Spanish FR-7 Pictures

Texas03A3 · 06-30-2009, 05:08 PM

Took some photos of my FR-7 recently and thought I would share them.
It's such an interesting little rifle--glad I grabbed one when they first started being imported.
I think I paid $65, but then had to replace the bolt, shroud, safety, ejector/housing, and magazine follower.
And buy a bayonet, of course.

I've shot it a few times, but not recently.

ArkansasHunter · 06-30-2009, 05:13 PM

Never heard of them. It's a good looking rifle. The action looks like a Mauser action, is it ?
As much as I serf gun shops on the net, this is the first I've seen. What caliber is it ?...Thanks...A.H

Big Dog · 06-30-2009, 05:18 PM

Cool! They are nice little rifles. I have the FR8 and it's my favorite Mauser to shoot.

GlockMeister · 06-30-2009, 05:58 PM

They're both interesting and good looking rifles. Bet they're also fun to shoot.

And like A.H., I've never heard of them either...

PSLMAN · 06-30-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

Never heard of them. It's a good looking rifle. The action looks like a Mauser action, is it ?
As much as I serf gun shops on the net, this is the first I've seen. What caliber is it ?...Thanks...A.H

The FR7 is 7X57mm Mauser and the FR8 is 7.62X51mm.

I had two different FR8s that I sold-like an idiot!

jimkim · 06-30-2009, 06:51 PM

From what I remember the FR-7 has the 1893 "small ring" action and the FR-8 has the 1898 "large ring" action. It's been a while, but I think that was right.

Texas03A3 · 06-30-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PSLMAN

The FR7 is 7X57mm Mauser and the FR8 is 7.62X51mm.

If you look at the receiver photo you'll see it says "Cal7.62", which is why I posed it on that particular ammo can.
FR-7 was made from 1916 small ring actions, while the FR-8 used 1943 large ring actions.

Surplus Rifle's History Page

PSLMAN · 06-30-2009, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas03A3

If you look at the receiver photo you'll see it says "Cal7.62", which is why I posed it on that particular ammo can.
FR-7 was made from 1916 small ring actions, while the FR-8 used 1943 large ring actions.

Surplus Rifle's History Page

Well I'm no expert and wasn't really trying to sound like one but I read somewhere, either in Mauser rifles of the world or on the internet, that the FR-7 was chambered in 7x57mm Mauser and I simply assumed they all were.

As I said I once had a pair of FR-8s but I've never seen an FR-7. That site makes no mention of the different caliber so maybe I was quoting bogus info. Whatever the case I learned something new today.

Big Dog · 07-01-2009, 07:29 AM

FR-7 was made from the M1916 and other small-ring Spanish Mausers - which began as 7X57 but some M1916 were rebarreled to 7.62X51. To my knowlege, ALL FR-7 and FR-8 rifles are 7.62X51, as they were used for Interim Training/Familiarization to get the troops used to the coming CETME and many were used by police units.
I load light 7.62/.308Win for my M1916 small-ring rifle just to be safe, but the FR-8 can take full-power loads. The FR-8 was developed from the M43 Mauser in 8X57mm.
All my Spanish Mausers have bent bolt handles, but most seem to use the straight bolt handle. The Spanish favored the Turkish Walnut wood, so some can show some really beautiful stocks.

PSLMAN · 07-01-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Dog

FR-7 was made from the M1916 and other small-ring Spanish Mausers - which began as 7X57 but some M1916 were rebarreled to 7.62X51. To my knowlege, ALL FR-7 and FR-8 rifles are 7.62X51, as they were used for Interim Training/Familiarization to get the troops used to the coming CETME and many were used by police units.
I load light 7.62/.308Win for my M1916 small-ring rifle just to be safe, but the FR-8 can take full-power loads. The FR-8 was developed from the M43 Mauser in 8X57mm.
All my Spanish Mausers have bent bolt handles, but most seem to use the straight bolt handle. The Spanish favored the Turkish Walnut wood, so some can show some really beautiful stocks.

Ok so the original rifle was a 7X57mm Mauser that was rebarreled to 7.62 NATO and then designated FR-7. Hence the source of my confusion.

I haven't messed with an FR-8 since '98 or '99 my memory is a little rusty. I could have misread the info but what are the chances of that happening, lol!

Thanks for setting me straight guys.

twtalbot · 07-01-2009, 08:17 AM

Sweet rifle. I like the sights; is that where the "familiarization with CETME comes in?

blaster · 07-01-2009, 08:58 AM

does the gas tube under the barrel have a function or is it just ornimental to make it look more like the Cetme?

PSLMAN · 07-01-2009, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaster

does the gas tube under the barrel have a function or is it just ornimental to make it look more like the Cetme?

It's a compartment for the pull through cleaning kit and you could also store the sight adjustment tool there as well. Other than that I'm unsure why it was installed.

Texas03A3 · 07-01-2009, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blaster

does the gas tube under the barrel have a function or is it just ornimental to make it look more like the Cetme?

It's the bayonet mount.

blaster · 07-01-2009, 05:05 PM

cleaning kit compartment, bayonet mount, other rifles have them without adding that much steel. I think I guessed right, to get the troops used to seeing a rifle with a gas tube. they do look cool though. I also wished I would have gotten one when they were cheap.

Dakoma · 07-02-2009, 01:37 AM

Yep! Me too,did'nt ever get a close up look at one.Got some nice wood and a cool look to them.

millwright39 · 07-02-2009, 05:45 PM

Texas-Nice FR !!! I also like your pictures nice clear and sharp!

Texas03A3 · 07-03-2009, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by millwright39

I also like your pictures nice clear and sharp!

Thanks for noticing--I shoot with my cameras WAY more than I shoot my guns these days.
Until ammo prices start making sense again I'm going to carefully conserve my supply, and making portraits is free and fun.

06-30-2009, 05:08 PM	#1
Texas03A3 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 13	Spanish FR-7 Pictures Took some photos of my FR-7 recently and thought I would share them. It's such an interesting little rifle--glad I grabbed one when they first started being imported. I think I paid $65, but then had to replace the bolt, shroud, safety, ejector/housing, and magazine follower. And buy a bayonet, of course. I've shot it a few times, but not recently.

06-30-2009, 05:13 PM	#2
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 18,445	Never heard of them. It's a good looking rifle. The action looks like a Mauser action, is it ? As much as I serf gun shops on the net, this is the first I've seen. What caliber is it ?...Thanks...A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

06-30-2009, 05:18 PM	#3
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 14,118	Cool! They are nice little rifles. I have the FR8 and it's my favorite Mauser to shoot. __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

06-30-2009, 05:58 PM	#4
GlockMeister Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 10,792	They're both interesting and good looking rifles. Bet they're also fun to shoot. And like A.H., I've never heard of them either... __________________ "The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." "Edmond Burke"

06-30-2009, 06:51 PM	#6
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 4,683 Blog Entries: 18	From what I remember the FR-7 has the 1893 "small ring" action and the FR-8 has the 1898 "large ring" action. It's been a while, but I think that was right. __________________ The bigger the government, the smaller the individual. I'm on Facebook. Jim Kimmons

07-01-2009, 07:29 AM	#9
Big Dog Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tallahassee, Florida Posts: 14,118	FR-7 was made from the M1916 and other small-ring Spanish Mausers - which began as 7X57 but some M1916 were rebarreled to 7.62X51. To my knowlege, ALL FR-7 and FR-8 rifles are 7.62X51, as they were used for Interim Training/Familiarization to get the troops used to the coming CETME and many were used by police units. I load light 7.62/.308Win for my M1916 small-ring rifle just to be safe, but the FR-8 can take full-power loads. The FR-8 was developed from the M43 Mauser in 8X57mm. All my Spanish Mausers have bent bolt handles, but most seem to use the straight bolt handle. The Spanish favored the Turkish Walnut wood, so some can show some really beautiful stocks. __________________ "A bold spirit embiggens the smallest man!" Jebediah Springfield

07-01-2009, 08:17 AM	#11
twtalbot Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Louisiana Posts: 494	Sweet rifle. I like the sights; is that where the "familiarization with CETME comes in? __________________ My rifle and pistol are only tools. I am the weapon.

07-01-2009, 08:58 AM	#12
blaster Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: big pine key, florida Posts: 1,559	does the gas tube under the barrel have a function or is it just ornimental to make it look more like the Cetme? __________________ peace through superior firepower

07-01-2009, 05:05 PM	#15
blaster Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: big pine key, florida Posts: 1,559	cleaning kit compartment, bayonet mount, other rifles have them without adding that much steel. I think I guessed right, to get the troops used to seeing a rifle with a gas tube. they do look cool though. I also wished I would have gotten one when they were cheap. __________________ peace through superior firepower

07-02-2009, 01:37 AM	#16
Dakoma Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southeast Tennessee Posts: 1,255	Yep! Me too,did'nt ever get a close up look at one.Got some nice wood and a cool look to them.

07-02-2009, 05:45 PM	#17
millwright39 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 520	Texas-Nice FR !!! I also like your pictures nice clear and sharp! __________________ Pheasants Forever Iowa PF