FR-8 Ammunition Choices

10CFR · May 10, 2001, 10:26 AM

I have posted several places regarding these little Spanish FR-8 carbines which are showing up here in the U.S. My friend has a couple of them.

From what I can gather, they are being marketed in the U.S. as .308 Winchesters and this could be a deadly mistake to shoot commercial .308 in them because of head space and pressures involved.

My friend has fired 7.62 NATO in them with no apparent problems. I personally would not fire anything but reduced handloads in one, and declined to shoot his with the 7.62 NATO rounds. Here is some of the info I've gleaned so far. Can anyone add anything meaningful to it?

http://www.gunsworld.com/spain/cetmefr8_us.html http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/html/the_fr-8_page.html http://shelfspace.com/~c-r-ffl/archi.../msg00597.html
http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/ht..._page.html
http://www.goags.com/~c-r-ffl/ar...00364.html
http://www.goags.com/~c-r-ffl/ar...00451.html
http://talk.shooters.com/room_27/Jul162000.cfm
http://talk.shooters.com/room_43/3728.cfm
http://oldguns.net/q&a2_97.htm
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...threadid=61277
http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...threadid=59883
http://www.angelfire.com/nt/cruffler/spanish_fr-8.htm
http://pub33.ezboard.com/ffirearmsfr...picID=30.topic

-10CFR

[Edited by 10CFR on 05-10-2001 at 11:53 AM]

Spectre · May 10, 2001, 12:05 PM

I've fired Winchester Supreme FailSafe 180's w/out any problem- aside from the usual blast!

Strayhorn · May 10, 2001, 01:22 PM

There was a discussion about these rifles and the proper choice of ammo on rec.guns about a year or so ago. Perhaps you can find it on the new search of Usenet archives at deja.com.

Use the advanced search and direct it to rec.guns.

I recall warnings, but can't remember what exactly they were. In any case, it would be wise to have the chambers and headspace checked.

Ken Strayhorn
Hillsborough NC

10CFR · May 10, 2001, 11:19 PM

Strayhorn, Spectre,

Thanks for the responses. Would it be possible for one to fail the .308 no-go headspace gauge and pass the 7.62 NATO gauge because of the small differences in case dimensions? (I am not a gunsmith or reloader)

-10CFR

James K · May 12, 2001, 09:29 PM

FWIW, I have not necessarily bought all the concerns about those rifles, but I think I would stick to milspec 7.62 or even lighter handloads. Even though the FR-8 was made from the Model 43, which is a Mauser 98 action designed for the 8mm (7.9), Spanish rifles are often soft and the Spanish 8mm was loaded more lightly than the German.

Jim

10CFR · May 13, 2001, 04:37 AM

Jim,

Thanks for your response.

-10CFR

May 10, 2001, 10:26 AM	#1
10CFR Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Posts: 351	I have posted several places regarding these little Spanish FR-8 carbines which are showing up here in the U.S. My friend has a couple of them. From what I can gather, they are being marketed in the U.S. as .308 Winchesters and this could be a deadly mistake to shoot commercial .308 in them because of head space and pressures involved. My friend has fired 7.62 NATO in them with no apparent problems. I personally would not fire anything but reduced handloads in one, and declined to shoot his with the 7.62 NATO rounds. Here is some of the info I've gleaned so far. Can anyone add anything meaningful to it? http://www.gunsworld.com/spain/cetmefr8_us.html http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/html/the_fr-8_page.html http://shelfspace.com/~c-r-ffl/archi.../msg00597.html http://www.storm.ca/~debin666/ht..._page.html http://www.goags.com/~c-r-ffl/ar...00364.html http://www.goags.com/~c-r-ffl/ar...00451.html http://talk.shooters.com/room_27/Jul162000.cfm http://talk.shooters.com/room_43/3728.cfm http://oldguns.net/q&a2_97.htm http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...threadid=61277 http://thefiringline.com/forums/show...threadid=59883 http://www.angelfire.com/nt/cruffler/spanish_fr-8.htm http://pub33.ezboard.com/ffirearmsfr...picID=30.topic -10CFR [Edited by 10CFR on 05-10-2001 at 11:53 AM]

May 10, 2001, 12:05 PM	#2
Spectre Staff Alumnus Join Date: October 23, 1998 Location: ATL Posts: 3,277	I've fired Winchester Supreme FailSafe 180's w/out any problem- aside from the usual blast!

May 10, 2001, 01:22 PM	#3
Strayhorn Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2000 Location: Central NC Posts: 339	There was a discussion about these rifles and the proper choice of ammo on rec.guns about a year or so ago. Perhaps you can find it on the new search of Usenet archives at deja.com. Use the advanced search and direct it to rec.guns. I recall warnings, but can't remember what exactly they were. In any case, it would be wise to have the chambers and headspace checked. Ken Strayhorn Hillsborough NC

May 10, 2001, 11:19 PM	#4
10CFR Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Posts: 351	Strayhorn, Spectre, Thanks for the responses. Would it be possible for one to fail the .308 no-go headspace gauge and pass the 7.62 NATO gauge because of the small differences in case dimensions? (I am not a gunsmith or reloader) -10CFR

May 12, 2001, 09:29 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	FWIW, I have not necessarily bought all the concerns about those rifles, but I think I would stick to milspec 7.62 or even lighter handloads. Even though the FR-8 was made from the Model 43, which is a Mauser 98 action designed for the 8mm (7.9), Spanish rifles are often soft and the Spanish 8mm was loaded more lightly than the German. Jim

May 13, 2001, 04:37 AM	#6
10CFR Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 1999 Posts: 351	Jim, Thanks for your response. -10CFR