
I am doing research for a project on the FNC1. Trying to nail down years in service with the CF. PPCLI RHQ has 1955-1988 (makes sense as Reg Force Combat Arms switched to C7 in 87/88 - that's when I first got issued the C7). The Queens Own Rifles website/history indicates the started transitioning to C7 in Jan 1990. I have also "heard" the last Reserve Units switched finally in 1992. So years in Service I have is 1955 to 1992?
Can any of the "old hands" confirm or deny?
The FN has a manual gas regulator, with settings from 1 to 10. Properly adjusted, the kick was greater than a C7, but not excessive.I'm surprised to hear about the kick from the 7.62x51.
Ive hunted with .308 most my life and never really flinched at the recoil. But perhaps my Win M70 is just that much of a better quality.
The FN has a manual gas regulator, with settings from 1 to 10. Properly adjusted, the kick was greater than a C7, but not excessive.
Improperly adjusted , well, the kick was significant.
0-12 IRRC (plus the gas plug that could be set of grenade launcher) and no gas back or bleed off. (It’s been a while since I fiddled with one)The FN has a manual gas regulator, with settings from 1 to 10. Properly adjusted, the kick was greater than a C7, but not excessive.
Improperly adjusted , well, the kick was significant.
0-12 IRRC (plus the gas plug that could be set of grenade launcher) and no gas back or bleed off. (It’s been a while since I fiddled with one)
The other very significant issue was the stock.
The M16 series is a straight line recoil, straight line stock.
The FAL did not have straight line recoil (breach block and carrier moved straight line but the tail went down at a 25ish degree angle - and the wood stock was inlet — so you could end up eating the stock fairly unpleasantly if you had the wrong length of stock.
And the Chipmunk Cheeks became famous from it.
The CAF had 4 stock lengths (Short, Normal, Long and XL) , but very very few units ever actually fit the rifles to people.
I think how one feels the recoil of any rifle is a very personal thing. During my earlier FN days I felt the recoil wasn't that big a deal and always looked down at the folks who whinged about their shoulders and cheeks. (If you haven't noticed I'm very judgemental) A lot of the bad shooting in those days was from folks anticipating the shot and flinching with each trigger pull. One of my very early concentrations had me spend two weeks as the C2 man in a rifle section. A C2 on full auto is an interesting experience but not as demanding as a section commander who is constantly changing the C2 group from one flank to the other during an advance.I've never had one in my hands... So this is all very interesting.
I don't find the C7 has any kick at all... Or very little...
Moi with my FNC1 in 69.
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And range officers have been known to 'crank it up' when they handed you the weapon to see if you properly prepped it for fire. I never minded the recoil.Improperly adjusted , well, the kick was significant.
I have no clue which one the OPP had - I'll guess Normal, because they were issued to detachments, not members. Part of our range routine was standing fire, and smaller members, especially when female members began in the mid-'70s, had difficulty with weight and recoil on both the FNC1 and shotgun. For smaller members, the FN was long and heavy.The CAF had 4 stock lengths (Short, Normal, Long and XL) , but very very few units ever actually fit the rifles to people.