FR F1

FR F1
FR F1
	FR F1
Type	Sniper rifle
Place of origin	France
Service history
Used by	See Users
Wars	Shaba II; Opération Tacaud; Lebanese Civil War; Gulf war
Production history
Manufacturer	MAS GIAT Industries
Produced	1966–1980
Specifications
Mass	5.2 kg
Length	1138 mm
Barrel length	552 mm
Cartridge	7.5×54mm French; 7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	852 m/s
Effective firing range	800 m
Feed system	10-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Telescopic sight

The FR F1 is a sniper rifle used by French sharpshooters. It was manufactured by MAS (an abbreviation of Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne - one of several government-owned arms factories in France). It has been upgraded to FR F2 standard, which is still in service with all branches of French armed forces.

Design[]

The FR F1 was designed around the 7.5×54mm MAS cartridge but versions in 7.62×51mm NATO also exist. It was equipped with a telescopic sight, French army standard issue being an Model 53 bis. Its practical range is 800 meters.^[4] It is a very accurate sniper rifle, due to its quality, rear locking helical lugs that cam the bolt forward during closure to obtain optimal cartridge seating, free-floating barrel and efficient combined muzzle brake/stabilizer that dampens the barrel vibrations.

The FR F1 utilizes the same basic bolt design as Japanese Arisaka 38 rifle just like^[5] the older MAS-36 infantry rifle.^[4] The MAS-36 bolt action was however extensively modified and strengthened to reduce accuracy-inhibiting flex.^[6] The FR-F1 was fitted with a bipod with fully adjustable legs, mid-way along the length of the rifle.^[4] Safety on FR F1 is copied from Russian SVT 40 WW2 rifle .^[7]

Three variants have been produced: the sniper rifle model A , the Tir sportif (target rifle) model B and the Grande chasse, for Big-game hunting, with APX 804 sight.^[4]

Users[]

France: Used by the French army, but now replaced by the FR F2 sniper rifle.^[8] Snipers of the 2nd Parachute Regiment (Regiment Etranger Parachutiste; 2 REP) of the French Foreign Legion used FR F1 rifles when deployed to the Shaba province in southern Zaire in May 1978.^[8] The FR F1 rifle was also used by the GIGN counter-terrorist group in the rescue of 30 school children during a 1976 bus hijacking in Djibouti.^[9]
Mauritania^[10]
Morocco: Used by Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie.^[11]

Gallery[]

FR F1.
FR F1.

References[]

^ Cadiou, Yves (January 2008). Opération Tacaud, première Opex (in French). 5 Sens Editions. ISBN 978-2-9531265-0-1.
^ Katz, Sam; Russell, Lee E. (25 Jul 1985). Armies in Lebanon 1982–84. Men-at-Arms 165. Osprey Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 9780850456028.
^ Windrow, Martin (15 Nov 1996). French Foreign Legion: Infantry and Cavalry since 1945. Men-at-Arms 300. Osprey Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 9781855326217.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "FR-F1 sniper rifle". Jane's Infantry Weapons 1996-1997. 24 April 1996.
^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7McvlkmISk
^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qFAWsqdP14,
^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlKXqUHvXEI
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Marchington, James (2004). The Encyclopedia of Handheld Weapons. Lewis International, Inc. ISBN 1-930983-14-X.
^ Meyr, Eitan (January 6, 1999). "Special Weapons for Counter-terrorist Units". Jane's — Law Enforcement. Archived from the original on March 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
^ "Gendarmerie royale marocaine". force-publique.net. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

[1] Cadiou, Yves (January 2008). Opération Tacaud, première Opex (in French). 5 Sens Editions. ISBN 978-2-9531265-0-1.

[Lebanon-2] Katz, Sam; Russell, Lee E. (25 Jul 1985). Armies in Lebanon 1982–84. Men-at-Arms 165. Osprey Publishing. p. 43. ISBN 9780850456028.

[3] Windrow, Martin (15 Nov 1996). French Foreign Legion: Infantry and Cavalry since 1945. Men-at-Arms 300. Osprey Publishing. p. 50. ISBN 9781855326217.

[Janes1996-4] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j "FR-F1 sniper rifle". Jane's Infantry Weapons 1996-1997. 24 April 1996.

[5] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7McvlkmISk

[6] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qFAWsqdP14,

[7] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlKXqUHvXEI

[marchington2004-8] Jump up to: ^a ^b Marchington, James (2004). The Encyclopedia of Handheld Weapons. Lewis International, Inc. ISBN 1-930983-14-X.

[meyr1999-9] Meyr, Eitan (January 6, 1999). "Special Weapons for Counter-terrorist Units". Jane's — Law Enforcement. Archived from the original on March 1, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-26.

[jones2009-10] Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.

[11] "Gendarmerie royale marocaine". force-publique.net. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

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