The FR8, FR-8 or Santa Barbara Carbine as well as the FR7 or FR-7 are bolt-action, Mauser rifle variants produced by the Spanish military. From 7x57 mm (FR7) and 8x57 IS (FR8), they are chambered in 7.62x51mm calibre, and have a relatively heavy recoil and muzzle blast due to the short barrels and light weights.
Contents |
The FR7 and FR8 were introduced as the Spanish military was already implementing the CETME automatic rifle, but did not yet have sufficient inventory to equip and train all troops. The rifles were made from existing stockpiles of Mauser bolt-action rifles, the FR-7 from the Spanish M1916 rifles with two locking lugs and the FR-8 from the Spanish M43 with the additional locking lug of the Karabiner 98k.
Apart from the military for training purposes, it was also used as a service weapon by the Guardia Civil.
The flash hider was designed to be compatible with NATO-standard rifle grenades. The under-barrel tube, which resembles the gas cylinder found on automatic weapons, actually serves as the bayonet mount and as storage for cleaning gear. The rear sight is an elevation-adjustable rotary type with aperatures for 200 m (220 yd), 300 m (330 yd) and 400 m (440 yd), as well as an open "V" notch for 100 metres (110 yd). The front sight is elevation-adjustable via a special tool. Operation is identical to the standard Mauser design.
"Guns Magazine", May 2006, Holt Bodinson; text transcript under www.findarticles.com