FN FNC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

FN FNC
Type	Selective fire assault rifle
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
Used by	Belgium, Venezuela, Nigeria, Indonesia (licensed copy)
Production history
Designed	1979
Manufacturer	Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
Variants	Ak5 (Sweden) Pindad SS-1 (Indonesia)
Specifications
Weight	3.80 kg (8 lb 6 oz)
Length	997 mm (39.25 in) 766 mm (30.16 in) with stock folded
Barrel length	450 mm (17.7 in)

Cartridge	5.56 x 45 mm NATO
Action	Gas operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	700 round/min
Effective range	450 m (490 yd)
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine

The FN FNC (Fabrique Nationale Carabine) is an assault rifle designed by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal in the mid-1970s, based upon a failed previous attempt known as the Carabine Automatique Legere. The FNC design is based upon features borrowed from other well-known assault rifles, such as the FAL, AK-47, M16, and Galil.

1 Design
2 Service
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Design

Like most modern assault rifles, the FNC fires the 5.56 mm standard NATO cartridge. It uses a detachable 30-round box magazine and can also accept STANAG-style magazines used by the M16 series. Internally, the FNC borrows heavily from the AK-47 gas system with some improvements over the original Soviet design.

The FNC has an integrated, notched, flip-up grenade-launching front sight that - when deployed - automatically shunts gas to fire rifle grenades. The design also incorporates a gas select lever for normal firing and adverse conditions firing.

The FNC is generally regarded as having a sound, reliable design, although accuracy and shooter comfort are sometimes hindered by the heavy trigger pull of around 10 lbf (45 N).

[edit] Service

The FNC is currently used by the Belgian Armed Forces and is licenced to Sweden as the Bofors Ak 5 and to Indonesia as the Pindad SS-1. The FNC was also sold to Venezuela and Nigeria.