Sounds like your piston spring is weak, or somehow out of tolerance. The spring should keep the piston contacting the gas plug or in the "forward" position.
The FN model 49
- Thread starter svt1940
- Start date
Sounds like your piston spring is weak, or somehow out of tolerance. The spring should keep the piston contacting the gas plug or in the "forward" position.
Thanks, I suspected it something like that. I'll take another look at it to make sure I put everything in its right place (and take a couple photos while I'm at it). I am fairly certain the piston was being held forward correctly before and I shot it a few times previously in the 'R' gas cut off mode without issue, and only noticed this after opening the gas and have not shot it since.
Got out shooting with the new-to-me .30-06 FN49 yesterday and it's running like a dream - gas set just right and cycling perfectly. Point of impact does seem a bit low, using Baurnall 145g FMJ, but it is grouping just fine and getting smiles all around.
I have had a few of them but never had a 7mm.
The 30-06 I bought went to Young Street in Toronto I went to see the buyer when I visited Toronto and had a great visit.
That 49 was probably the nicest one I have seen except that gem Fenceline has on this site.
DROOL
The 30-06 I bought went to Young Street in Toronto I went to see the buyer when I visited Toronto and had a great visit.
That 49 was probably the nicest one I have seen except that gem Fenceline has on this site.
DROOL
I seem to be having a problem with mine. Even with the gas port fully open, it throws the brass out hard (8 Mil), enough to put a dent in it, when it hits against, whatever it's hitting against. Either the handle or the upper stripper-feed.
I've tried PPU and S&B with the same results. Doesn't seem to matter how open or closed I have the gas port either.
Friend of mine has one as well but he's had no problems like that. Any advice?
I've tried PPU and S&B with the same results. Doesn't seem to matter how open or closed I have the gas port either.
Friend of mine has one as well but he's had no problems like that. Any advice?
That is the nature of the beast. It was designed to have extremely positive extraction under all conditions with various ammo. The gas reduction port was incorporated to save the rifle components rather than brass casings which are only intended for one time use with most militaries.
I bought a 7mm, or that's what was marked on the tag, took it home and cleaned it up never thought of double checking the caliber.
Went to the range and fired the first round it didn't fully eject, cleared the casing and fired the second round, it didn't come out of the chamber.
Cleared the gun and checked the brass, you know 7X57 really opens up the brass in a 30-06 chamber.
I was young and didn't have many reference books on different kinds of guns, now I have a couple of thousand.
I always check my brass after firing a gun it can tell you so much about how your gun is working.
Went to the range and fired the first round it didn't fully eject, cleared the casing and fired the second round, it didn't come out of the chamber.
Cleared the gun and checked the brass, you know 7X57 really opens up the brass in a 30-06 chamber.
I was young and didn't have many reference books on different kinds of guns, now I have a couple of thousand.
I always check my brass after firing a gun it can tell you so much about how your gun is working.
The Wizard
CGN Regular
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
Something is definitely wrong if with the gas port FULLY OPEN the action is still being cycled. With it fully open does the bolt lock open after the last shot? Right off the top of my head I would suspect that you my need new recoil springs.
Fully open, it still cycles the rounds and fires again. The springs on it are still pretty springy... but I don't have a point of comparison... I'm beginning to consider doing very under-powered hand-loads to see if that fixes anything
The Wizard
CGN Regular
- Location
- Colorado Springs, Colorado USA
The U. S. Army Issued the FN Model 49 Rifle
Found this episode of the U. S. Army's "The Big Picture" series on the 4th Infantry Division and since I served in the 4th (1st Battalion 19th Field Artillery) I though I would watch it. At about time hack 22:40 it shows "u. S." troops armed with the FN Model 49 rifle. So the U. S. Army did issue the FN Model 49 rifle! Pictures do not lie.
Found this episode of the U. S. Army's "The Big Picture" series on the 4th Infantry Division and since I served in the 4th (1st Battalion 19th Field Artillery) I though I would watch it. At about time hack 22:40 it shows "u. S." troops armed with the FN Model 49 rifle. So the U. S. Army did issue the FN Model 49 rifle! Pictures do not lie.
Just got a Venezuelan contract Fn49 last week, finally got some reloading goods this Thursday, just in time for the weekend! I'm rocking 7x57 ppu brass with 7mm ppu 140gr spt-bt bullets with cci34 primers and after much research and forum seeking, often recommending h4895, imr 4895, imr 4064, and varget I decided to go a more progressive press/powder drop measure friendly option.
So I went with the ball powder BL-C2, the starting load recommended in my Lyman reloading manual was 39gr for a 140gr bullet. So I started there and made a few with 40gr. So far 39gr has been perfect for the action to cycle with the gas set about half way (waiting on a tool to arrive to experiment with gas settings). There are some minor dents in the brass (looks similar to the dents my h&k sl8 puts in .223), some light ejector caused bending in the rims, and no visual signs of overpressure on the primer. I'll have to see how open I can run the gas bleed to see if I can get rid of at least the rim bends.
Haven't had a FTF or ejection issue with about 45 rounds of 39gr BL-C2 so far. I picked up some Win 748 and I'll maybe get to experimenting with that later. But so far she is a blast to shoot and pretty effective on the gong at 100yd. Here's some pics.
Edit: got 8/10 on my 12" gong at 200m. Sights were perfect. Here's the sight picture, gong to the right of the front post.
So I went with the ball powder BL-C2, the starting load recommended in my Lyman reloading manual was 39gr for a 140gr bullet. So I started there and made a few with 40gr. So far 39gr has been perfect for the action to cycle with the gas set about half way (waiting on a tool to arrive to experiment with gas settings). There are some minor dents in the brass (looks similar to the dents my h&k sl8 puts in .223), some light ejector caused bending in the rims, and no visual signs of overpressure on the primer. I'll have to see how open I can run the gas bleed to see if I can get rid of at least the rim bends.
Haven't had a FTF or ejection issue with about 45 rounds of 39gr BL-C2 so far. I picked up some Win 748 and I'll maybe get to experimenting with that later. But so far she is a blast to shoot and pretty effective on the gong at 100yd. Here's some pics.
Edit: got 8/10 on my 12" gong at 200m. Sights were perfect. Here's the sight picture, gong to the right of the front post.
Last edited:
Still one of my favourite, and favourite-looking, rifles. Here's mine:
Posting here now for those that missed out on getting a copy of the first edition of the FN-49 'bible', "FN-49 The Last Elegant Old World Rifle" by Wayne Johnson. Wayne is finishing up a new, expanded, second edition: https://www.fnbrowning.com/book-fn49-last-elegant-military-rif
Posting here now for those that missed out on getting a copy of the first edition of the FN-49 'bible', "FN-49 The Last Elegant Old World Rifle" by Wayne Johnson. Wayne is finishing up a new, expanded, second edition: https://www.fnbrowning.com/book-fn49-last-elegant-military-rif
Attachments
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Depends on the variant. The Egyptian ones seem to be in the 800-1200$ range and are in 8mm Mauser. Venezuelan ones tend to be in the 900-1600$ range depending on condition and are 7mm Mauser.
The Belgian ones are roughly 1400-2000$ and are 30-06. There is also the Luxemberg ones and Argentian ones but you are extremely unlikely to see one of those for sale in Canada.
The Belgian ones are roughly 1400-2000$ and are 30-06. There is also the Luxemberg ones and Argentian ones but you are extremely unlikely to see one of those for sale in Canada.
I think the Belgian is select fire, so typically it's the lux version you'll see on occasion. A few argentine ones in the states, and I've only ever seen one colombian for sale in the states from an auction site. If you're willing to pay to import they can be brought up north. That's what I did with my lux, and a 2nd Gen Venny. I missed out on the colombian but I keep my eyes peeled for the Argentinean. It's 308 with a removable box mag.
Yes, I have a bit of an obsession with the FN49.
Yes, I have a bit of an obsession with the FN49.
Last edited:
Eaglelord17
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sault Ste. Marie
Some Belgian and Lux FN-49s were semi/full but the majority wasn't.
