FNC assault riffle

The FNC (Fabrique Nationale Carabine) is a 5.56 mm assault rifle developed by the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale (FN) of Herstal and introduced in 1979. The rifle’s design is based on the FNC 76 prototype, which itself traces back to the unsuccessful CAL rifle.

configurations: a standard rifle and short (carbine) length. The rifle variant called the “Standard” Model 2000 and the “Short” Model 7000 carbine come equipped with barrels with 6 right-hand grooves and a 178 mm (1:7 in) rifling twist rate (used to stabilize the heavier Belgian SS109 bullets), while the Model 0000 rifle and Model 6000 carbine – a slower, 305 mm (1:12 in) twist rate (used with the American lightweight M193 cartridges). Currently the FNC has been adopted by the armed forces of Belgium, Nigeria, Indonesia (the Model 2000 rifle and Model 7000 carbine, manufactured locally under license by the Indonesian firm PT Pindad as the SS1-V1 and SS1-V2), Sri Lanka and Sweden. The Swedish service rifle built by Bofors Ordnance (currently BAE Systems Bofors) is a modernized Model 2000 carbine that lacks the burst fire control setting. It was accepted into service in 1985 as the Ak 5 after extensive trials and replaced the 7.62 mm Ak 4 (locally produced copy of the Heckler & Koch G3). Sri Lanka was one of the first countries to adopt the complete system, converting from the 7.62 mm FN FAL to the 5.56mm FN FNC and the Minimi Squad support weapon, as far back as 1981. Bofors has produced several variants of the basic Ak 5: the Ak 5B (equipped with a British SUSAT 4x optical sight but no mechanical iron sights), the Ak 5C (a modular carbine variant designed for compatibility with various accessories), and the Ak 5D (a compact variant for vehicle crews).

The FNC is a selective fire weapon that uses a gas-driven piston operating system (with a long-stroke piston) and a rotary bolt equipped with two locking lugs that positively engage corresponding recesses in the barrel extension. The bolt is rotated and unlocked by the interaction of the bolt’s cam pin and a camming guide contained in the bolt carrier. The spring extractor is located inside the bolt head, the ejector is a fixed surface riveted to the receiver housing. The FNC uses a 2-position gas valve, a hammer-type striker and a trigger mechanism with a fire selector that is simultaneously the manual safety, securing the weapon from accidental discharge. The selector lever is located at the left side of the receiver and has 4 settings: “S” – weapon is safe, “1” – single fire mode, “3” – 3-round burst, “A” – continuous fire.

The rifle feeds from 30-round steel magazines that are interchangeable with magazines from the American M16 rifle (STANAG 4179 system). After the last round is fired from the magazine the action remains in its rear (open) position held by a bolt catch that can be released by pressing the bolt release button on the left side of the receiver.

The rifle has a flip-type L-shaped rear sight with two apertures with settings for 250 and 400 m (the front sight post can be adjusted for elevation, the rear sight – windage) and a plastic-coated, lightweight alloy tubular stock that folds to the right side of the receiver. Optionally, FN offers a synthetic (polyamide) fixed buttstock. The FNC can also be used to mount optics such as the Hensoldt FN4X through the use of an adaptor.

Standard equipment supplied with the FNC includes a spike bayonet or the American M7A1 blade bayonet (with the use of a lug attachment) and a sling. The rifle can be deployed with a barrel mounted bipod and blank-firing adaptor.

The FNC’s barrel features a flash hider that is also used to launch rifle grenades (only the standard rifle model has this capability). The gas block contains a gas valve setting that is used to isolate the gas system, providing an increased volume of propellant required to fire a rifle grenade. The sheet-metal gas valve switch when pulled upright, acts as a V-notch sight used for aiming the rifle grenades. The piston head and extension, as well as the gas port block, barrel bore and chamber, are hard-chrome plated.

Fabrique Nationale offers a semi-automatic only carbine version known as the Law Enforcement (Model 7030 with a 178 mm rifling twist and the Model 6040 – with a 305 mm twist rate). These single-fire carbines feature a 410 mm (16.1 in) barrel and are also capable of firing rifle grenades and mounting a bayonet.

source http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_FNC

Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
Used by	See Users
Wars	Anti-guerrilla operations in Indonesia, 2007 Lebanon conflict, Conflict in the Niger Delta
Production history
Designer	Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
Designed	1976
Manufacturer	Fabrique Nationale de Herstal, Bofors Ordnance, PT Pindad
Produced	1979-present
Specifications
Weight	3.840 kg (8.47 lb) (standard rifle) 3.7 kg (8.2 lb) (carbine)
Length	997 mm (39.3 in) stock extended / 766 mm (30.2 in) stock folded (rifle) 911 mm (35.9 in) stock extended / 667 mm (26.3 in) stock folded (carbine)
Barrel length	449 mm (17.7 in) (rifle) 363 mm (14.3 in) (carbine)
Width	70 mm (2.8 in) stock extended 75 mm (3.0 in) stock folded
Height	238 mm (9.4 in)
Cartridge	5.56x45mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire	Approx. 625-675 rounds/min
Muzzle velocity	M193: 965 m/s (3,166 ft/s) SS109: 925 m/s (3,034.8 ft/s)
Effective range	250 and 400 m sight adjustments
Maximum range	2,000 m
Feed system	30-round detachable box magazine (STANAG system)
Sights	Rear flip aperture, front post 513 mm (20.2 in) sight radius (rifle)