"New" Spanish FR-8 "CETMEton"

M

Mike Kilo Niner

New member
Man, oh man am I excited! Evidently everyone who claims "there are a few good buys at gun shows" weren't kidding -- this is the first gun I've bought at a show that I've felt I didn't get hosed on.

Rebarreled on a Mauser-98 action with a modified CETME 7.62x51mm barrel, this bolt action carbine is MINTY! The bore looks absolutely new. All the metal has been parkerized, with narry a nick or flaw. The wood stock has a few dings, probably from when it was a Spanish M43 in 8mm Mauser, but is by and large very clean. A few signs of light wear in the magazine follower, but nothing serious. It even came with a full cleaning kit.

Like all Mausers, it breaks down easily for cleaning, and is rugged like nothing else in the world. It can't weigh much more than 7 pounds, and snaps to the shoulder quickly and naturally. The sights are mounted on the rear receiver ring and have four settings: tangent 100m, and apertures for 200m, 300m and 400m.

It looks great -- very military, very rugged. I can't wait for some nice weekend weather to sight-in. I'll be sure to report on accuracy/etc. For a poor college student (such as myself) looking for a cheap, reliable "do-everything" rifle, you could do a lot worse, it seems.

Anybody know where to get stripper clips for it? Would M14 clips work to keep it fed? Now it's off to find some cheap surplus ammo...
 
What a coincidence!

Just bought one m'self, but haven't had a chance to drag it out to the range yet. Details on mine at this thread. Pretty cool looking carbines, huh? :)
 
Destructo6,

That's right. There have been a couple of threads in the past on the subject, but here's the skinny:

When Spain was adopting the CETME in 7.62mm NATO, they decided to rebarrel some of their old '98 actioned Mausers with CETME barrels, at first for training purposes (since CETME's were in short supply), and later for issue to non-combat personnel who needed something to shoot if everything went wrong.

The front sight post is the same as on the CETME, but instead of a gas tube underneath there is a little cannister that holds a cleaning kit (pull through, etc.). I'd take a picture to illustrate what I mean, but I don't have a digital camera. :(

An aperture sight has been welded onto the rear receiver ring to simulate the CETME's rear sight. All in all, a pretty cool little carbine -- lightweight, decent sights, common chambering. Mine is in like-new condition, even came with the cleaning kit.
 
Tamara,

Yeah, your controversial question got me to thinking about picking up an old surplus rifle. I'd been thinking Swede, but since I can't afford expensive ammo, and don't reload, a 7.62mm NATO rifle seemed just the ticket. The straight-bolt handle is easier for a southpaw like me to jerk, so the FR-8 seemed like a natural choice. I kinda filed that in the back of my mind, and forgot about it until I happened upon my new rifle while cruising through a gun show, not intending to buy anything. ;) Funny how that happens...
 
More details

So, what'd you pay? I'm always poking around the local shows and shops and write down current asking prices so I can haggle. If it isn't too much of an imposition, what did that pretty piece cost ya?

Rome
 
I see, they put a barrel and sights on it to replicate that of the CETME model A, not the actual barrel from a CETME model A. Now it makes sense.

Is it actually stamped "7.62x51 NATO"? I ask because the first CETME roller-locked rifles used an oddball lower pressure round that was similar to , but not exactly duplicating, the NATO cartridge.

Any links to images of these?
 
Rome,

$300, which is higher than I've heard quoted on these rifles in the past, but this specimen is flawless in the metal, and lightly used in the wood. Plus, it came with the cleaning kit/tube, which is sometimes hard to find. The gun would look a tad odd without the tube, but I've seen them sold without it.

He was originally asking $395 until I laughed in his face. To his credit he was willing to bargain -- a rarity at shows I've been to lately.
 
Destructor6,

No, the rebarreling took place in the early 60s, I think. They used CETME C barrels (or close relatives thereof), built for the NATO cartridge. Here are a couple of links with some good pictures and more detailed histories:

http://web.jet.es/apraiz/e_spsteel_cetmeton.html

http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/html/the_fr-8_page.html

There has been some question as to their safety with 7.62mm NATO or .308 Win loadings. It seems like all the confusion is because of the "Guardia Civil" rifles, which were 91 Mauser actions rebarreled to 7.62mm CETME are not generally strong enough for the NATO cartridge and several people reported kB! on Tuco's Mauser Forum.

The FR-7 is similarly suspect, but the FR-8 is built on the 98 Mauser action and barreled with a barrel suitable for the NATO round. Because they are pretty lightweight, and have a short barrel they have a reputation for kicking pretty hard, but they should be safe with all in-spec ammo (note: I am not an expert. This seems to be the concensus of people in the know, but YMMV).
 
IPSC Gasteiz describes an FR-7 as having a two-lug bolt and a bent bolt handle. The FR-8 is described as a three lug, straight bolt configuration.

I'm here to tell you that I have a two lug, bent bolt marked FR8-XXXXX right on the receiver, in an old stamping. The bolt serial number matches and is not deformed (stretched) on the bolt as they become when turned over with a torch.

I dropped him an email to ask if he had ever seen such a critter.
 
Sensop,

Does your FR8's bolt have the safety lug at the rear, like the standard 98 Mauser? That's what they're referring to as the third lug, with the lugs at the front of the bolt counting as numbers 1 and 2.

But you probably already knew that.
 
Gewehr98,

Thank you. I've been racking my brain trying to remember a Mauser anywhere that had three lugs up front. I'm thoroughly embarassed now. Yes, I lurched off my butt and checked. It has the safety lug. Duh.
 
I bought an FR-8 about 5 years ago, it's not nearly mint, but is a shooter. True 98 action, 3 lugs, straight bolt. Gave it to my son when he was 15, one buck to their credit. Like you we are both left-handed & find the straight bolt easier to manipulate. Good shooting!
 
Son of the Gael,

How do you and your son keep it fed? One round at a time, or stripper clips? Will M-14 clips work, or is there some oddball size clip I need to find? Thanks,

MK9
 
I have a couple of sight questions for the FR8. First, is there a front sight tool available to buy, rent, loan anywhere in this country, a friend has an FR8 and it shoots nowhere near point of aim. Also, the rear sight turns freely and does not "click" adjust with the detents. How can this be repaired? Thanks
 
I have a FR-8, and it is a shooter. The action is not real smooth though. I have used regular stripper clips from some German WWII 8mm ammo, this works just fine for me on the 7.62. Mine has a date of 1954 marked on the reciever. I don't know about any of the front sight tools, you might want to check Shotgun News. Recoil is not a problem for me, I have fired much worse (recoil wise) from similarly sized .308 or 7.62. RD
 
Mike, sorry it's taken so long to get back. Like Road Dog we've found that strippers from WWII 7.92 Mauser works. I tried M14 strippers, but no go, they hold the cartridges but don't fit in the rifle's guide properly. You shouldn't have a problem finding some of the right one's, I found mine at the same store I bought the FR-8. Most of the time we just put them in one at a time.
 
bernie,

My rear sight was rusted pretty bad when I got mine. Rolling the sight wheel around was pretty stiff from rust and accumulated crap. I rolled the spring right out of it, ruining it in the process. When I backed the center pin out to lift the wheel out, the check ball took off to parts unknown ... never to be found again. I got a new spring and ball, replaced the sight wheel center pin all at a local machine shop. I soaked the sight wheel in some Birch-Casey cleaner and some Hoppes, brushed out and oiled the rear sight uprights where the wheel is pinned, put it all back together and it works like a champ.

A piece of 5/16 in O.D. steel gas line about 3 inches long with some grinding at one end will produce the right fit for sight adjustment. A drill blank pinned at the other end makes a nice tee handle.

It looks like I have an FR-8 with a turned down bolt. I haven't shot it much yet.
 
Oh, BTW...

A picture of the FR-8 CETMEton next to my roomie's "Tanker" Enfield:
rifles.jpg

Get us an M44 and maybe a shorty Yugo Mauser and we'll be well on the way to cornering the muzzle blast market!;)
 
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