Topic: hk-91

[ExpnsiveToys23]

might be buying one soon, am curious to see what people thing about it, pros vs cons type stuff.
thanks

[Bill, Idaho]

Relatively accurate. Trigger is different gun to gun. Not so much that it's bad, but noticeable. The fluted chamber is neat because it will eat anything, but it requires a little more ummmph if reloading. 
 I haven't kept up with the price of mags for HK91'S and 93's, but I would be willing to bet they haven't gotten any cheaper. 
 Mounting a scope of any type used to be pricey ,you had to use what was referred to as a "claw-mount". I think someone has gotten into that market, probably Larue.
  Good balance, points well.
Just like everything else made in Germany,  a lot more expensive, and only a little more better.
I have owned several HK's over the years. Past tense.
YMMV.
 

[ExpnsiveToys23]

so would you say its worth the buy? what was your experience with the 91?

[Bill, Idaho]

That's a relatively leading question. What kind of money are you going to pay?  What do you intend on using it for? Are you locked on to a particular type of ammo already?
 Are you prepared to have to buy everything HK specific? (Sight tools, etc)
There are aftermarket items for HK's, but nowhere near as many as available for an AR type rifle.
My experience was good, but too spendy proportionate to the cool factor. 
 I must admit the most fun gun I EVER shot was an HK MP53A3 (I think). Collapsable stock, 308, full-auto, about 18-20 inches overall length. Now THAT was a fire-breathing dragon.
The 21 is pretty cool too, but once again, spendy. Out-loud spendy.
 I haven't kept up with how HK prices are compared to, and relative to AR stuff. The whole market is crazy. ( And it's going to get much worse)
   
 

[ballardw]

I won't claim to be any kind of expert on the HK91 as I've only fired about 2 mags worth and that quite a few years ago.  Shooting the HK91 was the reason I picked an M1A for my personal 'battle rifle'. My impressions were filtered through more experience with the M14, so your mileage may vary.

The one I shot was a basic model with no frills of any kind. So options might change my opinion. At the time, IIRC the HK was about 15% more than an M1A also.
I found the factory buttstock to be a bit short and the best cheek weld I could get with the iron sights meant that my cheek got bumped by that hump at the back of the receiver. The drum style rear sight was clear to see but doesn't the range of adjustment the M14/M1A has. I don't remember how the windage was adjusted, it at all. So changing point of aim with different loads would be harder. I will say that seating the magazine was touch easier than the M1A though. The trigger was okay. We did discuss the longevity of the brass if reloading. The fluted chamber means that you get little ridges the length of the case and resizing tends to move a lot of brass around with likely earlier failure. This was all circa 1982 and I think there are more available accessories now. I think I'd probably be happier with the HK93 with the minimal recoil of a .223.

[shotokan94]

I am a huge fan of HK firearms, so this is a biased response. In my humble opinion, the HK91 is an awesome weapon. They are very accurate. They have alot of wow factor tied to them, as they are not as common to see as they once were. In '94/'95 you could pick on up for about $700. Now they start around $2000, and go up to $4000 for one new in the box. Kick myself everytime I see one, and realize what I passed on years ago. They have polygonal rifling, which is supposed to produce higher velocities, and longer barrel life, which is probably more critical in a machine gun than your plinker. Now for the bad, with all HK rifles, they have fluted chambers. They can get pretty expensive to shoot, due to the design of the roller-lock bolt, the increased pressures cause flutes on the brass making them un-reloadable, also, they are ejected in such a violent manner that the brass often has a nice dent on the side. The people at the range admire your rifle until they get pegged in the head from 30 - 40 feet away from said brass.

On another note, Bill was close. The hk53 is in .223, and the Hk51 is in .308. Both awesome to shoot. And yes the 51 is a fire breathing dragon.

 If I had the funds to buy one,  I would and here is why: They are going to contnue to increase in value.

[shotokan94]

I hit the wrong button before I could finish my thoughts: They will increase in value!!! As Class 3 firearms become more and more difficult to obtain, and they break, your 91 or 93 will become more in demand.

There is very little difference between a HK91, and a HK33 machine gun. There is a minor difference to the reciever. Machine gun has push pin, semi does not they have a ledge the front of the triger pack rests on. But, what makes a HK a machine gun is the trigger pack. So, when the time comes and you wish to collect class 3 firearms, you can purchase an HK sear gun with a sear registered in all 3 calibers(9mm, .223,.308) Swap out the trigger pack, between your Hk91, Hk93, and Hk MP5.


If you have an AR and can afford to feed the beast, go for it.....

[High Wall]

I had an HK91 and shot it a lot back in the 90s.  I also reloaded for it.  As others said, it was accurate.  I didn't like the ergos.  It doesn't seem to me like they were designed for human use.  As was said, the stock is short and you have to watch out for that hump.  I warned people about it before letting them shoot mine, but invariably, they'd end up with a red welt on their cheek.  I made a stock extension that helped, but I never liked the stock.  The rifle is hell for stout, that is for sure.

You can reload for it and get decent brass life.  It is best to stick with military brass.  Mil brass has thicker case walls.  Some commercial brass is thin enough that the case walls extrude quite a bit into the chamber flutes.  I had a good supply of Lake City brass and used that.  With that stuff, there wasn't any extrusion into the flutes, just discoloration from the powder blow-by.

I found that the faster powders were better for brass life.  The chamber flutes weren't the main consideration.  What usually screwed the cases up for reloading is that the rim would be deformed, making it difficult or impossible to get the case into a shellholder.  Faster powders seemed to cause less damage to the case rims, since chamber pressures had probably dropped a little by the time the extractor was trying to rip the case out of the chamber.  3031 was my favorite powder in that rifle as I recall. 

The comment about brass flinging is correct.  They will really throw them.  Hard enough to be very hazardous to eyeballs.  The brass is hot, too, enough to give a second degree burn if it goes down a collar and sits there.

I sold mine for a good profit, about half of what they get for them now.  I have never missed it and I usually have trouble parting with guns.

I'd recommend you shoot one if you can to see if you like it, but as was pointed out, you are unlikely to lose money on one, so probably not that risky of a gamble.

[shotokan94]

Thats good to know about the brass with thicker walls. I must have only shot the cheap stuff, because it wasnt worth much when we were done.  Ergo is personal preferance though. I have always like the way the Hk91 felt.

On another note, the Hk93, is kind of heavy for a .223. Helps with acuracy, but heavy none the less. If you are going to pack that rifle very far, the Hk91 .308 is the way to go. At least youre packin for a reason. Not only that, .308 is my all time favorite shooting round..

[Keebsley]

I've always wanted a HK but after shooting the FAL, I'd be mroe inclined to go that route for a battle rifle.

[ExpnsiveToys23]

funny thing is i already own a m1a, and a fal and love them both.