Have an opportunity to acquire a Robinson Arms 96 with 20 inch barrel, Recon barrel as well. Also includes both fixed/folding stocks for 2K. Would you buy it? Does anyone foresee a manufacturer taking another stab at a Semi Stoner clone?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tomday, February 02, 2020 01:11 PM

I doubt anyone will be making more. My biggest concern would be the complete lack of parts. If it goes down, I'd say its pretty much doneski.

That said I'd have a tough time not picking one up if I came across it.

I had one of the rifles sometime back. It is an excellent rifle that gave good service. Accurate and reliable. I sold it because I wasn't using it. AR 15s had taken on the brunt of my work and for many reasons made more sense for me. The Robinson Arms 96 was a lot of fun and attracts attention. My biggest concern became the lack of support for parts on a rifle that was getting hard use.

I have one in my collection that I purchased when first released. I really was looking forward to the factory support with a variety of uppers planned to be offered. That never happened. It is a neat rifle, collectible, the closest you can get to a Stoner, and they work well. I don't fire it much because of the lack of spare parts but I do show her off to friends. It is a keeper.

I like them but the parts availability prevents me from owning one.

Agreed. I hate to say this but I think I will have to pass on this one. Thanks to all who replied

It is kind of like the SIG 556. I like both the Recon 96 and the SIG 556, but without parts....

It’s a cool rifle and well made but as ANDYB said parts and help with a problem is nonexistent. Too bad too. I waited years for that rifle to come out in the 90’s just to see it fall on its own face support wise. I wouldn’t get it to be a shooter. If you can afford 2k to keep it as a collector then maybe...

If you happen to read this dead thread, I was wondering where you saw the M96 offered for sale Tomday. I’m one of those people who want to buy a discontinued firearm made by a company that no longer offers support for this platform!

I ended up not purchasing and it already sold. I cant understand why no one put a semi version of the stoner into production in the past couple of years as other items such as the CETME-L have resurged. I did however see a semi auto Stoner project discussed and updated on AR-15.com back when I started this discussion. Like to see semi Stoner and FNCs resurrected
!.. Thoughts?

quote:

Originally posted by tomday:
as other items such as the CETME-L have resurged

Yeah, the AR-180 is making a comeback of sorts too.

Resurrecting this because Robinson Arms has announced they will assemble up to 200 new M96s from the remaining parts of an old Marine Corp contract. The M-96 MSRP is $2,500 and an optional top feeding Bren Conversion is $3,400.

I would buy a Stoner 63 Clone in a heartbeat, however Robarms was known for treating M-96 owners like garbage....So what do you all think? Any other manufacturers thinking about a better clone/service?

Here is the Shot Show 2020 interview. Advance to 2:10.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpIwVg4YyGs