Spanish FR7- should I destroy it?

P

pmglock

New member
I just bought one today in ignorance. It had a good price on it and I thought it was an FR8. Until I got home and researched it here and on the web I didn't know there was a difference. I'm not mauser-savvy and wanted a truck and brush gun. Now I have a useless paperweight. Ignorance is not bliss, it's expensive:( .
I can't get my money back by selling it at a Flea Market to some poor, unsuspecting Bubba who will stuff .308 Winchester ammo in it and blow his face off. And no more knowledgable person would want it. So should I just saw it into pieces and throw it away?
I don't have the time, money, or inclination for reloading and there doesn't seem to be any real collector interest in this gun so I don't know what else I could do:confused: :( .

patrick
 
Put it up on one of the auction boards; use it as trading material;put an add in the paper, you might be surprised at the responses.
 
Hi, pmglock,

I understand that reaction from some of the stuff posted. The facts are that the FR-7 is a reworked Model 1893 or Model 1936 (upgraded 1893) rifle. It is the old Mauser action and Spanish made rifles tend to be soft.

All that said, they will stand up to mil spec 7.62 NATO (7.62x51) for a long time. The higher pressure .308 Winchester will put more of a strain on them. But they will begin to stretch and peen, not blow up abruptly. Unless you plan to fire it a lot, I would keep it for the purpose you indicate and keep a check on the headspace.

I would also have no qualms about selling it if I made sure the buyer knew the rifle's limitations.

Jim
 
Destroy it !!!! Are you crazy ????
First of all most government jobs are union jobs. If you try to get into the gun destroying business, you are going to have a labor dispute on your hands.
Hell, give it to me. I don't have any qualms about it. I post here for all to see, I know the limitations.
 
I agree with BADSBSNF81. Put it up for sale on one of the gun auction boards (www.gunbroker.com or www.auctionarms.com) and sell it if you don't want it. Then I can bid on it, because I do want it! The buyers there tend to be a bit more savvy, and you don't have to worry about where it might end up, as in a flea-market, as you mentioned.

That being said, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree with Jim, but I don't want to start that thread again....

Scott
 
Thanks

Thanks for the kind replies gentlemen. Of course it would be a shame to destroy such an interesting rifle; that was just my wounded ego talking. I was angry with myself for making such a foolish mistake. What I will do is simply keep it until I can find a trade on a Moisin Nagant carbine. I already have an M39 which is excellent and a carbine would be a nice companion for it.


thanks again,
Patrick
 
If it's C&R, I'll be interested when my license arrives. That's probably longer than you want to wait, though, at least 3 more weeks. I'd handload anyway and I don't get to shoot a lot. Besides, I think they look cool. :)
 
Reload for it, but use low-end loading data, or loading data for the .300 Savage.

Should work just fine for a long time.

I would not, however, fire any military surplus ammo in it.

Or, possibly the best solution?

Find someone to stick a 7mm Mauser barrel on it.
 
Are you Kidding???

Destroy it???:eek: ...NOT!!!

Load it light...shoot it often.

A good excuse to start reloading if you don't already:) .
 
I've had an FR-7 for a couple years now and have shot a few hundred rounds through it with no sign of problems. I light-load .308 150-gr JSPs for hunting loads and once bought a large batch of Brazilian CAVIM 7.62x51 ball. The ball didn't have enough poop to cycle the action on my .308 chambered M-1, so I'm using it up in the FR-7 and examining the condition of the brass closely afterwards. Wouldn't be my first choice to grab, but I couldn't bear to get rid of it either.
 
are you going to trade it for M44 mosin? or you can start reloading and reload light load .308,
or sell it to me for the price of M44, :D
where are you? I am in southern Kalifornia,
 
I really don't have the time or money for another hobby(reloading), so I guess I'll put it up for trade or sale. I would post it here on the sale board but I believe shipping costs would be prohibitive. Maybe a local shop in the area I am moving to in KY will have something. Thanks for all the advice and moral support.

Patrick
 
I read in FAL forum that RadwayGreen mil surplus from Britain is low pressure side of NATO spec, so your FR-7 might be ok for RG,
don't worry about money for reloading, LEE original handloading for .308 is just 10$ from midway, you just need wood small hammer and components(brass,bullet,powder,primer)
 
Actually, getting into handloading is more like $110 or so...

I'd get a small hand press (20), Lee dies (25), a Lee scale (25), the Lee hand primer (15), and a cheap dial caliper (25). You can use the Lee Loader minimally, but you'll be happier in the long run with the hand press and real dies - At any rate, even if you go with a Lee Loader, get the lee priming tool...
 
Is there somthing about your situation that would make shipping costs prohibitive (i.e. you live in Fiji or something)? It should be less than $20 for a rifle to most anyhwere in the lower 48. E-mail me if you are interested in working something out.

Scott
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top