FAMAE 542, how good are they?

[JeffFromCanada]

Ive owned one right from the get go

Its a good rifle, but its got some issues

The front site moves... I have a staple jammed in around it... problem solved

it doesn't like lite ammo.... so that nice cheap MFS, NORC and what not... its shoots like crap. If you ramp up a 150gr projectile you can get ok performance out of it... but its going to kick
AE 150 was ok 3-4 moa, but 150 SST wih some oumph got the MOA around the 2 mark.
So plan on shooting the good stuff or doing handloads


Rear sold stock has a bad habit of rattling out the screw that holds it in place.... Locktite for the win

that top site rail is realy picky about how much you torque it up.... to little it comes off, to much it gets a bit warpy and affects zero. I would kill to see these rifles get a built on rail for once.... once you get it figured its a non issue.

it has 2 gas settings, 1) more then enough to cycle the action in adverse conditions, and 2) holy crap im looking at the sky and my should is throbbing.


I like mine, I don't regret getting it. but im getting rid of it as its just not the bush gun was after.

I love my 542 and my experience has been completely different.

My front sight is on solid.

I shoot MFS 140gr SP out of it right out of the box and the Norinco .308 that comes in the crates. I've only shot 200 rounds so far so it's hardly broken in, but I've had zero malfunctions whatsoever.

However I don't have any experience with the sight rail as I haven't ordered one yet. Looking forward to it though and mounting an EOTech on her.

The only bad things I can think of to mention are 1) The finish. The paint chips quite easily especially where spent casings hit just behind the charging handle. And the rest of the paint nicks pretty easily. Thankfully I've shot a full auto MP5 in vegas which must have had tens of thousands of rounds through it which really gave me a hard-on for gun finishes that look like they've been put through the ringer. 2) The price. I understand that's the price you pay for some NR Black rifles in Canada but the quality just doesn't compare to that of a Tavor which is the same price. The receiver is stamped and you can see a few welds on the inside of the receiver and even some on the outside. But at the end of the day it is a battle rifle meant to be made for a military, so all this stuff is pretty acceptable if you remember that.