ATI vs Zenith Imports of MKE products

Aeg15

Aeg15

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I’m looking at some HK 93 clones and wanted to know if Zeniths are inherently “better“ than the ATI imports of the MKE manufactured guns. I definitely want to avoid Century now that they’ve taken over. I just haven’t heard too much on ATI and it seems people prefer Zenith. I‘ve cross posted this topic.

Am I wrong to even consider ATI imports or should I only look at the Zenith imports?

Thanks everyone.
 
I dont have any ATI 93 guns but I have 2 ATI 94a2 guns that I beat mercilessly and they run like sewing machines. No fittment issues with stocks/furniture and i use them with and without binary triggers without issue.

I did have to remove the magwell blockers that they came with and the paint is a bit glossy and full disclosure i replaced the grip frame from what they came with. Also since they were 94a2 carbines i had to cut the barrels down and add a 3 lug adapter since i didnt want to pull and or replace the barrels. I never refinished them and TBH the paint has held up extra ordinarily well.

I bought them cheap from hkspecialist for $1099 in Sept of 2013 and at that price I had no issue with doing that work. If I have $1400 into each of them I would be surprised. They have been so reliable and so good that I SBRd them.

YMMV
 
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I have no personal experience with ATI, but, on some other forum someone once said, 'An MKE import is an MKE import.' ATI and Zenith were only the importers of the same manufacturer's guns.
 
Same same gun but each was imported in different configurations.

The ATIs that I have seen were imported as "sporting rifles". No flash hider, high capacity magazine blocks, and a fixed stock welded to a steel trigger housing. There may be other variations out there that I haven't seen, but I think this the most common. I believe there is a thread in the MKE sub-forum posted by a member who just bought one in 5.56. He posted up some pics.

Link..

ATI MKE AT43 Find

Found this at a local shop here in our small town. It was “new in box” and “on sale”. I’m new to HK clones or HK in general. After speaking with members on here I was advised to purchase it at that price. The shop owner stated that he has had it since before 2016. All he could tell me about...
www.hkproshop.com www.hkproshop.com

Zeniths were largely imported as pistols with the thought that end users would Form 1 them into SBRs and make them 922r compliant. Personally I feel that the Zenith imports are more easily adapted to SBRs than ATI guns. Everything is already in place and there are no welds or other modifications that have to be dealt with.

IMO your biggest problem is going to be finding one at a reasonable price. :D
 
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I’m no builder, but if I remember correctly - the ATF wasn’t allowing zenith’s to be converted to sear hosts (unlike the ATI’s)
 
ENDER said:
I’m no builder, but if I remember correctly - the ATF wasn’t allowing zenith’s to be converted to sear hosts (unlike the ATI’s)
Click to expand...

Installation of a HK type shelf over the second pin hole allowed removal of the carrier block is how I believe builders skirted that issue. I had also heard rumor of modified carriers that kept the receiver block in place, yet had a McGuyer solution that would still work the trip lever.

Besides...the 99% of us poors don't care. It's only you landed gentry that can afford sears. :D

-E-
 
I eventually want to SBR it and by the sounds of it, I should be leaning towards the zenith. I wish I’d gotten one when they were a reasonable price 3-4 years ago. I found one, but they’re asking $3.5K. If that’s what they’re going for why not go for a real HK 93 and have it converted to the K version by TPM. Just thinking out loud.

Thanks to everyone for your input. It definitely helps.
 
I've never seen a 5.56 Zenith rifle... Just pistols. I had TPM finish [cut/thread paint] my 33K/ATI, and it runs like a zipper. I couldn't cut up a mint 93....even for my Brit 33K parts-kit. I shoot the hell outta my stuff, and it doesn't matter to me where the sheet-metal came from. I've also never had anybody think less of it, once they see it running or shoot it. It was great to weld a rail and case-deflector to my "clone"

001.JPG
 
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Great Pic! Is the stock easily interchangeable or is it a pain to undo the welds?
 
Yes sir. But do yourself a favor and just get another a2 as they are cheap enough
 
What about a buffered carrier? Are they worth getting? I’d like get an adapter to use the ACR stock.
 
MMissile said:
I've never seen a 5.56 Zenith rifle... Just pistols. I had TPM finish [cut/thread paint] my 33K/ATI, and it runs like a zipper. I couldn't cut up a mint 93....even for my Brit 33K parts-kit. I shoot the hell outta my stuff, and it doesn't matter to me where the sheet-metal came from. I've also never had anybody think less of it, once they see it running or shoot it. It was great to weld a rail and case-deflector to my "clone"

View attachment 2290
Click to expand...

Dangm that is a nice rifle.
 
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