FNH-USA has been a fountain of innovation lately, and the most recent addition is the FNAR tactical rifle,

semiautomatic .308 Win. developed for law enforcement.

hanks to the lessons learned in Afghanistan and Iraq, some manufacturers are starting to look at developing semi-automatic sniper rifles for military and law enforcement use. I recently got a first look at Fabrique Nationale Herstal USAs new law enforcement sniper rifle concept, the FNAR. Production models will differ from the prototypes you see pictured here. Rather than developing an entirely new design from the ground up, FNH USA has instead chosen to utilize Brownings BAR sporting rifle action as the basis for the project. The Browning Automatic Rifle (no relation to the famous military squad auto designed by John Moses Browning) was first introduced to hunters and sportsmen in 1967. An upper crust selfloading hunting rifle, the BAR has been chambered not only for short and standard length ammunition, but also magnum car-

tridges. Available in different grades, the BAR quickly became the self-loading hunting rifle of the more affluent. As Browning is part of the Fabrique Nationale family, it was a simple matter for FNH USA to utilize the BAR action as the heart of its new tactical rifle. Actually, the concept of a BAR sniper rifle is really nothing new. Years ago, the U.S. special operations community saw the need for a self-loading sniper rifle chambered for the long reaching .300 Win. Mag. cartridge. In response to this need, Arms Tech Limited of Phoenix, Ariz., developed a suitable rifle BAR-based rifle dubbed the Super Match Interdiction Rifle or SMIR. The 13.25-pound SMIR sported a heavy free-floating 26-inch long stainless steel matchgrade barrel, modified action and gas system all dropped into a McMillan synthetic stock. The end result was a conventionally laid-out .300 Win. Mag. sniper rifle capable of extremely fast follow-up shots. When Peter Kokalis tested one it proved capable of shooting into .7 moa when teamed with his handloads topped with 190-grain Lapua HPBTs. FNH USAs new AR is a bit more modern looking. Rather than chambering it in .300 Win. Mag., FN is introducing the AR in the classic .308 Win. Whether other calibers are added down the road remains to be seen, but I would love eventually to see a .300 Win. Mag. FNAR and perhaps one in .260 Rem.

The heart of the FNAR is a Browning BAR sporting rifle action. The sporting BAR has been around since 1967 and has been chambered both for standard and magnum calibers.

Two models will initially be offered, one with a heavy fluted match barrel and the other with a lighter tube. Both will be 20 inches long with 1:12 twist rifling and chrome lining. Initially these will mate into standard aluminum receivers. However, FNH USA plans to offer models with steel receivers down the road. The BARs basic operation remains largely unchanged. The bolt features seven locking lugs that rotate 60 to engage recesses in the barrel. The bolt rides in a compact steel carrier and is rotated by a cam pin after the carrier moves approximately 3/16" rearward. The spent cartridge case is withdrawn by a hook extractor on the right side of the bolt head and ejected by a plunger on the left. Operation is by a short-stroke piston system like the M1 Carbines. On firing, propellant gases pass through a port in the barrel and drive a captive piston rearward. This in turn impinges against a heavy inertia piece that connects to the bolt carrier by dual action bars. Gas pressure is regulated by a screw passing diagonally into the right side of the cylinder. FNH USA plans to feed the AR from 10- and 20-round detachable box magazines. These insert straight up into an aluminum magazine well. The magazine well attaches to the bottom of the receiver by two crosspins. Magazine release buttons are mounted on both sides for easy ambidextrous operation. The magazines with the two test rifles reviewed were obvious hand made/modified prototypes. They inserted easily in AR-15 style, with no rocking motion required to lock them securely into place. With a capacity of either 10 or 20 rounds, the FNAR will have enough rounds on board to handle any situation a LE marksman will likely ever encounter. The detachable magazines will also allow said marksman to easily change ammunition types, such as from a typical 168-grain match load to a dedicated barrier load for shooting through glass. The bolt-release lever is mounted at the right front of the receiver. After the last round of a magazine is fired, the magazine follower presses the lever up into engagement with the right

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ly, however as received both rifles had a large amount of copper deposited in the bore, so they had seen numerous rounds. Along with Angus Norcross, the owner of Angus Arms of Wiscasset Maine and former Maine State Service Rifle Champion, I put a few hundred assorted rounds through both prototypes. Loads included 147-grain NATO spec ball along with Black Hills Ammunitions 155-grain A-MAX, 168-grain and 175-grain HPBT match loads. All four loads fed, fired and ejected flawlessly in 20-30 temperatures. Ejection was between 2 and 3 oclock with empty cases landing approximately 3 feet distant when fired from the prone position. Firing off a Harris bipod attached with an ARMS mount revealed the FNAR to be light recoiling. Both rifles produced very fast follow-up shots when engaging multiple targets from both the supported prone and kneeling positions. The die-hard bolt gunners can say what they want while sipping their KoolAid, but a semi-auto like the FNAR is significantly faster when engaging multiple targets or on rapid follow-up shots. The only problem encountered during testing was accuracy. Both prototypes had been fitted with handmade wood stocks during preliminary testing. With the wood furniture the FN engineers were able to obtain groups of 1 moa or less. Just before they were shipped to me for review they were fitted with prototype synthetic butts and fore-ends. During testing, the heavy barrel model exhibited pronounced horizontal stringing while the lighter barrel model strung vertically. This occurred with every load tried and average group size can best be described as somethings wrong here. Norcross, who built M21 sniper rifles in a previous life and also worked the National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit gun truck at Camp Perry, quickly deduced the prototype fore-ends were the culprit. So I drove from Maine to FNH USAs headquarters in Virginia and had a meeting with the president of FNH USA and some of his staff on our findings. My thoughts on the FNAR? It is a very interesting concept that should prove very able when it reaches maturity. When the
Cont. to page 8

Thanks to a fairly short 20 inch fluted barrel (available in two weights) the FNAR is fairly compact and easy to maneuver. This counts more than pure accuracy potential.

The rails allow a marksman to easily mount mission essential accessories such as a sling, bipod, white light or IR laser/illuminator. The buttstock sports a full pistol grip and is adjustable for length of pull using spacers. It features a bolt-on cheekpiece to action bar, locking the bolt assembly open. Pressing the lever ensure a proper cheek weld. Additional cheekpieces of differing down disengages it, allowing the bolt to slam home. heights will be included with each rifle. Unfortunately, due to its sporting rifle heritage, this piece is a bit Due to the simple fact that both rifles I was allowed to handle on the flimsy side. were prototypes, actually the only two in existence, I cannot proThe trigger assembly, riding in a polymer housing, is removed vide carved-in-stone specifications for either model. Its simply by driving out a pair of crosspins. The trigger pull on both pro- too early to do that. As the design progresses certain things may totype rifles I handled was both fairly light and smooth and was change, so just be aware this is intended solely as a first look at well suited for its intended mission. The safety is a simple trig- what FNH USA will be bringing out sometime in 2008. ger-blocking crossbolt at the rear of the trigger guard. Although Will FNH USA actually produce this interesting new model? a bit stiff to operate on both prototype rifles, it was well placed Yes, they are hard at work on it. Can I provide a date of release, for a right-handed shooter. price or additional information on what production models will To allow easy mounting of optics, the top of the receiver fea- actually be like? No. tures a 1913 rail. Both test rifles had one of Leupolds fine 3.5However, I can provide a glimpse into how these two rifles 10x40mm LR/T tactical scopes mounted onto this in heavy duty handled and performed. With relatively short 20-inch tubes, both rings. No iron sights are offered, but the barrel is drilled and models are fairly compact with an overall length well suited for tapped for an additional 1913 rail to be mounted near the muzzle the LE role they are intended to fill. As LE shots are typically if iron sights are desired. less than 100 yards there is simply no need for a longer 24- or Unlike Arms Tech Limiteds custom rifle built using a one- 26-inch barrel, especially in a rifle chambering the .308 Win. piece McMillan stock, the FNAR utilizes a two-piece synthetic cartridge. Mobility is far more important. stock. The fore-end features short 1913 rails at 3, 6 and 9 oclock Regarding weight, even with its fluting, the heavy barrel with a sling/bipod stud mounted in the 6 oclock rail. model is on the porky side. While muzzle heavy, it proved very stable on the bipod or off bags. The lighter barrel model proved much handier, yet still sufficiently heavy to be stable enough for its intended mission. The pistol grip feels good in the hand, even while wearing gloves, and indexes the trigger finger properly in relation to the trigger. This is a shortcoming of rifles using standard M16A2 pistol grips that tend to index too close to the trigger for shooters with average or large hands. With a low-mounted scope, the cheek rest provided a solid repeatable cheek weld. You wont need to carve up a GI sleeping mat to obtain a good cheek weld with the FNAR. Rounds loaded easily into the handmade prototype magazines, which in turn locked solidly in place with a simple upward push into the mag well. Rounds chambered smoothly and reliability was flawless. As these were proShown here in its light barrel configuration, the FNAR sports 1913 rails on the totypes, I did not shoot them extensivefore-end to allow easy mounting of accessories like tactical lights, lasers, etc.

The buttstock features a full pistol grip that is nicely contoured and fits the hand well. Also note the conventional pushbutton safety and magazine release button.

The buttstock features different height cheekpieces and spacers to adjust length of pull. The butt is also slotted to accept a sling. It has most features police require.

FNH USAs new FNAR

Cont. from page 5

Heres a look at the light barrel. Both barrels offered are match grade and feature a recessed target crown. Barrels are also drilled and tapped at the muzzle.

Strong points of the design? Compact, reliable, high magazine capacity, very fast follow-up shots, very easy to engage multiple targets with, comfortable to shoot and easy to operate. It will be interesting to see how FNH USAs new AR turns out. The accuracy requirement for this design is to group into 1 moa maximum, and they plan on it doing quite a bit better than this. I look forward to having a chance to test a production model when they become available. In the big picture I feel FNH USA is ahead of the curve and we are likely to see additional companies offering semi-automatic precision rifles in the future. Not to be outdone, FNH already has plans for a military grade semi-auto sniper based upon their SCAR-H. Perhaps the bolt-action tactical rifles unchallenged reign is finally coming to an end. The red headed step-child of US military sniping Although semi-automatic sniper rifles are hardly new in the United States, they can best be described as the red headed stepchild of the sniper community. For decades the Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle, for good and bad, has reigned supreme as the precision rifle of choice for both the U.S. military and law enforcement. A simple and easy-to-accurize sporting rifle, it was originally fielded by the USMC in Vietnam merely because there was nothing else available. Winchester, the USMCs first choice, had just ceased production of the pre-64 Model 70. So the USMC procured Model 700s, in the form of the original M40, from Remington for service in Vietnam. Adoption by the USMC eventually led to the United States Army adopting its own version of the Model 700, designated the M24. With both USMC and Army fielding Model 700-based sniper rifles it was only a matter of time before this model became the law enforcement standard. Without a doubt, it has gone on to perform well in the LE role. The Remington does have several strong points; chiefly its relatively inexpensive, capable of excellent accuracy when properly modified, is easy to work on and has a host of high-quality parts and accessories readily available. This means it is relatively simple for your average gunsmith to build an extremely accurate rifle using a Model 700 action. However, as good as a tuned Remington 700 can be, it will never be anything more than a 1960s-vintage bolt-action sporting rifle at heart. Despite being the darling of American shooters, there are more modern bolt-action rifles better suited for military sniping than either the M24 or M40 family. One example is Englands Accuracy International AW which was built from the ground up specifically for hard military use.

The FNAR utilizes the BAR sporting rifles well-proven short-stroke gas system. This design is similar in some respects to the one that was used in the M1 carbine.

The heavy barrel model is noticeably larger in diameter. Both barrels are fluted to reduce weight and feature 1:12 inch twist rifling to accommodate most bullet weights.

accuracy issue is resolved it will offer LE marksman a viable alternative to the traditional bolt-action tactical rifle. Downside in my opinion? Its sporting rifle heritage means it is not as robust as a military arm, as is apparent in relatively lightweight parts like the bolt release. Its harder to field-strip than something like an M4. I would also like to see the muzzle threaded for a flash/sound suppressor or muzzle brake. Lastly, I am not fond of two-piece stocks on precision rifles and would have employed a one-piece design that allowed the barrel to be free-floated.

Another is Sakos well-respected TRG series. Military sniping has continually evolved since the 1960s with sound suppressors, modern day/night optics, detachable box magazines and larger caliber rounds coming into play. As technology continues to progress Model 700 based systems become ever more dated looking. In addition, recent combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has brought semi-automatic sniper systems back into vogue. While semi-automatic sniper rifles are hardly new to the U.S. military, they fell out of favor decades ago with the demise of the M21. In reality though, the problems the U.S. military encountered with semi-automatic systems was in large part its own doing. Historically the U.S. military has placed very little emphasis on either sniping or sniper equipment. Rather than develop proven military-grade equipment specifically for sniping, the U.S. military has preferred to suddenly come up short while engaged in a protracted conflict. It then simply bought commercial off-the-shelf items that were available in sufficient quantities to meet its needs. This happened during World War II, Korea, Vietnam and we are seeing it again today. Rather than fielding the best, the military simply fields whatever it can buy. There is no doubt that the M1 Garand rifle was the finest battle rifle fielded during World War II and Korea. However, it made for a very poor sniper rifle. The issue scopes were not only of poor quality and low magnification but they were also awkward to use, due to being offset to the left of the receiver. In addition, accuracy of the M1C and D sniper rifles was less than spectacular unless they were brought up to National Match

The 10- and 20-round magazines supplied with the prototype rifles were handmade. FNs magazine (center) is seen alongside the magazines for the G3 (l.) and M14 (r.).

Fortier and shooting buddy Gus Norcross found both prototypes handled well, were very comfortable, offered fast follow-up shots and proved reliable in 20 weather.

The 10-round magazine protrudes quite a bit less from the aluminum mag well. The release buttons are bilateral, while the bolt release is on the receivers right front.

FNH USAs new FNAR

First the USMC and then the Army replaced their self-loading sniper rifles with Model 700-based boltactions like this M40A1 seen in Beirut in the 1980s. (USMC photo)

The first real test of the M40A1/A3 and M24, though, didnt come until the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. It didnt take long, especially in the target-rich The U.S. military is no newcomer to self-loading sniper rifles, having fielded M1 environment of Iraq, for the Garands. While a great battle arm, the M1 was a poor foundation for a sniper rifle. inherent weakness of a fiveshot hinged-floorplate boltaction rifle to appear. standards. If a rifle was accurized to National Match standards it Soon semi-automatic M14s, with whatever mount and optic then required a fairly skilled armorer to maintain it at that level. units could be found, were being put back to work. Although not All in all the M1C and Ds made poor sniping rifles and any as inherently accurate as an M40A1 or M24 (especially at long success American troops had is more a testament to the man range), the M14 was found to have other virtues. The ability to behind the rifle rather than the rifle itself. quickly engage multiple targets and suppress enemy fire; along The M14-based M21 sniper rifle, on the other hand, per- with its high magazine capacity and ease of reloading, all formed well in Vietnam and racked up impressive kill ratios. trumped straight accuracy 90% of the time. When teamed with the then state-of-the-art AN/PVS2 night After years of idleness, the U.S. military had suddenly vision sight and early Sionics sound suppressors, the M21 made relearned the simple fact that most military sniping takes place both the VC and NVA fear the night. However, like the M1Cs inside of 600 yards, with a surprisingly large amount inside of and Ds, the M21 had some significant weak points. 400 yards. At these distances the M14 performed well. First off, the Leatherwood Adjustable Ranging Telescope Were these cobbled-together M14s and left-over M21s per(ART) gave problems and proved inadequately rugged for mili- fect? Hardly, but they are respected and liked by the men who tary use. The scope mounts also gave their share of headaches as carry them. During my time in Iraq I interviewed numerous well. In addition, due to its National Match-type bedding, M21s snipers from a wide array of units and almost all of them prerequired the careful attention of a skilled armorer thoroughly ferred a semi-automatic for their bread and butter work. familiar with this system. Lastly, but also quite important, the To be honest, I am not surprised by this. Years ago I heard the M14 was designed as an infantry rifle. Due to this the issue very same comments made regarding sniper rifles from Russian stocks provide more of a chin weld rather than a proper cheek snipers who had served in Chechnya and Afghanistan. weld when using an optical sight. In my opinion the U.S. military, and especially the LE, sniper Eventually the lessons of Vietnam were forgotten and the community is not only narrow, but often, closed-minded. Army grew tired of the problems associated with the ART-topped However, its obvious that there has been an awakening due to the M21. It wasnt long before they began lusting after the long ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Long ignored words of range accuracy of the Marine M40A1. As to be expected, a short men like Special Forces and Vietnam vet Chuck Karwan (who time later the Army had a new girl, in the form of the bolt-action worked on the M21 project) have been validated once again in M24. combat. Throughout the rest of the Cold War U.S. Army and Marine The recent adoption of the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper snipers were quite enamored with their issue sniper rifles and System shows the U.S. military has optics. They were, after all, simple to maintain, fairly rugged and realized the potential of semi-autoquite accurate out to 800 yards or so. matic sniper rifles and is moving in Not only that, but the USMC Unertl and Army Leupold M3 the right direction. Is the M110 the scopes were a significant improvement over the older Redfields answer? Time will tell, but I doubt it. and Leatherwoods previously issued. The SR-25 has always had problems

regarding reliability. Hopefully the U.S. military will eventually adopt a reliable semi-automatic rifle designed from the ground up specifically for military sniping, like the Russians did 44 years ago.

Sources
FNH USA (703) 288-1292 / www.fnhusa.com Angus Arms Co. gusnor@roadrunner.com / www.angusarms.com Black Hills Ammunition (605) 348-5150 / www.black-hills.com Leupold (800) 538-7653 / www.leupold.com

ON THE

COVER
FNH USA has concocted a new application for the proven BAR sporting semiauto, transforming it into a FNAR, a tactical rifle aimed at law enforcement users. The cover gun, in .308 Win. with 20-round magazine, is fitted with a Kahles L312 3-12x50 scope in Precision Reflex 34mm rings. The ensemble is camouflaged in DuraCoat in the Belgian pattern. Photo by David Hicks.

The Vietnam-era M21 sniper rifle was based on the M14. While effective, its chief drawback was the failure-prone Leatherwood scope/mount and fragile glass bedding.

Combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq has led to a resurgence of interest in self-loading sniper rifles like this M14 mounted in a modern stock. (U.S. Army photo)