Author Topic: The new FNAR rifle, I WANT one. (Read 3317 times)

Cheesehead · « **on:** December 10, 2008, 05:05:54 PM »

There is a new rifle on the market. A semi auto in 308. It is very adjustable in the stock and accurate. I want one, I don't need one. Weighs less than 8 pounds. I think it would be a great hunting rifle. Gunblast has a great review.

http://gunblast.com/FN-AR.htm

Cheese

1911crazy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 11, 2008, 05:40:04 AM »

I wonder what the price tag is?

One thing that turns me off is the ease of disassembly for cleaning. It appears like the cover over the bolt is one piece with the receiver housing.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #2 on:** December 11, 2008, 05:56:39 AM »

According to the link in Gunblast to Galleryofguns, the cost is 1700+ bucks. Yikes!

Cheese

PS, I still want one.

mannyrock · « **Reply #3 on:** December 11, 2008, 06:23:52 AM »

I am simply dumbfounded that FN doesn't offer this rifle with a standard sporting butt stock (no pistol grip). They would probably triple the consumer sales of these rifles, and probably escape the current definition of Assault Weapon as well. I mean, come on, how hard would that be?

?

In my humble opinion, in this case, FN=stupidity.

Regards,
Mannyrock

Cheesehead · « **Reply #4 on:** December 11, 2008, 06:45:39 AM »

I would like a different stock also, maybe a custom stock could replace the origanal, some nice wood. Maybe there will be stock options in the future, I hope.

Cheese

targshooter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 11, 2008, 01:50:45 PM »

Cheese,
The cost is fairly high. But, for me, the deal breaker is the pistol grip. Why couldn't they offer a traditional stock version? Some of those features are very desirable and in a traditional stock would make this the rifle of choice for me.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #6 on:** December 11, 2008, 02:37:32 PM »

The rifle has so many quality features.

Cheese

Cheesehead · « **Reply #7 on:** December 12, 2008, 02:43:13 AM »

I need to consider buying this gun before it becomes "unobtainable". The price tag makes me shudder.

Cheese

Syncerus · « **Reply #8 on:** December 12, 2008, 03:10:21 AM »

+1 on remove the pistol grip.

superdown · « **Reply #9 on:** December 12, 2008, 10:05:35 AM »

couldn't you just put a synthetic BAR stock on it ?

mannyrock · « **Reply #10 on:** December 14, 2008, 12:12:10 PM »

Superdown,

I think you've asked the million dollar question, but I think the answer is no. I'm guessing the synthetic sporting butt stock for the BAR won't fit the new FNHR rifle. Why?

1. Everthing I've read says the new rifle has a "modified" BAR action, and a different type of trigger group.

2. If the sporter stock fit, we would have been reading about this all over the place. So far, nothing. Silence.

I guess that there is a very slight chance that FN is currently trying to focus on selling the standard military configuration to the max, until the gun ban hits. And then, they will probably offer one with a sporting stock.

Regards,
Mannyrock

billy_56081 · « **Reply #11 on:** December 14, 2008, 12:17:34 PM »

I want one in a 20" 243 for coyote hunting.

1911crazy · « **Reply #12 on:** December 14, 2008, 01:43:10 PM »

My 308 saiga w/16" barrel was only $307 OTD thats hard to beat. Its a brand new russian izhmash ak47 in a sporter wrapper. At 100yds using south african 308 ball ammo she will shoot 1 1/2" groups if i do my part. Its affordable and accurate too. The saiga is also offered in 223 with a 16" barrel also. You can also purchase the 223 and 308 with a 22" barrels too. I really like the look of the black synthetic stocks too. This has to be the hottest buy on the planet right now.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #13 on:** December 14, 2008, 01:48:26 PM »

Billy,

I hope they come out with different calibers and configurations, my choice would still be the 308 but with out the pistol grip.

Cheese

billy_56081 · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2008, 03:44:12 PM »

My buddy has an AR10 in 260 rem, while an awsome shooter it is a bit heavy to tote around coyote hunting. He has a DPMS that he bought when he came back from Iraq, hats off to DPMS for letting the returning troops buy at a very large discount. But I want something lighter and a little bit different, this looks like a very nice system, I will have to keep my eye on this and see how it works.

superdown · « **Reply #15 on:** December 15, 2008, 08:24:11 AM »

so is it different than the short track butt stock as well ?

teddy12b · « **Reply #16 on:** December 15, 2008, 08:43:51 AM »

I've read about how well those rifles shoot, and it would be nice to have one. To me with the stock they on them, they just look kinda funny.

mannyrock · « **Reply #17 on:** December 16, 2008, 09:18:48 AM »

Superdown and Teddy,

A few weeks ago, I sent an e-mail to the customer service/marketing department of FN in South Carolina, asking about the availability of a sporting butt stock (sans pistol grip) for the new FNHL rifle.

Of course, I never received a response. Dead silence. To me, this means that they don't have one, and are clueless about it. Perhaps they figure, since the price is $1,700.00, that nobody would be at all interested in these rifles as sporting or hunting rifles, since they could just buy a BAR sporter for $800. Who knows? Maybe they are right?

My suggestion is: One of you guys should buy one of the new FN rifles, and remove the pistol grip by sawing it off with a hacksaw, and then covering over the hole in the stock by wrapping fiberglass dipped tape around the grip, or by plugging up the hole with accra-glass gel. Then, let me know how it shoots!

Regards, Mannyrock

teddy12b · « **Reply #18 on:** December 16, 2008, 05:39:34 PM »

I don't have anything against pistol stocks by any means. I just think that one looks a little weird. I like the gun because of its accuracy. If I wanted a semi-auto for hunting I'd get a rem 750. The reviews I've read make it sound like they got the bugs worked out.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #19 on:** December 17, 2008, 02:11:11 AM »

I would have no problem taking the FNAR hunting as is. I would opt for the 10 round mag as compared to the 20 for a more compact rifle also with weight as a consideration.

Cheese

skifastchad · « **Reply #20 on:** August 10, 2009, 04:10:38 AM »

Sorry for bringing this post back from the dead.

I finally got to shoot a FNAR this weekend. Very nice gun. The action on it ate up all the recoil of the .308. I was on a sandbagged picnic table at 100 yards, and it shot a 1.5" group. The pistol grip is nice for shooting from a bench position, but I couldn't see carrying this thing through the woods and pulling it up for a quick shot on a running deer. Its too big and heavy for a woods gun, and the pistol grip is at an awkward position for comfortable carrying.

Two negatives to look out for.

First, It will not reliably feed lead soft point ammo. The standard blue box federal 150gr pointed soft points caused 3 or 4 jams from each magazine. The lead tips would get smashed into the feed ramp. It needs plastic tip or fmj bullets.

And second... Leftys DO NOT shoot this gun left handed! I did and learned my lesson. Unlike some BAR's I have shot in the past, the empties do not eject 90 degrees out the side of the gun. They don't even stay outside of 45 degrees back. Id say they are inside of 30 degrees from the right side of the stock. Of my first 4 shots, two hit my right side earmuff, one hit the right lens of my safety glasses, and the last one on my right cheek.

Bottom line, if you are looking for an accurate sniper type rifle to shoot prone or from bench rests, this is a nice gun. If you are looking for a .308 semi auto deer rifle, get the BAR for half the price. And if you are left handed, forget about this gun and get a lefty BAR.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #21 on:** August 10, 2009, 12:19:11 PM »

Yup, I agree. I have changed my mind. I have since handled one and it seem heavy, awkward and over priced. A local gun store has several in stock for 1400 bucks. I like the BAR Shortrac better, in 308.

Cheese

mannyrock · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2009, 05:29:52 AM »

An $1,800 rifle, intended for police and civilian use, that JAMS using standard factory softpoints?

Forget it. It's done. It's gone. In a year, they will stop making them.

Even the most beat-up Garands I have seen generally cycle soft points with no problem.

Regards,

Mannyrock