AK5(FNC)

[reconsweden]

Ok, here we go......
Since we use a modified FNC as our standard AR I want to hear some of your opinions. I have some experience with the M16 so comparisons are appriciated.
BTW, our AR have single/auto instead of single/burst and the trigger guard is modified so that you can fire with gloves on(you know why that is...), some modifikations to the front handguard, minor mods to the sight.
Just to spare some questions here is what we´ve got.
The current versions include:

5,56 mm "Ak 5B". An "ak 5" with a 4 power telescopic sight. It is used by squad sharp shooters. http://www.fmv.se/index.asp?K=005011001002&L=UK

40 mm single shot grenade launcher for ak 5. International nomenclature: Colt "M203". An add-on weapon for ak 5. It is used by the ranger units of the army, navy and air force. http://www.fmv.se/index.asp?K=005011001004&L=UK

Ranger units have since the introduction of the ak 5 rifle requested a shorter and handier carbine version. Delivery of this new version will start in 1999. The carbine is an ak 5 with a rail and a shorter barrel. It will be designated ak 5D. http://www.fmv.se/index.asp?K=005011006&L=UK

Under Development.... http://www.securityarms.com/galleryfiles/24.htm

Oh, and JY, I meant answer your post in MG but my computer seized up and i didn´t have time to retype the whole thing but I would like your opinion on Arctic perfomance on the M16/M4.

I might be a bit partial......
Swedish soldiers think that the M16 feels like a toy gun and this is not critisism, but just what some soldiers I´ve talked to said. Might be because it´s light and the clips should hav Handle With Care written on them. And JY, no soldier I´ve talked to have had that problem with the clip, it might just be that clip.

This is no "we are better than you" discussion, I just want your opinions and will offer mine.



[This message has been edited by reconsweden (edited 11-25-1999).]

[veil]

Having held & fired the FNC once in my life, and doing both with the c7 every day, i think i can join in this discussion also http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

What i liked about the FNC was its folding stock, absolutely one of the best stocks ever, and the overall solid feel of the gun. Like you could bash in a tank with it, holding the gun by the barrel.

Bad points of the C7 IMHO are the thin handguards, mine allready overheat after 3 30-round clips, the fact that the A1 version has no iron backsights but an Elcan (a terror in urban terrains & dense forests)and the small trigger area. Hard to use with big gloves on.

Good parts on the "ar15" side are accuracy, ease of handling and light wight. The FNC was a little awkward, though better on full auto.

Just my 2MOA cents.

-Veil

[JY]

Hi reconsweden;

I have used the M16/M4 family in combat and in climates from the arctic(N slope of Alaska) to the jungles and desert. As long as it was maintained I have had no malfuntions that could be attributed to the weapon, some ammo problems yes, but not the weapon. Our M4A1s are safe, semi, and full(not burst) the 3 round burst is limited to regular units not SOFs.

A lot of the bad press about the M16 stems from it's early years when the ammunition was switched to a new ball form, this caused heavy fouling in the gas tube and bolt carrier causing the weapon to jam. this was solved by the chrome plating of the bolt, bolt carrier assembly. This has since been not needed as the powder now used does not foul as the old. The bolt forward assist was not designed into the weapon because of this, it was made for silent closing of the bolt after stream/water crossings. The reason being the small .224 bore will pull water into the barrel by capillary action(this applies to all 5.56mm cal. weapons), so uppon exiting you are trained to gently pull the charging handle to the rear a short distance to allow air to enter the chamber with the muzzle down to drain any water that may have entered. The you push the bolt forward assist forward to lock the bolt back in place.

The magazines are some what weak but function as advertised, have seen some with heavy dents in them still funtion. I do like the FN steel magazine, but they are heavy when packing 12-24 of them(we carry a heavy ammo load, less food and such) plus a C-Mag at times so the aluminum mags are better for us. The problem I mentioned were on FN produced mags when the weapon first came out, the floor plate could be pushed up on one end allowing the magazine spring, follower and ammo to exit the bottom, not a thing conducive to a long life. Trust that FN has modified this fault and hope FVV never had it.

I have used the FNC and found it to be a fine weapon in most respects(liked it enough to buy one) have to agree with Veil about the folding stock, with one complaint, the button that must be pushed to unlock it, would rather see this changed to the system as used on the Galil. The other minor complaint is the dust cover on the bolt way, it's rather weak and does not protect the bolt itself. Also not a fan of stamped receivers on a weapon that may be used in close combat.

Given the choice between the two I'd take my M4A1 any day, might be biased too 8), I've learned to trust the weapon under fire, and it's proven itself to me in combat as a strong reliable weapon thats kept me alive through it.

Always glad to talk with you, also that you have faith in your weapon that's important, hope your's takes as good of care of you as mine has for me. Take care...Jim

[reconsweden]

This will be a short one gotta get my gear together...

Well, first of all, I like the AK5 because it keeps going under all conditions, wich means that even a sloppy soldier(have commanded those...) can keep it going under any circumstanses and with the two gas modes that means that you know it will fire when you been lying in the snow at -40C waiting to ambush. The stock is the best I ever felt and the whole weapon is real sturdy. But one the other hand most other AR´s weigh less but I think that once you get used to it´s worth it. The clips that you use probobly(?) wouldn´t survive the handling we give them but that is based on my short experience with them so I(almost) trust JY on their performance. The gear I trust has been tested, by me under my conditions.....
Yes the clips are heavy but I´ve gotten used to then so when I pack 16 of them my only concern is where to put them. Since we often move with heavy packs plus radio´s,FN MAG, ammo boxes(1300-1500rounds)and sometimes even a carl-gustav AT weapon and ammo the clips are a minor concern weight wise.
Still like the M16 because it´s damn accurate and I think I´ll like the M4 even better but don´t know now since I haven´t got any trigger time with it.
Gotta go, appriciate the reply´s.

A Swedish Recon Sgt