Fr8

[Bret4207]

Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Spanish FR8 308 Mauser? For $100.00 how wrong can I go?

[Mk42gunner]

Bret,

Going from memory here, it's been about 15 years since I saw one of them. I believe the FR8 is a Spanish large ring 98 that was conerted to mimic the CETME. I think it would be a great little rifle for cast; the one that I held in my hands was awful light, but it could have been an FR7.

What I remember most was the fugly peep sight welded to the rear receiver ring. It did give a good sight picture.

For a hundred bucks, I'd go for it.


Robert

[Bret4207]

Thats the critter. So fugly it's cute. What a tractor gun! Of course I have about 10 other tractor/truck/trunk/rainy day/beater rifles, but I don't have one of these. Hmmmmmmm.....

[oso]

I'd go for another one! My only complaint is the straight bolt handle interferes with the sight picture between shots. My wife likes it better with the custom rubber but pad I fitted.

[dmftoy1]

I'd buy one for $100 and not look back.

I think the only "negative" I've seen is that they say you should shoot 7.62 x51 but not .308 Win Commercial because of the potential differences in pressure. For a cast boolit shooter it would make no difference.

[crazy mark]

Bret,
Great rifles and they are a large ring Mauser. Really nice muzzle flame. I let an old codger friend talk me out of it. I had found a nice 1912-61 I had to have worse at that time that had a 2 groove barrel. It's like having a M-44 or M-38 that shoots standard 7.62 NATO. $100 is dirt cheap now days. Mark

[KYCaster]

Well, I don't want to sound like I'm nit pickin' or anything, but the 308Win and 7.62X51 weren't even around when those Spanish Mausers were built. They were chambered for 7.62CETME, which has quite a bit lower max pressure than the other two.

But, then, I've fired a few surp NATO rounds in FR7's and FR8's with no problems. And just think of all the Swedes that have been converted to 22-250. Just understand what you have. I think its misleading to call 'em 308's.

Jerry

[Dutch4122]

The bore on my FR-8 slugs at .309"

Word is very few of them slug at .308" but tend to run .309" or .310"

Just thought I'd pass that along.:)

[crazy mark]

Well, I don't want to sound like I'm nit pickin' or anything, but the 308Win and 7.62X51 weren't even around when those Spanish Mausers were built. They were chambered for 7.62CETME, which has quite a bit lower max pressure than the other two.

But, then, I've fired a few surp NATO rounds in FR7's and FR8's with no problems. And just think of all the Swedes that have been converted to 22-250. Just understand what you have. I think its misleading to call 'em 308's.

Jerry

According to my sources the FR-7 was designed for the CETME round and the FR-8 was designed for the Nato round. The FR-8 was an interim rifle until the New CETME semi-auto was up and running. Lots of varying info on this. The FR-7 is a small ring mauser while the FR-8 is a large ring Mauser. I have an 1916 Mauser that was converted to 7.62 but it is fed a diet of low pressure cast loads. The 7.62 NATO was adopted by the US in 1954. It had been tested for several years. A lot of the FR-8's have 1953 on up manufacture dates. Mark

[35 Whelen]

Anyone have anything good or bad to say about the Spanish FR8 308 Mauser? For $100.00 how wrong can I go?

If you don't want it for $100, I'LL take it!!!
I'm understandably biased towards my FR-8:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/FR-8.jpg

http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h6/308Scout/FR8groups1a-1.jpg

That group on the left was fired with a 311291 hollowpoint cast from ACWW with 20 grs. of 2400. My daughter killed her first three deer with the pictured rifle and that cast bullet load.

35W

[mtnman31]

I love mine. My only complaint was that the rear sight was missing its detent ball and the sight disc has a tendancy to turn on its own. I just need to find a detent that fits and it will be good to go.

If you get it, save about 30-40 bucks for a bayonet. I am not a big bayonet collector but the FR8 bayonet is nice and looks good. it is the same bayonet as used on the CETME.

[Bret4207]

Got it. Hmmm, this one has a pistol grip and turned down bolt. Not like the picture.
Make sense?

[Dutch4122]

...................this one has a pistol grip and turned down bolt. Not like the picture.
Make sense?

Interesting, got any pictures?:)

[oso]

The bore on my FR-8 slugs at .309"

Word is very few of them slug at .308" but tend to run .309" or .310"

Just thought I'd pass that along.:)

Yep, mine likes that Lee C312-185-1R.

[joatmon]

Someone turned the bolt down for ya! 100.00 in my aera is a steel.

[Bret4207]

Pics? Someday.

[sturf]

they are chambered for 7.62 NATO. stamped on side of receiver.

[corvette8n]

Bret:
here is an article on 7.62 NATO vs .308 low recoil loads.

http://www.surplusrifle.com/shooting2006/308vs762nato3/index.asp

almost any rifle for $100.00 or less is a bargain today.
in my 7.62 NATO guns I use 10gr of Unique under a 150GR Lee fngc.
good plinking load.

[Bret4207]

Thanks guys. From what I can see in a large ring Mauser the 7.62 CETME/7.62 NATO/308 Win issue shouldn't BE an issue. Anyone know different?

[oso]

Got it. Hmmm, this one has a pistol grip and turned down bolt. Not like the picture.
Make sense?

Something is not making sense. The FR-8 has a palm grip on the stock and the barrel extends 5 5/8" past the front sight sight with the 2" flash suppressor threaded on. The rear sight is mounted on the round bridge just ahead of the bolt handle recess. There is a 3/4" x 3 1/2" tube under the barrel for the cleaning kit that extends to the front sight with a 3/4" cap extending past the front sight mount. The FR-8 Bolt handle is originally straight. From what I can see 35W's picture looks like a Guardia Civil 1916 Mauser.

[Bret4207]

oso- Your description sounds like my gun, except the bolt handle is bent, that could be after market as the original sling swivels are gone and QD types attached.

[oso]

Sounds like an even better deal, but you might want to check the head space (I would if the number on the bolt handle doesn't match the number on the receiver.)

[mtnman31]

My FR8
http://www.hunt101.com/uploads/30197/FR8.jpg

[EMC45]

The turned down bolt is indicative of an FR7. The FR8 has the straight bolt. Both are great guns!! I have read and been told that the FR7s are a little weaker than the FR8s. No worries though, all I shoot out of mine is cast. Jacketed loads are brutal!! I got mine (FR8) for $77 OTD at a local pawn shop. Saw one recently on a local forum going for $400! Sights are regulated WAY high. I cut my front sight out and drilled it for a Decapping pin. Saw that trick on surplusrifle.com. It worked! BTW I slugged the bore on mine and it came up .308 and it is like a mirror!! There was no brass marks anywhere inside the gun, none on the bolt face, follower. feed ramp etc. I believe mine was unused! did a little stoning on the trigger, because it was gritty and heavy. It shoots very tight and loves the cast bullets! Congratulations Bret!!:-D:-D

[twotoescharlie]

well, fellers I've got one also. anyone want share loads for cast boolits as I have never shot cast in this rifle.

TTC

[Bret4207]

From the brief assessment I made, (how hard do YOU look at a $100.00 gun?) This is an FR8. Large ring, marked FR8. I'm not all that concerned since this will be a one load rifle if my plans work out. Either the RCBS 180FN or Lyman 311290HP if it shoots to sights, or the Lee Soup Can or 311359 if that works better. I think I have a 150 gr Loverin too.....dang, I gotta catalog my moulds.

Anyway, it'll be a one load gun for the tractor, woods walking, etc.

[EMC45]

TTCharlie, I use 13 gr. Unique in my loads. It is a 160 gr. Lee GC bullet. I also am going to try RedDot, GreenDot, 2400, 800X, and some others. It's just the Unique shoots very well.

[Bret4207]

Mtmans pic is my rifle with, only mine has the turned down bolt handle.