barnbwt
member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Messages
- 7,340
About two months ago I began thinking about getting a Garand. But, contrarian that I am, that just seemed...too obvious. I like to research the hell out of my purchases, and researching a rifle I knew would be fantastic and loved by all just seemed boring. So I started looking for alternatives; semi-auto main battle rifles of the first half of last century. First I looked into SVT-40s (too pricey), then Hakims (cool, but too funky), FN49 (too pricey, except in rare calibers), FAL (too modern), and MAS 49 (too french. j/k, the proprietary round is what turned me off, and the "boxy" aesthetics. I actually handled on at a show yesterday that was rechambered in .308 *yuk*, and while I was impressed, I'm still glad I went for the FN49). I had all but given up hope I could afford one of these classics, in an obtainable caliber, for less than a comparable new rifle (my FNAR was 990$).
As I was about to move onto buying a VZ58, which I've been meaning to do for a year now, this rifle showed up in an idle GunsAmerica search. At first, I was suprised they had two FN49s, moreso that one of them was in 30-06. Then I saw the price, 600$. Now I was intrigued; I quickly looked up similar rifles on Gunbroker and elsewhere, and saw them frequently over 1100$. The posting I saw had hardly any description ("30-06, good condition"), and only one photo of the side of the reciever and stock. I did some research on the S/N, and verified it should be in 30-06, so I didn't think this was a conversion. Then I called the seller (pawn shop) and asked a few questions, mainly if the rifle was broken or incomplete. People may fib about the condition of a gun, but rarely about whether the gun works or not. I figured, even if this gun needs some work, if it's functional, 600$ is a steal. So, I bought it.
It arrived two weeks later in an old, battered, dirty hardcase. I cringed. On the interior, was a gun-socked FN49, clean, with everything where it should be. No damage, no missing bolt carrier or magazine, finish at 70%. I broke it down to inspect it, and found it fairly easy, though not intuitive to deconstruct. Gas system was clean, firing pin was intact (but a one-piece), numbers matched, it all checked out.
The rifle was then taken home, taken apart again, cleaned and oiled thoroughly, and deposited in the safe where it waited while I got back from a backpacking trip. One week later, the rifle (and a new VZ 58) were on their way to the range for a test drive. I picked up a box of 30-06 180gr Winchester PowerPoints (not mil-spec, but the FN49 is a very strong action with adjustable gas regulator) and was ready to go.
(I have no idea why dust pops out like that in cameras...)I don't trust any new rifle (especially used ones), so I went through my volley of tests after checking everything out mechanically. I turned off the gas (grenade setting) and opened the gas relief valve fully (least force on piston if there was any gas) and inserted one round into the internal magazine. I let the bolt slam it into battery, then ejected the round. No slamfire, check. Inspecting the round, I saw a good-size shallow dent in the primer. I did a few more rounds, no slam fires. Okay, the Winchesters have soft primers, but probably safe with this gun (others have had issues, though). Then, with the gas still off, I manually cycled these dimpled rounds as I sent them down range (so the pin wouldn't slam them again). Bullets landed within inches of where I placed the front sight in the rear ghost ring. Seems this rifle shoots better than me (not saying much, since I have little experience with rifle irons, for now). The casings deformed a tad to fit the oversize mil-spec chamber, and the shoulder was "rounded" out a bit where it necked down due to chamber profile differences. OAL was not visually different, so I think the headspace is good. Now I felt I could trust the gun to cycle on its own power; I set the gas plug to direct chamber gas to the piston (fully open pressure relief) and chambered two rounds. I fired, and to my suprise, the rifle cycled! Even fully open, the piston had enough power to cycle reliably, as well as to throw brass 15ft forward to my right. I checked the ejected brass for over-gas signs like case head damage, and found none. Suprisingly, there were no dents from the brass hitting the reciever, either.
Satisfied (though puzzled) with the operation of the rifle at its full-open setting, I loaded up a full 10 rounds and proceeded to send them down range. My group was about 3" wide and 5" tall at 50 yards (still new with irons, here), centered about 3" low of the bullseye. I'm not great with rifle irons yet, but I've had zero experience with peep sights; I'm quite suprised I did as well as I did, since I had some trouble keeping the front sight centered. At any rate, It was really fun shooting a box of 20, and I didn't feel too beat up by it either. I suppose the mass of the rifle is the mitigating factor, since my K31 seemed to kick more painfully. I really like the ergonomics of the FN49; I can get a good cheek weld right where I line up with the rear sight, and the trigger-obstructing safety is brilliant. My only peeve is that the hand guard must be removed to adjust the gas, but this rifle was only ever meant to be adjusted for one load, so it's forgivable. At least it's easy to turn off the gas for single shot mode.
Had a couple people come up and ask about it, if it was an Egyptian ("It's a Luxembourger"), if it was a tricked-out FAL (quite the opposite, actually), and "where can I get one?" It is a good looking rifle, and oozes charisma and character. The photos I took really don't do it justice, it looks much cleaner and is less red (brown walnut) in reality.
I am very happy with this purchase, this rifle may become my favorite if I can rise to meet its potential. Truly the last of the elegant battle rifles. I'll probably still get an M1 eventually (but a weird variant like the BM59, just for fun...)
TCB
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