Argentine FN-49 magazines

[fn-d]

What is the status of the .308 Argentinean magazines?

I purchased my .308 ARA FN-49 rifle from Navy Arms with a couple extra magazines. Navy Arms were supposed to import the original 20 rounds magazines. Does anyone know if any 20 round magazines made it into the country?

Has anyone converted 20-round FAL magazines for use in Argentinean FN-49 (or converted the rifle to accept FAL magazines)?

Any legal issues that one should be aware of?

Thanks,

-Robbie

[Goose52]

Robbie,

Converting the rifle to take unmodified FAL magazines is most likely legal. Modifying a FAL magazine to fit the Argy FN49 would be illegal if the magazine would no longer function in a FAL. See link to ATF letter on this post: http://www.falfiles.com/cgi-bin/forums/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000711

On the 20-rounders, I've never heard of any source for unmodified, functioning magazines. There is one outfit that is/was selling decommissioned 20 rounders (one side dented in).

Goose

[EMDII]

The short answer: the converted magazine must still be functional in it's original weapon. Conversions which deactivate the latching mechanism, for example, are NEW magazines, and therefor illegal for 'civilian' use.

[OMR_RDTandE]

I've got a spare trigger guard housing on order from Northridge. The goal is to modify it, as was done on the Argy conversion, but to accept metric FAL mags. It appears the front of the FN mag will need some mods, but the mods shouldn't affect functioning in a normal FAL. I'll loose the bolt hold-open feature, but otherwise it should work. The Argy receiver is already modified to accept detachable mags, so it should be able to remain unmodified.

[fn-d]

Thanks for all the response.

If someone manages to get:

(1) original Argentine magazines,
(2) get modified FAL magazines to work in the Argy FN-49, or
(3) modify the FN-49 to accept FAL magazines.

Please keep good notes and post the recipe. I think many people would like a feature like this.

Take care,

-Robbie

PS I did hear of a .30-06 modification that enabled an FN-49 to accept BAR magazines. Apparently this required a bit a gunsmithing. Probably a similar modification would work with 8mm too, with FN-D magazines.

[Goose52]

A bit more than 10 years ago, an outfit in Illinois would convert your 8x57 FN49, or sell you a complete rifle already converted, to take BAR mags. I still have their one-page flyer. At any rate, the conversion was similar to the Argy-conversion FN49 - existing FN49 receiver was milled out to remove feed rails and latching mechanism modified/replaced to retain BAR mag. It was a one-way trip since the receiver was milled out.

Goose

[sledgehammer]

Robbie, I have 2 of the original 20 rd. mags for the Argentine FN49 for sale. They were demilled by a single hammer dent to the side. I have raised the dents out and refinished them in a dark parkerizing. They function perfectly now. I am asking $40 each for them.
Let me know if you are interested.
Randy.

[fn-d]

JLD Enterprises has 20 round Argentine FN-49 magazines:
http://www.jldenter.com/JLD%20Magazines%20page.htm


Other Threads Fal File Threads:

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45585
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44917

Take care,

-Robbie

[Gopher]

As on Noon, today, 8/27, JDL DOES NOT have 20 rd. Argy
FN49 magazines. Just more vendor bulls**t!!

[gunfish]

Would the modification remove curio/relic status of the rifle?

[Kevin]

I'm still interested. I tried to e-mail you.

Do you still have 1 you'd like to sell?

Regards,

[perdurabo]

Indeed.

If anyone has any 20rd Argentine .308 mags available (dented or no), I would be most interested in them as well.

[sledgehammer]

I've been getting alot of emails on the FN-49 mags. I sold both of those back in February. I will post if I locate any more.
Thanks,
Randy

[gunplumber]

JDL Sucks big time. lying sacks of shit. I must have called and e-mailed 20 times trying to give them money - just won't respond. They have been yapping about these mags for over a year and when I ordered them a year ago - I didn't receive propmtly so called back - oh - said they - we didn't like the quality so aren't going to ship them. Transl;ation: "we never had any"

[Bearwhositshere]

Originally posted by gunplumber
JDL Sucks big time. lying sacks of shit. I must have called and e-mailed 20 times trying to give them money - just won't respond. They have been yapping about these mags for over a year and when I ordered them a year ago - I didn't receive propmtly so called back - oh - said they - we didn't like the quality so aren't going to ship them. Transl;ation: "we never had any"

Same thing with their Argentine .45 pistols (even with crufflers handling orders, they never respond) No response, nada, nill, zilch, what a bunch of pin heads! As an MP buddy of mine used to like to say; these guys couldn't poor piss out of a boot if the instructions were printed on the bottom of the heel.

[Eclipse]

FYI

SARCO has 20rd FN49 .308 magazines (p. 89 Oct 10, 2003 Shotgun News).
$65-75 depending on condition.

[nandoaqui]

I believe I am out of the loop here. Are you guys saying that I could convert my 30-06 FN49 rifle to take magazines?

How, where, when, how much, legality....?

Boy oh boy - maybe I'm too late to find any magazines?

Alex

[Goose52]

nandoaqui

These magazines are unique to the Argentine contract FN-49s that were converted from 7.65 with the typical semi-fixed 10 round mag, to 7.62x51 and this 20 round detachable mag.

These mags will not fit in any other (unmodified) FN-49s. Also, they are 7.62x51 (.308 Win) mags ... a 30-06 cartridge is too long to fit in the magazine.

If you have an FN-49, perhaps you would participate in my FN-49 survey that is running at the top of this forum.

Thanks,

Goose

[nandoaqui]

Goose,

I already 'registered' my SAFN or FN-49 in a survey over a year ago, and I thought it was yours. Has there been another one here at the FalFiles??

I'll be glad to particpate if mine is not there. Let me know -

Alex

[Goose52]

Alex - I have run the survey on about 15 different boards so if you participated in an FN-49 survey .... it was probably mine!

As I always say, I don't retain any names or board names in the data base so I have no way of knowing who has reported what ...

Thanks,

Goose

[jramos]

I did get four of the mags from JLD a while ago-now Ii see sarco advertising them. The ones I got had a nice dent in the side but were pretty easy to repair. Finish wise, they were pretty bad and needed a re-park. I assume Sarco's are in the same shape. They are charging more then JLD did but I guess they are the only game in town now.