Spanish FR8

[kennethg]

I have one of these and are very fond of it. It is reliable and very accurate. It does not have the magazine spacer. I was hoping that a forum member who has one of these with the spacer could give me the dimensions as well of a photo of the top. I did put another mauser magazine follower that is a fraction longer than the original.
Thanks in advance,

 

[sjmjax]

I suggest taking your question to this discussion board as well.
They have boards dedicated to firearms from specific countries and a pretty knowledgeable membership.

https://www.gunboards.com/fo

 

[Muley Gil]

The FR8 is one of my favorite rifles. I've owned a couple over the years. Down to one right now.

 

[JohnRippert]

Glad you asked this. When I pulled my trigger guard/magwell out I found some rust under there. It is sitting in some Evaporust right now and will get washed off and then a bath in Ed's Red to protect it further. Measurements on mine using a caliper. .240 thick, .793 width, and 1.050 in length. The top sticks up over the edge of the well by .080 and it is tack welded to the well. The first pic gives the illusion that the spacer is seated all the way down in the well but there is a gap at the bottom that looks close to a tenth of a inch. Hope this helps.

 

[kennethg]

thanks for all the replies
Mr. Rippert,
thanks for going the extra mile with your photos and measurements. that is a great help.

 

[JohnRippert]

I did not even realize they have a spacer in them. Just never really looked, I guess. They are wonderful rifles, and mine had no problem shooting 3inch groups back when my eyes were still pretty good. It loves Port surplus, of which I still have about 1700 rounds left in battlepacks. Picked mine up a LONG time ago with a sling and a like new CETME bayo.

 

[shunka]

These are intriguing rifles!
Apparently "happened" when spain did not have the cash to upgrade properly, but wanted to look modern to the rest of the world in "parade pictures" .
Interesting form of "light propoganda" ….

 

[JohnRippert]

I have read in a few places that they were a combination stopgap/training rifle while they were waiting for the CETME to be produced. Using the same sights as the CETME let soldiers get used to them before the new rifle came out. They really are a pretty good sight system compared to the Mauser 43 notch and blade which the FR-8's were made from. I doubt I will ever sell mine. Hopefully one of my nieces has a kid I can pass it on to. If not, then the girls can sell it after I am gone.