slopes cut in the bolt cqrrier, perform the lockins ond the unlockinqof the bolt.

The bolt is recessed on its upper sicie to toke the front lug olthe bolt corrier, this ollows the bolt cqrrier to corry the boltreqrwqrds when recoiling.

At the reqr the bolt hos o flqi surfqce which beqrs qgqinst

the lockinq shoulder locoted in the receiver, in order to lock themechqnism.

The lirinq pin ond its sprine ore kept in position by theextroctor spring stud engqging in the slot cut in liring pin reqrend.

The firinq pin sofety stop prevents the protrusion of the firinqpin unti l the bolt is properly ]ocked.

The bolt cqnier, qgcrinst which strikes the reqr end of thepiston rod, is fitted ot its Iore end whith o Iug which cqrries thebolt recrrwqrd os soon os the slopes hove perlormed the unlocking.

Evierncllw the bolt cqrrier is Iitted with two quidine ribs ond! ^ r v r 1 r s r l I

with the operoting hondle. In the top of the bolt cqrier is thereturn springs housing.

3. RECEIVER COVER AND SIGHT COMPONENTS(Plote X)

Components

65 Receiver Cover.66 Return Sprinss Guide ond Cover Lockinq Key.67 A Inner Return Spring.67C Inner Return Sprine Guide.67D Outer Return Sprine.70 Bolt Corrier Cotch.7I Bolt Cqrrier Cotch Stop.72 Bolt Cqrrier Cotch Sprino.73 Sisht Leo{.74 Reor Siqht Aperture.75 Reor Siqht Aperture Adjustins Screw.76 Reor Siqht Leof Sprinq.77 Reor Sisht Slide.78 Reor Siqht Slide Lock.79 Reor Siqht Slide Lock Sprinq.

l 4

7? I g ' zs j? l73 .

79 1qD

7s I zo

--) 6s1106

7 ' I E F -

67 . f , 67C 67A' l 0 -

7 l -

67D

plate X.

The Receiver cover houses the retum springs cnd their suide,the receiver cover locking key ond the bolt cqrrier cqtch. On the topof the cover is the reqr siqht bose which supports the sisht lecrf, withthe reqr sisht slide ond the reqr sight operture. The lore end olthe receiver cover is recessed to toke the clip when the cqrtridgesqre introduced in the mqgqzine.

15

39 o, 239 S

4 l l

{0 I

\

Ert

Ioa

46F

ri232A I

I

,rII

36

f,

-u2

44

45A458

3 1 4 o r 2 3 1 4 .

Il' ,ro1

*'g43C o

I"-,, I

t

k

"l58 r

\1I

348 -

I35

5 l

4. TRIGGEN GUARD AND TRIGGE? MECHAMSM

P la te X l

1 6 -

Components

30or'" 2303 I

3 1 Aor

' , 23lA3 1 B3 I C34J4A

3483536

38

39or

,, 239404 I424343A43B43C4445A45B465 15253545556

58" 2324,, 2328" 232C

Trigger Guord.

Hommer, complete.

F{ammo" J - .^ .1 . '

Hqmmer SprincJ Guide.Hommer Sprinq Guide Axis Pin.H n - - o " q ^ ' i - ^

u P l r r r Y .

Hqmmer outer Spring.Hqmmer inner Spring.Hommer Axis Pin.Trigger.Trigger Sprinq.Trigger Sprinq Piunger.

t "I AUXlt lOry beor.

IAuxiliory Seor Sprlno.Auxiliory Seor Spring P1unger.Trigger Axis Pin.Bolt Stop, complete (Holdins Open Device).Bolt Stop Body.P ^ l + Q + ^ ^ Q ^ - ; ^ ^l v r r u r v P u P r r t r v .

Bolt Stop Wqsher.Boit Stop Retqiner.Bolt Stop Retoiner Plunger.Bolt Stop Retoiner Plunger Sprinq.Sofety, complete.Ejector.Mogozine Cotch.Mqgqzine Cotch Sprinq.Mqsqzine Cotch Axis Pin.Triqger Guord Front Screw.Trigqer Gucrd Center Screw.Trigger-Guord Recr Screw.Trigger Guord Screw Siop Screw.Automotic Fire Lever Body.Automqtic Fire Lever Arm.Automotic Fire Lever Arm Plrrncror

* Components used lor rilles ollowing single shot ond 1ull qutomqtic lire.

t7

" 232D Automqtic Fire Lever Arm Stop.* 232E Automqtic Fire Lever Stud." 232F Automqtic Fire Lever Lockins Screw.

The Trigger gucrrd is fixed to the receiver by meons of threescrews ond stop screws.

The trigqer guqrd holds the hommer ond its springs, ihehommer spring suide (which olso qcts os o cocking indicotor), thetrigger, the trigger spring ond the trigger spring plunger. Thetrigger guord clso holds the quxlliqry seor, its spring ond itsspring plunger ond the sofety. In the cqse o{ rifles designed toIire crutomoticolly the trigger guord olso holds the qutomqticIire iever.

In the front of the trigger guqrd is the mogqzine housing. Inits middle port the trigger guqrd holds the mqgqzine cotch, itssprino, the bolt stop ond its sprlng ond the ejector.

5. STOCK - HANDGUARD(P lo te X l l )

Components

B5Aor

" 2B5AB5BB5E85FB6AB6BB6CB6DB6E87B889B9AB98B9C90

STA. IBSTA. I9

Stock.

Trigqer Guord Reor Screw Bushinq.Recoil Lus.Recoil Lus Nut.T { ^ - ^ - , , ^ " ^ R . ^ ^ . , / tr r s r r u Y u u r u , - v u r \ ! p o I I S / .

Hqndguqrd Front Cop.Handguord Front Cop Rivet.Hondsuord Reor Cop.Hondsuord Reor Cop Rivet.q+^^L tr-,.l 1-^^u r v L l l r l u v u P .

Stock End Cop Screw.Lower Bond ossembly.Lower Bond Bodv.Lower Bond Screw.Lower Bond Screw Retoining Collor.q . ^ r i . 1 6 l n n m n l a i o

v v r r r P r v L v .

Swivel Plote ond Butt Plote Screw.Swivel Piote Pin.

18

* Components used Ior rilles ollowing single shot ond full outomqtic lire.

frr - 88

CBeB.c.{ *

858-

85Ao r

285 A

85Fo

r 858

STA 20

STA 2?

& -aqa

STA 18

. - r b r -A18

STA 26

Pla te X l l

t9

STA.20 Swivel Plote.STA.27 Swivel.

** 5TA.26 Butt Plote, Stondord Tvpe.

** For steel butt plole with trop ond brqss butt plote with lrqp see Plotes

X l l l o n d X I V

STEET BUTT PTATE WITH TBAP

Pla te x l l l

Componenls

STA.5I Butt Plote with TroP.STA.52 Butt Plote TroP.STA.54 Butt Plote TroP Pluneer.STA.55 Butt Plote TroP Sprins.

b

STA 54

C ,

STA 55 flSTA 52

STA 5I

20

BBASS BUTT PI.ATE WITH TBAP

EF

STA 35 STA 35 STA 32

€

STA 3I STA 33

Plate XIV

Componeuls

STA.32 Butt Plote.STA.33 Butt Plote Trop.STA.34 Butt Plote Trop Pivot.STA.35 Butt Plote Trop Sprins.5TA.36 Butt Plcte Trop Sprinq Screw.

The stoc&, in one piece, is mqde of wqlnut qnd consists olthe fore-end ond the butt.

The fore-end is fitted ot the front to hold the ccrp, ond recessed{urther bock for the lower bond. Undemeoth, the butt is fitted withthe butt plcte, which is secured by meons of two screws.

The stock is grooved to toke the borrel, the receiver, the triqqersucrrd, the mogqzine qnd the recoil luq. The housing of the reorscrew of the trigger guqrd holds o bushins.

The top of the borrel is covered with a hondguord fitted withq front cup ond ct reqr cqp. The reqr orsp is secrted in q recessprovided in the front end of the receiver. The hcrndqucrd. in rwopieces, is secured of its front end by Lhe front end ccrp, in themiddle by the lower bqnd qnd qt the reqr by the receiver.

For ri{les used by snipers the stock con be fitted with o cheekpiece which is secured to the stock by mecms of screws.

2 l

606 l

6. MAGAZINE WITH MAGAZINE FOTLOWERAND FOLTOWER SPRING

Plate XV

Componenls

Mqgqzine Assembly.Mogqzine Foilower.Mqgozine Follower Sprine.

The Mcgczine holds l0 cqrtridqes qnd cqn be removed Irom

the ri{le. Irr lront it is held in position in the trigser quord bY

meqns of o hook, ond ot the reor by the mqgqzine cqtch'

The Iollower spring roises the cortridses, through the mqgqzine

ioilower.

22

STA.STA.

7. ACCESSORIES SIIPPUED ON SPECIAT BEQI'EST

Plate XVI

Lisl oI Accessories

Boyonet.Scobbord.Muzzle Broke.Blonk Firins Attochment.Bqrrel Cleqner.Bqrrel Cleoning Brush.Chomber Cleqnins Brush.Cleqner Cqse.SIins.

2s035064445

50793

N. B. - The key 50t is supplied with eoch rifle it is used forqdjustement ol the gqs.

I50t

fl507

-

n| I2 503

ISTA 44

a/ \s06

23

HOW THE F. N. SETF.LOADINGRIFIE WORKS

The gun being reqdy for firinq the qction on the triggerreleoses the hqmmer. Under the tension ol its sprinos, the hommerstrikes the firins pin, which in turn strikes the primer ol the cqrtridgeond ignites the powder chqrge.

Ist. phose. - The bolt opens under lhe action oI the gcs.

A smoll qmount of gqs escopes throush o port bcred in thebcrrel ond posses in the gos cylinder where it klcks ihe piston bock.The piston drives the bolt cqrrier bcck. The bolt corrier unl.ocks thebolt ond pulls it upwords to the reor. The extroctor, which fits to thebolt, drqws the empty shell out of the chomber. When the emptycqse is completely disengoged from the chomber its bottomstrikes the ejector which ejects ii to the right out o{ the gun. Inits bockword motion the bolt cqrrier cocks the hqmmer ondcompresses the recoil springs.

2d. phose. - The bolt is closed under the tension oI recoil springs.

As for ony weqpon firing with closed bolt, os soon os thebolt corrier hos completed its bockwqrd motion, the recoilsprings drive it Iorword. The bolt cqrrier itself forces the boitIorword. The bolt drives o cortridge ohecd out of the mogozineond pushes ii into the chqmber. The bolt is then locked downwordsin the receiver by the oction of the bolt cqrrier.

DETAITS OF OPERATION

1. THE ENGINE

In oddition to the borrel (lA), the components of the ensineore : the sos cylinder (lB), the piston (12) ond its sprins (13), thesos cylinder plug (8) ond the scs odjustinq sleeve (6).

Single shot ccrd full crulomctic lire

In the F. N. Self-Loodinq Rifle, the utilizotion of sqs presentsseverql outstonding feqtures :

24

Fiq. l .

o) Short gcs cylinder. - The sos cylinder (lB) is q veryshort tubulor element, eosily cleqned, olter the scs cylinder plu'gond the pision hqve been removed. As experience hqs shown thqtthe gqs octed on the piston in the woy of q hqmmer blow, withoutony exponding, the lonq cylinders which were generqlly used ingqs operqted rifles, hqve consequently become useless.

b) Gas escqpe. - After they hove octed in the woy of q blowon the piston, the gos escqpe outside through o slot (A) locqted ontop of the front end of the gqs cylinder.

The hondicop ol the gos operoted weqpons beinq the louling,the qdvqntqge of this sos escqpe system is the permcnentsweeping outwqrds of the combustion residues.

c) Gas regulcrtion. - The size of the slot lor the escqpe ol gqs

ond its locqtion qre such, thot when it is completely open thepressure exerted by the gqs on the piston is insu{ficient to operstethe mechqnism. Thqt is the point where the regulqtor intervenes'The requlqtor is built from q simple threcded sleeve (6), screwedqround the gqs cylinder. When the sleeve is screwed in, theopening for gas escqpe decreoses ond consequently the thrust ofthe gqs on the piston is growins, q good lunctioning of the rifle,without undue fqtigue for the mechqnism, is thus ensured. Thegos requlqtion is cqrried out by the mqnufqcturer, when the rifleis ossembled. It moy not be chonged by the soldier. The regu-Iqtor hcs therelore been intentionolly locoted under the hondguord'On the other hond, it is c very eosy tosk Ior the qrmourer to refixthe gos regulotion if, eventuqlly, onother requlqtion hos to beqdopted, either in order io use q lot of speciql qmmunition, or touse the rifle in q country in which the otmospheric conditions qre

completely different.

25

d) Independence oI the piston. - The piston 02) ond the boitcqrrier (27) o,re locoted in cr strqight line, wiihout ony connection.The return of the piston is performed instontly under the octionoi its own spring (13) without the interlerence of ihe return sprlngs.it is owins to this orisinql Jeqture thot it is possible to IoLd thegun the sqme wqy cs o repeotinq rifle.

Repecrting lire

Turnins 180' the oos cylinder pluq (8A), cuts the inlet ol thegqs. The piston does not trqnsmit ony thrust on the bolt corrrer.The rif le cqn then be used like o repeoter by pull inq the boltcorrier bv hond.

2. HOW THE OPENING AND THE CLOSINGOF THE MECHANISM IS OPERATED

The components qcting in this phose qre : the receiver (lSA)or (215A) the bolt (2t), the bolt cqrrier (27) or e27), the returnspring (674 - 2 pieces - ond D), the cover (65).

The bolt cqrrier (27) or (227) moves olong the receiver 05A)or (215A). It is pushed reqrwords by the piston 02) ond is forcedforwords by the 2-piece return sprinq (67,\). The bolt is in one pieceond its positive locking is perlormed when its {Iot surfoce qt thereor is in llne with the lockinq shoulder mqde in treoted steel ondpressed in the receiver qt the reor of the mogozine. The respectivemotions of the bolt ond of the bolt cqrrier qre controlled osio l lows:

When the cqrtridse is firedrockins position A ond is Iocotedsur{qce B of the bolt cqrner.

(positron 1), the bolt is in itsin this position by the contqct o{

The opening opercrtion moy be schemed in three phqses:

26

Fie. 2.

First Phase (position I to position 2): Breqk ol contqct of thesurlqce ot B. The bolt is still locked (A) while the pressure inbqrrel is dropping.

Fiq. 3.

Second Phase (position 2 to position 3): Unlockinq of themechqnism. The contqct between surfqces C lorces the bolt up.

n

Fiq. 4.

lbird Phcrse (position 3 to position 4) : Direct openins. Thebolt ond the bolt cqrrier qre trqvelling together reqrwqrds owingto the contqct of surlqces F.

When the ports ore stopped ot the reor, they qre in position 4,the double retum spring is compressed.

Posi t icn 4

Fis. 5.

The closing ol the psslmir6 moy be schemed qs belowin 3 phqses:

Fourlh phcse (position 4 to position 5) : Closinq of the mechq-nism. The bolt cqrrier pushes the bolt lorwqrds owing to thecontqct of surfoces G tiil the bolt is stopped by reor end of thebqrrel.

2 8 -

Posit icn

Fiq. 6. .

Filth Phcse (position 5 to position 6): Lockins ol the mechq-nism. At this moment the slope H forces the reqr port of thebclt downwqrds, in the lockinq position.

Sixth Phcrse (position 6 to position l). Confirmqtion of theIocking. The bolt cqrrier continues its movement forwqrd ond thebolt is mqintcrined in the locking position by the surlqces B.

Functioning by hcod

The repeoting cycle is identicql with the qutomqtic cycle.Insteod to receive the thrust of the piston, the bolt cqrrier is operotedby hqnd.

F i g . 7 .

29

3. FEEDiNG - EXTRACTION - EiECTION

The odditionol ports qcting in this phqse qre : the extrqcror(22) ond the ejector (51).

o) Exbcrdion oI the ccse. - The extrqctor which is Iitted onthe riqht side o{ the bolt performs this operotion by direct extrqctionfor the withdrowol of the cqse (see qbove : 3d phose - position 3 toposition 4).

b) Eiection. - The ejector is ol the fixed type ond is Iittedin the trigger guqrd ot the reqr of the mogozine. It protudes in ogroove cut qt the Ieft ond in the underside ol the bclt. At the endoi the reqrwqrd motion (3d phose), the cqse strikes qgoinst theejector ond being compelled to pivot qround the extrqctor is ejectedrightwqrds.

There exist other types ol ejectors but the type choosen {orthe F. N. rifle hos the qreot qdvqntqse to help the shooter to knowhow his ri{le is working, qs the ejection occurs neorly ot the endol the trqvel ol the bolt to the reqr ot the moment when its is qtthe point to be stopped qgqinst the reqr woll of the receiver.

( ^.-

\ \

- l - l=-.' : \ -

i t\.f

-\

Ii '"o

Fiq. 8.

A violent ejection shows thot the recoil motion develops otq too greot velocity ond with q needless violenoe to performthe functionins, with the consequence thqt the weqr qnC teor ofthe mechcnism is cmplified. Thqnks to the reqrulqtor, it is then

\.../i l

30

very eosy to ensure, with c thorough knowledqe of the where-obouts o perfect Iunctioning of the ri{le.

\Mith ejectors which ore l l i ted elosticoliy on the receiver thiscqnnot be reqched.

c) Introduction ol cr ccrtridge.'- The bolt hos two ribs on its

lower side, these ribs' when the bolt is closing (see qbove

4th phose, - position 4 to position 5) push olternotively the leftor the riqht side cqrtridse directly into the chomber.

As soon os the cortridge ]eoves the l ips ol the mogozine, itis cousht by the extroctor qnd moves with the bolt. This chqroc-teristic, tqken lrom the best repeoters, presents severol odvontoges :

1. The double ieedins is impossible ;

2. The extroctcr is spored, becouse it hos not to go over therim ol the cortridge qs it is the cose when the cqrtridge is {irstintroduced into the chqmber.

3. The closing is smoother. It ousht to be mentioned thot theclosing is only due to the energy stored during the recoil in thesprings ond not to o positive mechonicol oction.

4. HOW THE FIRING ACTION WORKS

For ri{ les fir ing only single shot, the fir inq oction is I itted inthe trigger guqrd (30) ond consists ol :

- The hommer (31A) with its sprinss (34A-B) ond its guide(3lB) which serves olso os o cocking inciicqtor.

- The trisger (36) which serves os the principol seor'

- The reor hook octing os the ouxiliory seor (39).

- The sofety (46).

The firins of the cortridge occurs by meons of q {iring pin (in

two ports) (24-28) housed in the bolt.

The chorqcteristics of the mechonism qre qs lollows:

J I

Fis. 9. Fiq. 10.

Acton of rifle fuing ody single shot lire.

o) Sepcccrtion of the shots in single shot lhe. - The devicewhich qllows to lire exclusively shot by shot, hcs been tqken overfrom qn outstgnding weqpon (The Browning crutomqtic shotqun).Since more thon 50 yeors it ensures o perfect functioning to thispopulqr gun.

The hqmmer (3lA) is forced bqckwqrds by the recoil of thebolt cnd bolt carrier ond it is in ony cose cought by the doublehook, which is mode up by the lront end of the trigger qctinsqs the mqin seqr (36) ond by the linked hook octing qs theouxilicry secr (39).

Indeed if, per chcnce, owing to the elfect o{ the recoil the{inger of the shooter hqs left the trigger ot the moment the hqmmeris sent bqckwqrds, the hqmmer is directly ccrusht by the moinseor (36). If on the controry, which is generolly the cqse, the triqqeris still depressed by the linger, the hqmmer is ccrught by thecruxilicry seor (39) which hqs been put on its woy by the motionof the trigger. The hommer is cqught in this position qs long qsthe trigqer is depressed. In order to fire the next shot one hos lirstto releqse the trigger. - The hommer is then releqsed by the cruxi-Iicry seor (39) but is qt once qnd uncrvoidobly cqught by the moinsecr (36). To {ire ogoin one hqs to depress the trigger once more.

32

E L q . t z ,

Action of rille liring single shol crnd full qutomcrtic lire

For rilles oble to shoct either single shot or lull outomotic fire, the lollowingpqrts ore designed qs to deliver this kind ol firing, their item number ore

ihen qs follows :Auxiliory seor (39) superseded by ouxiliory seor (239);

Hommer (3I A) superseded by hommer (231 A) ;Receiver body (15A) superseded by receiver body (215A);

Bolt corrier (27) superseded by bolt carrlet (227\;

Trigger guord (30) superseCed by trigqer quord (230);

Stock (85A) superseded by stock (285A).

Further on the iollowing ports ore used :Sofety seor (216A);Solety seor spr ing (217);Automotic Iire lever (232).

See these componenls cn fig. ll ond 12 os well os the secti.Jnol view oi weoponqt the end oi this pomPhlet.

I r orrohi { r r r thermore to be not iced thot :r ( v q Y r r r

I" The weqpon being on sofety, with the trigger locked, the

cocking of the rifle by hond is possible owing to the ovoi slot (A)

ol the hommer, which is consequently oble to move lonqilucinollY.

2" If the Iinger depresses the triqger qt the moment the hqmmer

returns bqckwqrds qny shock to the finger is prevented owing to

the elcsticity ol the ]inkose ol the quxiliory seor.

b) Double pull. -- This is the result of the oction of the suxiliory

seqr spring which resting qgqinst the trigger cooperqtes with the

triqqei spring qnd gives the shooter the {eeling ol o . double pull '

motion.

- 3 3