Wanted to share my recent acquisition. This Spanish FR 8 (Spanish Mauser, arsenal converted to .308, more history below) is my first centerfire rifle. I bought it at the Tampa gunshow the other week and got to take it out to the range Sunday. I wasn’t particularly looking for one, but I had in mind to keep an eye out for a suitable toy. I was hoping for a .308 or 30-06 something, thinking I might be lucky to find a converted Enfield or Mauser, it turns out the FR 8 was exactly what I was looking for. I was about to consider an Enfield thinking .303 ammo might not be so bad, but then I saw probably the only FR 8 I’ll ever see. I had read about it before, so I knew what it was. Surplus rifles that were originally configured to shoot modern calibers are rare, and being a large ring Mauser I figured it was probably a better bet than an Ishapore which I have read so-so reviews about.
I paid $475 for my all matching example, even the wood, mag plate, bolt, stock plate etc all match. I would say it is in VG+ condition, the wood is still varnished or lacquered, the parkerizing even with very little wear, clear numbers, good looking bore at least to my untrained eye. The receiver is stamped 1951 serial 088xx (more on that later). Something which I think is sort of unique to my rifle is that it is stamped both 308 and 7.62. I haven’t seen that, usually just 7.62. I suspect the 308 was added by Century Arms who also had their roll mark on the barrel, but still unusual. A little more than I had in mind to spend going in but after confirming that was in the ballpark, and considering the prices for these have literally quadrupled in as many years I said what the heck. I’m really glad I didn’t buy ammo at that show though.
I picked up some .308 at the store though I really wanted the 7.62 Nato which the rifle was designed for.
As it turns out the S&B ammo had the proper NATO headstamps even though the box said .308.
No one had any NATO gauges, most didn’t even appreciate the difference between commercial and military. I called around and finally found a fellow at Iron Site Gunshop in Clearwater who would check it out. He was very friendly and interesting. He claimed he could test it with a pulled round. I wasn’t sure if that would tell me what I wanted to know but he said it checked out and was ok to fire, which is what I wanted to hear. (More on that later).
It was a good chance to try out the Manatee gun club outside of Bradenton, FL which I will say was very exciting, being the only range I’ve been to that had more than a hundred yard lane, let alone 1000 yds which it also had. They are also very easy on the rules, allowing rapid fire, any ammo you want, etc but with adequate safety officers. Highly recommended.
The biggest gun I’ve ever shot before was a Garand, and I remembered that being quite pleasant actually. The FR 8 was definitely more jarring, but I could get used to it. It has a flashhider, not a brake but I wasn’t ever bothered by concussion despite the short barrel, and it is still a hefty gun but you still want to shoulder it tight. Operation is like any mauser but it has the updated sights which I liked. The sights are a nifty open style with the rear sight rotating to reveal peep holes for 200, 300 and 400 yds.
Fortunately my sights were pretty good out to the 75 yds I shot it at, but I didn’t shoot for groups, I was running out of time. Click the image below to see my first shot (caution may contain foul language)
And my sort of rapid fire
I paid $475 for my all matching example, even the wood, mag plate, bolt, stock plate etc all match. I would say it is in VG+ condition, the wood is still varnished or lacquered, the parkerizing even with very little wear, clear numbers, good looking bore at least to my untrained eye. The receiver is stamped 1951 serial 088xx (more on that later). Something which I think is sort of unique to my rifle is that it is stamped both 308 and 7.62. I haven’t seen that, usually just 7.62. I suspect the 308 was added by Century Arms who also had their roll mark on the barrel, but still unusual. A little more than I had in mind to spend going in but after confirming that was in the ballpark, and considering the prices for these have literally quadrupled in as many years I said what the heck. I’m really glad I didn’t buy ammo at that show though.
I picked up some .308 at the store though I really wanted the 7.62 Nato which the rifle was designed for.
As it turns out the S&B ammo had the proper NATO headstamps even though the box said .308.
No one had any NATO gauges, most didn’t even appreciate the difference between commercial and military. I called around and finally found a fellow at Iron Site Gunshop in Clearwater who would check it out. He was very friendly and interesting. He claimed he could test it with a pulled round. I wasn’t sure if that would tell me what I wanted to know but he said it checked out and was ok to fire, which is what I wanted to hear. (More on that later).
It was a good chance to try out the Manatee gun club outside of Bradenton, FL which I will say was very exciting, being the only range I’ve been to that had more than a hundred yard lane, let alone 1000 yds which it also had. They are also very easy on the rules, allowing rapid fire, any ammo you want, etc but with adequate safety officers. Highly recommended.
The biggest gun I’ve ever shot before was a Garand, and I remembered that being quite pleasant actually. The FR 8 was definitely more jarring, but I could get used to it. It has a flashhider, not a brake but I wasn’t ever bothered by concussion despite the short barrel, and it is still a hefty gun but you still want to shoulder it tight. Operation is like any mauser but it has the updated sights which I liked. The sights are a nifty open style with the rear sight rotating to reveal peep holes for 200, 300 and 400 yds.
Fortunately my sights were pretty good out to the 75 yds I shot it at, but I didn’t shoot for groups, I was running out of time. Click the image below to see my first shot (caution may contain foul language)
And my sort of rapid fire
