- Falstaff
- Watchlord WIS
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FN fun
This past weekend, the weather being clement, several of us decided to make a military-themed day of it at the local rifle range. I took along my AR, AK, HK and one that seldom gets any "wrist time", my FN 49. My 3 fellow shooters brought similar rifles. It was an opportunity to try out the various accessories and modifications we'd made over the last few months. Over the course of the day we fired roughly 1800 rounds at 100 and 200 yd. (the max for this range) targets. Needless to say we all switched rifles with one another so that everyone had the opportunity to fire everything - although we did try to group them together - 5.56s with 5.56s, 7.62 X 39s with 7.62 X 39s and .308s with .308s so as to compare performance side by side. Just a lovely day - we'd brought a cooler with sandwiches and non-alcoholic beverages (range officers being adverse to Bloody Marys and beer on the firing line). The surprise winner for most fun to shoot was my FN 49 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... 49left.jpg It's an Egyptian contract (for King Farouk) model in 8mm Mauser (7.92 X 57) that I bought 25 years ago or so from a Century Arms ad in Shotgun News. Century Arms apparently bought all remaining stock of these Egyptian contract rifles as well as any remaining parts. Some were original complete rifles and some were assembled from parts by Century. Mine appears to be original with matching numbers on barrel assembly, bolt and the Egyptian crown crest on the receiver although it has been restocked and has the later production 2 piece firing pin. Looks to have been made in either '52 or '53 by Fabrique Nationale at their Herstal Belgium factory. At the time a buddy and I each bought one and I don't think we paid more than $150 each. Classic Firearms (internet) has been recently offering surplus Hungarian production, non-corrosive primer 8mm for about $8 a 20rnd. box. Needless to say, I picked up a case. The few times I'd fired it previously, I was using some Bulgarian corrosive primered stuff - a real pain in the ass to clean. After adjusting the gas port for proper cycling (it is picky that way) it was throwing rounds down range with excellent accuracy. It's downright pleasant to shoot and despite being a full sized, wooden stocked battle rifle, recoil is surprisingly tame. It is essentially an FN - FAL as far as operating system. It uses a 10 rnd. stripper clip fed fixed magazine. The boys fell in love with it and we blew through the 300 rounds that I brought in short order. I believe every guy at the range came over to take a look. Although designed before WWII, it was already more or less obsolete when it was finally put into production in 1947 as too expensive - having been overtaken by shorter, lighter designs with lots of inexpensively stamped parts and quick change magazines. Probably the last of the old-school fully machined battle rifles - and flat out elegant. We all had one hell of a good day and finished up tired, dirty and despite hearing protection, slightly deaf at a tavern down the road with a pitcher of old fashioneds and the meatloaf special.
Another borrowed pic: https://www.apexgunparts.com/media/cata ... y/FN49.jpg
Another borrowed pic: https://www.apexgunparts.com/media/cata ... y/FN49.jpg
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