One of the very nice features of the FAMAS is that it can be swapped between left-hand and right-hand ejection in just a few moments without needing any tools or spare parts. I had this FAMAS out at the range in left-handed configuration and the owner asked me to return it as a right-handed gun, so I figured it would be a fine opportunity to demonstrate the process…
Prototype
Weirdest of the French Trials SMGs: the EROP 1954
“EROP” was a small company based in Paris, which produced about 18 submachine gun prototypes between 1954 and 1956. These were submitted to French military trials in several different configurations first in 1954 and later […]
Artillery
Light, Mobile, and Deadly: the French Mle 1937 25mm Puteaux AT Gun
After World War One, the French military set up a program to modernize all of its weaponry, and that included a replacement for the Mle 1916 light infantry cannon. An anti-tank gun had not been […]
Semiauto Rifles
The Last Swiss Battle Rifle: SIG-Manurhin 542 (in .243)
After the failure of the SIG 530 rifle (a gas operated, roller locked design), SIG looked for a much simpler rifle design, in both operation and manufacture. Wheat they came up with was fundamentally AK-like, […]
White goove inspection must have been fun…
Glove of course. Need an edit feature
When I first disassembled it, with the help of Laserman, I was immediately confused by the question, “how can I clean it after each shooting, but not lose these fleas? ..”
They don’t undress him at all in the field?
Any idea where the extractor was borrowed from?
Does it look like an AK, only?..
I am impressed at how simple the switch was. Thanks for the great video.
The perception of a need for side of empty shell eject selection has its own history. At the AUG you had to change the Bolt. In case of this weird rifle you have to get dirty – oh well. But it can be, with some effort, done. Credit ought to be given to the designer of it. But, since the purpose of it is now to change the ejection sides as per cover you take, this does not pass. The choice is supposed to be done instantaneously, without disassembly.
Now, WHY would anyone bother with ejection side choice on conventional layout rifle? This was declared bullpup’s shortcoming only, right? No it isn’t and yes it had been solved rather elegantly. Ridiculously easy actually – with tip of the bullet. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6lrI5oTXGA
Someone may be unhappy for NOT getting dirty. You cannot satisfy everyone 🙂
“…it had been solved rather elegantly…”(C)
No solution to a nonexistent problem (even the most ingenious, even all-in-one) does not compensate for the whole bunch of gross errors in ergonomics and user logistics.
Beretta, in this project, suffered a fiasco due to her own self-confidence and shortsightedness.
You can make the soldier use all these freaks like FAMAS or ARX.
But you can’t get people to buy this suitcase of problems with their own money.
We must pay tribute to the French, who were smart enough not to go into the market with their stump, but to confine themselves to guaranteed government orders.
Uhm actually St. etienne did go out and tried to sell the gun, but it had some serious competition from much cheaper rifles. all of them doing basically the same: shooting 556 reliably. The FAMAS was really expensive adn the AUG was cheap, reliable and Steyr was willing to accomodate special customer wishes. Hence the AUG having been exported a lot, whereas the FAMAS only was given away as french aid to friends and bought in small numbers by former colonies. And well why the SA80 never got much export success needs no explaining I guess. 😉 IIRC a few ended up in Jamaica as military aid.
In short: the owner wanted Ian to do the dirty work. 🙂
I would have needed to at least wipe those parts down before reassembly,I can’t help it.
Feeling your vibe ….. cleaning after shooting was beyond religious in my world
Great, now I can switch sides on mine..
You know, if I was one of the 4 people in the us with a FEMAS
Hell, if I did get lucky and find one, it would inevitably be one of the .222 ones
1) French troops must have dreaded weapons inspections
2) The guy you borrowed it from made a misteak in not telling you he wanted it back “clean and set up for right handed firing”