Run 'n' Gun with a Hakim

[Ian]

I used my Hakim (Egyptian 8mm semiauto, 1950s vintage) in a 2-gun action match yesterday, and had a really good time. On paper, it seems like a pretty iffy rifle - 10.6 pounds, 47.5" overall length, 10-round mag reloaded with stripper clips, post-and-notch iron sights, and a direct impingement action that will eat a finger like a bear trap if you don't understand how it works. However, it worked out for me quite well, and was a lot of fun to shoot.

The length, weight and balance are not ideal, but also not crippling. The weight, combined with the integral muzzle brake, really does a good job of keeping the recoil pretty tame. You just don't want to be standing to the side when someone else is shooting.

The sights are definitely the worst part. If the Egyptians had used an aperture sight like the M1, it would have been a much better rifle. The notch rear sight is just a bit slow and imprecise.

The action works smoothly and efficiently once you understand its eccentricities. The clip loading mechanism is quite clever, and holds the clip nice and solid for you while you run the cartridges into the magazine. I had no malfunctions in the match, using surplus Romanian light ball.

The Hakim didn't "speak to me" quite the way my M1 Garand does, but it was a very enjoyable rifle to use. Nothing really stuck out as being bad or uncomfortable. It wouldn't be my very first choice, but it's good enough that I'll definitely be keeping it in my collection for more shooting - and I wouldn't be at all upset if I ended up with one in a situation where I needed to actually use a rifle in combat.

Here's my video of the complete match:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtzacbJ-DvA

 

[yzguy87]

I read the title and didn't have to look at the author to know who posted this!
Thanks for sharing Ian!

 

[Field Tester]

Ian,

Where are you located?

 

[Edarnold]

OK, Ian, in fairness you should now run that course with an FN 49, which while not as kinky would be lot better suited to job, especially the sights.

How about it?

 

[Ian]

I'm in Tucson.

I would love to run one of these matches with an FN-49. Actually, since I have both a Hakim and a Rasheed, an Egyptian FN-49 is a rifle that's been one my "want" list for a while now - I just haven't found one at the right price yet. In addition to being a cool and historically relevant design, it would finish out my Egyptian collection. 'Course, I also need to get a milsurp Egyptian Beretta 1951 to go with it.

 

[Flyboy73]

I would love to run one of these matches with an FN-49. Actually, since I have both a Hakim and a Rasheed, an Egyptian FN-49 is a rifle that's been one my "want" list for a while now - I just haven't found one at the right price yet. In addition to being a cool and historically relevant design, it would finish out my Egyptian collection. 'Course, I also need to get a milsurp Egyptian Beretta 1951 to go with it.

Ian

I am moving out to the Tucson area next year and have a Egyptian Fn-49 and a Beretta 1951 you could use.

Brion

 

[Ian]

That would be great, Brion - thanks! Let me know when you get out here and we can meet up...

 

[Willie Sutton]

Ian, a suggestion: Find a FN-49 in 7mm (Venez) and shoot it if you can. Zero recoil, flat shooting, and just a beauty. The .30-06 ones (Belgian and Luxembourg) are nice as well. The 'Gypies in 8mm tend to be beat up but shoot well. But all in all the 7mm is a real treat to shoot. In my estimation the FN-49 is the penultimate wood stocked battle rifle. It's really a FAL in sheeps clothing. Just a classic in every way. If they had managed to design in a real detachable box magazine it would have been right up there with the M-14. Sadly the feed lips are part of the receiver... not the magazine... go figure. Build a removable box magazine but not include feed lips in the box? Uhh.... who designed that? <sigh>... Always thought about modifying one to accept FAL mags but they are too pricy to experiment with. If you are ever desperate for one I can do a FFL to FFL loan for test, in any caliber you desire (7mm, .30-06, 8mm) and in Gyppies you can choose iron sights or a sniper...

If you ever get a change to shoot a real Ljungman in 6.5mm you'll be delighted as well. Almost zero recoil and a fine shooter.


Willie

.

 

[Gordon]

I been fooling with Hakims 25 years. I put the long defunct scope mount that replaces the rear sight ladder on one and mounted an early Aimpoint red dot and blasted up the turf on a freinds large ranch from a jeep (in motion) when the ammo was dirt cheap. The gun is for sale in a LGS, with out those 30 round German MG mags!

 

[henschman]

Nice... semi auto 7.92x57 is always a blast. As for the weight, not hardly any worse than a M1. I've run cross country run 'n guns with 10 + lb. rifles, and they are manageable. My crazy buddy runs the Pecos Run 'n Gun (7 miles with 6 shooting stations) with a 15+ lb. M1A EBR.

If you want to get in on some true run 'n gun action, you should shoot over to Oklahoma on Jan. 18 for the Pawnee Winter Run 'n Gun... 6.5 miles with 6 shooting stations, including one on a large Indian burial mound! www.okrunngun.com

 

[sappyg]

I just watched the video. I'm a sub.

Thanks for sharing the Hakim rifle. That was a real treat for me.

 

[cheesebigot]

Ian,

What match is that? I'm in the Tucson area and am only familiar with matches run out at Three Points.

Very nice setup, even nicer rifle!

 

[Dr.Zubrato]

Aw man I didn't know you were on THR! Love your videos Ian!
When I first found super detailed pictures of the super rare polish wz.38M, i knew your site was legit, and I've been a fan ever since.

Pretty good run, but the flip down clip thing seems pretty flimsy under stress, any comment?

 

[barnbwt]

Ian, a suggestion: Find a FN-49 in 7mm (Venez) and shoot it if you can. Zero recoil, flat shooting, and just a beauty. The .30-06 ones (Belgian and Luxembourg) are nice as well. The 'Gypies in 8mm tend to be beat up but shoot well. But all in all the 7mm is a real treat to shoot. In my estimation the FN-49 is the penultimate wood stocked battle rifle. It's really a FAL in sheeps clothing. Just a classic in every way. If they had managed to design in a real detachable box magazine it would have been right up there with the M-14.

The Argentinians made an excellent conversion that uses a proprietary M14-like 20rnd box magazine, and shoots 308 NATO. I have a Lux in 30-06, and I wouldn't ever claim it has zero recoil, but with military-powered ammo (not "hunting" powered) on the open gas setting, it is very reasonable.

The BM59, in my estimation, is the "ultimate" rather than the M14, simply because it accomplishes the same result with far, far less expense. The M14 was supposed to be a cost-effective revision of the Garand to a more modern and useful configuration, but quickly spiraled into a .mil boon-doggle that had almost no commonality with its ancestor. The BM59 uses a modified gas block, op rod, and receiver, but that's pretty much it. You can actually make them from original Garand receivers and barrels (and that's how Beretta did some). While there were select-fire 59's made, they weren't nearly as common as semi-autos, so not terribly different from the M14 in that way, either.

So Ian,
The Hakim: better or worse than the Madsen?

TCB

 

[Ian]

The two FN-49s one my "want" list are the Argentine .308 conversion (I already have a spare mag waiting) and the Egyptian. I do have a friend with a pretty thorough collection of other models, though. I just haven't gotten around to doing any videos with them.

barnbwt - Given the choice of having only one, I'd take the Madsen. It's a lot heavier, but also a lot cooler. I've handled a BM-59, but not taken one to the range yet.

Cheesebigot - The match is at the Pima Pistol Club. Third Saturday of every month, walkthough starts at 9am. You should come next time!

Henschman - I would love to do that Oklahome shoot, but my schedule doesn't fit it. I have been looking at the Pecos Run'n'Gun, though, and I'm hoping to do it next year.

Willie - I did a video on a Ljungman and yeah, they are really sweet-shooting rifles.

 

[WardenWolf]

If you like the Hakim, try an SVT-40, IF you can afford one. Don't abuse one of those babies with corrosive ammo, though. They're hard enough to find with good barrels nowadays (in the early 2000s practically all the ones you found had shiny bores; then they became popular and people abused them). The SVT-40 is 8 pounds flat, and has a great muzzle brake. Loads from either a magazine swap or stripper clip, your choice. You can even find a scope mount for them on Ebay. The B-Square mount works well, and requires no alteration to the rifle. They're accurate, as they were designed from the start to be snipers. Only problem is you may need to source a reproduction gas adjustment tool. I forget where I found mine.