Need FN49 help!!!!

[Hatterasguy]

I'd really appreciate any advice I can get on this problem. I took my FN49 to the range for the first time today and was having issues with the gas system. First it wasn't cycling the bolt, which I quickly figured out was the gas plug in upsidedown. Since I made the same mistake on my Sig.

After that I was trying to adjust the gas because it wouldn't fire semi, it would fire 2-3 round bursts! So I took the mag out and was hand loading it one at a time, what I wanted to do was watch the extraction. I figure I would dial it down until it wouldn't extract than go up a notch or two until it extracted well. The knob got stuck about half way through the adjustment range and I couldn't move it, I need to take it apart and clean it. Maybe hit it with some steel wool or something so it will move. At that point it was shooting pretty good so I figured I'd stick the half full mag in and see if I could finish it off. Well the first 4-5 shots went off fine, I thought I had it dialed in or at least pretty close, than it decided to go full auto on me and dump the mag. Luckly I was holding it tight, a full auto .308 that you can't stop isn't exactly fun when your not expecting it. After that I put it down and stopped shooting it.

So whats going on with this thing? It has a very similer gas system to a FAL so any tricks related to that platform will probably work.

 

[Claymore1500]

If it were mine, I would strip the bolt and check the firing pin and the firing pin channel, could be gummed up or may have a broken firing pin that is sticking forward allowing it to slamfire, get that fixed first, then dial in the gas adjustment.

A wrongly adjusted gas vent should NOT cause full auto.

 

[Hatterasguy]

It has the newer two part firing pin, and it seems pretty clean. Maybe I put it back together wrong and the firing pin is sticking out to far? Problem is I can't find any technical information so I don't know how far the pin is supposed to stick out. I'm almost tempted to try my Mosins guage on it.

 

[Shadow 7D]

Try looking up hakim, the Egyptian rifles seem to be more common

 

[MetalHead]

FalFiles have a forum that covers this fine old gun. If a guy called Goose52 gives the assure you are on the right track.

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=39

 

[Hatterasguy]

Thanks I'll ask them. I think it may be a firing pin problem, but I'm not sure.

The more I think about it the more I think I might just fix this rifle and sell it on. I'm looking for something I can shoot a lot and is reliable, I think a DSA Fal may fit my needs better.

 

[Cosmoline]

The pin shouldn't be sticking out at all between shots.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Yes I'm a bit perplexed. I won't have time to take the rifle apart and figure it out until tomarrow. But after reading and taking a look at it I *think* the firing pin spring may be toast. I remember when I first field stripped it I couldn't get the spring out without some work, so their was some dirt in their. Possible I didn't properly clean it, or the spring is either not correct or weak. My understanding of the FN49 is that its not that uncommen for the firing pin to leave a slight indent on the primer if you chamber a round and let the bolt slam home.


This rifle has two problems:

1. The gas sleeve is sticky and the gas adjustment isn't where it needs to be.

2. The firing pin/spring/bolt is out of whack. I need to do more research, possible the wrong bolt was stuck in at some point. It does have the updated firing pin. If I don't see any odvious problems when I get it apart I'll probably just replace the spring, and maybe the firing pin since its cheap and go from their.

I also learned that FN49's like hard primers, and you really should only shoot military ammo through them. I was firing essential commercial Federal deer loads so its quite possible that was contributing to the slamfire problem. I have some German NATO 7.62 that I will try next time I shoot it.