PTR 91F
| PTR-91 | |
|---|---|
PTR-91
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| Type | Semi-automatic rifle |
| Place of origin |  United States |
| Production history | |
| Designer | PTR-91 Inc. |
| Designed | 2000 |
| Manufacturer | PTR-91 Inc. |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.41 kg (9.7 lbs.) |
| Length | 1,026 mm (40.4 in) |
| Barrel length | 450 mm (17.7 in) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | roller-delayed blowback |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic only |
| Muzzle velocity | 790 m/s (2,600 ft/s) |
| Effective firing range | 800m |
| Feed system | 20-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Rear: 4 positions rotary diopter Front: hooded post |
PTR-91, is a family of modern, American-manufactured civilian semi-automatic rifles. The design is a variation of the Heckler and Koch G3 rifle. These rifles are produced by PTR Industries, Inc. of Aynor, South Carolina. The abbreviation PTR stands for "Precision Target Rifle".
History
The weapon is based on the Heckler & Koch G3/HK91 design widely used around the world, which itself is a variant of the Spanish-made CETME (Centro de Estudios Técnicos de Materiales Especiales) model B rifle. The United States Federal assault weapons ban of 1994 (which expired in 2004) prohibited certain cosmetic features of the HK91, meaning that it could no longer be manufactured and sold to the US civilian market in its original configuration. Furthermore, the German-made HK91 was specifically prohibited from importation under the US 1989 Import Ban. Subsequently Heckler and Koch ceased manufacture of the semi-automatic HK91, and since then civilian versions of the G3 have increased in collector value. The PTR-91 was developed to fill the void, as the two rifles are almost identical.
JLD Enterprises ("JLD") began manufacturing ban compliant PTR-91 rifles in 2002, after purchasing prints and tooling from FBP - Fabrica de Braço de Prata (property of INDEP - Indústrias Nacionais de Defesa E.P.) of Portugal - an HK licensed factory. The ban-compliant models did not have a threaded barrel, bayonet lugs, adjustable stocks, or "high capacity" magazines. Very early models, being produced directly from the purchased prints were nearly identical to the HK91 with the exception of modifications for compliance with the assault weapons ban. After the ban's expiration in 2004, JLD began offering a wider range of PTR-91 models, many of which featured more of the original military features. JLD also began investing in research and development, and debuted many new improvements and modifications to the original HK91 design. Initially, JLD-produced rifles relied heavily on imported military surplus components for G3/HK91 rifles. In fact, most parts between the HK-91 and the PTR-91 are interchangeable.
In 2005, the major assets of JLD Enterprises were purchased by the newly formed PTR-91 Inc. Mr. Jose Diaz (JLD Enterprises' founder and owner) stayed on with the new company as a major partner. Mr. Diaz left the company in late 2010. Subsequently, the remaining partners and new management changed the strategic direction of the company. PTR moved from a business model of surplus part importation and assembly to that of a true manufacturer - physically producing the components of the weapon in-house. The company added significant machining and fabrication capabilities over the course of 2011 and 2012 to accomplish this change. Currently PTR is capable of producing every machined part on the rifles at its own plant in Bristol, CT - and sources other items (plastic, etc.) locally in the United States on tooling that it owns and produced. As a result, the current PTR rifles are actually made in the U.S. rather than simply assembled in the U.S. In order to represent the change in direction and capability of the business, the company recently adopted its current name, PTR Industries, Inc.
In the summer of 2013 PTR relocated to Aynor, South Carolina, due in part to increasing gun control laws in Connecticut.
Today the company offers more than 25 different model variations, and has expanded into the law enforcement and military markets as well.[1]
Variations
The best known, and oldest, version of the PTR-91 is the PTR-91F. This rifle, similar to the original HK-91, features an 18" heavy target barrel, and fixed plastic stock. PTR also produces higher end versions of the rifle, such as: the PTR-MSG91, their mid-range rifle offering, featuring an 18" fluted heavy target barrel, along with many enhancements to make it suitable for sniping or precision target shooting, such as a bipod, rail system, and adjustable stock. PTR has also produced a "PTR Super Sniper" version, in limited quantities, featuring a 20" fully fluted free-floating barrel.
In addition, PTR also produces several models of carbine that feature a 16" heavy target barrel. These are available with fairly standard hardware, such as is found on the PTR-91F, as well as with many different stock, rail, and fluting combinations. A popular model is the PTR-91 KPF which features an A3-type fully collapsible paratrooper stock.
In 2010, the company released a new line of products chambered in 7.62×39mm known as the PTR-32 series. The PTR-32s are made exclusively with 16" barrels, and are available in the same configurations as the PTR-91 carbines.[2]
Calendar year 2011 saw the launch of another new product, the "PTR-GI", which is a throwback to the classic Cold War military styling of the original H&K G3.
Publication
PTR weapons have been featured in numerous gun magazines, such as Gun Tests, Guns and Weapons for Law Enforcement, American Rifleman, On Target, Shotgun News, and Gun World, all of which praised them for having good accuracy and reliability, characteristic of the weapon it was designed after.
See also
References
[1] http://www.tactical-life.com/online/exclusives/ptr-91-incs-new-rifle/
http://www.gun-tests.com/issues/17_1/features/5213-1.html [2]
