hey jeff, how about adding me to your will?? please?

dez,

I know about those .308 Argentine FN-49's, they are hard to come by. It would be cool though if one of us were to decide to re-work the 49's for a detachable 8mm magazine. It's not really that hard. The problem is to make it profitable, eh?

Regards,

Eric

The H&K msg 90 is the most fun but I like the g3 to

Eirk, I just got around to taking my friends FN49 apart. Its a super SKS! Seriously tho, intracately machined top cover and all. I thought of cutting one up to make it take FAL mags but, the guns a just too nice a piece of work to butcher like that.

A question for all, Does any one here have a Z-M Weapons LR300 upper? If so, whats the gun handle like? I like that it doesnot have the spring in the stock, which is something that really bothers me with the ARs. But it still has the AR lower, which has got to be the best laid out as far as controlls and reaching all of them with a minimum of hand movements.

Thanks,
Kristofer

KB,

Tho' "common sense" has little to do with it, many folks like to do (some that I consider strange) different things to firearms. I don't doubt that someone will eventually modify an FN-49 for FAL magazines, shorten the barrel, or sleeve it, or something like that. I can't see the reason myself. There are plenty of most excellent .308 semi-autos out there already, so no advantage to the modification.

I would like to see one with a detachable magazine in 8mm. It is an excellent caliber, there would be no barrel modifications, and it would be "cool". As I mentioned though, there are not that many 8mm box magazines around, so it would require either a "repro" magazine of some sort, or a modified 30-06 magazine. Either way, the concept is good. Though it didn't last long, the FN-49 was a very good rifle and the main reason it faded was the adoption of shorted battle rifle cartridges and big box magazines. Even a ten round box would be nice.

Regards,

Eric

I've owned AR and AK clones,Fired M1's and M14's.Currently have several SKS's.But for sheer fun,I love the CETME's.no recoil to speak of,reasonably accurate,and cheap to shoot(1,000 riunds for $129-$139).Only complaint is the god awful noise made by Centurys muzzle break.Yeooh,its loud.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Eric:
The rarest in a National Postal Meter, they didn't make a huge number. Can't remember exactly how much, but I've only seen one and it was expensive.


I wish this was true because I just picked up a National Postal Meter M1. I actually believe the Rockola's are the rarest. I'm a newbie and could be wrong.

I've owned and fired many of the arms listed so far, just like a couple of others, and I am really surprised no one has mentioned the BM59. I have had a couple of these rifles and, alas, I do not own one at present. Beretta did a fine job of converting the Garand into an M14 clone and supposedly for very little money.
I also don't own an M14 but I wish I did. I do have an M1 Garand (1942 Springfield) and M1 carbine, an SKS and will have to say my favorite is whichever one I can get to the range with. Really, I enjoy shooting all of them but the old Garand has to be my favorite.
And for what it is worth, this old Springfield is a very accurate piece. I bought it first, then a Winchester which was never anywhere near as accurate as the Springfield although it looked much better. Had no trouble finding it a new home, believe me.

You fellows hankering for a FN 49 with a box magazine..here ya go:

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=102869139

I'm tempted, but I'm thinking the seller holds it pretty dear to his heart, and I've been a bad boy lately.

I got "a bug" and collected a few of the WW II bolt guns since January. Five Arisaka Type 38's, a Siamese Type 46 Mauser, a hex receiver Mosin-Nagant 91/30, and I'm bidding on a Carcano M91/41.

Oh yea, I did get a Yugo M72 that will be here by the end of the month.

Regards,
Eric

I think I've shot most of the rifles mentioned and a few fulls (FAL, BAR, Johnson, Mac 10, Grease Gun, Thompson, Browning 30, MA Deuce, and M60) as well as the Barrett over the years.

Of the buzz guns the FAL was too prone to stoppage with a little dust, the Mac 10 is junk, the BAR is built like a brick outhouse, and the 1928A1 Thompson gun was simply elegant but heavy for its punch. Thompson would be very interesting in the .45 Remington-Thompson Long caliber. Unfortunately I've never even seen one.

Garand was the first rifle I ever bought. Springfield was next. I think I enjoy my match M1A, SIG AMT, 18" barreled M60, and 11.5" M16 as much as any other. In terms of an accurate standard rifle, the M1A is hard to beat.

Eric,

All time favorite is CIS Ultimax LMG.



100 round group (one burst) into 12 inches at 100 yards off-hand.

For fun with an assault rifle, I do like the 5.56mm Galil with bipod. It is useful prone out to 200 meters full auto and as good or better than most LMG's.

Off the shoulder you can get multiple hits at 100 m full auto. Lots of fun!

For a buzz gun I like the two low cyclic rate SMG's; the Sterling and Carl Gustaf. You can just about write your name with them at 50 m.

If 550 spm is too boring, the FN P90 is a blast!

Andy

With a half a clip of ammo still in the air - I liked the M11 with suppressor. Only get rent it in Vegas.

Rich

"Of the buzz guns the FAL was too prone to stoppage with a little dust,"

This I find unusual as the FN/FAL and its variants have served with distinction and the unmitigated trust of its users the world over.

"The Mac 10 is junk,"

Well, it is (relatively) inexpensive. However for what it was designed for, a short range (50 meters max) "trench broom" it works just fine. I've been able to put an entire magazine into a silhouette in one burst at 10 meters.

“ The BAR is built like a brick outhouse, and the 1928A1 Thompson gun was simply elegant but heavy for its punch. Thompson would be very interesting in the .45 Remington-Thompson Long caliber. Unfortunately I've never even seen one.â€

Both of these pieces were built at a time when all firearms were made from billet steel and forgings. We will never see their like again. And I wish I had both of them in my safe.

Regards,

Eric

quote:

"Of the buzz guns the FAL was too prone to stoppage with a little dust,"

I am surprised by this comment.

Belgians, British,Israelis,South Africans, Australians and many others used them in desert conditions and it went out as one of the most reliable battle rifles.

Norway wanted to have the FN Fal as the new rifle in the 60`s the millitary commite liked it very much, but due to the fact Kongsberg Arsenal were making HK G3 for the Bundeswehr it was accepted into Noorway due to tooling easy to make and short transport distance for the rifle to the units . Plus the recoil operated is a good way for the climate up here .

quote:

"Of the buzz guns the FAL was too prone to stoppage with a little dust"

Not the ones I used in Great Britain! I can't speak for other nations' FN FALs but the British ones have three or four (I can't remember) dust grooves milled into the breech block.

The BAR was a piece of over heavy out-dated "junk" by 1941. Good for its intended time 1919 but hopelessly outmoded by 1941.

Better than the Lewis Gun by far...but it could not and would not compare to the Bren, the Vickers-Berthier, the Czech vz26 (or the MG34 or Browning 30 Cal in true LMG role).

And very handicapped in any useful light AA role also.

Four milled grooves on each side of the bolt carrier. I think it was first done on the heavy barreled FAL delivered to Israel.

I've used the M-1, M14, M-16. Liked the calibers of the M-1 and M14, liked the action and feel of the M-16 but thought the caliber was a silly choice.
I bought an AR10t, basically a very accurate BAR. And I like the AR10 M4. So I bought both.
Looking forward to our 500 yard range to be finished remodeling so I can get back to busting clay birds at 500 to 600 yards.

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Andy:
...
For fun with an assault rifle, I do like the 5.56mm Galil with bipod. It is useful prone out to 200 meters full auto and as good or better than most LMG's.
...
Andy

The Galil ARM is my favorite of the many true Assault Rifles(read: select fire) I have had a chance to shoot here in AZ. No recoil, and accurate ammo make for real full auto fun.

My list of favorite MGs, from a recreation view point is broken down like this. In pistol calibers my favorite is the Glock 18 in 9mm. In the intermediate rifle calibers my favorite is the Galil ARM in 5.56mm. In full rifle calibers the MG42 in 8mm shot off the shoulder(not the tripod) is a truly moving experience. Although I have to say a 20" M16 with enough barrel to weigh the same as the ARM and with a bipod would likely be as much fun. Plus there are the Beta C-mags for the M16 system.

Today ammunition costs too much compared to when this thread started in 2002. In 2002 or 2003 I shot well over 100 rounds of Turk 8mm from my hip as fast as I could with my last unmolested vz.24. The vz.24 was to get torn apart the following week, for sporterization. I did not want to have any 8mm ammo left and got tired of aiming about half way through the three bandoleers of Turk which I had. That 210 rounds was less then $20 I believe and the vz.24s were only $70 each. I am too young to be posting things about the good old days like this.

Even full auto needs to be aimed these days or I feel guilty. I got to shoot an MP40 again yesterday and was reminded of what a sweet heart of a sub gun they are. The MP5/10, however, is a little handful and had the most impressive bullet impact noises compared to all the 9mm, 5.56mm, and 7.62mm shot the same day.

To get back on the topic of Military Semi-autos, after six years to think about it, I must say I love the AR15. It is an incredibly adaptive and customizable system. I have built some wonderful rifles on them. If I had to pick one type of receiver to work on from here on out it would be the AR15. It has go you covered from .17 caliber to .50cal caliber, with all the many stops in between.

I should re-photograph these.

They're convertable, 9mm and 45 ACP. The 45 ACP mag for the pistol is "Clintonated" at ten rds.

The capacities cited for the mags aren't quite accurate. I bought a "five pack" of 9mm Israeli 25 rd. mags from Numrich -- with an IMI issued canvas belt pouch. Numrich sells 50 rd. mags in 9mm. Hard to find mags in 45 ACP.

Same mags fit both guns.

The carbine came with a "dummy" short barrel, so you can have the gun look like the short barreled carbine. But the short barrel violates ATF rules.

Numrich sells the drop-in, slam-fire bolts for these. You just gotta cough up the tax stamp.

There was a "bad ass" at the Harley Davidson shop one Sunday before a ride. He was wearing his "Smith & Wesson" T-shirt, and had his pistol in the saddle bag. He about freaked when I pulled the pistol out of my saddle bag. Then he did freak when I pulled the carbine out of the other bag.

quote:

Originally posted by Klaus de Stijl:
Four milled grooves on each side of the bolt carrier. I think it was first done on the heavy barreled FAL delivered to Israel.

Not exactly, it was done by IMI very late because soldiers complained about the stoppages due to sand and dust.
In fact, the IDF users were the worst in the world when it was about maintenance..

Never shot one, but the one I would like to shoot most is the old BAR. Just looks like a big chunk of devistating steel to me! Would love to own one some day, there was a company here near cleveland that made a semi auto version.

I own a Standard Products M1 Carbine and it's a fun little guy and never fails.

I'm interested in trying out the French MAS 44/49 sometime as it seems like a well built piece. It's also unusual and I like the odd ducks.

I have heard nothing but good things about the Daewoo 223 rifles/carbines. I would love to get one down the line, but I'm saving up for a semi auto Bren as I can't afford a BAR!

Pecos, if you're still around, I've always wanted to shoot lead out of the M1 carbine but avoided it because of possible lead build up...
is that not a problem in these guys?

quote:

Originally posted by Zev:

quote:

Originally posted by Klaus de Stijl:
Four milled grooves on each side of the bolt carrier. I think it was first done on the heavy barreled FAL delivered to Israel.

Not exactly, it was done by IMI very late because soldiers complained about the stoppages due to sand and dust.
In fact, the IDF users were the worst in the world when it was about maintenance..

The British L1A1 had "sand grooves" on bolt, carrier & receiver right from first issue back in 1957.

Tzahal may have picked up the idea from the Brits. The FAL was adopted in 1955, used during the Six Days War but it was not modified before the end of the sixties if I am correct. Then the Galil was designed from the AK with the US cartridge 5.56mm.