Spanish FR-8

[Aragorn243]

Ok Mr. Aragorn. The last two photos have moved an FR-8 up my priority list. Gunshow this weekend if i see one it may be mine.

I thought you were going for a MAS36. Or both maybe?

For anyone unfamiliar with these, the tube under the barrel serves two purposes. The main purpose, something to fasten the bayonet too. The second purpose is to hold cleaning gear. This has been under dispute a bit on various message boards with people saying it is for keeping all sorts of various items. I have however seen a photo of a pull through and a wire brush that were kept in one so I'm sticking with that one.

The tube is easily removed by unscrewing both it and the cap. It has a large pin on the bottom which fits in a hole in the forend.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Going to look for the MAS but if I see a nice FR-8 and have to make a choice FR-8. The MAS seems to be a novelty (not that that is a bad thing) but that FR-8 seems practical,shootable (.308) and just kind of cool. Perhaps somthing will cross my path I cannot live without.

[Patrick Chadwick]

For anyone unfamiliar with these, the tube under the barrel serves two purposes. The main purpose, something to fasten the bayonet too. The second purpose is to hold cleaning gear. This has been under dispute a bit on various message boards with people saying it is for keeping all sorts of various items. I have however seen a photo of a pull through and a wire brush that were kept in one so I'm sticking with that one.

And please remember, like an LAR, if the tube binds, and thus grips the barrel, the accuracy will be affected (POI shifts as the barrel warms up).

[Aragorn243]

I found a source for the eyebolts and have one on order. I also located a sling and that is on it's way as well. I've had two sources tell me the CETME eyebolts are the same for the FR-8, I guess I'll find out. They will not fit the FR-7 however. Ended up getting it at buymilsurps. It was less there with shipping than the actual price on two other sites, about $8.

Drilled the flare off the broken pin and drove it out this evening so it's ready to go. Probably be several weeks before the new part arrives.

[Midmichigun]

Aragorn,
Looking forward to pics of the completed rifle!

[Aragorn243]

Aragorn,
Looking forward to pics of the completed rifle!

I don't think it will look much different than it does now. The eyebolt is a tiny little thing that doesn't photograph well. The sling may make it look worse as it is "used" and supposedly needs cleaned which probably means it's been badly abused. Only one I could find and I've been looking for a couple of weeks.

[Aragorn243]

Sling arrived Thursday. As suspected, it was extremely dirty and the metal had a lot of surface rust. Kind of hate putting it on a nearly new rifle but it is what it is. I washed it with soap and a scrub brush, hit it with some citristrip to get the oil out and finished it with regular shampoo. Still smells of oil but looks a lot better. As for the metal, I filed and scraped the rust off and hit it with cold blue. Anywhere where I didn't have all the rust off remained red to I need to do it again. I also learned they sent me the wrong sling, it is actually a CETME sling with the metal button for the FR-8. Easily fixed with a hole punch and sharp knife as I put a second hole in it for the button.

Still missing the eyebolt so the sling is just hanging off the butt sling attachment at the moment.

[Aragorn243]

The eyebolt arrived today. It was purchased from Buymilsurps.com. It is an eyebolt for the CETME rifle.

As for diameter, it fit perfectly. Slightly snug, did require some hammer taps to get in. It was not as tight as the old one, that took more than taps to get out.

The problem was, the pin is too short to go all the way through. It needs to go all the way through so it can be peened to keep it from falling out.

I spent about half an hour or so hand filing it at the eye end to extend the pin. Not exactly easy when you aren't really set up for this but a very fine file does work well. After that, tapped it in place and tried to peen it. That was not easy, even with having it held on the back end it had a tendency to back out. I probably spent about half an hour on that. It is now in, but how well it is peened I can't tell. I doubt it will come out at least. Couple of dabs of cold blue and it looks good as new. It did come finished but with all the filing and tapping, there was a lot of white when I was finished.

So these will work for the FR-8. From all I've heard, they will not work with the FR-7.

[henschman]

I'm surprised that CETME pin wasn't an exact match! Those front sight assemblies and eye pins are supposed to be the exact same part as used on the CETMEs, and even the barrel is a modified CETME Model C barrel threaded for Mauser receivers and chambered without the flutes. Oh well, maybe not all the parts were in spec.

Getting that rifle for $200 is a great buy, especially in the kind of shape you describe. I just picked one up for $280 and considered it a great deal -- mine has a little more wear on the metal than what you describe, but the barrel is pristine.

Those large ring Mausers have been chambered for a lot higher pressure loadings than .308 or 7.62x51 without any problems. You will be fine.

As for the FR-7/small rings, they were used in Spain for a couple decades with NATO spec ammo, and didn't seem to rack up a reputation as being ticking time bombs.

FYI the date on the receiver is the date the rifle was manufactured in original M1943 form. They were arsenal converted to FR-8 form in the 1960s, when the CETME was being introduced. The Spanish government sold them all in the 1980s, after they introduced the 5.56 CETME model L, and the police and civil guard got the old CETME model C's.

[Mentis]

I owned a 1954 and a 1956 FR-8, shot a variety of NATO 7.62x51 in each with no problems at all. I will admit some of the hotter stuff thumps hard out of that short barrel...