Wanting To Buy A FAMAE SG 540

[Shooting Centre]

Beyond leaving out the select fire bits and I assume modifying the receiver so select fire bits don't just drop in.... what else did they change from the basic infantry gun that they make for the army?
I always assumed the shift from milled steel to stamped parts was a cost saving move made years ago when CNC was a dream.

The guns are no longer in full scale production. The army was equipped decades ago. So any Canadian production requires the factory to setup for a small run. It is not like all the equipment is constantly in operation and a few tweeks are made for us.

 

[Shooting Centre]

Thanks, I heard recently that they are entering the US civilian market so that should increase the production numbers some what.....

I doubt any of these guns will be made in chile. They would not pass US sporting gun requirements. It is possible that a US company will set up to make them in the US but if so expect more overhead costs and the prices will still be relatively high as a result.

 

[J996]

The trigger mech and lower are specific to the Canadian rifles. As for a pencil eraser to tighten up the upper/lower wobble, there is a tried and true Swiss method of tightening them that completely eliminates any looseness. We have adjusted all the SAN rifles shooting at our Swiss Rifle club as well SG45X's. As for the comment by one poster that the looseness has no effect on actual accuracy, incorrect. I have witnessed on my rifles the before and after effect at 300 meters. I was taught this method by a former Swiss Military Armourer and fellow Swiss competitive shooter. Although small, there is most certianly an increase in "target grade" accuracy.

Setting a rifle up for competition is a bit of a different ballgame. In general what you describe is not something every SAN owner needsto do. My personal PE shoots inside 1.5" and that's good for service rifle. I shoot my cousins issue Gwehrli when I'm back home and his shoots great, It's not accurized in any way.

No a schönä abig.

 

[grinrgrn]

I'm just curious as to why people say the famae is over priced? Are there major qc problems? Major recall? High failure rate? Or is it solely based on the perceived value people have made up of their own accord based on what else is available?

This is not a loaded question, just curious.

It's just plain ugly and wayyyy overpriced,I've seen cleaner fit and finish on sub$200 SKS.
It may be as reliable as tomorrow's sunset,accurate as a laser,it's just ugly.

A stamped nothing spectacular rifle made by the Chilean Norinco equivalent (as in a state-owned firearms manufacturer).

All this for 3k$. That is ludicrous and laughable.

Yes....In China I'm guessing gun enthusiasts snub it as crappy offshore SC Star gear(see what I did there )

Thanks, I heard recently that they are entering the US civilian market so that should increase the production numbers some what.....

Increase QC and price correction to compete with Norinco....probly sell a bunch?

 

[Zeroed-In]

Except tha Canadian issue C7/C8 rifles. The Canadian issue service rifles are more accurate and more reliable then these Famae rifles, but I do get your point.

a regular rack grade M16/M4 (etc.) with issue ammo won't be any more accurate than the FAMAE. There are specialist rifles like the Mk 12 SPR that will definitely beat the FAMAE for accuracy, but I can guarantee that based on the design alone, the FAMAE will be more reliable in harsh conditions.

I do not dislike these Famae rifles, in fact I would even consider buying one if they could be had with legal 10rd. magazines (pistol mag.'s) and the price was a little more reasonable.
It's not that I can't afford one it's just that I don't believe they are worth anymore then $2,000 CDN, compared to the other rifles that can be bought for that price.

Cheers D

 

[Can-down]

The guns are no longer in full scale production. The army was equipped decades ago. So any Canadian production requires the factory to setup for a small run. It is not like all the equipment is constantly in operation and a few tweeks are made for us.

Is that why the magazines are so expensive as well? No longer used with their current guns and a special run item?

 

[Shooting Centre]

Is that why the magazines are so expensive as well? No longer used with their current guns and a special run item?

No the mags are so expensive because they charge a lot for them. Seriously as I stated before this is a government run factory that has no idea what any one part of the rifle costs. They price high IMO because they are afraid to price low and end up looking bad to their superiors. We had the same issue with SAN back in 2001. They knew what the Army had been charged for rifles and parts when their factory produced them day and night for years. But they had no idea what it cost to produce a part as a one off or low production item. Over the space of a few months the price of spare parts tripled because they started to analyse production costs.

 

[Can-down]

Interesting.
I guess if they made the sale the price must have been "right".
Thanks for the reply.

 

[Throttle_monkey1]

Then how is it that KACs, LMTs, Armalites and the likes aren't built to the same loose specs as FAMAEs, yet still are used in the field by multiple MIL and agencies?

I guess I should have clarified. My Swiss arms that I had didn't need those things done. It shot fine. Same with my ARs. I just don't like the slop even though it doesn't affect the rifle's function.

And btw my KAC SR15 has more play between the upper and lower than my LMT. My norc cqa had less slop than both. Would I take the norc over the KAC? Nope not a ####ing chance.

Edit-quoted the wrong guy.