Spanish fr-8

Does that include an original sling and bayonet? If yes, and it's a super nice piece with 98+% parkerizing on it, then...maybe...with nice tiger striping and character in the stock....but i'd have to inspect it first hand before dropping that much loot.

/and yes, they're fine with .308win ammo, even though it was originally chambered for 7.62 CETME

I've seen them go for that, but it's pushing the high end of the scale. They're scarce on the market, though, so if it's in excellent condition it would be worth it.

Don't remember what I paid for mine last year.

I just picked this one up for $260... I would say you could find a better deal than that, even for a really nice one. This one has a pristine barrel. I am currently making it into a scout rifle.

I paid $140 for this one back in the 90's.
I reparked it and cleaned up the stock. Most that I saw back then were pretty rough on the outside, but still good shooters. I bought 5 more for around $100 each, a spare for me, one for the kids, and one for my dad. All have cleaned up pretty nice, even without a repark, and all shoot great.

They are chambered for the 7.62x51, but handle commercial .308 without issue. They use Mauser strippers, and have the bolt block on the follower that locks it open after the last round.

If youre familiar with HK 90 series rifles, youll be right at home with the sights. HK slings will also work. I prefer the 98K slings with an HK hook on it.

Avoid the temptation to have the bolt bent. Once you get used to the straight bolt, you'll understand why. Its much easier and faster to manipulate. Also makes it easier to carry the gun with your hand wraped around the balance.

Check this one out......................

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=309994503

I lucked out at an even 100 bucks several years ago and given how pleased I've been with it; sights, size, accuracy and novelty - were I to have to replace it - I don't know that 500 is outa line for your "excellent" one. Be certain to scrutinize the bore as well. I've passed on a couple damn nice ones after a bore check. I've been looking for another one to kinda scout-out and leave my first one as stock so I see close to a half dozen a year or so out this way.

Big fan of the bent handled ones too.

Anyone with knowledge of the value of a Spanish FR-8 . Found one in excellent condition with all matching numbers for $500.00.

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As noted $500 is high, the going rate is more around $400 and one in good condition for any less is a pretty good deal.

The one exception is if it's one with a rear scope mount attached.... It's just a little dovetail piece that is welded to the top of the receiver where the crest would be. Apparently there were a very small number made like this, they seem to go for around $700.

I just sold mine on this very site and was only able to get $400 (shipped) after having it up for quite a few weeks. That was a month ago, maybe two? I paid $400 for it a couple years ago, so except for the shipping the value seemed pretty stable from my perspective.

At the time there were 3 or 4 that kept being re-advertised on gun broker for higher prices but they weren't actually selling.

Freind got one when they first started comming in and had the bolt bent and stock cut for the bent like a K98k stock. He still has it and uses it. He reported that having the bolt bent made the gun handier, especially in storing it in his truck or bed box and getting it in and out.

FR-8 is definatly a Wish-Ida. He tried to get me to order one with his but I had over extended my gun funds on some "Omygosh a Democrat is about to be elected" black guns and hi cap magazines at that time.

-kBob

Just keep in mind that it will not shoot to point of aim at any distance closer that 200 yards with the peep sight, not without running the front sight up so high your sight picture looks goofy.

Actually with the sight set for the 200m aperture, it is right back to POA at approximately 25m. But yes, in between, you will hit high.

Just keep in mind that it will not shoot to point of aim at any distance closer that 200 yards with the peep sight, not without running the front sight up so high your sight picture looks goofy.

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The small "V" in open notch setting is for 100M, the whole notch and front globe are the close range combat sight. When you slightly roll your cheek down, and shift your eye from the big notch and globe to the "V" and post, youll find they are lined up pretty much perfectly. The peeps are set for 2,3, and 400M, and I find I rarely use them. Even at the 100M setting, they are close enough at 200M.

These are the predecessor to the HK G/90 series combat sights, and they work very well once you understand them. Simple, robust, and very easy to use. They are also a little more realistic in their range settings.

Heres a little chart if its a help in whats what.....




As far as bending the bolts, I highly suggest you shoot it before you bend it. I think youre going to find it makes the gun a lot easier to shoot with when straight (as far as manipulating the bolt goes) . You never really "grab and hold" it, you more or less just lift your hand to it, and massage it with the palm of your hand though the whole cycle. Its much faster and smoother than when using a bent bolt.

Storage wise, you simply lift the bolt straight up, and the gun will lie flat, in a case or under the seat.

And as I said earlier, the bolt sticking out aids in carrying the rifle when you carry it by the balance. The bolt rests against the knife edge of your hand, taking the strain off your grip. You can even open your grip and it will stay in place.

Yes, they were definitely designed to use the notch at 100m for combat purposes, but it is not as precise as the apertures. Some people shoot 100 yard mil surp matches, and so they adjust the front sight way up high so as to use the 200m aperture at 100 yards, hence the goofy sight picture that Jackal mentioned.

FR-8s only had straight bolt handles. FR-7s are the ones with bent handles. They were built off small ring pre-98 actions, and are not as strong as large ring receivers. I had one and sold it and got an FR8; too much chance of dropping a hot loaded 308win in there by accident...

Perhaps its cause I'm a lefty, I find the straight bolt much easier.

WOW. I really like that rifle!

desidog said:

FR-8s only had straight bolt handles. FR-7s are the ones with bent handles. They were built off small ring pre-98 actions, and are not as strong as large ring receivers. I had one and sold it and got an FR8; too much chance of dropping a hot loaded 308win in there by accident...

Perhaps its cause I'm a lefty, I find the straight bolt much easier.

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While they were manufactured with straight bolts, a great many were bent after manufacture as evidenced by two things:

Most of the "bent" bolts show serial number stretch due to the matching serial number having been applied to the bolt handle prior to bending.

Current and past Spanish service members on places like Surplusrifle forum and Cetme forum having had experience with both versions while in service - some still...

So, it seems - manufactured bent? Not likely. Modified/re-built and issued bent? Yup

a great many were bent after manufacture

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Todd, I don't doubt that at all - but i've never seen a bent bolt on a non-bubba'd FR-8. Mods done here in USA, yes, but in Spain before getting surplussed? I find that unlikely.

In other words, I've never heard of the Spanish military altering the bolt handles.

Do you have citation for this? Links?

AFAIK, Troops were not allowed to customize their rifles to that extent.

desidog said:

Todd, I don't doubt that at all - but i've never seen a bent bolt on a non-bubba'd FR-8. Mods done here in USA, yes, but in Spain before getting surplussed? I find that unlikely.

In other words, I've never heard of the Spanish military altering the bolt handles.

Do you have citation for this? Links?

AFAIK, Troops were not allowed to customize their rifles to that extent.

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I've got two places that folk have posted stuff like this. I was kinda under the impression not to link to other firearms forums... is that cool?

desidog said:

Todd, I don't doubt that at all - but i've never seen a bent bolt on a non-bubba'd FR-8. Mods done here in USA, yes, but in Spain before getting surplussed? I find that unlikely.

In other words, I've never heard of the Spanish military altering the bolt handles.

Do you have citation for this? Links?

AFAIK, Troops were not allowed to customize their rifles to that extent.

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I don't have a link, but were any FR-8's made from M44s? (Air Force version of the M43) I know that many M44s came with bent bolts and a different sling setup that the M43s which would explain a bent bolt. I was given a bubba's M44 by my dad that had a bent bolt with the 'stretched' serial number indicating the serial before the bending and I figured it was a part of the bubba job. That's the rifle that got me interested in milsurps in general and mausers in particular and every example I've ever seen of original M44s had a bent bolt w/ the stretched serial. If the serial number on the bolt starts with an "EA", it would have been an air force bolt. The spanish also used a lot German parts in their guns, so a stock with the scallop for the bolt handle wouldn't have been out of the question either.

Just my $0.02

Matt

I paid $94.00 for mine at K-Mart back in the early 90's. $500 dollars seems a bit high to me. Fun little gun but it kicks hard!

FR-8

I love mine.

I've got two places that folk have posted stuff like this. I was kinda under the impression not to link to other firearms forums... is that cool?

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I don't see why not, as long as it's pertinent to the conversation.

Mr Rogers said:

Sure it is not a FR-7 tim? The re-arsenaled FR-8 were on the surplus market at firearm dealers in 2003-2004. I bought 2. I Kept one and gave the other to a friend.

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Check my pic! Definately an FR-8! I bought it at a K-Mart in Va Beach while I was still in the Navy. I retired in 1996 but was shooting it in 1993 or 94 while I was an instructor! Picked up a TON of once fired Lake City brass at the base range for it as well!

I got mine in the mid 90's as well, and I came in late on them. I wish Id got in on them when the ones in better shape were still around. They were pretty rough by the time I decided to get one.