What kind of rifle it this French police officer holding?

Some of those mini-14s look impeccable, full checkering and clearly never refinished. I was really impressed to see armory weapons in such condition. I feel for France and if my city had three attacks in three days I would be on edge to say the least. It was inspiring to see what were clearly desk duty officers put on a vest and grab a rifle to defend their liberty and country.
 
I just found out from a French friend the rifles are select fire AC 556's & chambered in .222, not .223 so they can say the police are not using a military caliber. This explains the odd shaped magazines.:cool:
 
FWIW internet photos also show French law enforcement officers carrying Remington 870 shotguns with extended magazine tubes.
 
Saw a lot of M1 Carbines, very distinctive with the cut slot through the but-stock. Looked new! how old is the ammunition.?

I have an Mi Carbine that was sitting in a German Police Armory for years, a little handling wear, but otherwise like new.
 
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I'm getting the faint impression that my initial hedging of Famas was wrong...:o

In my defence I could only see the back of their heads in the picture!
 
@Tyme that first link is the rifle I was talking about. Is that an HK 417? That jistory of the French using the Mini-14 is also interesting. Can anyone else verify they are using .222? I assume that is .222 Remington?
 
I saw the same photo as you Mr. Pond.
Went to the link same time as you no doubt.
I saw your post had beat me to the punch, so I held off posting repetitive info.

The carbines held by the two (back to camera) were both FAMAS.
I'd bet on it.

The FAMAS was one of the rarest of the 80s semi-autos (of the Military version) imported into the U.S.
They make PE 57s look like a dime a dozen.

I remember trying to find one to get converted, to no avail.
Wish I had tried harder!

JT
 
The carbines held by the two (back to camera) were both FAMAS.
Click to expand...

Woo Hoo!!

It's not often I get a firearm ID question right so, despite not answering the OP, I'm still going to print this response and hang it on my wall!!
:D
 
Saw a lot of M1 Carbines, very distinctive with the cut slot through the but-stock. Looked new! how old is the ammunition.?
Click to expand...
Are you sure they weren't Mini-14's? I saw several pictures of them carrying those, but with the M1-style cut in the stock. They're easily distinguished by the barrel profile, magazine, and front sight.
 
Speaking of the FAMAS. How does that delayed lever blow back system work? From what I understand it has something to do with synchronizing the bolt and bolt carrier in time with each other. Anyone understand that system? Has it ever been used on other designs before?
 
"How does that delayed lever blow back system work?"

Uhm... Moderately well, from what I understand.

If by specifics, I think it uses the principal of the action having to overcome a mechanical disadvantage before it can cycle, which allows time for the bullet to leave the barrel and pressure to drop.

Apparently, though, the action does not like brass cases, so French military ammo is steel-cased. If brass cased ammo is used, it can result in the head being pulled off during extraction, leaving a case body in the chamber and resulting in a jammed gun.

According to Wikipedia, the other weapon to use lever-delayed blowback is the AA-52 machine gun.
 
"Can anyone else verify they are using .222? I assume that is .222 Remington?"

That's the first I've ever heard of the French rifles being chambered in .222. Given that French police have, for years, carried military weapons in military chamberings (MAS 36 rifles in 7.5mm, MAT 49 submachine guns in 9mm Parabellum, etc.) I can't see why there would be any concern about the rifle being chambered in a "military" round.

Granted, they supposedly chose the Mini-14 because it didn't look quite as martial, but I can't see that the cartridge would be a big deal at all.
 
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