The FN C1A1 mystique - from "if you could have just one prohib"

Its also because its considered the holy grail of Canadian battle rifles.

I'd love to have either a C1A1 or a L1A1. They may not have the same elegance as the M14, but they have a charm to themselves.
 
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I wanted one of these forever, but they were banned before I graduated HS.

They weren't kidding when they said life wasn't fair!

Bastards!
 
Joined Army Cadets in 1978, learned to shoot using the C1A1 and the Enfield.
Shot thousands of rounds out of the FN and just learned to connect with the rifle, pissed me off, made me smile and I would trade my left nut to own one again.

Don
 
schick said:
It was my first experience with a centerfire. I was 14 years old and visibly afraid (anxious) of what the powerful .308 would do. I can recall laying down at 100 yards and trying to tell myself to shoot it like my good old .22.
I can still remember the first shot. I loved it. It actually went where I wanted it to go. I emptied the whole mag. People joked about the big smile on my face. I loved that gun.
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We grew up maybe 3000 miles apart, but just identical. Cheers. I'll bet we're the same age. Definitely wasn't the .22 No. 7 I was used to. :D

Then, I did the first BTT (IIRC) with the C7.

AND I didn't buy the $200 Indian FAL prior to moving away, which was already restricted, and which I got my new restricted FAC to purchase. Rather, I spent it on and beer (and maybe women:confused:). Then the prohibitions.

Me no FAL.

I have shot them since though. :) It definitely does suits a 210lb 6.1" adult better than that 125lb 14 year old Army Cadet, shooting prone, getting pounded in the cheek by that big long wood buttstock. :D But still coming away beaming. Glad to have been taught how to work and operate one as a 14-15 year old and to have gotten the chance to shoot the C1.

Still want one. Can't have one. :(

God-damn the hippies.

PS: Another first shot I remember with love, and also FN, the C6. Julio Iglasies sang it best when he sang - 'To all the guns I've loved, before...'
 
Rule 303 said:
I was fortunate to have been able to buy an 8L before the silly re-classification stuff happened.

It was unrestricted when I bought it, and put a few down range.

When it became prohib, I dutifully obtained SAPs when required and
had to join DCRA/ORA in order to gain access to military ranges to shoot
it.

Bill 10A put the axe to that.

Bastards! Death by a thousand cuts!

(It was a real carbon magnet, though.)
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I'd say a bittersweet story, but it's really too bitter for that.

I almost hate saying that it's nice for you to have the 8L, just to not give C10A the satisfaction.

I hope you get to shoot it again soon. Utter BS.
 
I guess I'm the one to say I hated the #####. I humped it for more miles then I care to remember and it always spoke to the rampant liberal negligence of the CF.

To go on exercise with a rifle that long out lived its purpose when others had Augs, M16's and whatever that was 20 years newer, well it represented everything wrong with the CF. Old duece's, old webbing, old rucksacks, etc.... Add to the fact that we rarely had ammo, be it blanks or live, might as well rub salt in the wounds.

I grew up with an enfield 303 and a 3030. I didn't need that ##### to know how to shoot at a paper target. It kicked like a mule, regardless of gas setting and I was more then accurate with a C7 when it came along.

I guess the truth lies in reality, I don't remember anyone complaining when it was gone.
 
There is nothing special about the FN and its various variants. The only reason people want them so bad is cause the government says they can't. It is the exact same reason people want to have 20 round mags on their bolt guns.

The FN is heavy, overly long and about as unweildy as is possible for a battle rifle to be. I was issued one in the Reserve and at Cornwallis. I have a minty L1A1 hanging on my wall (it was the cheapest 12-5 I could find at the time) so I have carried one professionally and I own one but I have no love for the FN. If it wasn't the only thing keeping me in the 12-5 class, I'd give it away.

I've owned both an M1 and an M14 and like both of them better than the FN. The AR15 is a much better solution for a battle rifle. This I have also carried professionally and owned personally and it is so much easier to live with and operate.

Guess I am gonna have to get into my flameproof suit now. ;)
 
Suputin said:
There is nothing special about the FN and its various variants. The only reason people want them so bad is cause the government says they can't. It is the exact same reason people want to have 20 round mags on their bolt guns.

The FN is heavy, overly long and about as unweildy as is possible for a battle rifle to be. I was issued one in the Reserve and at Cornwallis. I have a minty L1A1 hanging on my wall (it was the cheapest 12-5 I could find at the time) so I have carried one professionally and I own one but I have no love for the FN.

I've owned both an M1 and an M14 and like both of them better than the FN. The AR15 is a much better solution for a battle rifle. This I have also carried professionally and owned personally and it is so much easier to live with and operate.

Guess I am gonna have to get into my flameproof suit now. ;)
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We're going down the road to hell together brother!
 
msarazin, fair, I remember the good feelings on the new C7 all around, and was pretty happy at the time to hump it rather than the C1. :)

I still wish I owned one though...
 
dangertree said:
msarazin, fair, I remember the good feelings on the new C7 all around, and was pretty happy at the time to hump it rather than the C1. :)

I still wish I owned one though...
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I'm with you on the last thought. I did own and sell mine. I bought a TZ 41 AE with the cash. Worst deal I ever lived to regret.

I just don't think it deserves to be consider as the holy grail of rifles.
 
I bought a shorty Aussie FAL back in the day but as I had only a normal PAL a buddy of mine had possession of it. When some jackasses in Ottawa decided to prohibit them I lost it. At least I got to put a few rounds down range with it. I don't consider it to be some sort of uber-rifle, but damn it, I want my gun back.

1. Because of the history behind it.
2. I liked shooting it.
3. I like the looks of it.
4. Because someone told me I can't have it.
and finally
5. Because there's no reason on earth I shouldn't own one, other than stupidity.

/rant
 
L1A1 or FNC1, well
What about an Austrian sturmgewehr 58 or STG58
What a piece of machinery : integrated bipod, barbed wire on flash hider...full auto.
 
Me personally...
I don't think there should be any rifle that is prohib. Since this will never happen in my life I will just have to wait tell the XCR-M model comes out as it will be the closest thing I'll ever come to a FN FAL. It's very said to say considering it served our country for so many years.
:(
 
It's long and heavy...shot my first C1A1 in '71 - and really want one again because the gov't says I can't have one. :mad:
 
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