Bought a rifle, of course.
A spanish rifle, the FR8.
The FR8, and it's close cousin, the FR7, are bolt action rifles in 7.62 Nato caliber that between them *also* offer a mini-history of Paul Mauser's inspired rifle design. The FR7 is a two lug, curved handle bolt action based on the Spanish Mauser Modelo 1916 (itself based on the german Mauser Model 1893) and the FR8 is a three lug, straight bolt handled rifle based on the Modelo 1943, which is based on the german Mauser Model 1898 rifle. The M1916 and M1943 were the basic arm of the Spanish armed forces through WWII. Noting the lessons of WWII, and having made themselves a haven for now-expatriate german firearms designers, the Spanish government decided to develop an assault rifle of their own, the CETME...which is based on the German Heckler and Koch G-series assault rifles.
[Update - as Heartess Libertarian notes in the comments, I had this backwards. Nice thing about digital publishing, I can fix it without having printed 10K books with the wrong data... To correct and elaborate - During the waning days of WWII, the engineers at Mauser designed the 7.92 mm StG45 assault rifle, using the Gerät 06 ("device 06") consisting a roller-delayed blowback mechanism itself adapted from the roller-locked bolt system of the MG42. Unlike the MG42, which was a gas-boosted recoil-operated machine gun with a recoiling barrel, the StG45 used a conventional gas tap system with a fixed barrel. It was these engineers who took their design to Spain to work at the CETME factory (the rifles actually being the CETME A, B, and C), and when conditions in Germany allowed, went back to Germany to work at Heckler and Koch to develop the G3. I apologize for the goof.]
So, through the 50's the Spanish military began replacing the venerable Mausers that had given long and faithful service with the CETME. The Spanish government, not having been rich since they got chased out of their New World colonies by the Brits, Dutch, French, locals, and us, and, being under a UN anathema because of unhappiness with Franco's government, were unable to produce CETME rifles as fast as they would like, leaving them with a mish-mash of armaments and calibers. So, having all those bolt actions laying about and piling up as units got fielded, someone suggested building a hybrid rifle, making use of the Mauser stock and locks while mounting a CETME barrel. Thus were the "Reformed Rifles" 7 and 8 (or Fusil Reformado 7 and 8) born. They could be issued to units about to be fielded for training purposes, and then handed off to the paramilitary police and security units as the Army, Navy and Air Force units completed their fieldings.
These rifles were designed to shoot the 7.62mm NATO cartridge. They have a birdcage flash hider capable of firing NATO rifle grenades. Remember, boys and girls - no drive by rifle grenadings or bayonetings, please. These are ersatz assault rifles and everyone knows what a threat they represent as a result.! Under the barrel there is a hollow tube that looks very similar to a semi-auto rifle's gas tap, however Its function is to hold the bayonet adapter and store cleaning equipment. The rifle mounts the standard CETME bayonet. The barrel length matches that of the CETME rifle, so the ballistics are very similar, the only differences being slight differences in pressure that exist between a bolt and semi-auto action. The rear sight was replaced with a sight similar to the sights on the CETME rifle, since in addition to the caliber change and resulting ballistic differences, the intent was to produce a training rifle for units awaiting their CETMEs.
So, I've been asked this before - is it safe to take an older rifle originally designed for a different caliber and shoot newer design and production ammunition through it?
In this case, my sense is yes - though I have to add the caveat that surplus weapons are surplus weapons, and you should have a rifle checked for serviceability by a knowledgeable person before rushing out to blaze away.
First off, the Mauser design is inherently a very strong action, and the metallurgy of the Spanish-built receivers enjoys a good reputation. Additionally - these are new barrels, not old ones bored out or sleeved - these are barrels built to handle the 7.62 Nato cartridge. A diversion to a caveat - the FR8 has a CETME "C" barrel, designed to fire the 7.62 Nato round. The original CETME rifles were designed around the 7.62x51 CETME cartridge (vice the 7.62.x51 Nato - same dimensions and overall shape - but different powder loads and bullets), additionally, the FR8 has the 3-lug bolt and receiver built to withstand the greater pressures of the 7.92 Mauser cartridge (also known as the 8mm Mauser).
I can't speak to the FR7 on that issue, I've no references on the subject, so remember my thoughts on this revolve around the FR8!
Why in the collection? Aside from the fact that I'm a pack rat, as described above, the rifle can be used as a focus for a discussion on the history of Mauser rifle designs, as well as a sidebar on the challenges faced by 2nd and 3rd tier militaries in equipping their forces.
It's all good.
A spanish rifle, the FR8.
The FR8, and it's close cousin, the FR7, are bolt action rifles in 7.62 Nato caliber that between them *also* offer a mini-history of Paul Mauser's inspired rifle design. The FR7 is a two lug, curved handle bolt action based on the Spanish Mauser Modelo 1916 (itself based on the german Mauser Model 1893) and the FR8 is a three lug, straight bolt handled rifle based on the Modelo 1943, which is based on the german Mauser Model 1898 rifle. The M1916 and M1943 were the basic arm of the Spanish armed forces through WWII. Noting the lessons of WWII, and having made themselves a haven for now-expatriate german firearms designers, the Spanish government decided to develop an assault rifle of their own, the CETME...
[Update - as Heartess Libertarian notes in the comments, I had this backwards. Nice thing about digital publishing, I can fix it without having printed 10K books with the wrong data... To correct and elaborate - During the waning days of WWII, the engineers at Mauser designed the 7.92 mm StG45 assault rifle, using the Gerät 06 ("device 06") consisting a roller-delayed blowback mechanism itself adapted from the roller-locked bolt system of the MG42. Unlike the MG42, which was a gas-boosted recoil-operated machine gun with a recoiling barrel, the StG45 used a conventional gas tap system with a fixed barrel. It was these engineers who took their design to Spain to work at the CETME factory (the rifles actually being the CETME A, B, and C), and when conditions in Germany allowed, went back to Germany to work at Heckler and Koch to develop the G3. I apologize for the goof.]
So, through the 50's the Spanish military began replacing the venerable Mausers that had given long and faithful service with the CETME. The Spanish government, not having been rich since they got chased out of their New World colonies by the Brits, Dutch, French, locals, and us, and, being under a UN anathema because of unhappiness with Franco's government, were unable to produce CETME rifles as fast as they would like, leaving them with a mish-mash of armaments and calibers. So, having all those bolt actions laying about and piling up as units got fielded, someone suggested building a hybrid rifle, making use of the Mauser stock and locks while mounting a CETME barrel. Thus were the "Reformed Rifles" 7 and 8 (or Fusil Reformado 7 and 8) born. They could be issued to units about to be fielded for training purposes, and then handed off to the paramilitary police and security units as the Army, Navy and Air Force units completed their fieldings.
These rifles were designed to shoot the 7.62mm NATO cartridge. They have a birdcage flash hider capable of firing NATO rifle grenades. Remember, boys and girls - no drive by rifle grenadings or bayonetings, please. These are ersatz assault rifles and everyone knows what a threat they represent as a result.! Under the barrel there is a hollow tube that looks very similar to a semi-auto rifle's gas tap, however Its function is to hold the bayonet adapter and store cleaning equipment. The rifle mounts the standard CETME bayonet. The barrel length matches that of the CETME rifle, so the ballistics are very similar, the only differences being slight differences in pressure that exist between a bolt and semi-auto action. The rear sight was replaced with a sight similar to the sights on the CETME rifle, since in addition to the caliber change and resulting ballistic differences, the intent was to produce a training rifle for units awaiting their CETMEs.
So, I've been asked this before - is it safe to take an older rifle originally designed for a different caliber and shoot newer design and production ammunition through it?
In this case, my sense is yes - though I have to add the caveat that surplus weapons are surplus weapons, and you should have a rifle checked for serviceability by a knowledgeable person before rushing out to blaze away.
First off, the Mauser design is inherently a very strong action, and the metallurgy of the Spanish-built receivers enjoys a good reputation. Additionally - these are new barrels, not old ones bored out or sleeved - these are barrels built to handle the 7.62 Nato cartridge. A diversion to a caveat - the FR8 has a CETME "C" barrel, designed to fire the 7.62 Nato round. The original CETME rifles were designed around the 7.62x51 CETME cartridge (vice the 7.62.x51 Nato - same dimensions and overall shape - but different powder loads and bullets), additionally, the FR8 has the 3-lug bolt and receiver built to withstand the greater pressures of the 7.92 Mauser cartridge (also known as the 8mm Mauser).
I can't speak to the FR7 on that issue, I've no references on the subject, so remember my thoughts on this revolve around the FR8!
Why in the collection? Aside from the fact that I'm a pack rat, as described above, the rifle can be used as a focus for a discussion on the history of Mauser rifle designs, as well as a sidebar on the challenges faced by 2nd and 3rd tier militaries in equipping their forces.
It's all good.
One minor error...the H&K (marketing slogan: Because you suck! And we hate you!) G3 and it's progeny are based on the CETME, not the other way around.
the FR-7 was developed using the 1916 Mauser actions. This action has two instead of three lugs on the bolt.
The FR-8 I had was 95%, La Coruna 1954. $100.00 at Rose's in 1995.
I blame the gout.
This rifle led to my purchase of my first SKS.
I purchased a FR-8 from Roses in Lexington Park MD in 1994. Used in box but man did it feel good in my hands... well I got it home, cleaned it and noticed the action was terribly loose. Took it the gunsmith who recommend AGAINST firing it and said it would be more than the gun would cost to repair. SO... I took it back and swapped it out for a NORINCO SKS new in box, pre-ban...
Roses... what a great deal!
Wish I kept the rifle...
Where DID you get the FR-8? I've been thinking about getting one for a while, but just haven't seen any available (either retail or wholesale). I really like the idea of commonality of caliber -- I've got a CETME, a Mauser-98 (converted by the Israelis), and an Ishapore Enfield -- all in .308.