Garand vs. FN49

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enichols

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Hi all,
I've been reading several recent threads about the FN49 and a few posters seem to be of the opinion that it is better than the Garand. I'm wondering how and why. I have a Garand that I had rebarreled in .308 and it's my favorite rifle of any that I've owned or fired. By contrast, I've only ever held two FN49s and both were pretty beat up. However, they seemed to be of similar construction (that is, sturdy and robust) to a Garand.

I thought that maybe a comparison of the two rifles would be in order.
From the world.guns.ru website...
FN49
Overall length: 1116 mm
Barrel length: 590 mm
Weight: 4.31 kg
Magazine: 10 rounds, non-detachable

M1 Garand
Overall length: 1103 mm
Barrel length: 610 mm
Weight: 4.32 kg
Feeding: non-detachable, clip-fed only magazine, 8 rounds

So, size-wise, they're roughly the same. I can see that the FN may have an advantage in that the magazine capacity is slightly greater and because it feeds from stripper clips, it can be topped off more easily.

In terms of the cartridges that each rifle used, is there really that much noticeable difference between .30-06 M2 and 8mm Mauser? Does either have much of an advantage over the other in terms of its effectiveness in battle? I am inclined to think not, but I'm no ballistics expert.
I suppose that another advantage the FN might have over the Garand is that it has an adjustable gas system, so it would be most likely less picky about the ammo it digests, right? But assuming that the Garand is fed with M2 spec ammunition, is it really at a disadvantage?

Robustness and reliability in the field? Well, again, I'm no expert, but it is my understanding that the Garand was a pretty robust and reliable weapon in battle :D However, the FN-49 being the direct ancestor of the FAL, I would imagine it's just as reliable as the M1 (of course, I may be wrong).

Ease of maintenance? I can't imagine how the Garand could be made simpler... one of the things I've always admired about it is how easily it can be disassembled for maintenance and reassembled. Is the FN49 as easy or simple to maintain?

I guess that my conclusion, having read the posts of FN49 owners, is that it was a fine battle rifle on par with the M1 but unfortunately eclipsed by the less complex and less expensive FAL. I don't think I would feel underarmed going into battle with either a Garand or an FN49, but I can't really see why one is better than the other.

So enlighten me :)
-Nic
 
Not just 8mm mauser

The FN49 is available in multiple chamberings. 8mm Mauser might be the most common, but they were also produced in 7mm Mauser (like mine), .30-06, 7.62 NATO, and a few others as well. That muddies the water as far as comparisons based upon caliber go. I think you could safely say that the cartridges they shoot are substantially similar, and in some cases identical.

I like the Garand better, but that might just be national and family pride speaking (my grandfather toted one from the beaches of France and into Germany). I think the main advantage that the Garand would have is that reloads are really really really fast. The FN49 can claim to carry two more rounds before reloading became needed. The sights on the Garand are better, too...but much of that appears to be in the area of adjustments...and according to anyone I know who shot one in combat, you didn't fiddle with the range knobs when the lead was flying. The FN's peep sight is pretty good.

They're both really good guns.

Mike
 
The FN-49 represents a more advanced technology than the Garand. The SAFN has an adjustable gas system and does not rely on fixed clips to hold cartridges. The system is less prone to jams and able to fire a wider array of cartridges.

Ball 8x57JS is in fact a notch MORE potent than ball .30'06. And while the SAFN can fire full power JS, the Garand has trouble if you fire light magnum '06 or even maxed out handloads. You cannot throw any .30'06 you want into the clip. It's designed to operate in the pressure range of ball .30'06 and 7.62 NATO.

It would have been really interesting to see the Brits develop a version of the SAFN in the early 1940's from the blueprints smuggled out by Saive and his engineering team. If they'd made the project top priority instead of throwing it on the back burner the Brits landing at Normandy could have come in with their own semiautomatic battle rifle at least as good as the Garand.
 
Another minor point, IMO, in the Garand's favor is the safety-The FN-49's is tough to use left-handed, while the Garand's is quite simple.

Really, I think it's like comparing the K98 to the M1903 (not the A3)-they're both quality rifles that will do the job they're asked to do. If Hitler had given Saive and FN a couple more years, they'd have probably been in service at the same time.

Pick the one you like the best.

Oh, and both at some point evolved into 7.62, 20 round mag fed rifles-the Argentine Navy had a 7.62 mag fed FN-49, and the Italians turned the M1 into the BM-59.
 
Oh and the FN-49 will take BAR mags with a minor modifications.

20 round 8mm semi auto....nothing to sneeze at....:evil: :evil:
 
Thanks 50. I may have to pick up that '06 49 I saw at the last two Richland Center shows.:D
 
The M1 Garand is much better balanced than the FN49/SAFN.

The SAFN is easier to mount telescopic sights to and the mounts are probably better and more stable than what was available for the M1.

The FN49/SAFN will field strip with fewer small parts laying around but the gas system is harder to clean and keep clean than the gas system on the M1.

I prefer the M1 but find no major faults with the FN49/SAFN besides the non-detachable fixed box magazine and I personally believe this system was incorporated to prevent the barrels being destroyed by high volume suppression fire that would occur if the rifles had been designed with a detachable box magazine system.
 
I would argue that the adjustable gas system results in MORE jams than fewer. If the rifle is dialed into a certain load, it can jam regularly with another. The advantage in adjustable systems lies in the ability to reduce hammering to the rifle by lowering the setting as well as making the launching of rifle grenades easier.

The enbloc clip is a faster reload than using stripper clips, so I would not say the magazine is more modern, either.

Ash
 
I have one of each and like them both very much, But I feel the FN-49 is a much simpler rifle. It has fewer operating parts and none of the little pieces needed to feed the rounds like the M-1 so I have to give simplicity and ease of maintenance to the FN. The bolt lock up is simpler as well the operating rod acts directly on the bolt in the FN by smacking it back. It doesn't have all the wear points an M-1 bolt and operating rod do. I think assembly and cleaning of the FN is easier then the Garand as well. If it had come out earlier the FN would have gave the Garand a run for its money.

TC
 
It would've been interesting if Germany had managed to get a hold of the FN49 prototypes/blueprints.

Anyway, I have an FN49 coming in tomorrow (supposedly...unless UPS messes something up). Range report to follow.

Other guys with '49s, do they work OK with Yugo 196gr milsurp?
 
My 8 MM Egyptian works great with Yugo 196 grain bullets (the size it was designed for). I have tried the Romanian 154 grain,and it was too energetic,cycled even with the gas wide open,and I couldn't sight it in.
As to which is better,the FN or the M1,I can't really say,I love them both.They are some of the last beautiful rifles ever made for military use.
 
Guys, how does the accuracy of one of these FN-49's mount up to the accuracy of the m1 garands, not a match grade model or anything special but somethig, like a new production SA m1 garand. i really like the Fn-49's but Iam worried that they won't be very accurate, and they are kinda high in the price range especially around here to be taking a chance. Thanks!
 
The FNs are pretty accurate. Take a stock Garand and a stock FN, and the accuracy of both will be the same. I believe a Garand is capable of being made more accurate but don't know of many that have tried to accuracize an FN.

If the FN just had a true detachable mag, I'd say it would blow the Garand away in a heartbeat. But as they are now, the Garand is slightly a little faster to reload but the FN holds 2 more rounds.

The FN in my opinion is a little more simplier in design and easier to clean. But I may be a little biased seeing how I have 2 of them and no Garands.
 
50 freak,
Thanks for the intel about the accuracy that was my biggest issue, and that has been solved.

Hey another question, what are those things normally go for around you guys? What did ya'll pay if you don't mind my asking, or what would you pay? they go for a minimum $750- 800 here. They are good looking, sligtly used but that seems like a little much for me.
 
The Garand has better sights then the FN 49.

I think the Garand balances better and generally has better ergonomics then the FN 49.

I've heard of several instances of 8mm FN 49's firing out of battery and exploding. I understand this can happen when the one piece firing pin breaks. I've never heard of a similiar instance with a Garand.

And, finally, the Garand helped us win WWII. The FN 49 was too late and was superceded by the FN FAL.
 
Great replies, all. Some very fascinating insights, I think. Re: the 7.62x51 Argentine FNs, I would compare that rifle to the BM59. In that case, I would think the differences are even less.
.... thinking I may have to get an FN49 to keep my Garand company.
 
I think the most important evolution of the two designs was the development of the M14 and FN FAL respectively.
 
The Lee Enfields

They were a great weapon for the Brits.

They could not afford or did they have the time to develop. They lost so many people in that war, prior to the US coming in it is truly amazing they were still able to sustain an ARMY.
Lots of help from the US was a key thing.

Same with the Russian's, we supplied them with trucks to move their men and supplies.

The FN never saw the action the Garand did.
Under normal combat conditions the Garand had a good and bad thing going with the clips. Ingenuity was the answer.
Stripper clips for the Enfield and the FN was a big help.

I like both, I now have an FN 49, but no Garand. The Lee Enfiled saw more combat then most of the rifles, in one form or another.

I like the Garand, fired expert with it. Carried it for 4 years. I also carried the BAR, from time to time, Experts got them. Now that was a rifle. I liked it a lot, we are talking fire power at a time when it was needed. I have to take my hat off to John Moses Browning.

He won the war for the USA. Unbelievable.

Regards, HQ:)
 
I think the most important evolution of the two designs was the development of the M14 and FN FAL respectively.
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth. This breaks down to the arguement...Which is better the M14 or the FAL. Seeing how the Garand is the grandfather of the M14 and FN49 is the grandfather of the FAL.

By the way, I have both a M14 and a FAL. FALs all the way baby......
 
So.....where would one have access to purchasable FN49? I can get a Garand through the CMP no prob, but never seen an FN in person....
 
Gunbroker....The Egyptians come in 8mm and are the cheapest ones. Their good as they are Belgium made but just have Egyptian markings.

There are other FNs that come up every now and then. Most are in 8mm, but some come in 7mm, 30.06 and 308.
 
The Belgians used the FN-49 in combat in Korea. Their troops were equipped with them in 30-06. Both are good rifles and a blast to shoot. i won't be getting rid of mine any time soon.

TC
 
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