FN FNC: The Belgian 5.56mm NATO Carbine

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The FNC (Fabrique Nationale Carabine) was FN’s followup to the unsuccessful CAL rifle. Chambered for the newly-adopted 5.56mm NATO cartridge, the FNC uses a long stroke gas piston system very reminiscent of the AK, combined with a stamped upper and milled aluminum lower. After about 5 years of development, the FNC was put on the market in 1980, and was quickly purchased by Indonesia, along with a license for domestic production as the Pindad SS-1. It would also be adopted by Sweden as the AK-5 (minus the 3-round burst functionality) and Belgium. About 6,000 semiautomatic sporting models were imported into the US. A number of those, including this one, were legally registered as transferrable machine guns before 1986.
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[@TheGM-20XX]

Ian bringing the HEAT with this one.

[@LUR1FAX]

You wanna play rough, huh? Okay!

[@joshchu]

WTF is that? BBQ and ballgames?

[@thiccfork8664]

you can get killed walking your doggy!

[@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts]

"Don't waste my muthafuckin time"

[@slickbuster8346]

What are you, a fuckin' owl?

[@themayorofportland4904]

Sweden's addition of green paint and the mitten friendly trigger guard is such a good look

[@Rickster621]

Also billet machined upper receiver.

[@robertupson5274]

Comfy looking too!

[@Calvin_Coolage]

Don't forget those neat Comp CS red dots. I still want one of those.

[@awmperry]

@@Rickster621 Is the current version machined? The original receiver was essentially identical to the FNC.

[@MrAnton275]

@@SonsOfLorgar There was no factory produced Ak5Cs. All of them are updated original Ak5s.

[@majmikecalnan]

Hi Ian: a Canadian modification that FN adopted for all production was teflon coated tubes for the folding stock. This was due to one of my soldiers (I was an officer on the Canadian winter trials) lost part of his nose when it froze to the metal tube while firing prone at -40°C. When he pulled the rifle away from his face, part of his nose remained stuck to the stock! FN immediately supplied teflon coated folding stocks and he had a top plastic surgeon repair his nose.

[@RaneBane]

Thats pretty wild. Did it bleed or did the cold kind of cauterize it?

[@AJPMUSIC_OFFICIAL]

Did he pull it away quickly?

[@John-mf6ky]

Damn, that would suck 😂

[@constantinethecataphract5949]

Adding forever chemicals instead of just add a wooden part. What a joke.

[@munkSWE88]

Would be cool if Ian could get his hands on a AK5 to a comparison.

[@alltat]

The only differences I can see are the color, the safety (the AK5 is just S/1/A), the material and style of the grips and bolt handle (the AK5 uses polymer for all three),and that the AK5 doesn't have any rifle grenade gas cutoff or sight. I think the firing pin is also retained differently, but it's been over a decade since I last had to disassemble an AK5, so I might just be remembering that wrong.

[@jackjederstrombergman4987]

A more interesting comparison would be fnc vs ak5c. Ak5c being the pinacle of this specific pattern of rifle.

[@andersnoren6070]

@@alltat I carried the AK5B. Same as the original, but with the iron sights cut off and a scope mount for the SUSAT sight welded on instead. It also had a cheek piece. It was not very well balanced and a bit on the heavy side. The SUSAT also had a problem with losing its zero after a while.

[@Selvariabell]

@@alltat I believe the Indonesian Pindad SS1 is pretty similar with the AK 5 with the exception of bayonet lug. Both Sweden and Indonesia ditch the rifle grenade features as they are already using the M203 grenade launcher, instead, they have mountings for the M203, much like the M16 and M4 barrels.

[@DPRK_Best_Korea]

@@alltat trigger gaurd/winter trigger too.

[@patrikhjorth3291]

Captive pins = a good way to improve how soldier-proof your weapon is.

[@RadioactiveSherbet]

I have never owned a firearm, but from all the videos of guns I've watched, I've come to the conclusion that captive pins are an inherently good idea. I feel similarly about automatic empty magazine bolt hold-open.

[@achtungvolk7807]

@@RadioactiveSherbet eeeeww we e

[@parzavaal5335]

@@achtungvolk7807 mayhaps he's merely underage same as I, Lord forbid there's any other reason though...

[@achtungvolk7807]

@@parzavaal5335 lmao in all honesty I didn’t intentionally comment. I’m seeing this now & have surmised that I was inebriated

[@parzavaal5335]

@@achtungvolk7807 lol that's the fuckin greatest

[@warriorwolf77]

Fal - FN Mag - FN Minimi - FN M2 HMG - Browning/FN Current issue M4s - FN H&K goes to bed and checks under it for FN every night.

[@takingbacktoxic7898]

Dont forget the Browning Hi Power. Talk about being way ahead in 1935.

[@warriorwolf77]

@@takingbacktoxic7898 Did actually forget the BHP, truly modern service pistol minus the polymer and what most nowadays are based on. FN just keep hitting it out of the park.

[@ballincollin908]

Can't forget the SCAR L & H and P90, also the Five Seven Pistol, etc...

[@takingbacktoxic7898]

@@ballincollin908 Those arnt exactly game changers.

[@ballincollin908]

@@takingbacktoxic7898 still quality firearms popularized by media.

[@herknorth8691]

You: "Semi-auto". Me, an intellectual: "One round burst".

[@ALivingDinosaur]

You: "Safe". Somebody: "Zero-round burst".

[@rkadi6540]

@@ALivingDinosaur me : no fun

[@hardware199]

The dust cover is a good design. It 's also used in the FN minimi (m249), galil ace and the AKV-521.

[@universalrandomizer405]

I cannot imagine where they've got that idea from!

[@Tatwinus]

Its also known as a cheese grater, and the gun is not truly considered a true gun until that part has tasted blood from first time users.

[@PlaceholderforBjorn]

The minimi in sweden(KSP90) also accept mags from the AK5(regular STANAG). But the Americans discarded that ability. I see why, because I never seen anyone use that ability in my service.

[@Tatwinus]

@@PlaceholderforBjorn I remember hearing that that functionality was for the 20 round stanags or something like that, so the gun was in a more portable state but still loaded and for the fact that anyone could toss a mag to the mg crew incase of russian invasion numbers. Ofc, neither of those situations are likely to arise in modern combat.

[@stitchjones7134]

@@PlaceholderforBjorn From memory, they chew the mags up and have a lot of stoppages.

[@gootubesucks9390]

We want to hurt no one! We're here for the bank's money, not your money. Your money is insured by the federal government, you're not gonna lose a dime! Think of your families, don't risk your life.

[@cesarfernandez8779]

Heat is always going to be gold!

[@MayheM_72]

HEAT!

[@LuisPerez-ow7sz]

"CAUSE SHE GOT A GREAT ASS!!" God i love Heat...

[@mrowoofers101]

You can get killed walking your DOGGIE!

[@danyalmemish6309]

Don’t get attached to anything you can’t walk out in 30 seconds flat, if, you feel the heat coming round the corner….

[@USAirsoft]

Beautiful… the FNC is nice too.

[@gergoantal1066]

Lol

[@EnglishKiwi]

If I buy an fnc does it come with an Ian?

[@heliveruscalion9124]

@@EnglishKiwi no sorry

[@Praktical_]

@@EnglishKiwi maybe contact Morphys or rock island, they seem to have an abundance of Ian's

[@nickduran6800]

We are talking about real guns not airsoft guns

[@rizaradri316]

Indonesian here. So I've heard from former service man that early production SS-1 (our domestic version of the FNC) is rather sucks because the firing pin often broke. They prefer the original Belgian made FNC or the M16. Anyway Pindad would create more variants of the FNC/SS-1 like SS-1 M series for Indonesian Marine Corps, SS-1 R5 a 10.5 inch carbine for CQB, SBC-1 a semi automatic version of SS-1 R5 for Indonesian Customs Agency and probably the weirdest or I should say unique one is Pindad Sabhara series for police use. The Sabhara rifles were chambered in 7.62x45mm. Basically a 5.56 cartridge necked up to 7.62.

[@TheCat48488]

I still remember the story where one such guns after fired at full auto, it slowly looks like a man who ran out of viagra

[@lavrentivs9891]

Oddly enough, I was told in swedish service that the first belgian made rifles often had their firing pins break, something that was fixed with the swedish made rifles.

[@melee-dexterdexterious2878]

FNC or SS1 was best described as Pindad modernization which direly required after spent decades producing licensed Beretta BM-59.. really a major leap from 1950s tech.. of course, flaws and faults automagically coming with it.. takes quite sometime before all the quirks, crooks and cranny of modern rifle production line were worked out and mastered..

[@sliceofcheese3890]

I will now start calling semi auto “one round burst”

[@jargien240]

This gave me flashbacks. The Swedish version, the AK5, was my service rifle during my National Service in the Army. Just seeing Ian dissmantle the FNC made me remember all the drills we had in dissmantling and cleaning it. I also remember a bloke from my neighbouring platoon who lost his charging handle during the timed blindfolded test and was pretty much usless during the rest of the exercise because of it. And yes, he did get a good yelling from the Lts because of it. What I do remember most though is that is was quite heavy to run around with in the begining and that it constantly got caught in the cammo webbings for our tents. The last cleaning I did of it I blew out cobwebs from the barrel due to not having fired it for 2 months, having a red cross on your arm tends to do those things.

[@TheOz91]

The Indonesians pretty much also made a significant upgrade to the FNC in the 2000s, replacing the original SS1 rifle that was the original FNC, very much in the same spirit of the current Ak5s in Swedish service. The SS2 is a lot more M16-like than the original as well as having an angled gas block that is very much AK47/AKM like. They also added an M16-style bolt hold open system. Other upgrades include a rail system for mounting optics and accessories. Speaking of being M16-like, the SS2 V5 A1 carbine has a very M4-like sillhouette.

[@drmaulana2600]

dont forget the M16 esque carry handle

[@MrDgwphotos]

Looks a bit like someone took the FNC, a G36, and an AR and blended them together.

[@MrDgwphotos]

@@drmaulana2600 Looks more G36 like to me.

[@adlibbed2138]

the first thing some small time hooligans, street racers would either ran away from, or stay where they are

[@BobSaint]

Why did they remove the port/handle channel cover on SS2?

[@jasonarmstrong5750]

“The world calls for wetwork and we answer, no greater good, no just cause”-Kazuhira Miller

[@Aaron-mv1kd]

Hrnggh metal gear! - snake

[@YellowDogWithCone]

Pax Hamburgana

[@jimmyrussells]

Why are we still here? Just to suffer?

[@peterbenjamindus5801]

Bird's in the sky

[@mengx94]

Is this the gun in mgsv? I thought most of the guns were mixed versions of real firearms

[@thomaskwei9119]

It’s a shame we don’t have FNC parts kits in the US, I bet an FNC lower would be easy to make, and then we could have some more FNCs on the market.

[@Pavia1525]

Will never happen with EU in place. The only two sources would be Sweden and Belgium and there’s zero chance their governments would allow their retired weapons to be exported or sold to civilians.

[@ncangra]

Brazillian IMBEL produces FALs and variations. America needs more America.

[@nicksanza109]

You dont have to make the lower, the upper is the serialized part

[@steven-k.]

@@Pavia1525 Indonesia.

[@Bayofthe91st]

@@steven-k. Best luck would be in black market of stolen weapon during Aceh crisis or from Philippines rebels. Afaik Pindad never sell ss1 to civilian market.

[@romgl4513]

And as Ian starts talking about going to the range and full auto, I frantically search the screen for the like button, only to find it already activated. Tomorrow, I tell myself, tomorrow...

[@parzavaal5335]

I too, wish I could like a video multiple times.

[@quadrono5714]

I have heard from several sources that there are actually more registered FNC sears to convert them to full auto than there were host guns imported into the US. If true, that's pretty funny.

[@Jh5kRadio]

Gun laws are fucking weird.

[@TheFanatical1]

Wait, isn't it illegal to make a receiver for the purpose of dropping in the auto sear, even if the sear is registered? So to make it legal you'd need to build the receiver by welding things to the sear, so that the sear was only a gun when it was finished.

[@TheFanatical1]

Very weird, but probably profitable.

[@schrodingersgat4344]

It's F.N. hilarious!

[@Jh5kRadio]

Allow me to repeat myself. Gun laws are fucking weird.

[@erikbowers0776]

"Imported as a semi-auto and then registered and converted to a machine gun" how far we've fallen, and how much we've lost

[@karllambert2350]

Kids these days have no idea the freedoms we've lost in the last few decades

[@Dapstart]

your mom exhales poisonous ass in a 30-foot cone. Each creature in that area must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failure, a creature takes 42 33 poison damage and is poisoned. On a success, a creature takes half the damage and isn't poisoned. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

[@memenadekhanh3992]

How about old people start fighting for their gun rights back?

[@dirkvanroeyen2543]

This is the model for paratroopers with foldable stock, standard model had a fixed stock. It was my personal wapon during my time in the Belgian army. Later moved to the minimi. It was a smooth shooting rifle even in full auto. Never failed.

[@ikke12345]

I had the one with folding stock. I was no paratrooper but was in the air force. I ve only seen fnc's witch folding stock in the air force

[@pinzgauerbelgium]

Yep they fail....green on.👍

[@davidborjesson3289]

Used this rifle in the Swedish army a long time ago. The problem with the gas regulator was that it was easily changed between setings without you noticing it. The updated AK5:s have discarded that feature.

[@mutantraniE]

Huh, I don't recall ever having that problem with mine back in the day. Wee never really used the second setting though.

[@zacharyrollick6169]

The guys that make FALs here in the states need to make a run of these.

[@Xerxes1688]

You mean DSA? The main problem is that the FNC is a very different gun than the FAL. Or maybe someone could make an FN-C upper for the AR-15, similar to what Brownells did with the AR-18 uppers.

[@jobiesotelo3385]

I'm not going to lie, HEAT and Garand Thumb made me love this gun and i put it as one of my dream guns now.

[@tsukishiro70]

Ah, Funco-Chan, we meet again.

[@RedXlV]

Was expecting somebody to say this.

[@23GreyFox]

Don't look at the stock. And don't speak about it.

[@md_vandenberg]

@@23GreyFox _looking intensifies_

[@benn454]

@@md_vandenberg T-back...

[@michaelmurray7199]

@@benn454 Funco: *Selects Full-Auto mode*

[@F4Wildcat]

I am so proud that my tiny little country has so much iconic and high quality guns. Exept for that time some Drunk liege people tried to convert old m88 Steyr mannlichers to fire the 8x57mm IS round. What were they thinking?? The m88/24 is like putting av gas in a model T ford!

[@user-njyzcip]

What were they thinking????? AAAAAASSSSSSSSSSS

[@zacharyrollick6169]

I like Belgian guns. Over the summer, got my hands on a Belgian copy of a Colt 1877 .38 "Lightning" revolver. Slick piece.

[@F4Wildcat]

@@user-njyzcip good one dude. You got the reference.

[@peartree8338]

Sweden be like "so...got anything else?" 🤣👍

[@1pso]

Not just this video, but Ian aways manages to carry whatever he's talking about without major editing or autoque, which is refreshing, but also very difficult to do. Appreciated.

[@dbmail545]

I would like to see that gas cutoff on more guns for suppressed use. "One-shot burst" 😆 I did not realize that this is what Sweden's AK5 was.

[@schrodingersgat4344]

Pretty sure the Swiss liked this design as well.

[@scottstewart5784]

This is your weapon, that is your gun.

[@jesusdontlikethatimgaybuts9493]

@@schrodingersgat4344 the swiss use the sig sg 550, which although they are somewhat similar in that they are each based on the kalashnikov action, the 550 is a considerably nicer and more expensive rifle. the swiss historically have always used extremely well made rifles for their infantry.

[@schrodingersgat4344]

@@jesusdontlikethatimgaybuts9493 Almost like it had a decade of development after the introduction of the FN design... That's pointing at a seed and saying "it is not an Oak." The STG 90 is not all that different. I have a Timex. Would I rather have a Rolex? Yes. Still just a watch. Look at the Finnish RK 62. That was evolved into the Galil* The Galil ACE has a great deal of similarity with the Swedish AK-5 variant of the FNC. All of these programs take elements from others. * Parallel developments can be made to cross. If one manufacturer likes what another is doing...they can work together...or what have you.

[@schrodingersgat4344]

@@jesusdontlikethatimgaybuts9493 Like saying that the SAFN borrowed nothing from the SVT.

[@nabilbudiman271]

Pindad : "This is SS2-V5 !" Indonesians : "Pindad, this is the 7th years in a row you've shown locally made FNC in class"

[@angelobartolomeu5679]

Interesting....

[@JKS_Crafting]

The gas cylinder is removed by pushing it back (spring resistance), if you want to compelete the disassembly. Nice to see the original! I'm only used to the swedish version.

[@Lecruque]

I was thinking the same :) I saw him looking for it.

[@PaperworkNinja]

Waiting for Ian to become a character in "Upotte!" now

[@DFX2KX]

I feel ashamed that this is where I learned of the FNC's existance. if only one could just selectively unknow things.

[@anionleader]

@@DFX2KX Why? Take pride that you learn from unconventional experiences.

[@borisslyt]

McCollum-sensei

[@te0bald]

Nice video! The AK5-A was my service rifle in the Swedish Army. :) Never ever jammed even though being used two artic winters with -20 to -40 Celcius and tousands of rounds fired. So it did it`s job well.

[@CenlaSelfDefenseConcepts]

I got excited when I saw the Morphy logo because I know tomorrow we'll get to see a shooting video. I remember back in the potato cam days Ian did a video on the FNC

[@boomstickbelgian2775]

to this date it still is the best rifle (and only automatic) i've ever fired. little known fact: you can easily knock yourself unconscious by opening the receiver with the bolt locked back.

[@murphykenji]

Kind of want to know the story behind that one. 😄😁😆😅🤣

[@boomstickbelgian2775]

​@@murphykenji It happened when we were going trough basic training. After a day of range practice we were assembled in the barracks to clean our rifles. The guy next to me locked his bolt back and then proceeded to open the upper receiver while having the rifle semi shouldered. This caused the spring guide to whack him straight in the nose. The spring guide in these rifle sits loose against the lower receiver and is kept in place with spring tension. (a bit like on the AK platform but not secured)

[@veterankasrkin7416]

Can't wait to see that 3 round burst.

[@UH1Phil]

Too bad we never got to see how it worked mechanically, but I guess it's one of those trigger groups that is a nightmare to disassemble and reassemble.

[@sonnyto8589]

We Belgians dislike burst mode

[@abohachuk4765]

Very interesting and iconic rifle often overlooked in popular culture, with the obvious exception of Heat

[@rhythmray7429]

Ah, I remember seeing this name whenever I used to search "Top ten rifles" back in 2012

[@joaoie]

I don't see enough about Funco-chan and Upotte in comments

[@RedXlV]

I remember several years ago, L85 videos would be flooded with "poor Elle-chan" comments.

[@leadjunkie5674]

Was curious. Looked it up. Now I want to try whatever drugs Tennouji was on when they wrote it 🤣

[@ardenneslingshot4248]

I shooted with a FNC from 1985 at the Belgian army. Not bad, but sometimes i was wounded by the sharp edges of the dust cover, near the ejection window, when i pushed back the bolt carrier... 6:34

[@justindunlap1235]

I was wondering about that. it seems like it could shred some fingers.

[@TheMegaPingasMobile]

I would have been more surprised if nobody got hurt from that... that thing just screams having cuts on your hands and/or gloves, especially if it's even slightly dented from wear

[@user-njyzcip]

Could you have taken it to the armourer and asked him to sand it down a bit?

[@Panos-xo9rc]

@@user-njyzcip the answer is a big NO,tampering with a service weapon can get you into serious trouble...

[@Tatwinus]

@@justindunlap1235 when I did my conscription in sweden they called it the cheesegrater and it was considered bad luck if you didnt cut yourself at least once. Its not that bad once you learn the gun though.

[@jizburg]

The swedish AK5C implemented a bold holdopen, realy nice gun.

[@gremlinwithgun7527]

I knew a guy who've fired both the original FNC and Pindad-made Indonesian variant. He said compared to the original, the Indonesian variant kicks back slightly harder and ejects the cases a bit more aggressively. I assume that Pindad overgassed their FNC variants to increase it's reliability in Indonesia's often humid and muddy terrains, and hence its harder recoil and ejection pattern.

[@filthymolotovite]

Ian: Made a video about the FN FNC GFL Shikikans: *Happi Chocolate noises*

[@scorcher117]

But also PTSD

[@filthymolotovite]

@@scorcher117 Ah Yes, the exploiting the game mechanics which in lore terms mean literally treating the Dolls as literal slaves, cannon fodder to be disposed

[@anionleader]

***Upotte simps: THERE! The thong clad butt finally makes an appearance!***

[@mafiosomemer3730]

Anyone who knows *Upotte!!* will be delight of this. Watch out, Ian will strip any parts of the rifle.

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

Ah, I see you're a man of Funcco and her thongs as we- **BANG**

[@mafiosomemer3730]

You should run for your life or by any chance if you're her gf, calm her down and give a little love.

[@anionleader]

@@f1r3hunt3rz5 Make all the jokes you want, she can't really kill you can she?

[@mutantraniE]

Oh man, the nostalgia. This was my service rifle when I was in the Swedish navy 15 years ago. I used to be able to disassemble and reassemble it blindfolded. We didn't have the rifle grenade flip up sight/gas blocker thing though, and the folding stock was slightly different. Also, the charging handle was round and the whole thing was green.

[@mutantraniE]

Also, we usually just removed the spring clip holding the hand guards in place by using forward pressure from our fingers, no tool needed.

[@mrmag666]

Okay after years of watching Ian I have to say it, My favorite line of dialogue from him in every video is "it's worth pointing out".

[@9mmthroatpunch211]

Gun jesus if only we had more teachers like you teach us

[@Misfit-yx8fq]

Gun Jesus should have his 12 apostles to help spread the word. 😅

[@chipsterb4946]

Brandon is right. Ian is an excellent teacher, and his approach would be effective for any subject.

[@jeromethiel4323]

Praise the lord and pass the ammo! ^-^

[@NickBebs]

Remember the teacher`s salary and responsibility. Also kids are really awful, if you work with them

[@kez0o9]

Great deal of thought went into the engineering of that rifle ,the one piece bolt, carrier , spring , firing pin, and gas tube is impressive

[@PlaceholderforBjorn]

Fun trivia about the AK5. I was in one of the first missions to use the AK5C in active service in Kosovo. At that time the "new" picatinny rail was mounted so that you could not change the gas setting. I believe that is why we had quite a lot of jamming during our exercises. As we were stuck with the gas setting that was chosen. After my tour and next time I used it, we didn't have those problems, so I think our reports about the problem helped. Not sure if the rail is still obstructing the gas setting. And the first revision of plastic mags were terrible... The lips broke all the time. EDIT: After some image googling, it's still obstructing.

[@lavrentivs9891]

I suppose they made some adjustments to the one gas setting.

[@slavsupreme5129]

Classic military style lmao

[@Pavia1525]

There are other Picatinny mounts available now that don’t obstruct. Stormwerks I think makes one.

[@andreaspettersson6085]

Seems to match my experience. AK5A jammed when firing blanks on gas setting one. Never had an issue with live ammunition.

[@Ghelasin]

@@Pavia1525 Good Luck getting enough Stormverks mounts for the single largest owner of FNC's on the planet, remember we're not talking about a couple of hundred needed here, we're talking a quarter of a million of them. Of course the Swedish Army isn't going to change to a third party picatinny rail just to get a function they deemed not actually necessary back, it's not like there wasn't rails short enough to not cover the gas adjustment back when we adopted the AK5c version, there were, we just didn't want them.

[@MikaelKKarlsson]

I never minded the weight that many talked about back then, because it was so sturdy and reasonably balanced. (AK5 variant with the same old metal stock and no extra junk up front. ) Oh, and having some pine needles in the lower reciever was never a problem. 😉

[@GuardianOfTheHeaven]

Fella Commanders will recognize the T-Doll counterpart as an 3* AR we begin with, and also an sweet snacks lover, particularly chocolate.

[@md_vandenberg]

"This is FNC, she'll let you fuck her for a chocolate bar." - Commander Chernoshka

[@Kommisar_Lutter]

Ian: One round burst Alphabet boys: Writr that down, write that down!

[@josephledux8598]

I owned one of these back in the 1980s, the commercial semiauto variety. It came with two original magazines (which incidentally were steel, not aluminum), the clamp-on optic mount, and of all things a dummy/practice rifle grenade with an inert warhead. I owned it for only a couple years. What I liked about it the most is what every owner of an FN rifle loves about them the most, that rock-solid folding stock that was so rigid when open it was like it was welded in place. With the stock folded the rifle was surprisingly compact, at least in length. As far a reliability, so long as you had the gas system set to give maximum impetus to the bolt carrier, the thing would chamber and fire just about anything you put in it from old 60s surplus US ammo to crappy handloads to somewhat bent and battered cartridges. If using clean, quality ammo the thing was best left on the softer setting as it was easier on the gun and created less recoil. I did manage to discover on my own that yes, the dished-out section on the top of the grenade sight was designed to use the tip of the grenade as a front sight. It's interesting that the civilian commercial version of the rifle retained that feature. As it goes there was very little change between the military and commercial version, only the fire control group so far as I know. No, I never put a blank in the rifle and fired the dummy grenade. Once I looked into how rare they were and how much they were worth, I was more inclined to keep the grenade in a velvet-lined box under lock and key. Would have been fun though. I will say that this was without doubt by far the toughest, most rugged 5.56 military-type rifle I ever owned. If I needed a rifle for the apocalypse I'd take the FNC in a heartbeat over any AR-pattern rifle. The gas system makes it extremely reliable. But it shares a shortcoming with the AK type rifles from which the gas system is largely copied: it ain't terribly accurate compared to any decent AR pattern rifle. For the FNC that would be consistent 2.5 to 3 MOA groups at any range. By contrast, the old, battered M-16 A1 I trained with at Ft. Knox would easily shoot sub-2 MOA groups all day long. At least in my hands. At the time I was transitioning from college student to someone starting a law enforcement career and only had the resources to own a single rifle of this type. Ultimately, what finally turned my opinion against the rifle was more than anything, its weight. You never truly know how heavy a rifle is until you put a sling on it and cart it around the woods for a few hours. Surprisingly, with the folding stock this thing outweighs the FAL by a couple of pounds, and is several pounds heavier than any AR pattern rifle I ever handled. It's chunky, it's clunky, and while I found the controls and mag release to be a lot better for someone like myself with relatively small hands than any of the H&K rifles I ever owned, it still was far inferior to AR pattern guns. Simply stated, as far as I'm concerned, when it comes to ergonomics the AR is the best combat rifle ever made. It's telling that when I finally sold the FNC, my next purchase was a little Korean Daewoo 5.56 carbine with a 16-inch barrel and a wire collapsible stock. While the stock on the Daewoo was not as suitable for bashing skulls as the massive folder on the FNC, that little Daewoo handled like a pistol compared to the FNC and would shoot rings around it anytime. With the right sling it was concealable under a long coat and I carried it that way on a few stakeouts. It was a delight, particularly as an "oh shit" rifle I was allowed to carry in the trunk of the Sheriff's vehicle I drove on duty. While it wasn't "as much rifle" as the FNC, not by a long shot, it was far handier and more accurate and that made it better for my uses. Eventually I bowed to the inevitable and started buying AR-pattern rifles and have owned nothing else, at least in 5.56, ever since. OF COURSE I wish I'd kept the FNC as the rifle, particularly in near-mint condition and with the original optic mount, magazines, and inert grenade, would be worth a fortune nowadays. Alas I let it go for about the same amount as I'd paid for it, less than $500 at the time (which was still a lot of money). But then don't we all have those ones we sold off in a hurry, only to kick ourselves about it years later? To be fair, I wish I still had the Daewoo carbine too. Many thanks Ian for helping this old geezer to take a trip down memory lane.

[@HBK-6S]

Funco, or Fucco as M16A4 would call her

[@grumpycat_1]

This firearm is the subject of a very HEATed debate on the internet.

[@Urkie1979]

I did my basic training with the C7 and my experience with that makes me wish Canada had kept to Belgian designs and adopt the FNC, albeit with a Canadian twist. Every C7 I had ever used was prone to repeated issues: Fail to fire, fail to extract, double feeds. Maybe I just had a bad run with lemons. My dad used the FN FAL back in the 70's and raved about the thing. He'd laugh about guys messing with the gas system on range and nearly blowing out their shoulders as a result LOL.

[@lightmetro7508]

That's the first time I've heard of problems with the C7. A1 or A2? I'll have to keep my ear to the ground going forward

[@CurtisMenton]

I enjoy Ian's insights (like the captive firing pin) that have come from disassembling thousands of unfamiliar firearms, and probably having a few tiny parts fly across the room or roll off the table.

[@magritteetmoncouteau]

The FNC is my favourite rifle of all time. Thanks for your review!

[@noelharkov9125]

Me: Oh, the gun from Heat. Also me: Dat thong girl. Also also me: PTSD Chocolate Addict.

[@cuffzter]

>dat thong girl Ah, I see you're a man of culture as well.

[@bagasangga]

Hmm.. ill get that

[@real_yanoosh6553]

haha, my man

[@bagasprihangg]

Let me Guess, GFL? plus everyone knows what Belgium is, its famous for producing chocolate (or fries if i get me wrong)

[@noelharkov9125]

@@bagasprihangg It's GFL, that's why we got PTSD in the winter XD

[@swedishfarmboy]

Did realy like The ak5 back in the army days. A good rifle, Light, mobil and 5,56.

[@Merecir]

One thing that it is is NOT light, it is and has always been quite heavy for a 5,56 rifle.

[@swedishfarmboy]

@@Merecir well 5kg is nothing for a hussar!

[@Merecir]

@@swedishfarmboy Hussarer är sillmjölkar, vi Fältjägare körde med två AK5or i varje hand!

[@swedishfarmboy]

@@Merecir haha snarare handkanoner på bussen😉 släpade på psk86 med sim, två in i eldställning så ak vara en softairgun😀 ak4an är dock satans uppfinning.

[@claudewinchester7068]

Movie buffs, if you know, you know. I think Heat is the only movie I've ever seen this one used in. Maybe a couple of others, but that scene will stick out the most for anyone who's seen it. Still one of the top 5 best scenes of all time.

[@HappiKarafuru]

Shikikan culture = rifle girl with choco bar in her mouth

[@bruceinoz8002]

Pindad in Indonesia build a LOT of these under licence, to replace their aging BM-59 clone variants across the Indonesian armed forces.. They also made, and offered in their export catalogue, semi-auto versions in both 5.56 x 45 (for potential export) and the unusual 7.62 x 45, Not the 1952 Czech round, but basically a 5.56 based proprietary" wildcat. These were apparently made for game-keepers and forest service rangers. Indonesian FNCs have chrome-lined, hammer-forged barrels.

[@gasper5223]

Been waiting for this one for a while. Upotte!

[@marks1638]

One of my fellow Firearms Instructor (back in the 90's) had an FNC (one of the few civilian semi-auto versions that made into the US before Bush senior banned the import of that class of firearms). He had gotten it from his father as a present. It was a neat little 5.56 rifle compatible with M16 mags. We got to test fire on the range one day and it shot pretty well. It was accurate, pleasant to shot, and it's controls easy to use. I even offered him a decent amount for it, but he hung on to it. From what I hear it didn't do well in live testing and had some reliably issues.

[@jik294]

I would love it if these cam back onto the market. I'd definitely be okay with spending 2k for one. 3k if it was a modernized AK5 variation.

[@moritamikamikara3879]

Hey look, it's one of the main girls from Uppote!!

[@moalongkumer3232]

The Indian INSAS borrows atleast some mechanical and design elements from the FNC, albeit, crammed into what is mostly an AKM. The gas regulator works in the same manner but they moved the latch to the front to make space for the rather complex cocking slide housing.

[@sp3v0nhotrocks93]

@Shop Rat #92 they are trying to modernize with sig 716i treads and AKs

[@jalpat2272]

Why insas has such unreliable reputation AKs style long stroke rotating bolt is idiot proof design, is it the manufacturing or what.?

[@awmperry]

The trick with the foregrip clip is to hold the receiver inverted facing away from you, fingers gripping the front sight (on the underside) and push both sides of the clip forward at the same time with the thumbs. Nice and easy, and no tools. :)

[@geodkyt]

I found this rifle to be remarkably controllable and accurate in full automatic, firing short bursts without bothering with the burst setting. I was quite impressed. If it wasn't for the fact that the FN SCAR guys found out the registered conversion sets designed for the FNC would fit the SCAR, id own one of these with the Go Faster parts - so few rifles were imported relative to the number of conversion kits registered that the combined cost of the semiauto sporter and a registered conversion kit was actually really affordable... right up until the SCAR hit the market (driving the prices of the conversion sets through the roof).

[@WalkaCrookedLine]

I'm delving down a rabbit hole prompted by Ian's recent video firing the FN CAL, the overly complex design the FNC replaced. I have to say, the FNC looks really slick, I'd love to have one though I am sure I'll never be able to afford a U.S. legal full-auto version. Apparently Belgium donated 3,000 FNCs to Ukraine a few weeks into the current war, and I'm sure the Ukrainians were happy to get them. I am not all the way down this rabbit hole yet; now I want to investigate the FN SCAR, which has apparently replaced the FNC in Belgian service. I'd love to see Ian do a video on the SCAR.

[@sorryociffer]

FNC rifles are freaking sweet. FN needs to bring them back to the US market…

[@AxLWake]

I don't think they make it anymore since it is replaced by the Scar.

[@TheBucketSkill]

There outdated, but there still kewl.

[@sorryociffer]

@@AxLWake Still made. Just not in original form. Sweden and a couple other nations still use it.

[@sorryociffer]

@@TheBucketSkill Outdated? Throw on a M-lok handguard… BOOM modern.

[@AxLWake]

@@sorryociffer Variants made by other companies in other countries under licence. But is FN still making FNC rifles?

[@goldenhide]

Gnarly, my Belgian FAL was imported by Gun South. So I got to learn more than I knew before from that blurb.

[@thomasvanstraelen5848]

Finally ! Yes, I'm from Belgium...

[@hollywoodquiet]

One big incorrect fact in the video is @5:55. GunSouth and Howco are importers. They have nothing to do with converting these guns to FA. Howco is much more rare, and more desirable. You can distinguish the two by the muzzle brake and barrel. (Shorter brake and barrel= Howco, Long = GS). Howco imported 1000 FNCs. GunSouth imported 5K+. I bought a Howco Imported FNC, registered sear converted FA FNC by S&H. Most of these guns were converted by S&H/Flemming. They were stamped 4 position at the time, but came in Safe Semi Auto only. Now you can get a reversed engineered 4 position pack for $300, which I did. I got my new condition transferable FA FN FNC in 2012 for $7500. I'm sure they are double that now. Which is why most of my investments are in transferable machineguns.

[@hendriktonisson2915]

The British would've been better off getting a licence for production of these than the L85. Shooting the L85 from behind right hand corners or cover is basically impossible.

[@user-njyzcip]

They just decided that nobody is allowed to shoot from the left shoulder instead 🤦

[@vasilije94]

The British would've been better with getting licence for literally any weapon, like even old AKM would have served them better than L85. L85 is just a complete garbage, even L85A2 is garbage with all the "fixes" germans did. Recoil is high, accuracy is nothing special, ergonomics are garbage, production is not cheap. I mean the whole idea of a bullpup design is to shorten the weapon and make it lighter, but the L85 is heavier than most of the normal designs. L85 family is a bullpup weapon with all of the cons that come with the bullpup design but none of the pros that come with the bullpup design. Its a complete disaster of a weapon. But its the politicians that chose the weapon for some stupid reasons, unfortunately soldiers have to carry those weapons.

[@koettfaers]

@@vasilije94 british pride explains the existance and military use of the L85

[@vasilije94]

@@koettfaers british pride? How so?

[@koettfaers]

@@vasilije94 by british pride i mean any national pride really. They wanted to develop and issue an UK made rifle for their army, that it sucked seemed of little issue

[@foivosapostolos1211]

The rifle is excellent. WORKS in adverse conditions far more reliably then M16 versions, and it proved itself very well in jungle environment in Indonesia during the three wars there, where gun maintenance was at best approximate

[@PresidentFunnyValentine]

The FAL's little sister.

[@s_vb2220]

i have waited for this video for years :D thanks Ian!

[@KageMinowara]

I really hope that one day Funco-chan will graduate and be the best Raifu she can be.

[@md_vandenberg]

Ahh, a fellow degenerate of culture.

[@KageMinowara]

@@md_vandenberg Sir. (tips hat)

[@anionleader]

With her thong as standard battle gear too! o7

[@michaelmurray7199]

@@anionleader You probably shouldn’t say anything about her stock, or she might go Full-Auto on you.

[@paulandersson6120]

The following things are changed on the AK5A (standard version) *Front grip *Pistolgrip - slitghtly different angle *Trigger guard - to fit gloves in winter *Front sight - a ring instead of a open) *Magazine release with a bigger button *Different attachmentpoint in the front *Bigger charging handle (metal and then plastic) *New ejector *New hammer *No switch for grenades *No attachment for bajonett *Fire selector lever - bigger for easier use in winter with gloves *Only safe, semi and full auto *Green colors with a different harder coating And, I also think that the rear sight has a different scale then the FNC. Great review Ian! I can tell you that the Ak5 is very stable in full auto, but extremely front heavy, and that probably helps with the recoil. I have used the AK5A, AK5C, and both the shorter older and newer AK5D. Also used the AK5C with a M203, and man that thing was front heavy!

[@andreaspettersson6085]

There was also an L-shaped piece of metal welded onto the upper rear of the ejection port, IIRC to deflect brass forward, away from the shooter.

[@kongoubongo1114]

Pleased to meet you, Commander. Want some chocolate?

[@hoyinchan995]

scrolled too low to see this. Finally a fellow man of culture.

[@erikm12]

That spring-loaded dust cover is one of my favorite features on any gun. Seeing that thing work in slowmo is pretty hypnotizing.

[@admiral_waffles533]

Funnily enough, the one time i've experienced this rifle firsthand is when some armory guys from the local garrison came to my high school to teach us how to field strip it and a 1911. Good times. Edit for clarification; I'm Indonesian, and the school culture, especially highschool, is very militaristic compared to the us. Some are even run by current and former army officers. I imagine they came to teach a few skills in case we decided to enlist.

[@av0-cad03]

That's pretty wicked

[@razor1uk610]

...inspired by the (tiny/smallest) better part of Imperial Japan I am guessing/hoping.

[@Pattamatt1998]

I wish US high schools would still teach stuff like that, I know decades ago firearm safety classes were pretty commonplace here too but have gone they way of the dodo. I think there's still a ton of value in them, especially with how many great training tools exist now that would allow you to teach these skills without having any actual firearms on the premises, and I think they could be great in shifting back towards a more gun-positive culture here.

[@razor1uk610]

@@Pattamatt1998 ...in the old 'old days' when the NRA was akin to the scouts & providing *only* training, before they became a political only -ex?- charity (for tax exemption purposes) that doesn't train in safe usage much anymore; ...just a skewed political/legal rhetorical party of lobbied elitists, sort of a communistic style of propagandizing societal party for the rich & uncaring members controlling it.

[@rifqi2733]

"the school culture, especially highschool, is very militaristic compared to the us" you sure you live in Indonesia?

[@archmagosdeciuskronen1501]

I know it may never happen. But I want to see Ian take apart and shoot the Swedish Bofors AK5C which is based on the FNC. It's so iconic to the Swedish Army

[@Comrade_Chloe]

Funco-chan!!

[@blitzcustom-designer8812]

the good move to desassembly the handguard si more simple , press the two opposites buttons , slide the handguard forward and spread it , not need tool to remove the clip ;)

[@Rikard_Nilsson]

15:16 The FNC seems to mechanically be almost identical to the Swedish AK5 A and B versions, so that would mean that you can also remove the gas-tube by pulling it back slightly and lifting the front end off the gas block.

[@Pavia1525]

Yes. You can also retract the bolt, pull on the charging knob into a slot, and hold the bolt open.

[@cynirdavies012]

ian its my birthday today and this is the perfect birthday gift thanks buddy love the channel keep it up

[@TrooperClerk]

Having some Upotte vibes right now watching this.

[@michaelmurray7199]

Funco: My hammer’s about to drop!

[@f1r3hunt3rz5]

My most favourite hunk-of-steel 5.56 rifle. It's a hunk of metal that does the job, it's simple and it works. Beautiful gun.

[@OneShotNick92]

Yay gun jesus is reviewing funco

[@richardfreeman724]

What is funco/funcochan? I've seen several comments and I have no idea what that is

[@seanadams314]

of all the guns i have had come and go through my hands i miss my FNC the most

[@loganwagner1816]

Al Pacino in Heat 1995 carried an FN FNC

[@azimisyauqieabdulwahab9401]

That's right

[@heresy1779]

Very informative. Only thing to add is the plastic hand grip has a little spring and door on the bottom that houses an extra firing pin and other little parts.

[@Operator8282]

Was wondering when you were going to get around to "Funco-chan".

[@torobolinofuell]

Besto raifu

[@Zmeeed01]

Are you guys referring to the certain chocolate enthusiast?

[@kingcam1654]

@@Zmeeed01 different funco, not the chocolate enthusiast

[@glenn9792]

As always, a very well done video. The only aspect that I would have mentioned was that somewhere around 1984 time frame Steyr was blowing them out the door at approx. a $500.00 retail. Lastly, the Semi-auto FNC's were available in both a 1/12 and a faster twist for the SS109 bullet. If memory serves they were 1/9 twist, (although I could be wrong on the twist rate).

[@takingbacktoxic7898]

The 1:7 (and the new chamber throat) on the M16A2 was only needed so it wouldnt choke on the tracer rounds as well as stabilize them if shot. That being said, I have only seen FNCs with a 1:12 twist rate. I'm sure some must have had 1:7s but of the four I have seen in my lifetime (all imports) I am fairly sure they were all 1:12.

[@Skuggan84]

the slightly modified version, the swedish AK5 was my service weapon during conscription. and it was a good gun.

[@enricopaolocoronado2511]

Al Pacino used this rifle well in Heat. Pretty awesome film, even to this day.

[@kevinroberts781]

Nice! We own 3 of these! I had no idea they would make it on to your channel! We get them out for the family to play with during the holidays. Absolutely a blast to shoot.

[@enigmakashman3501]

I was waiting for the channel to feature this gun for like 6 years!

[@RealHouseMouse2]

Played around with this tool during my military service in the Belgian Air Force back in ‘98. It was really easy to maintain and assemble, the folding stock is nice, but a left-handed option would have been nice. It’s been a long time, but blindfolded disassembly and assembly took me about a minute. It’s a nice tool to play with, but I’m not sure I would like to take it into combat