Spanish fr-8

[ApacheCoTodd]

I've got two places that folk have posted stuff like this. I was kinda under the impression not to link to other firearms forums... is that cool?

So. Here's one of them. I'll peck about for the other-couple I had seen.

In the last post the fella claims to be from Spain and have a history with -8s.

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=116702

Seems like the one of the others was in the Cetme forums but I've lost track since gettin' outa Cetmes.

 

[desidog]

So. Here's one of them. I'll peck about for the other-couple I had seen.

In the last post the fella claims to be from Spain and have a history with -8s.

http://www.surplusrifleforum.com/vie...?f=31&t=116702

That's interesting on two levels. The OP's post showing the budda'd bent bolt of the OP's rifle; not very far bent, so most probably a unique alteration. And, further down, the pictures are of the rare sniper/scoped variant, with integral rails. I haven't seen one of those in person....but that is the military bent bolt to accommodate a scope. However, it doesn't appear to have an altered safety, as one would expect.

 

[ElToro]

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/2010/09/23/featured_rifles_mauser_090607/

heres what you can with an FR8 and too much money.

i have one i picked up about 10 years ago for 200. shoot lots of factory 308 in it. very accurate little rifle with irons.

 

[Arp32]

That poor rifle!

 

[Ignition Override]

Mr Rogers: Very nice family you have.
I handled such an AIA (Australian **) "Jungle Carbine" in 7.62x39 at the Gander Mountain store in Saginaw MI. It was in February '09, and not many of those rifles were imported into the US.

Gtimothy: A cheap slip-on recoil pad works well.
What is nice about my FR8s is that they compliment my actual Enfield #5 "Jungles" and are about as handy. The few other FR8s I've seen also have very nice, bright bores, and this is very common. You can find many bullet varieties in .308.

One very fortunate feature about the FR8 is not only the strength of the large-ring 8mm Mauser action, but for me they can be about as fun to shoot as Cetmes which were assembled by Century, without the risks of their semi-auto outsourcing problems.

Notice also that the Spanish NATO 7.62 ammo, which was loaded with less power than typical NATO 7.62, was because of the conversions of many
7mm Spanish Mausers to 7.62 NATO.
That unique Spanish ammo was designed for the limitations of the FR7 and the conversions of full-length Spanish 7mm (small-ring) Mausers, but Not the stronger FR8s.

 

[kBob]

Mr. Rogers,


The FR8s came in the contry earlier than 2000 and they were certainly available in the early 90's.

Tim's Photo is of a 98 actioned gun, thus an FR8.

-kBob

 

[desidog]

Notice also that the Spanish NATO 7.62 ammo, which was loaded with less power than typical NATO 7.62, was because of the conversions of many
7mm Spanish Mausers to 7.62 NATO.
That unique Spanish ammo was designed for the limitations of the FR7 and the conversions of full-length Spanish 7mm (small-ring) Mausers, but Not the stronger FR8s.

This is not correct. 7.62NATO is made to a certain specification. If you underpower it, it is out of spec...the reason NATO made the specifications is for consistency between member nations. For Spain to underpower their ammo would negate the whole purpose of the specs!

BEFORE NATO, when your FR-7's and FR-8's were made, there was no such thing as 7.62 NATO ammo. All* pre-NATO Spanish rifles were chambered in 7.62 CETME. Same external dimensions as .308, but not the same animal.

When you see "Spanish Mauser chambered in .308win" it's generally because of the ignorance of the guy (or gal) who wrote it. Generally speaking, it's a very minor issue that doesn't matter...unless you're shooting .308win hot loads in a small ring action like the FR-7 and the Model of 1916 Spanish Mausers. Then it potentially could KABOOM and frag you in your face, or more likely; with bad headspace or a ruptured casing, give you a face full of gas.

"Knowing is half the battle."

*: obviously not the 8mm Mauser ones...

 

[Ignition Override]

Thanks for the clarification desidog. Did the Spanish manufacture the 7.62 CETME ammo just guessing what the standard specs were going to be, in order to accelerate the recruits' familiarity with the FR sights (in prep. for the semi-auto) etc?

The only FR8s which I wanted were those with matching bolts and nice bores.

My Win. .308 field gauge (from either Numerich or Brownell's) indicates very tight headspace in both rifles (the bolts won't turn at all), though it is difficult for me to remember how this differs from 7.62 NATO headspace without a search.