Egyptian FN49 Ammo / gas setting question

Walther_PPK

Walther_PPK

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So I have an Egyptian FN49 in 8x57 I haven't shot yet. Until I get some bullets and dies my only choice is Factory Reminton "Core-Lokt" 8mm with 170gr round nose soft points.

Anyone have any experience with this ammo that could enlighten me on the proper gas setting before I try it out?

P.S. I am aware of the soft primer issue on some ammo. Not sure if my firing pin is one or two piece but I will check tonight.
 
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Hard to really give a standard gas setting. Best was to get it set right is to start with it about two thirds open and gradually close it until the rifle functions properly.

These are fun rifles, mine has been around the block several times but its still fun to shoot. Its heavy so its weight combined with a properly set gas system makes recoil a nice shove rather then a kick.

Going to have to load up some more loads for mine this spring.
 
Well, mine was screwed in as far as it could go. I would assume that would have dented some brass bad.

I counted the clicks until fully open and got 48. So 2/3's would be 36. I'll try it there to start off tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

Also, I'm pleased to discover my firing pin is two piece :)
 
I just bought an Argentine Navy FN49 in .308,absolutely love it,but from reading about the slam fires in these rifles I took a very careful look at mine.
Fortunately it also has the two piece firing pin but it has an other feature the Egytian ones don't have and that is a firing pin safety,it locks the rear
firing pin until it is in full battery.
I read an article on line not to long ago how even a two piece firing pin can get stuck in the bore and caused a slam fire.
Mine has a very strong firing pin spring and does not get stuck even without the spring and pushed all the way forward.
As a last test I chambered a primed case and without the magazine and with the extractor removed from the bolt I let it fly home as hard as it would go.
To my relief the indent it left in the primer was so minute that it would have never set it of,so she should be good to go.
Like on yours my gas port was completely closed of so it would have been nice to see how mangled the brass was and how far they ejected !
Have fun with yours,I know I will have fun with mine,just waiting for better weather.
 
I'd avoid factory ammo, with your FN 49, and stick exclusively to light reloads.

I'm saying this from personal experience, where I had my FN violently explode using too-hot modern ammunition. From my understanding the modern 8mm is loaded quite hot, for bolt-actions that can take that sort of a pounding. My poor old FN just couldn't manage.

As far as the gas setting, you start closed, and open it until the rifle stops working, then set it back a notch.
 
Frost Cracked said:
I'd avoid factory ammo, with your FN 49, and stick exclusively to light reloads.

I'm saying this from personal experience, where I had my FN violently explode using too-hot modern ammunition. From my understanding the modern 8mm is loaded quite hot, for bolt-actions that can take that sort of a pounding. My poor old FN just couldn't manage.

As far as the gas setting, you start closed, and open it until the rifle stops working, then set it back a notch.
Click to expand...

I shot a bunch of surp 8x57 thru mine and its still alive
 
Frost Cracked said:
I'd avoid factory ammo, with your FN 49, and stick exclusively to light reloads.

I'm saying this from personal experience, where I had my FN violently explode using too-hot modern ammunition. From my understanding the modern 8mm is loaded quite hot, for bolt-actions that can take that sort of a pounding. My poor old FN just couldn't manage.

As far as the gas setting, you start closed, and open it until the rifle stops working, then set it back a notch.
Click to expand...

You must have had one of the infamous slam fires that especially the 8mm version was known for,sticking or broken firing pin issue,nothing to do with the ammo,see my above post about this,the internet is full of stories about FN49 slam fires.
Also,to make the rifle cycle properly you have to start of with the gas vent fully OPEN,one round in the mag,chamber it and fire,it probably won,t cycle so hand eject it and slowly start closing the gas sleeve,keep doing this ,one round at the time until the bolt remains open on an empty mag.
If you start of with the gas sleeve fully closed it cycles way too violently.
 
Remington and Winchester 8x57mm ammo tends to be very anemic compared to Euro loads. May need to be more closed to work well with American factory loads. Mine did.
 
I've shot Czech, Romanian, Russian, Portuguese, German surplus and S&B and Igman new through mine. No issues. I also installed the 2 part firing pin as well. Currently set up for surplus Russian because I have a lot of it. For any new ammunition do what M1 said and everything will be fine.

If you do ever start with the gas vent fully closed please post a video! I'd love to see what happens to the brass :)
 
Thanks for all the info guys. Think I'll try it at 2/3 open as suggested. I figure it will either work like that or misfeed. I need my brass for reloading. Factory 8mm is expensive.
 
Walther_PPK said:
Thanks for all the info guys. Think I'll try it at 2/3 open as suggested. I figure it will either work like that or misfeed. I need my brass for reloading. Factory 8mm is expensive.
Click to expand...

Remember it probably wont cycle at that setting. The idea is the pressure will be too weak to cycle the action. Therefore you gradually close it to increase the pressure until it cycles properly. What you want is just enough pressure to cycle it. Too much pressure and it will not only chew up your brass and through it into the next province but too much pressure can slowly damage the rifle since the action will be slamming back hard after every shot.

If I remember I went 1/2 turn of the sleeve until it functioned. Have a look at the sticky at the top of the page if you haven't already. Lots of good info such as detailed pictures of how to disassemble/re-assemble the rifle.

Now you have me wanting to take mine out for a few rounds. Might have to order some bullets and load up some ammo.

One more thing, if you want stripper clips, the ones available from Trade-ex can be made to work with a little filing. They have three bumps on the side used to keep the clip from being inserted too far. As they are, they wont sit far enough, but if you file the two outer notches flat, leaving just the middle notches, they work perfectly.
 
M1-Garand said:
You must have had one of the infamous slam fires that especially the 8mm version was known for,sticking or broken firing pin issue,nothing to do with the ammo,see my above post about this,the internet is full of stories about FN49 slam fires.
Also,to make the rifle cycle properly you have to start of with the gas vent fully OPEN,one round in the mag,chamber it and fire,it probably won,t cycle so hand eject it and slowly start closing the gas sleeve,keep doing this ,one round at the time until the bolt remains open on an empty mag.
If you start of with the gas sleeve fully closed it cycles way too violently.
Click to expand...

You're right. That's my mistake, to start with open and then work to closed.
 
We used to balance the gas system of the FN C1.

In this case if you have a preferred loading, start with the system fully open and keep closing until the brass ejects to you liking.
 
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