Originally a copy of Heckler & Koch’s Model 91 rifle, the original PTR-91 was an exact copy, less the evil assault rifle restrictions. The later PTR Hunter .308 is the next generation H&K 91 clone that’s ready for the woods.
My knowledge of the PTR-91 predates the company’s first rifle. Conversations with Vincent Pestilli Sr., a business associate and small arms expert, taught me a lot about the rifle. Intrigued, I put my order in with Vinny Sr. to buy a low serial numbered PTR-91.
Since receiving that early PTR-91 rifle several years ago, I’ve had a lot of fun shooting it. The round count for this rifle topped 1,000 rounds and it serves as a fun and interesting rifle to shoot. Since I favor the .308 Winchester cartridge, I’ve even done a little deer hunting with this rifle. The results put a couple of does in the freezer.
These days, PTR (Precision Target Rifle) recently shortened their company name to just “PTR,” and expanded their lineup of rifles. When PTR announced that they were starting production of their Hunter model, I was glad to try one out.
In the time since I received the PTR Hunter .308, the company’s name has changed again to PTR Industries and they moved to North Carolina. The current “hunter” model is the PTR GIRK.
PTR Lineage
The design of the PTR-91 can trace its lineage to World War II and the German MG42 machinegun. The design incorporated a roller-locked bolt mechanism allowing high rates of fire. As the war progressed, Mauser engineers designed the prototype MKb Gerat 06. That’s the acronym for an automatic carbine chambered in 7.92x33mm Kurz. The first prototype used a roller-locked short recoil mechanism adapted from the MG42 with a conventional gas-actuated piston rod.
Through trial and error, Mauser’s engineers learned that they could get delete the gas system. The Gerat 06H, with with emphasis on the “H,” designating the German word for “half-locked.” They conducted the work in secret without Hitler’s knowledge. The pre-production weapons got the military designation StG (45)M, or Sturmgewehr 45(M). When Old Schicklgruber learned of the weapon’s development, his initial anger mollified and he approved production shortly before the fall of the Third Reich.
After WW II
For five years following WW II, the Sturmgewehr’s engineers, which included Ludwig Vorgrimler, moved to France and continued work on the design. When the French War Department ran out of money for further development, Vorgrimler went to work for Spain’s CETME. The fruits of his labor led to the CETME Modelo 2 rifle by 1952 when the Spanish government selected this weapon for further development. The CETME design attracted the attention of West Germany’s Border Guards, who asked for further development of a roller-locked weapon in the new 7.62 NATO cartridge.
After a couple of prototypes, the Border Guards dropped the project. At that point, Heckler & Koch engineers joined the development project. The West German Border Guards dropped the CETME in favor of the FN-FAL, but the West German Army purchased a number of CETME, and soon adopted it and renamed it the G3 in 1959. After West German adoption of the G3, production rights transferred to Heckler & Koch and Rheinmetall. Heckler & Koch continued building new prototypes based upon the G3 design, as well as producing the HK91, the semi-automatic version of the G3.
Over the next decade, Heckler & Koch and Rheinmetall haggled over production rights for the G3, with H&K assuming sole production by 1969.
While the G3 history was writing itself, CETME (the organization) had sold production and sales rights of the CETME rifle outside of Spain to the Dutch. Ultimately, that’s where the Germans bartered for exclusive world rights to produce their G3/HK91 version of the CETME rifle. H&K also sold the rights to build and sell G3/HK91 rifles to several international governments, including the Portuguese military.
PTR’s birth
The original PTR rifle was first conceived in 2002 when Jose Diaz, owner of JLD Enterprises received funding from Vincent Pestilli, Sr. to purchase tooling and blueprints for the HK line of roller-lock weapons from Fabrica Militar of Portugal.
Initially, JLD Enterprises’ first HK-91 “clone” rifles rolled off the production line, built mostly from surplus parts acquired around the world. Pestilli christened the rifles “Precision Target Rifle, hence the PTR derivative of the weapon’s PTR-91 nomenclature.
JLD Enterprises began manufacturing ban compliant PTR-91 rifles in 2002. The ban compliant models did not have a threaded barrel, bayonet lugs, adjustable stocks, or “high capacity” magazines. Very early models–produced directly from the purchased blueprints–matched 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 sold to the newly formed PTR-91, Inc. With access to new capital and manufacturing capabilities from a new partnership, PTR-91, Inc. made further advances in the quality and accuracy of their rifles, while expanding the number of available product lines and increasing production capability.
Filling the gap
From 2002-2006, the reputation of the PTR-91 rifle grew considerably along with the weapon’s market. The assault weapons ban of 1994, which expired in 2004, prohibited certain cosmetic features of the HK91. This meant that it could no longer be manufactured and sold to the U.S. civilian market in its original configuration. Furthermore, the German-made HK91 got specifically prohibited from importation under the 1989 Import Ban. Subsequently Heckler & 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.
A new company, PTR, Inc., was organized in 2006 to raise funds to build the company to meet growing demand. Over the next few years, the company consistently grew its capabilities. Expanding beyond the original 91 “clone,” PTR began to introduce many other models and variants to suit different shooting applications. Today, the company is known as simply “PTR,” since their product line goes well beyond the original PTR-91 rifle. The company was re-organized in 2010 with new management, new capital, new focus, and higher expectations.
All American
Today, PTR is a full-fledged 21st century firearms manufacturing firm, capable of much more than just “clone” rifles. Rather than just assembly personnel and work-benches in the early years, PTR now employs gunsmiths, engineers, toolmakers, and machinists who work with state of the art technology to bring their customers a truly modern firearm. PTR is also no longer dependent on foreign surplus markets – it has the capability to produce every part for PTR rifles right here in the United States.
Hunter Details
The PTR Hunter is 40 1/2 inches in length. third of that total length is an 18-inch match grade, heavy-weight .70-inch diameter barrel. The barrel’s rifling is polygonal cut with twist rate of 1:10 inches. As with any HK91, or clones, the chamber is fluted to assist the roller delayed blow-back system.
A rugged standard, the PTR-91 Hunter features an H&K navy-type polymer trigger group. Testing the trigger pull with a RCBS spring gauge, the PTR Hunter’s trigger breaks at 7 ¾ pounds. Housing the barrel is an original H&K OD green handguard machined from hard anodized aluminum. The handguard has a strategically-placed sling swivel stud, which serves its intended purpose or allows mounting of a Harris-style bipod.
The butt stock is also original H&K furniture. The entire rifle is finished in matching OD green. The butt stock also features a raised cheek piece, which includes a sealed cavity for storing several CR123-sized batteries.
The feature that sets the Hunter apart from an original-style H&K-91 clone is the Picatinny rail welded to the top of the receiver. This allows much greater flexibility for optics mounting than the H&K claw-type mount.
Down Range
Taking measure of the PTR Hunter’s accuracy, I fired 5-shot groups with three factory loads. Temperatures were in the mid-70s, with negligible wind. Firing commenced from a sturdy bench, with the rifle resting on a Bull’s Bag. Groups fired at 100 yards, velocity data recorded with an Oehler 35P chronograph 15 feet from the muzzle provided shooting data. The optic used for testing was a Bushnell 3200 Elite 7-20x variable with a Mil dot reticle.
Winchester’s 168-grain Match loads were the first down range. The average of three groups fired were a hair under 2 ½ inches. The best group measured 2.137 inches. The average velocity calculated was 2,460 fps. The standard deviation for this load was 29 fps, and the extreme spread was 65 fps.
Federal’s Gold Medal Match loads loaded with 168-grain Sierra Match King bullets serve as a solid performer in many .308 rifles. Their reputation is solid enough that many law enforcement agencies select this load for their sniper rifles. The PTR Hunter didn’t particularly like them, though. The average group size was 3.129 inches. The smallest group measured 2.982 inches. The average velocity was 2,891 fps. The standard deviation came in at 46 fps. This was influenced by the 107 fps extreme velocity spread for 10 shots.
Stepping up in velocity, SOCOM’s Mark 319 loads were tested. This 155-grain open-tip solid, very similar to a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw bullet, averaged 3,055 fps. The standard deviation was 44 fps and the extreme spread was 83 fps. The smallest group fired was 4.577 inches.
Numerous deer hunter surveys reveal that the average whitetail buck gets shot at approximately 70 yards. The PTR Hunter isn’t a long-range match rifle. However, it is a rugged, dependable rifle that will serve well in the deer woods. Out to 300 yards the PTR Hunter will do its job to put some meat in your freezer and racks on your wall next fall.
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