Famas

[Krechnek]

.....comparing to others, what do you who have used it think about it in all. Practical? Wheaterconditions? Dirt? Better, worse etc...?

[Eagle eye]

.....comparing to others, what do you who have used it think about it in all. Practical? Wheaterconditions? Dirt? Better, worse etc...?It's a bit of a toy gun compared to the FSA and SLR with 7,62mm cartridge, that is, a smaller recoil. The SA80 has an excellent sight as a permanent infantry fixture which the FAMAS does not have.
The main FAMAS innovation was the ability to change cartridge ejection between left and right. The plastic cover of the ejector window came off very easily so it was better to keep it in yer pocket rather than be charged for losing it. It also has a grenade launch fixture but it uses the main barrel unlike the M16 grenade launcher which is a separate fixture and can be used at the same time. I never used this fixture though I shoot with M16s a few times in Beirut courtesy of the Lebanese Army.

All in all, I'm afraid I'd prefer the M16 with sight and grenade launcher..

Another FAMAS innovation was that its canvas strap harness allowed for it to secured to your body while shooting. This innovation was adopted in other NATO rifles.

[Eagle eye]

Thanx Eagle!
You didnt think that the M16 felt a bit "plastic"?
Buy the way - your inbox is full again ;)In the 5 ,56mm range, it's the best in the recoil/weight ratio but it doesn't have the range/accuracy/killing power of a 7,62mm rifle like the SLR....my twin cents...

[jock]

SLR = 300m as an individual weapon, 600m as a section weapon .
Its approx 30 years ago since I was first told that on a wet windy corner of a sports field overlooking the river EXE at the commando training center Lympstone .

Now I feel old :(

9.9lbs with magazine
Muzzle velocity of 1840 m per sec per sec
4 different ways of opening a beer bottle ( bayonet lug, cocking handle, magazine release catch and shooting the top off )

It felt like a 'real ' weapon and being non-automatic encouraged proper fire discipline .

ahhh pass me some Linseed oil to nourish the weapons wooden ;) furniture

[Darkwolf]

What you guys think of the steyr AUG? Irish Defence Forces issue.....never used any other myself but I loved it! Older serving guys also preferred it compared to the FN that it replaced.
RE:Jock on not using automatic-Irish forces are trained not to use automatic fire from a steyr, the Defence Forces even hold the patent on an "automatic lock-out" they designed as that weapon has no fire selector for single or auto, it is all "trigger" controlled.

[Martin Scott]

Personnally i prefered the SLR ,but give me a GPMG anyday of the week for firepower.

[BobW]

Bonjour Jock,

I believe linseed oil - and also anhydrous graphite - are now in the history books of the Atlantic Alliance militaries.

You did bring back some memories.

Saluations,
BobW

[ranger]

what do you guys think of the HK G3 :confused:

[Eagle eye]

Never had a chance to fire it...
Talking M16s, when you fire its grenade launcher, do you also need a blank cartridge or is the grenade firing mechanism entirely separate from the main barrel mechanism ?

[BobW]

Bonjour Eagle Eye,

The M16 model(s) with the tube attached for firing grenades, actually launches a grenade by the grenade's own propulsion. It's really a separate unit hooked onto the M16.

It was the M14 and M1 Grand rifle (and the carbine series) that required a blank cartridge to propel the grenade.

Saluations,
BobW

[Eagle eye]

Thanks, BobW,
Additional question: how accurate is the M16s grenade aiming mechanism ? If accurate, all the more reason for a similar mechanism for the FAMAS. In castel, I had great fun with the FSA grenade aiming mechanism..just training grenades though no bang at the end just smoke...

[BobW]

Bonjour all,

It is interesting to note the military philosophy, personal philosophy and personal preference on rifles.

We can see many militaries using the 5.56mm (.223 cal) cartridge. Note that many (includes me!) prefer the larger size cartridges.

Now the breakdown;

There are line troops, special operations troops and all the rest of the categories. This can be broken down even more, eg mech (motorized) infantry distinguished from "foot" infantry; parachutist special operations units distinguished from eg recon units; and in the "other" category everything from aircraft maintaince personnel, communications personnel, etc.

Other than the military's requirement, when there is an option, one factor is weight. If in a type of unit that walks a lot, eg strolls through parks, scenic valleys, etc, and resupply is a term meaning you are already carrying it, the 5.56 wins out frequently.

For those not involved in hikes, the larger calibers are the winners.

It is the large caliber weapons that can penetrate basic military body armor. The 5.56 and even the Kalashnikov 762x39 don't work that well.

I remember learing something from an old timer regarding aircraft. The philosophy applies to rifles.

"The B-29 will get you home faster but the B-17 will get you home more often."

Just an opinion....

Saluations,
BobW

[Chris_Lee]

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[Eagle eye]

Agreed plus scope allows to use it as a pair of binos: this is the case with the SA80.

Can you PM me with answer to preceding question on the accuracy of M16 grenade launcher ?

[Mick]

My Fav was the SLR......with it you don't pop a disc when you have to do bayonet training.....unlike the steyr you need to be as flexible as to a ground target trust....bloody short arses had no problems but! I had a carbine steyr....which is even shorter plus the bayonet lug was mount on a 45 degree angle which made things fun as well. The steyr is not a bad bit of kit apart from the safty......that push through system sucked.....may times you would find it set to instant after slinging it and doing an obs coarse or the like

[BobW]

Bonjour all,

Re: scopes

A major determination - if not THE major determination - is the type of unit one is with, a line unit or a special operations unit.

In line units scopes and night vision gadgets can prove not to be worth their weight, in literal terms. At night, football fields have less illumination than what the flares produce. For line troops, the night vision stuff must wait for darkness.

For special operations, the situation is, of course, different.

There is a LOT of overlap in my above breakdown. Just want to establish reference marks for a point.

SIDEBAR: PM sent to Eagle Eye.

Saluations,
BobW

[Darkwolf]

When a man goes down usually one to two soldiers will try to help him. So you have effectively taken three troopers out of actionBringing back memories of our weapons lectures....we were advised to shoot people in the stomach to mess up their medical and logistics system.
Mick-Irish Naval Service considering replacing the AUG with the Police version with it's shorter barrel for ship-boarding actions.

[californiajai]

Well, i've used a fair amount of weapons in my time and service. When it comes to deciding what rifle is best, i look at the mission at hand. Depending on the mission parameters, like is it CQB, is it in harsh environments, or what type of resistance will we encounter, all these things will factor in on my decision making in regards to what rifle to take (if given a choice). There are times i'm going to want a FAMAS, there are times im going to want a SPAZ shotgun, or an HK MP5sd, or even a SAW (MINI). I'm not partial to AK-47 because too many are cheap Chinese nock-offs but an AK-74 possibly. A FN/steyr could be nice but i believe it's a little to long, same as with the M-16 A2. but the Paratrooper model the FN FAL 50.63 is not bad at all. Some USA police units use a sawed off version of it called the DSA-580. Another good rifle "That never made really" is the G-11 h&k. AR-15's are nice, ahh but then there is the M4A1 SOPMOD, very special indeed. Of course if your in the mood to touch someone from a far off distance then what about the US Ranger SR-25 (also a version exsists for the Navy). Or even the graet XM -109 firing the "Cargo round"!!! But alas lets not forget the FN-SCAR rifle, but most of these rifles are 5.56, why? Because if im in a combat area and im throwing some lead down range at the evil ones and i happen to run out of ammo.....I want to be able to pick up any magazine and feed the hunger of my rifle. Almost all rifles in any Modern nation now use 5.56 some where in the main stream of forces, meaning plenty of ammo for everyone! If you ever run out of ammo (and in long fire fights this will occur) then you will want a 5.56 rifle too. just my two cents though guys. Really i have got to like the FAMAS cause ill be using her again soon.

On a side note do any of you Ancien Repmen remember the crossbows we used or is it just me? ( i might have asked that question before sorry, im getting old).

mle 187-828

[FallenOne]

Here is a page that has info on a lot of diffrent weapons. The link I am posting sends you to the page on the new us special forces weapon the FN SCAR it is going to replace the m4 with special forces because they did not want to use the m8 because it is a pussies weapon :)


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[sikter]

I'd go for a 7.62 anytime.
It runs through a bearded "falcon" mtf like thorough a butter.


If that dont help there's allways 10th floor of Holiday Inn.
......fly baby fly
cheers, all of you.


damn those birds....

[Chris_Lee]

Agreed plus scope allows to use it as a pair of binos: this is the case with the SA80.

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[Mick]

Bringing back memories of our weapons lectures....we were advised to shoot people in the stomach to mess up their medical and logistics system.


Mick-Irish Naval Service considering replacing the AUG with the Police version with it's shorter barrel for ship-boarding actions.

If it is the para version...with the non moveable forward hand grip....tell them to issue a glove...bloody thing heats ya hand after awhile...I got my hands on one from the kiwis...I think it was! Hmmm.....interesting.....but my main problem with AUG/F88 is the saftey catch....push through sucked.....as for the singlr shot lock out we have them on ours....pain in the ass too pull out but then again we only used it on the range so ya don't stuff up ya score! I think the kiwis had a two stage saftey (safe,single shot,auto) ours was done to training ya finger to not go auto.....many tried and failed! Great weapon in design...looks weird....but piss easy the strip, fix, teach/learn to shoot with. My old carbine worked better when it was dirty.....pull the barrel through,wipe the bolt face, shake out the dirt in the trigger mech, give it a few drops of oil to the bits that needed it....wipe the exposed bits with my old shaving brush/oil brush....then she was good to go......ne more thing I didn't like was the optic sight....1.5 and it was fixed so no chance to change over to a night/more suitable sight.....Now I believe the new A2 versoin has had some improvments done to it!