Fn49 or Hakim & why?

[carpediem]

I'm aware that there's often a significant price difference between the 8mm FN-49 and Egyptian Hakim rifles but, if price were not an issue, which would you pick as a field rifle (not a bench/casual shooter), and why?

Any thoughts on respective reliability, handling, good design, etc.?

Ammo would probably be Interordnance's 8mm 1970s Romanian surplus.

Thanks

 

[browningguy]

Well the FN-49 was built by Belgian craftsmen. I've got a FN but have not used a Hakim.

So I guess I went with the FN.

 

[yodar]

FAL vs Hakim

Hakims blow up. (sensiitve to Bad Ammo) FAL's dont (I'd give m,y left n*t for a 7mm Argie FAL

Hakims were used by a defeated nation

FAL's were used by dozens of countries as the main battle rifle. IMO they lead the way for troop's semiautomatic firearms throughout the worl. they have a noteworthy history.

Hakim's are Cheap, FAL's arent

FAL's are a beautifle peace of craftsmanship made by a genius

HAKIMS are derived from a Swedish design (Ljungman) that never achieved success as a design

I WILL concede however that many Ljungman design features were incorporated into future successful weapons systems including the M-16

yodar

 

[.45Guy]

FN-49's and Hakims were both used by Egypt...

 

[kfranz]

The FN 49 is NOT the same as the FAL

 

[browningguy]

But they were not both built by Egyptians.

 

[.45Guy]

So being crapped out of a Belgian factory for export somehow makes them a cut above Egyptian produced Hakims?

 

[50 Freak]

Both are good rifles. The FN49 will be a little more reliable and battle worthy.

The Hakim is a much lighter shooter and takes a detachable mag compared to the FN49.

I would rate accuracy about the same, with the FN49 taking a slight lead.

As for craftsmanship, FN49 is much better.

 

[Langenator]

Depending on how much you're willing to pay, the FN-49 is also available in calibers other than 8x57.

Venezuela fielded them in 7x57, Luxembourg and (I think) Belgium fielded them in .30-06, and the Argies had them in both 7.65 Argie and 7.62 NATO.

 

[Hobie]

FN-49. Quality is why.

 

[The Grand Inquisitor]

As the proud owner of a Hakim I will tell you to FORGET THE HAKIM AND BUY THE FN-49!!!


I'd love to tell you about how wonderful my Hakim is, but the truth is is that I have only shot about 10 rounds through it- 8 rounds of Yugo 8mm and 2 of Turk. Oh, and even though I set the gas system to a setting more condusive to hotter ammo, it still blew apart.

The magazine blew apart and there is a nice crack in the stock. Also, the bolt doesn't work right and I'm not sure if it is shootable condition.


The Hakim is a neat, odd rifle, but it is built so exactly to the specs of the Egyptian 8mm ammo that Egypt was using in the 60's that using anything else is dangerous for the rifle.

The rifle itself is huge and heavy, and the bolt is absolutely vicious- it makes the Garand's "M-1 Thumb" look like a complete joke - in fact, I wouldn't be lying to say that the Hakim bolt would likely break your thumb if you got it caught.


Buy the FN-49...I wish I had.

 

[MCgunner]

I like my Hakim, fun gun. I sure as heck wouldn't have wanted to tote that artillery piece in battle, though. Thing's gotta weigh 11 lbs. But, with its bayonet, you could reach across the Suez canal to stab someone. Thing is LONG. I like it because I can take it to the range when someone else is there and they've be all freaked out by it, ask all kinds of questions about it, want to shoot it. It is odd, if nothing else, and it only cost me 80 bucks in NRA very good/excellent condition. I bought the bayonet later. I've fired probably 500 rounds of assorted surplus ammo through it without incident. Don't know where this "blowing up" thing came from. Mine's been reliable. I only bought it for a curio, though, not anything to get excited about.

I know nothing of the FN49. As for actually using for something, I'll take my Remington M7, thanks. I don't really get excited about milsurp except as a collectable and the Hakim is collectable if only because of its oddity. Wish I'd gotten one of those $180 Rashids at the time when they were available.

 

[HorseSoldier]

So being crapped out of a Belgian factory for export somehow makes them a cut above Egyptian produced Hakims?

I would tend to think so, yes.

 

[mk]

Having owned and shot an FN 49 in 30 06 for about 30 years I can certainly vouch for them. I use Federal Classic 180's in it and it has always shot straight and never jammed or given me any problems of any kind.

 

[telomerase]

I have no reason to think that the FN49 isn't a pretty good gun (but not as good as the FAL). As an illustration of why anecdotal evidence should never be considered, the one time I shot one 20 years ago it broke its extractor and quit working...

I would think the FAL had more of the bugs worked out.

 

[KaiserBen]

I love my Hakim, but get an FN49 if you want to shoot it. The Hakim becomes downright painful to shoot after a bit. No recoil, very easy to handle due to its weight (~12lbs loaded), but a concussion that clears lanes and makes children scream. It's cranky, loud, and belches toxic fumes. OTOH, a friend of mine has a FN49, and I'm sold on it, very nice sights, reliable, looks good, etc. Or you could just get both like I will one day

 

[jagdpanzer347]

For some reason I've always liked Hakims. Never owned or shot one, but one day I will own a Hakim. I know we're talking about 8mm rifles here, but I think a FN49 in 30/06 would be really sweet. Get some Greek ammo from the CMP and you're good to go. Of course, you could probably buy two Hakims for the price of a 30/06 FN. Just my two cents.

-jagdpanzer

 

[yodar]

Hakims

Be wary of teh Hakim's tendency to repond to the wrong ammo by blowing up. Many reports of that on my C & R list. Either ammo was bad or too slow.

I wont shoot one ever aagain. I got mine for $165.00 and the abused me and my thumb (and shoulder)too many times

I had a hankerin' for it's CREATOR too, the AG 42b LJUNGMAN RIFLE, BUT I would prefer it as in it's native 6.5 X 55 SWEDISH MAUSER Only

Yodar

 

[lionking]

glad to know this about the Hakim,if I were to have got one I might have fired it unknowing about the possible problems with certain ammo.

How is the reliabillty of a Ljungman as compared to the Hakim?

 

[yodar]

Ljungman vs Hakim

Ljungman had it's problems too, but blowing up with 6.5 mm Swedish ammo wasnt one of them. Mainly function problems normally attributed to a new, ill cared for, or imperfect desgned gas system.

Both weapons, IMO were volutionary dead ends, but features from them were incorporated into other desgns, the gas system in particular.

join the list and get the details strait from the Hakim owners

http://lists.crufflecarp.com/mailman/listinfo/c-r-ffl


Yodar

 

[Tankcommander]

I have an FN-49 and like it alot and shoot it alot. I have read about Hakims and handled them at the shop. Buy the FN European craftsmanship over Egyptain work, haven't done anything good since the Pyramids. If looks count the 49 is really sharp the Hakim is fugly. If form follows function go FN-49.

TC

 

[Coronach]

haven't done anything good since the Pyramids

Heh!

I'd go with the FN-49. I have one. I love it.

Mike

 

[Gordon]

I'll tell you what the 8mm Hakim is good for the FN-49 isn't:

After noticing what a blaster the Hakim is, being one of the loudest small arms I've ever heard, and what a miserable sighting system it has , I got an idea
I turned the gun upside down and made a U shaped pintle nut and bolted into the stock at the balance point to give elevation. The stock is a straight piece that really doesn't make any difference which side is up! A piece of pipe was welded unto an old ranch jeep so the pintle would slip in and rotate for traverse I found a couple 30 round mags being sold by the old Federal Ordinance and with a case of ammo and beer was in business. I'd stand up in the back of the jeep and 'Rat Patrol' a friends 9000 acre ranch looking for pigs. Never found any pigs BUT we shot up alot of ammo shooting the gun upside, with out many stoppages. Later I rebolted the thing rightside up and replaced the rear sight with a B Square Scout mount which I put an old Tasco Big Dot sigght on! At least it hit something aimed at now, instead of churning up dust clouds! I haven't taken out of the ranch safe in a few years, the owner decided drinking and driving and shooting was for emergrencies only!

 

[The_Antibubba]

So, how is the Rashid in 7.62X39? Were the problems resolved?

 

[Stiletto Null]

FN49.

Buddy of mine has a Hakim...blarg. Fit's all wrong, and it jams all the time. (Probably because of a leaky gas system rather than a design flaw, but still.)

My FN49 is just pure elegance. Nice trigger, too. And a reassuringly loud hammer impact.

Oh, and the gas adjustment, while easy to get to, isn't right out in the open where you will most likely burn yourself at least once on a given range trip.

FN has better sights, too, by a long shot. And it handles like a carbine, whereas the Hakim handles like a log.



The FAL came about because the FN49 was too expensive to make, and because people wanted detachable magazines. Note that the Argentine 7.62x51-converted FN49s are every bit as effective and reliable of weapons as FALs, and more stylish to boot.