Bolt Action Rifles
FR-F2 French Sniper Rifle at the Range
Today I’ve taken the FR-F2 to the range to try it out. I’m using the early French Army scope, an APX L806-04. This is a 3.85x optic basically modeled on the German WW2 ZF-4. It […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Bolt Action Rifles
The French FR-F2: Best of the Cold War Sniper Rifles
In 1986, the French Army adopted the FR-F2 (Fusil à Répétition F2) as its standard sniper rifle. The F2 was never manufactured new; it was an improvement made on existing FR-F1 rifle by giving them […]
Bolt Action Rifles
“FUSTAN” – The Competition Rimfire MAS-36 for North Africa
While the French military adopted a .22 rimfire training version of the MAS-36, that rifle (the “Tir Réduit 5.5mm”) was intended for military training, and not for formal competition. During World War Two, the design […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Ethiopian Oddities: A Long Lee / SMLE Hybrid
Today’s Ethiopian Oddity is a rifle that began its like as an early Lee Enfield MkI made by London Small Arms. It has the original buttstock, early style safety, volley sights, and magazine cutoff from […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Winchester Reference Collection: Uruguayan M1908 Short Rifle
Uruguay first adopted a Mauser rifle in the 1880s, with the single-shot Mauser model 1871. After an abortive attempt to update those rifles to a small bore smokeless powder cartridge (the Dovitiis conversion), they opted […]
Bolt Action Rifles
A Tour of PGM Precision: Home of the Ultima Ratio and Hecate II
Today, I have the opportunity to take a look inside PGM Precision, in Annecy France. Ever been curious about where the Ultima Ratio and Hecate II come from? Let’s have a look! Note: PGM’s US […]
Bolt Action Rifles
American Mausers: The Hopkins & Allen Model 1889 for Belgium
When World War One began, German armies roared through Belgium, occupying all but a small corner of the nation. Belgium still had an army to defend that last bit of territory, but it no longer […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Ethiopian Oddities: Vetterli-Mauser Hybrid (Sort Of)
Today’s Ethiopian Oddity is a rifle that appears to be a Vetterli action with a distinctly Mauser flair. The bolt is styled after the Vetterli system (including rear locking lugs) but has a non-functional Mauser […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Finnish m/27rv Cavalry Carbine
When the Finnish Army adopted the m/27 improved pattern of the Mosin Nagant rifle, there was one group of soldiers who were not really satisfied with it. Finland had a cavalry brigade – one of […]
Bolt Action Rifles
Quebec Papal Zouave’s Ceremonial Gewehr 71/84
Here’s a rifle with an interesting twisting history… This began life as a German military Gewehr 71/84, made in 1888. It was issued to a unit, but eventually replaced by the Gewehr 1888. It was […]