I have an opportunity to play with an FR-8

[bernie]

I had an older shooting friend pass away a couple of years ago. I am close to his widow and visit with her every week or so. Usually when I leave I will take one of his firearms and clean it thoroughly and bring it back during the next visit. He was not one to clean his guns very often! I often take them to the range and shoot them when I have them, and it always brings fond memories back of spending time with him. Often, he has had guns that were not not working or were broken in some way, and I have repaired them as I cleaned them as well. Anyway, I have his Spanish FR-8 carbine with me now, but I cannot quite figure out the rear sight. It was missing the detent ball and spring and would simply "free-wheel." I have located a steely ball of the appropriate size to use as a detent ball. I think I could use a cut down flint spring from a cigarette lighter as the detent spring. I am having trouble figuring out how to install them. Do any of you have any experience in this? She has a son that has talked about turning it into a "deer rifle" if I cannot fix it, and I hate to see this thing bubba'd. I would dearly love to get the rear sight squared away so that I could take it to the range and put it through it's paces. It looks like it would be a hoot to pull the trigger on. Tell me about your experiences with this fine old rifle type with such an interesting history.

 

[7.62 Nato]

They are good guns. It would be a shame to have it bubba'd. I'm sure someone would trade him a more appropriate shooter to save it.

 

[35 Whelen]

Color me "Bubba". I've owned one for 20+ years and turned it into a Scout rifle long before Scout rifles were a rage. Couldn't begin to tell you how many head of game have fallen to that rifle, and to this day, despite owning a coupe dozen fine centerfire bolt rifles, it remains my "If I could only have one rifle" rifle. M<y oldest daughter used it and a nice cast bullet load to take her first three deer.

So, I can't help you with the rear sight, but can tell you that mine is a very accurate rifle and has just been the berries for deer and hogs.








35W

 

[kozak6]

It's a CETME training rifle, so CETME sight parts should fit if your parts don't.

Tell the son it's worth more as an intact rifle.

No idea how it fits together

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Here's the deal:

You'll see three features on the back of the rear sight:
1. The axis pin upon which the aperture rotates.
2. The rotation "stop" screw.
3. The detent access hole.

Get the best fitting and highest quality screwdriver that you can to remove the stop screw.

With the stop screw removed, you can carefully rotate the rear aperture until the open "V", battle notch allows open access to the detent access hole.


Todd.

 

[bernie]

Todd,

I am assuming the detent ball and spring go all the way through to the "front" of the sight. Any guess as to how long the spring should be since I am having to cut it down? If you don't know, that is fine I just wondered if you knew.

 

[Ditchtiger]

It's a CETME training rifle, so CETME sight parts should fit if your parts don't.

Rear sight is completely different than a CETME.

 

[Ditchtiger]

Tell me about your experiences with this fine old rifle type with such an interesting history.

These are very nice shooting rifles. Don't fall into the weak receiver myth, that's the FR-7.
I traded a paratrooper SKS + $100 for mine. My son liked it so much he got one also. But he got it at a Cabelas for $125 as they thought it was a Bubba'd Mauser, good score for him.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Todd,

I am assuming the detent ball and spring go all the way through to the "front" of the sight. Any guess as to how long the spring should be since I am having to cut it down? If you don't know, that is fine I just wondered if you knew.

That's correct, it is bedded in the thicker front of the base.

Sorry, I haven't been in one of these things for a coon's age.

Seems like it was about what a couple of coils of an AR-15 ejector springs presented as but I just don't recall.

Before you get into it though, you might want to try some penetrating oil to see if it isn't perhaps just stuck in the compressed position. I've seen that before.

I bought mine on a lark. The price was very right and it was so darn cute. As with Whelen above, it is now one of my "last to go" list firearms.


Todd.

 

[johnnydollar]

Add me to that merry band of bubbas. Here is my FR-8. The bolt handle has since been turned down. Like 35 Whelen's, mine has proved to be quite accurate.

 

[bernie]

Johnny, nice rifle. And I love your radio programs.

 

[AK103K]

This is one I kept, and like others have said, will be one of the last to go. Great rifles. I got one for each of my kids, my dad, and my brother, and had a couple myself.

All were somewhat rough in finish, but they all cleaned up pretty nice. I reparked this one. I remember that spring and detent when I took it down to park it, and sort of remember it was a PITA. But thats about it.

Resist the urge to bend that bolt. They work a lot better straight, and there are advantages to that that youll understand once you live with one awhile.

Standard Mauser strippers are something else you want to pick up. A slightly modified K98 sling with an added HK hook works well for a sling. Most of the original FR8 slings Ive seen were pretty ratty.




I always liked the HK combat sights, which these were the predecessor. Once you understand how they work, its pretty obvious they are one of the best for real world use.

This was something I picked up somewhere, if its a help as far as whats what with the wheel. The big "notch" and front post "globe" are your CQB sight. The smaller "V" in the notch and the "post" in the globe, are your 0-100 meter sight. The peeps pick up the rest.