The FN model 49

So far I have tried two nub clips, three nub clips, 7.62 NATO clips and soon I will be filing the nubs off a two nub clips to see if that works. I would really like to thank Desert Fox for all the help he as provided.
So here is a picture of a Venezuelan SAFN-49 with the proper model 24/49 bayonet mounted. Also fun fact the Model 24/49 bayonet was apparently the last sword bayonet ever adapted by a nation (and if it wasn't the last one it was certainly very close to being the last one).



Ok so I filed the nubs off the two nub stripper clips. It feeds ok, gets stopped by the top two nubs then strips from there. I guess when I go the range I will just have to make up some specially for it.
 
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Hi .

I just bought an Egyptian FN and I`m looking for a mag. The one that came with it has been cut down to hold five rounds only. If you have or know of one, please contact me at GN.
I do have want adds in the exchange forums , but not every one looks there..

Thanks for any help.

Shaun.
 
JMB said:
Hi .

I just bought an Egyptian FN and I`m looking for a mag. The one that came with it has been cut down to hold five rounds only. If you have or know of one, please contact me at GN.
I do have want adds in the exchange forums , but not every one looks there..

Thanks for any help.

Shaun.
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Is 5 rounds not the legal amount? Or do you mean your looking for a pinned mag instead of cut down?
 
I just bought an Egyptian contract, I'm very excited to give'r a once over and see how she runs. The barrel is a little rough buti have hope, and it's missing the stock disc. So if anyone knows where to get one pls let me know!
 
4b1t said:
Since it has the scrubbed crest and FN script on the right side, it is a later receiver pattern, not milled for the scope rail. Closest identification of date of manufacture is 1952-53.
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Mine has no crest, 5 digits and also the dovetail cut on the left for the mount. Either there was no crest or it was so meticulously scrubbed that it looks that there was no crest. Weird or what? Also the stock looks like it was rubbed with black shoe polish and the reciever and barrel are finished with a grey epoxy. Any clue to its history? Anyone? Also I think I read somewhere that the browning 1918 BAR mag could be retrofitted to work with the 49. Can anyone confirm this?
 
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slyty said:
Mine has no crest, 5 digits and also the dovetail cut on the left for the mount. Either there was no crest or it was so meticulously scrubbed that it looks that there was no crest. Weird or what? Also the stock looks like it was rubbed with black shoe polish and the reciever and barrel are finished with a grey epoxy. Any clue to its history? Anyone? Also I think I read somewhere that the browning 1918 BAR mag could be retrofitted to work with the 49. Can anyone confirm this?
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Grey paint and no crest indicates a Belgian service rifle (30-06) that has been refurbed. Never heard of a black stained stock on an fn49, but people do funny things to firearms.

From Goose52:

FN-49s have been modified to use all kinds of magazines - BAR, FN-D, MG-13, probably others.

BAR magazine conversions have been performed both to have the magazine fully detachable (which requires machining the receiver to remove the integral feed lips) and semi-fixed. For a semi-fixed conversion, you MAY be able to get away with NOT modifying the receiver ... but you WOULD need to alter the trigger guard assembly to take the BAR mag and to establish a catch/retention device. Then, you'd have to cut off the feed lips on the top of the BAR mag. Capacity could drop to 18-19 rounds (limited to 5 in Canada) You may end up with having no bolt hold-open feature (other than the receiver cover mounted bolt carrier catch).

So, it's possible - but perhaps not easy.
 
Managed to find an old, haggard, lonely FN-49 in 8mm and gave it a good home. After a good cleaning it came out looking not too bad, bore isn't perfect but has strong rifleing so should shoot alright.

Speaking of shooting, anyone recommend some 8mm that runs well in these, either commercial or Surplus? I notices Surplus Yugoslavian 8mm can be found, anyone shoot this ammo in their FN's?
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
Speaking of shooting, anyone recommend some 8mm that runs well in these, either commercial or Surplus? I notices Surplus Yugoslavian 8mm can be found, anyone shoot this ammo in their FN's?
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Congrats on the new FN49.

The Yugo ammo should be fine, especially if it's 70s stuff. I was lucky enough to acquire a couple of tins of 80s vintage Romanian which also works great. Stay away from Turkish surplus as the powder burn rate is incompatible with the gas system.

Use of commercial ammo is not recommended as the softer primers may lead to an out of battery/slamfire event.

If reloading, use the harder (but impossible to find) CCI 34 primers.

Read the cautions about 2-piece firing pins and firing pin protrusion and enjoy the rifle.
 
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RangeRover said:
Congrats on the new FN49.

The Yugo ammo should be fine, especially if it's 70s stuff. I was lucky enough to acquire a couple of tins of 80s vintage Romanian which also works great. Stay away from Turkish surplus as the powder burn rate is incompatible with the gas system.

Use of commercial ammo is not recommended as the softer primers may lead to an out of battery/slamfire event.

If reloading, use the harder (but impossible to find) CCI 34 primers.

Read the cautions about 2-piece firing pins and firing pin protrusion and enjoy the rifle.
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How about the 1950's yugo stuff?

SO commercial is bad then? I was looking at some of the S&B stuff.
 
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Haven't shot 50s Yugo in mine, but Wayne Johnson (Goose52 on some other boards), who wrote the book, literally, on the FN49, has previously posted elsewhere about it as working fine in the rifle with the occasional FTF requiring a second strike.

Commercial ammo is truly not advised. The Egyptian contract FN49s were the only contract that did not come with a firing pin safety stop (FPSS) so are the most prone to a slamfire. Soft commercial primers increase the likelihood of this happening. I will only use milsurp ammo in mine. Would rather it not turn into a pile of parts and maybe mess up the person shooting it.
 
RangeRover said:
Haven't shot 50s Yugo in mine, but Wayne Johnson (Goose52 on some other boards), who wrote the book, literally, on the FN49, has previously posted elsewhere about it as working fine in the rifle with the occasional FTF requiring a second strike.

Commercial ammo is truly not advised. The Egyptian contract FN49s were the only contract that did not come with a firing pin safety stop (FPSS) so are the most prone to a slamfire. Soft commercial primers increase the likelihood of this happening. I will only use milsurp ammo in mine. Would rather it not turn into a pile of parts and maybe mess up the person shooting it.
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That is interesting, thanks. Ill have to order some 8mm while its still avalible if I want to shoot this rifle. I also might be able to get some Romanian as well.

On a related note, what about the 30-06 FN49's? Can they handle commercial? I really like the FN49 and would like one in 30-06 as well.

Also, where could one find the gas tool? Sleeve on mine is seized in the closed position.
 
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This might sound really daft (I know it is), but how does one attach the sling to the FN49? I have one as pictured above and I just don't think I'm doing it right.

Also, can anyone tell me why my bayonet has no serial number? (it definitely fits, though).
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
That is interesting, thanks. Ill have to order some 8mm while its still avalible if I want to shoot this rifle. I also might be able to get some Romanian as well.

On a related note, what about the 30-06 FN49's? Can they handle commercial? I really like the FN49 and would like one in 30-06 as well.

Also, where could one find the gas tool? Sleeve on mine is seized in the closed position.
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Yes, they can handle commercial ammo if you balance the gas system correctly. An FNC1 gas regulator wrench will work to adjust the SAFN gas regulator.
 
Exlibris said:
This might sound really daft (I know it is), but how does one attach the sling to the FN49? I have one as pictured above and I just don't think I'm doing it right.

Also, can anyone tell me why my bayonet has no serial number? (it definitely fits, though).
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If it was a Belgian issue military bayonet, I understand they rarely stamped them with serial numbers. I have a couple of them and none have serials.
 
r_taylor said:
If it was a Belgian issue military bayonet, I understand they rarely stamped them with serial numbers. I have a couple of them and none have serials.
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Well I guess that clears up the bayonet question (having read some, but not all, of Goose's survey on FN49 bayonets years ago I was under the impression that they all had serial numbers). I still feel like a moron with this sling.
 
For those who have an 8mm Egyptian and are looking for Stripper clips, Trade-ex has 8mm clips. However they do not work without some modifications. They are "three bump" meaning that they have three bumps on each side that prevent the clip form inserting into the magazine. These will not allow the clip to seat far enough down so they will not work in an FN-49. But, if you file the outer bumps down leaving just the middle bump, they work quite well. I did this by LIGHTLY clamping a clip in a vise and using a file. takes no time at all.

Ill see about posting pics of a stock clip and one after modification.
 
Well I got the sling question sorted out (after careful study of images on Google).

But I had another question, after adjusting the gas setting and putting the gas piston and piston return spring back in, I noticed that when bolt is locked back and the rifle is pointed up the piston extends through its hole about one cm ... is that normal? I don't remember if that's how it was before.
 
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