FN patrol rifle

[pastorp]

Anyone have any experience with the FN patrol rifle?  I handled one with a 20" heavy barrel sure felt good. Wonder how they shoot?

Regards,

[mannyrock]

     I read somewhere that these rifles have feeding problems if you use any ammo other than fmj 150 grain ammuntion.  If you try using a 180 grain softpoint, you've got problems.

       Really astounding, considering the very high cost of these rifles.   How could they have screwed this up?

Mannyrrock

[diggler1833]

I read somewhere where it is a better idea to post when you have first-hand knowledge of a subject, rather than assuming/guessing and reposting information that you can't verify is accurate.

That being said, I'd personally look into a different rifle myself as well.

[mannyrock]

  I came across the info on the feeding problems of the FN patrol because I was very interested in the rifle and decided to do research on it.  I am sure that if you do Google searches under topics such as "problems FN Patrol rifle" or "complaints FN Patrol rifle" then you will turn up this information as well.  That's how I came across the information, by internet research.

Regards, Mannyrock
 

[diggler1833]

Well, I own an SPS Tactical even though when I bought mine there were some people who were having problems with metal flaking off in the chamber in that model.  Good thing I didn't pay attention to the half-dozen intenet stories out there proclaiming that my rifle would fall apart.  Then again, most stories on the internet get relayed by so many experts that usually you come across the same story told by more than one person, making it seem as if there are more problems with a model than there actually exist.

Seems to me that you can probably Google a weapons malfunction with any mainstream firearm and probably find something to read (except for Remingtons, just ask Swampy).

Now, if you have some first hand knowledge of a problem then you would probably be a lot more interesting to hear.  Trigger fingers and ammunition make for a lot more knowledge of a weapon than a cup of coffee and a bag of popcorn...just sayin'.

[Circuit Rider]

Can't comment on the FN patrol, but I've had an FN A1 SPR in 308 about 6 years. Leupold Mark 4 mounted and a trigger job done. Breaks crisply at 3 pounds. Never had a problem of any kind. Consistently shoot 5 shoot groups, one  ragged hole at 100 yds. Never a feeding problem. Better rifle than I am a rifleman. FWIW

[charles p]

What is a patrol rifle?  Not familiar with the term.

[john keyes]

I have two FNs, .223 and .308.  don't get me to lyin but IIRC one is a TSR USA (.223) and the other is a TSR which to the best of my memory is Tactical Sport Rifle.  So they are not strictly "Patrol rifles" but their successors.
 
I haven't had any feeding problems in either, but each rifle has seen only one bullet thus far, the .223 I load 64 gr Fusion bullets and the .308 I load 125 gr softpoints.  I always seat bullets out and then back em up a hair at a time until the bolt closes and then do the rest of the batch that way. 
 
Now while I have shot a gazillion 180 gr bullets in a .308 is was a savage 99.  I have yet to do it in the FN, but surely will.
 
having actually owned two of these rifles I can tell you that there are two things that people will likely bitch about:
-the three position safety is very stiff
-everybody hates the hogue stocks.  (I love em)
 
I'm probably going to kill a deer with the .223 this year.  I just can't believe that a 64 gr sofpoint through both lungs is not gonna put one down.

[Hooker]

I have no first hand experience with this rifle but considering the price and the fact it has a stock that will need to be replaced I'd buy a Remington SPS tactical. Which is just what I did
Here is a good review on the FN Patrol rifle.
http://www.snipercentral.com/pbr.htm

Pat