a proper sight it may not fit properly.

kevteljeur

-PornStar- wrote: »

Omg necro :eek:

The "iron sights" that came with my aug wont fit on the top rail, they fit grand on the side and bottom ones. Anyone else have this problem?

Not that Im concerned about the piece o **** sights that come with the gun. Just worried that when I get a proper sight it may not fit properly.

Other scopes that fit the standard rail width should fit perfectly. I've not tried the iron sights, but all the other stuff I've fitted has been fine.

-PornStar-

Ta Kev, probably gonna pick up an aimpoint next week. Was just worried I might have had some wobble once I attached it.

Tis an awesome gun, nice weight and balance. I still need to upgrade the hop up though, I'd say it will make a huge difference to the performance.

Masada

it certainly will, the gaurder clear silicone will give ya a big improvement over the usuall black hard rubber they use in them. that and a good clean of the barrel should see you towards much better range and accuracy.,:)

Trevdor

Hey guys, I'm looking at getting the A3 as well. Saw that you had mentioned a 12v battery, what kind results did you have with it? Does it fit in the battery compartment with some adjustment?

thenenea

Hi Trev,

I hope the admin won't get too upset for resurecting this necro thread but I got my A3 a month ago and tried several LiPos in it so I think I might provide some answers to your question. I settled for an S2 (7.4v) with 20C discharge and not S3 (11.1v) because I am concerned the overcurrent might strip the gears. As for the right size I would advise you to measure your battery and then check a website with supplies for air models. They list the exact dimensions of the batteries they carry so you can select one that would fit. I've settled for a 7.4v , 1300 mah one and paid about 14$ + 7$ shipping for it. Good luck.