Spanish FR-8

[arado]

308 Winchester uses cheap thin brass cases. 7.62 x51 NATO has heavy wall cases to accommodate generous military chambers. I shoot commercial us ammo as last choice in any caliber.. gary

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[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.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Aragorn
Hope you will post some photos. I have never seen one that was not a beater. Great looking rifles. I am doing the bayonet first route on the FR-8. Lots of bayonets on E-bay. I picked up a nice one for $12.00.

[Aragorn243]

Here's some photos. Bore is mirror bright. Metal is unmarred. Stock has some odd dings in finger grooves on one side and that is the only damage other than the broken/missing eyebolt for the sling. The bayonet I picked up early on in my "collecting" of bayonets. I had quite a few other bayonets but this was one of the first that I bought that I had no rifle for.

The stock does not appear to have any finish on it other than maybe a very light coating of oil. It may have been stained but I can't tell looking at it and I haven't taken it apart yet. It has a few letter and number stampings on it here and there so it hasn't been sanded. I've been thinking about putting linseed oil on it like my other rifles but haven't done so yet. Probably wouldn't need too as it won't go outside in the rain. Any thoughts?

The metal has been oiled heavily but no cosmoline present.

[jmoore]

I've been thinking about putting linseed oil on it like my other rifles but haven't done so yet. Probably wouldn't need too as it won't go outside in the rain. Any thoughts?

If I was to oil it it would be raw linseed oil rather than boiled in order to maintain that low luster finish.

Hard to find an FR8 that nice!

BTW: A few years back one of the distributors (SOG, Centerfire or similar) was giving away an FR8/CETME bayonet for free with ANY firearm order. So there was quite the glut of them floating about for a year or two. And I still don't have one...

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

The FR8 has kind of a "bolt action assault rifle" look like the No 5 Mk 1. That is the nicest FR8 I have seen. I wish we had somthing other than nick nacks and old clothes at garage sales here.
Well done. Let us know how it shoots.

[Aragorn243]

I just realized two of the photos didn't post. I could have sworn they were there yesterday:





Something weird is going on here. I know I had these two photos posted yesterday. I posted them again,they were there. I came back a little later they were gone. Hit edit and the image section reads milsurps.com, not the address of the photos. I don't think there's anything offensive about them, no more so than any other rifle.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I don't think there's anything offensive about them

I am offended I don't have one just like it. Handy looking little beast.

[Aragorn243]

Well, they are gone again. Perhaps I have exceeded my limit of posting photos?

[jmoore]

Perhaps I have exceeded my limit of posting photos?

Not even close !

I see three photos. Two run off the edge of the page, but it just needs scrolling over a bit to see the whole thing.