I have a fn 49 chambered in .308. The gas system works well, but the bolt does not release. The op rod pushes the dust cover back, but stops when it engages the breech bolt. Then it takes about 20 pounds of pressure to open the breech block and eject the casing. The bolt is spotless clean with enough light oil to operate. Consistent with correct operation of my M305. Does anyone have any suggestions?
FN 49 cycling issue
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Well, for one thing, I have never seen an SAFN-49 with a "dust cover".
Perhaps you mean the Breech-Block Carrier?
First thing you have to learn is the nomenclature of the parts; that way, someone else will understand what you are talking about.
Yes, the FN-49 does take a good, solid wrench to operate when it has a fired casing in the chamber and the Hammer is down.
You mention OIL: are you oiling the ammunition or the Chamber? BOTH are serious no-nos.
If the answer is "no" to both of those, then I would suspect that your Gas is turned off or else is turned far too low. Check the Gas Plug at the forward end of the Gas Tube. It inserts two ways, one for semi-automatic operation, the other way for grenade-launching. For the rifle to operate in the semi-automatic mode, the Gas Plug should exhibit a LINE through it, going from Breech to Muzzle. This tells you that the rifle is set for automatic reloading. If there is no LINE showing, then you are set for grenade-launching and you will have to hand-cycle the rifle every time, which is not a lot of fun.
Loosening the Middle Band and removing the Forward Handguard will give you access to the Gas Regulator. And here you must understand what you are doing, for th FN-49 can be set to give extremely fast operation which brings with it slam-firing; it is actually possible to destroy the rifle if you are not careful.
The FN-49 works on a gas system which bleeds a large amount of gas from the bore, then BLEEDS OFF what it does not need to operate the rifle. That "collar" around the Gas Tube is the Gas Adjustment Collar. It TURNS (you will need a tool), exposing or closing a little HOLE in the top of the Gas Tube. CLOSING the hole makes the rifle use more gas and operate harder; opening the hole bleeds more gas from the system, allowing the rifle to operate in a gentler fashion. The IDEAL setting is with the rifle just bringing the empties out and dumping them onto the bench next to you. It is at THIS position that the rifle will shoot its most ACCURATELY. At that same setting, RECOIL also will be LEAST.
Get a MANUAL for your rifle and read it carefully, several times, until you understand the brute completely. It is a superb rifle, but it does take an educated Operator to get the best out of it. You can start your search for one over at milsurps dot com. They have a HUGE library of manuals for free download.
Likely you haven't run into Gas problems before because you have been using an M-305. The M-305 is a clone of the M-14, which had a self-regulating piston. The SAFN does not have this; it is an earlier design, albeit a very good one.
Good luck.
Perhaps you mean the Breech-Block Carrier?
First thing you have to learn is the nomenclature of the parts; that way, someone else will understand what you are talking about.
Yes, the FN-49 does take a good, solid wrench to operate when it has a fired casing in the chamber and the Hammer is down.
You mention OIL: are you oiling the ammunition or the Chamber? BOTH are serious no-nos.
If the answer is "no" to both of those, then I would suspect that your Gas is turned off or else is turned far too low. Check the Gas Plug at the forward end of the Gas Tube. It inserts two ways, one for semi-automatic operation, the other way for grenade-launching. For the rifle to operate in the semi-automatic mode, the Gas Plug should exhibit a LINE through it, going from Breech to Muzzle. This tells you that the rifle is set for automatic reloading. If there is no LINE showing, then you are set for grenade-launching and you will have to hand-cycle the rifle every time, which is not a lot of fun.
Loosening the Middle Band and removing the Forward Handguard will give you access to the Gas Regulator. And here you must understand what you are doing, for th FN-49 can be set to give extremely fast operation which brings with it slam-firing; it is actually possible to destroy the rifle if you are not careful.
The FN-49 works on a gas system which bleeds a large amount of gas from the bore, then BLEEDS OFF what it does not need to operate the rifle. That "collar" around the Gas Tube is the Gas Adjustment Collar. It TURNS (you will need a tool), exposing or closing a little HOLE in the top of the Gas Tube. CLOSING the hole makes the rifle use more gas and operate harder; opening the hole bleeds more gas from the system, allowing the rifle to operate in a gentler fashion. The IDEAL setting is with the rifle just bringing the empties out and dumping them onto the bench next to you. It is at THIS position that the rifle will shoot its most ACCURATELY. At that same setting, RECOIL also will be LEAST.
Get a MANUAL for your rifle and read it carefully, several times, until you understand the brute completely. It is a superb rifle, but it does take an educated Operator to get the best out of it. You can start your search for one over at milsurps dot com. They have a HUGE library of manuals for free download.
Likely you haven't run into Gas problems before because you have been using an M-305. The M-305 is a clone of the M-14, which had a self-regulating piston. The SAFN does not have this; it is an earlier design, albeit a very good one.
Good luck.
Agree. Sounds like gas is set too light for the ammo you're using.
Turn the Gas Adjusting Sleeve clockwise to decrease size of the gas port.
Check also return spring for binding.
Can you eject empty case or dummy fairly easily by manually working the action?
Will be stiffer than an garand or M14 type action.
Turn the Gas Adjusting Sleeve clockwise to decrease size of the gas port.
Check also return spring for binding.
Can you eject empty case or dummy fairly easily by manually working the action?
Will be stiffer than an garand or M14 type action.
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Another question in addition to what SMELLIE and DIOPTER have asked, is just WHAT ammunition are you using. Reloads or Factory, bullet weight, Manufacturer, etc. Have you fired the rifle before and how did it work then? Have you had the rifle disassembled, especially the gas system?
My first thought is the gas plug set for grenade launching. Second would be gas regulator setting.
My first thought is the gas plug set for grenade launching. Second would be gas regulator setting.
You obviously need to sell it to me so that you don't have to worry about it any longer! Haha!
The lads above have said everything that I can think of to check. I have 2 of these and you really have to get the gas setting correct or it won't cycle properly or it will be way too harsh and can damage your rifle.
Ian
The lads above have said everything that I can think of to check. I have 2 of these and you really have to get the gas setting correct or it won't cycle properly or it will be way too harsh and can damage your rifle.
Ian
I have only ever seen one FN49 chambered in 308
These guns were never sold as surplus and were still in the Argentine armories during the Falklands war. There is one example on display at the military museum (710 Santa Fee) in Buenos Aires, I have no idea of where the rest went to.
7.92 would be the caliber I would expect this gun to be in.
Conversion by Argentina would have proof marks and dates recorded on the barrel.
These guns were never sold as surplus and were still in the Argentine armories during the Falklands war. There is one example on display at the military museum (710 Santa Fee) in Buenos Aires, I have no idea of where the rest went to.
7.92 would be the caliber I would expect this gun to be in.
Conversion by Argentina would have proof marks and dates recorded on the barrel.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=Arge...2Fdetail%2F20086%2Ffn49-by-radioflyer;558;227
http://mountainpreparedness.########.ca/2011/04/personal-critical-review-of-firearms-fn_04.html
http://mountainpreparedness.########.ca/2011/04/personal-critical-review-of-firearms-fn_04.html
"...must have been some sold as surplus from Argentina..." Highly unlikely. Argentina used 'em in 7.65 mm Argentine only. And Google isn't a reliable source.
Never seen nor heard of any FN49 in 7.62/.308. The one on the link isn't an issue piece. That mag looks decidedly Bubba's work.
Never seen nor heard of any FN49 in 7.62/.308. The one on the link isn't an issue piece. That mag looks decidedly Bubba's work.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I do recall reading about the legendary Argentinian 7.62x51 conversions maybe 10-15 yrs ago. Possibly in Shotgun News. They were part of a parallel project to the more conventional FN FAL program. I didn`t think much of the whole story until a year or so ago, when I surfed onto a sales website in the US advertising Argentinian FN49 20-round magazines. Since we have such careful border controls, the thought of getting one as an example of someone`s creativity went out the window. They were pricey, like $100 a piece. If there is one publication that would have a definitive answer it is Small Arms Review.
http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?23514-Argentine-FN49-from-show-WOW
Goose52 wrote a book on the FN49, I briefly corresponded with him about the 2 FN 49's that I owned at the time, if someone bought a venezualan off of P and S a couple years ago, that was one of them.
Goose52 wrote a book on the FN49, I briefly corresponded with him about the 2 FN 49's that I owned at the time, if someone bought a venezualan off of P and S a couple years ago, that was one of them.
No, they exist. They were fed from detachable 20 round box magazines that were meant to be fed with chargers and were interchangeable with the FAL, which, as I am sure you are aware, Argentina used quite extensively. The conversions started in the late 1960's, and they are indeed likely the rarest FN49 out there. SOME were sold as surplus, but they're still very hard to find - you hear a lot more about them in the states more than you do here. Importing one for yourself from the US would not be an issue, provided you were able to find one for sale, and willing to pay what I am sure will be a rather hefty premium.
Also, Google isn't a "source" at all - it's a search engine that leads you to sources, some reliable, some not. Any source saying that FN49's from Argentina in 7.62x51 don't exist is one I would call unreliable. Cheers.
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Look 3/4 down the page, on parade, in uniform with 20 round mags, and a group unit photo with mixed FN FAL and FN49 with 20 round mags.
I don't think they are all re-inactors.
http://www.militariarg.com/security-forces.html
