slopes cut in the bolt cqrrier, perform the lockins ond the unlockinq

of the bolt.
The bolt is recessed on its upper sicie to toke the front lug ol
the bolt corrier, this ollows the bolt cqrrier to corry the bolt
reqrwqrds 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 the
mechqnism.
The lirinq pin ond its sprine ore kept in position by the
extroctor spring stud engqging in the slot cut in liring pin reqr
end.
The firinq pin sofety stop prevents the protrusion of the firinq
pin until the bolt is properly ]ocked.
The bolt cqnier, qgcrinst which strikes the reqr end of the
piston rod, is fitted ot its Iore end whith o Iug which cqrries the
bolt recrrwqrd os soon os the slopes hove perlormed the unlocking.
Evierncllw the bolt cqrrier is Iitted with two quidine ribs ond
with the operoting hondle. In the top of the bolt cqrier is the
return springs housing.
!^rvr

1rsrl

3. RECEIVER COVER AND SIGHT COMPONENTS

(Plote X)

Components
65
66
67A
67C
67D
70
7I
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79

l4

Receiver Cover.
Return Sprinss Guide ond Cover Lockinq Key.
Inner Return Spring.
Inner Return Sprine Guide.
Outer Return Sprine.
Bolt Corrier Cotch.
Bolt Cqrrier Cotch Stop.
Bolt Cqrrier Cotch Sprino.
Sisht Leo{.
Reor Siqht Aperture.
Reor Siqht Aperture Adjustins Screw.
Reor Siqht Leof Sprinq.
Reor Sisht Slide.
Reor Siqht Slide Lock.
Reor Siqht Slide Lock Sprinq.

'zs

7? I

j?l

73.
79

1
qD

7s I

zo

6s1106

--)

7'

EF-

67.f,

67C

67A

'l07l-

67D

p l a t eX .

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

15

4. TRIGGEN GUARD AND TRIGGE? MECHAMSM

314or 2314.

39o, 239S
4ll

{0 I

1
348

I-

u2
I
'l ,ro1 36
44

Ert

f,

45A
458

*'g

35
5l

43C o

I""l

58r

Ioa
46F

ri
232A
I
I

,,I ,rI
t

Plate Xl

16-

Components

30
or
'" 230
3I

Trigger Guord.
Hommer, complete.

31A
F{ammo"
J-.^.1.'
or
', 23lA
3 1 B Hqmmer SprincJ Guide.
3 I C Hommer Sprinq Guide Axis Pin.
q^'i-^
Hn--o"
34
uPl rrrY.
Hqmmer outer Spring.
Hqmmer inner Spring.
Hommer Axis Pin.
Trigger.
Trigger Sprinq.
Trigger Sprinq Piunger.

J4A

348
35
36
38

39
or It " AUXltlOry beor.
,, 239
40
Auxiliory Seor Sprlno.
4I
Auxiliory Seor Spring P1unger.
42
Trigger Axis Pin.
43
Bolt Stop, complete (Holdins Open Device).
43A Bolt Stop Body.
43B lPv^r lr+ uQr+v^P^ uQP^ r- r; ^t r^v .
43C Bolt Stop Wqsher.
44
Boit Stop Retqiner.
45A Bolt Stop Retoiner Plunger.
45B Bolt Stop Retoiner Plunger Sprinq.
46
Sofety, complete.
Ejector.
51
Mogozine Cotch.
52
53
Mqgqzine Cotch Sprinq.
54
Mqsqzine Cotch Axis Pin.
55
Triqger Guord Front Screw.
56
Trigqer Gucrd Center Screw.

58
" 2324
,, 2328
" 232C

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
* 232E
" 232F

Automqtic Fire Lever Arm Stop.

Automqtic Fire Lever Stud.
Automqtic Fire Lever Lockins Screw.

The Trigger gucrrd is fixed to the receiver by meons of three

screws ond stop screws.
The trigqer guqrd holds the hommer ond its springs, ihe
hommer spring suide (which olso qcts os o cocking indicotor), the
trigger, the trigger spring ond the trigger spring plunger. The
trigger guord clso holds the quxlliqry seor, its spring ond its
spring plunger ond the sofety. In the cqse o{ rifles designed to
Iire crutomoticolly the trigger guord olso holds the qutomqtic
Iire iever.
In the front of the trigger guqrd is the mogqzine housing. In
its middle port the trigger guqrd holds the mqgqzine cotch, its
sprino, the bolt stop ond its sprlng ond the ejector.

5. STOCK - HANDGUARD
(Plote Xll)

Components

B5A
or
" 2B5A
B5B
B5E
85F
B6A
B6B
B6C
B6D
B6E
87
B8
89
B9A
B98
B9C
90
STA.IB
STA.I9

Stock.
Trigqer Guord Reor Screw Bushinq.
Recoil Lus.
Recoil Lus Nut.
rrsrruYuuru

T{^-^-,,^"^

R
. ^ ^ . , /\ !t
,-vur

Hqndguqrd
Handguord
Hondsuord
Hondsuord

Front Cop.
Front Cop Rivet.
Reor Cop.
Reor Cop Rivet.

q+^^L
urvLl

tr-,.l

lrlu

poIIS/.

1-^^
vuP.

Stock End Cop Screw.

Lower Bond ossembly.
Lower Bond Bodv.
Lower Bond Screw.
Lower Bond Screw Retoining Collor.
q.^ri.16l

nnmnlaio

vvrrrPrv

Lv.

Swivel Plote ond Butt Plote Screw.

Swivel Piote Pin.

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

18

- 88

frr

CBeB.c.{ *

858 85F
o
85A
or

285A
r

858

STA 20
STA 2?

&

-a
qa

STA 18

STA 26
. -

r br-A18
P l a t eX l l

t9

STA.20
STA.27
** 5TA.26

Swivel Plote.
Swivel.
Butt Plote, Stondord Tvpe.

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

STEETBUTT PTATE WITH TBAP

fl

C,

STA 55

STA 54

STA 52
STA 5I

P l a t ex l l l

Componenls
STA.5I
STA.52
STA.54
STA.55

20

Butt
Butt
Butt
Butt

Plote
Plote
Plote
Plote

with TroP.
TroP.
TroP Pluneer.
TroP Sprins.

BBASS BUTT PI.ATE WITH TBAP

EF

STA 35 STA 35 STA 32

STA 3I

STA 33

Plate XIV

Componeuls
STA.32
STA.33
STA.34
STA.35
5TA.36

Butt Plote.
Butt Plote Trop.
Butt Plote Trop Pivot.
Butt Plote Trop Sprins.
Butt Plcte Trop Sprinq Screw.

The stoc&, in one piece, is mqde of wqlnut qnd consists ol

the 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 with
the butt plcte, which is secured by meons of two screws.
The stock is grooved to toke the borrel, the receiver, the triqqer
sucrrd, the mogqzine qnd the recoil luq. The housing of the reor
screw of the trigger guqrd holds o bushins.
The top of the borrel is covered with a hondguord fitted with
q front cup ond ct reqr cqp. The reqr orsp is secrted in q recess
provided in the front end of the receiver. The hcrndqucrd. in rwo
pieces, is secured of its front end by Lhe front end ccrp, in the
middle by the lower bqnd qnd qt the reqr by the receiver.
For ri{les used by snipers the stock con be fitted with o cheek
piece which is secured to the stock by mecms of screws.

2l

6. MAGAZINE WITH MAGAZINE FOTLOWER

AND FOLTOWER SPRING

PlateXV

60
6l

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

7. ACCESSORIES SIIPPUED ON SPECIAT BEQI'EST

I
fl

50t

507

n|I
2

503

I
STA 44

a
/\

s06

PlateXVI

Lisl oI Accessories

s03
506
STA. 44
STA. 45
507
93

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

N. B. - The key 50t is supplied with eoch rifle it is used for

qdjustement ol the gqs.

23

HOW THE F. N. SETF.LOADING

RIFIE WORKS
The gun being reqdy for firinq the qction on the trigger
releoses the hqmmer. Under the tension ol its sprinos, the hommer
strikes the firins pin, which in turn strikes the primer ol the cqrtridge
ond 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 the

bcrrel ond posses in the gos cylinder where it klcks ihe piston bock.
The piston drives the bolt cqrrier bcck. The bolt corrier unl.ocks the
bolt ond pulls it upwords to the reor. The extroctor, which fits to the
bolt, drqws the empty shell out of the chomber. When the empty
cqse is completely disengoged from the chomber its bottom
strikes the ejector which ejects ii to the right out o{ the gun. In
its bockword motion the bolt cqrrier cocks the hqmmer ond
compresses 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 the

bolt corrier hos completed its bockwqrd motion, the recoil
springs drive it Iorword. The bolt cqrrier itself forces the boit
Iorword. The bolt drives o cortridge ohecd out of the mogozine
ond pushes ii into the chqmber. The bolt is then locked downwords
in 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 ensine
ore : the sos cylinder (lB), the piston (12)ond its sprins (13),the
sos 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 presents
severql outstonding feqtures :

24

Fiq. l.

The sos cylinder (lB) is q very

o) Short gcs cylinder. short tubulor element, eosily cleqned, olter the scs cylinder plu'g
ond the pision hqve been removed. As experience hqs shown thqt
the gqs octed on the piston in the woy of q hqmmer blow, without
ony exponding, the lonq cylinders which were generqlly used in
gqs operqted rifles, hqve consequently become useless.
b) Gas escqpe. - After they hove octed in the woy of q blow
on the piston, the gos escqpe outside through o slot (A) locqted on
top 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 permcnent
sweeping 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 the
pressure exerted by the gqs on the piston is insu{ficient to operste
the mechqnism. Thqt is the point where the regulqtor intervenes'
The requlqtor is built from q simple threcded sleeve (6), screwed
qround the gqs cylinder.
When the sleeve is screwed in, the
opening for gas escqpe decreoses ond consequently the thrust of
the gqs on the piston is growins, q good lunctioning of the rifle,
without undue fqtigue for the mechqnism, is thus ensured. The
gos requlqtion is cqrried out by the mqnufqcturer, when the rifle
is ossembled. It moy not be chonged by the soldier. The reguIqtor hcs therelore been intentionolly locoted under the hondguord'
On the other hond, it is c very eosy tosk Ior the qrmourer to refix
the gos regulotion if, eventuqlly, onother requlqtion hos to be
qdopted, either in order io use q lot of speciql qmmunition, or to
use the rifle in q country in which the otmospheric conditions qre
completely different.

25

d) Independence oI the piston. - The piston 02) ond the boit

cqrrier (27) o,re locoted in cr strqight line, wiihout ony connection.
The return of the piston is performed instontly under the oction
oi its own spring (13) without the interlerence of ihe return sprlngs.
it is owins to this orisinql Jeqture thot it is possible to IoLd the
gun the sqme wqy cs o repeotinq rifle.

Repecrting lire
Turnins 180' the oos cylinder pluq (8A), cuts the inlet ol the
gqs. The piston does not trqnsmit ony thrust on the bolt corrrer.
The rifle cqn then be used like o repeoter by pullinq the bolt
corrier bv hond.

2. HOW THE OPENING AND THE CLOSING

OF 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 return
spring (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 forced
forwords by the 2-piece return sprinq (67,\). The bolt is in one piece
ond its positive locking is perlormed when its {Iot surfoce qt the
reor is in llne with the lockinq shoulder mqde in treoted steel ond
pressed in the receiver qt the reor of the mogozine. The respective
motions of the bolt ond of the bolt cqrrier qre controlled os
iollows:
When the cqrtridse is fired (positron 1), the bolt is in its
rockins position A ond is Iocoted in this position by the contqct o{
sur{qce B of the bolt cqrner.
The opening opercrtion moy be schemed in three phqses:

26

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

Fiq. 3.

Second Phase (position 2 to position 3): Unlockinq of the

mechqnism. The contqct between surfqces C lorces the bolt up.

Fiq. 4.

lbird Phcrse (position 3 to position 4) : Direct openins.

The
bolt ond the bolt cqrrier qre trqvelling together reqrwqrds owing
to the contqct of surlqces F.
When the ports ore stopped ot the reor, they qre in position 4,
the double retum spring is compressed.

Positicn 4
Fis. 5.

The closing ol the psslmir6

in 3 phqses:

moy be schemed qs below

Fourlh phcse (position 4 to position 5) : Closinq of the mechqnism. The bolt cqrrier pushes the bolt lorwqrds owing to the
contqct of surfoces G tiil the bolt is stopped by reor end of the
bqrrel.

28-

Positicn
Fiq. 6..

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

Fig.7.

Sixth Phcrse (position 6 to position l). Confirmqtion of the

Iocking. The bolt cqrrier continues its movement forwqrd ond the
bolt 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 operoted
by hqnd.

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 on
the riqht side o{ the bolt performs this operotion by direct extrqction
for the withdrowol of the cqse (see qbove : 3d phose - position 3 to
position 4).
b) Eiection. - The ejector is ol the fixed type ond is Iitted
in the trigger guqrd ot the reqr of the mogozine. It protudes in o
groove cut qt the Ieft ond in the underside ol the bclt. At the end
oi the reqrwqrd motion (3d phose), the cqse strikes qgoinst the
ejector ond being compelled to pivot qround the extrqctor is ejected
rightwqrds.
There exist other types ol ejectors but the type choosen {or
the F. N. rifle hos the qreot qdvqntqse to help the shooter to know
how his ri{le is working, qs the ejection occurs neorly ot the end
ol the trqvel ol the bolt to the reqr ot the moment when its is qt
the point to be stopped qgqinst the reqr woll of the receiver.

^.\\

-l-l=-.

':
it

\-

\.../il
'"o

\.f

-\

Fiq. 8.

A violent ejection shows thot the recoil motion develops ot

q too greot velocity ond with q needless violenoe to perform
the functionins, with the consequence thqt the weqr qnC teor of
the mechcnism is cmplified.
Thqnks to the reqrulqtor, it is then

30

very eosy to ensure, with c thorough knowledqe of the whereobouts o perfect Iunctioning of the ri{le.
\Mith ejectors which ore llited elosticoliy on the receiver this
cqnnot be reqched.
The bolt hos two ribs on its
c) Introduction ol cr ccrtridge.'lower side, these ribs' when the bolt is closing (see qbove
4th phose, - position 4 to position 5) push olternotively the left
or the riqht side cqrtridse directly into the chomber.
As soon os the cortridge ]eoves the lips ol the mogozine, it
is cousht by the extroctor qnd moves with the bolt. This chqrocteristic, 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 the
rim ol the cortridge qs it is the cose when the cqrtridge is {irst
introduced into the chqmber.
3. The closing is smoother. It ousht to be mentioned thot the
closing is only due to the energy stored during the recoil in the
springs ond not to o positive mechonicol oction.

4. HOW

THE FIRING ACTION WORKS

For ri{les firing only single shot, the firinq oction is Iitted in
the 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:

JI

Fis. 9.

Fiq. 10.

Acton of rifle fuing ody single shot lire.

o) Sepcccrtion of the shots in single shot lhe. - The device

which qllows to lire exclusively shot by shot, hcs been tqken over
from qn outstgnding weqpon (The Browning crutomqtic shotqun).
Since more thon 50 yeors it ensures o perfect functioning to this
populqr gun.
The hqmmer (3lA) is forced bqckwqrds by the recoil of the
bolt cnd bolt carrier ond it is in ony cose cought by the double
hook, which is mode up by the lront end of the trigger qctins
qs the mqin seqr (36) ond by the linked hook octing qs the
ouxilicry 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 hqmmer
is sent bqckwqrds, the hqmmer is directly ccrusht by the moin
seor (36). If on the controry, which is generolly the cqse, the triqqer
is still depressed by the linger, the hqmmer is ccrught by the
cruxilicry seor (39) which hqs been put on its woy by the motion
of the trigger. The hommer is cqught in this position qs long qs
the trigqer is depressed. In order to fire the next shot one hos lirst
to releqse the trigger. - The hommer is then releqsed by the cruxiIicry seor (39) but is qt once qnd uncrvoidobly cqught by the moin
secr (36). To {ire ogoin one hqs to depress the trigger once more.

32

E Lq. tz,

Action of rille liring single shol crnd full qutomcrtic lire

For rilles oble to shoct either single shot or lull outomotic fire, the lollowing
pqrts 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 spring (217);
Automotic Iire lever (232).
See these componenls cn fig. ll ond 12 os well os the secti.Jnol view oi weopon
qt the end oi this pomPhlet.
Ir o
v qrYr ror h
r i
r(

{rrrthermore

to be noticed

thot :

I" The weqpon being on sofety, with the trigger locked, the
(A)
cocking of the rifle by hond is possible owing to the ovoi slot
lonqilucinollY.
to
move
oble
consequently
is
ol the hommer, which
2" If the Iinger depressesthe 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.

-33