The French FR-F2: Best of the Cold War Sniper Rifles

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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 new 7.62mm NATO barrels, new flexible bipods, and thermal sleeves over the barrels. Of 6,000 FR-F1 rifles original made, approximately 3,500 were rebuilt as FR-F2s. They served from 1986 until being officially replaced by the FN SCAR heavy in 2020.
The FR-F2 was an extremely accurate and capable platform, and saw use in Iraq, Afghanistan, Mali, and many other locations with French units.
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
6281 N. Oracle 36270
Tucson, AZ 85740

[@HLDrums]

I was shocked to know by the end of the video that Ian has a french rifle in his collection

[@MrDdaland]

I know! Thank God I was sitting down, was almost light headed...

[@bornanagaming3329]

Fr*nch???

[@worldtraveler930]

😁😆😏

[@itsapittie]

🤣🤣🤣

[@user-oh2kt8lf6g]

So was I. I've been watching "Forgotten Weapons" for five or six years, but after today's revelation... my life will never be the same :D

[@louisthibault555]

Regarding the "F" designation, there's a running joke in the army that involves designating _everything_ as F1. For example: the F1 tissues in your ration box, the the F1 bread roll at the mess hall, the F1 shitter, the F1 broom, etc. You can think of it like going to McDonald's and prefixing everything with "Mc", as in "I'd like a McCoke please, with some McFries". Same joke. P.S.: I continue to be impressed with Ian's pronunciation. :)

[@timthorson52]

The US army has a similar issue with lots of M1's, especially during ww2. No clue if it was a running joke. At least the weapons tended to have at least a prevalent nickname so the confusion wasn't too bad.

[@Jugend88139]

This rifle served me well in Afghanistan with the J8 8X scope. Very accurate, great scope and reticle

[@ForgottenWeapons]

I would love to get my hands on a J8 for this one...

[@filouphilippe7680]

@@ForgottenWeapons I can try to find one for you, in the different auctio place in FRANCE !

[@hugoquelquechosecommeca3560]

@@filouphilippe7680 tu as des contact pour trouver des frf1 et frf2 ?! je cherche désespérément c'est clairement mon rêve d'en avoir un mais c'est dur a trouver ces bêtes la ... :/

[@ForgottenWeapons]

If you do, please let me know! My email address is [e-mail] . Merci!

[@luillierstephane1463]

@@ForgottenWeapons You pervert 😉👍

[@themightyappleking]

Nice to see that Ethan Winters donated his rifle to the right people

[@herculanoguimaraes4605]

''let's see what you are made of Ethan Winters''

[@DIEGhostfish]

FR F2 and Bronson's Wildey iin NG+ what a selection.

[@firemario8126]

@Tactical Mischief me too

[@darsharjunrao9057]

@@firemario8126 same here

[@erict3728]

Who are these RE8?

[@Maverick14444]

As french i'm very happy to see this beautiful gun, I was pleasantly surprised to see the weapon in RE8 Village with the exact first german scope and when you buy the new scope it's the late 90's modern scope Ian talked about, a nice detail !

[@adamtothefuture]

> As a french Now I know you’re really French.

[@Maverick14444]

​@@adamtothefuture Oh yeah my bad, it was my spell check :/

[@ailleurs...]

@@adamtothefuture 😂bien vu

[@Furzkampfbomber]

@@Maverick14444 Reminds me a bit of the non-swimmer who blames his bathing trunks. :D

[@petesheppard1709]

'The French copy no one, and no one copies the French'...adds to the sadness over the decline and death of the French firearms industry.

[@hansolex594]

It's just a political decision , sadly …

[@petesheppard1709]

@@hansolex594 😢 Yep.

[@BF-I-II-V-V-III-VII]

Its worse than that. They dont let the firearm industries die. They destroying it on purpose...

[@williamallan5791]

*cries in .32 French Longue*

[@kirbyswarp]

Not just French firearms, but all French products as well as their culture

[@ThorneyedWT]

French designation "F" stands for France while US "M" stands for MURICA.

[@jesusdontlikethatimgaybuts9493]

lol that’s what i was thinking too

[@swj719]

I thought it stood for "Mmmm-boy!"

[@JvS1711]

Muh freedoms

[@coaxill4059]

And in Russia, T stands for Tchaikovsky. The true progenitor of the Russian Empire.

[@deltared7455]

Also G stand for Germany

[@JaingSkirata]

Nice to see the Mandalorians have resumed slug thrower exports outside the Galactic Republic.

[@Cynical_Hypocrite]

ZzZzZzZzZz

[@taberzak7587]

Well done sir. Well done.

[@jamesallred460]

And you win the internet today! Well done!!

[@awol354]

Let's hope the Elbonians don't sue for copyright. EDIT: Unless it's an actual bullet - then it's cool. They had the snail version.

[@rmichaelzachary8574]

Exactly, it looks like a George Lucas/Favreau prop gun. Too bad they didn't have M Lock back then and slim handguards: thumb over bore metrosexual first person shooter garand thumb pogues would be joining the chorus here. Look at that thing. A dropped twice MAS 36 (Once on the Maginot, twice at Dien Bien Phu) inspired someone from Yavin 5 to make a rifle for troopers to take to Scerif. But I don't think a wookie would carry it.

[@scottgray3945]

Now we get to see this being used in Desert Brutality 2021.

[@hesnotbad9045]

>doesn’t use the walther

[@teller1290]

Explain, pls? The French are gone from Africa now or no?

[@rafaelmiranda5275]

Ironically i'm playing whith this rifle in resident evil 8 and thinking "i never seen this rifle before" now i know where it from

[@calebgarner9976]

Same

[@Hysteria98]

I recognised the original F1 pattern and wondered why they butchered it in-game with the extra fancy details, totally unawares that there was a beefed up F2 version, and then lo, this popped up in the sub feed some months later by coincidence, lol.

[@antazur3983]

As a french I'm so glad someone gave so much passion and proper reviews to our weapons.

[@andersjjensen]

You're not the only Frenchman to think so. I mean, the GSG9 actively invited Ian to take a look at their signature gun. I have a feeling the GSG9 is not exactly looking for publicity, and that their total invite list of all time is frighteningly short... And even shorter for civilians... And yet again shorter when it comes to civilians who aren't French citizens...

[@nova2293]

@@andersjjensen I thought that was so funny that despite being hardened special forces soldiers they’re still gun nerds at heart

[@kimmoj2570]

@Antazur @Anders Juel Jensen Ian would gladly show all the curio and relic French arms from last 150 years in his channel. Every prototype included, he is very serious franchophile. Unfortunately French army is hidebound in bureaucracy. No foreigners (nor locals) have access to their museum pieces. In Finland for example, Ian have been welcomed to see everything in many regimental remembrance rooms for a long time, and have had access to army shooting ranges (in lieu of active reservist when they are training there). Sky has not been dropped on us, like Asterix always is scared off. Hope French army will raise its head from sand eventually.

[@davidcox3076]

French arms history is such a huge topic. So many stories these weapons can tell.

[@ScottKenny1978]

@@kimmoj2570 Ian has gotten into some official French museums/armories.

[@larsdejong7396]

Once desert brutality is over, I would be interested in seeing Henry shoot this, see how it performs compared to the F1.

[@lightweight1974]

Henri ?

[@volvok7749]

@@lightweight1974 The guy from 9 Holes Review, did an excellent video on the F1

[@owllymannstein7113]

@@volvok7749 Wasn't that Ian's F1 though?

[@mattfleming86]

I absolutely concur.

[@universalrandomizer405]

It's a must

[@ml.2770]

General: Does it have lots of black rubber bits. Designer: No. General: Add more rubber.

[@teller1290]

It does have rubber shroud and on forestock bottom!

[@simonrival1613]

Ah yes. Another episode of things I'd sell an organ to own.

[@simonrival1613]

@@Ratkill9000 I'd probably portion the skin out a fair bit if possible. And I'm pretty sure I can give out chunks of liver and have it grow back.

[@JohnADoe-pg1qk]

How about a cornea?😉

[@michaelathens953]

I mean who really NEEDS two kidneys when they could have this beauty?

[@cmdrcriton]

That are going for 7000_8000 so you could get a couple for a kidney and have enough left over for a pallet of ammo!

[@Del_S]

America: Press F to pay respects. France: Press F to designate a weapon.

[@douili450]

Actually, almost every military shit have a F. F1 helmet, F1 tent, F1 shovel, F1 shirt, pretty sure the combat spoon is F1 too

[@GerardMenvussa]

@@douili450 No good soldier goes to war without his trusty felmet, his fent, his fovel, his fhirt and his fpoon. Oh sorry, did I fplutter? :p

[@alexandrelarsac9115]

@@douili450 Mirage F1 !

[@andersjjensen]

I am really happy that Ian's book sales are going so well that he can get firearms like this one for himself. He has put his mitts on SO many cool weapons to show them to us... only to have to hand them back to the owner or auction house with a pained sigh. I can't imagine a better home for an original condition FR-F2.

[@YouCaughtCzars]

I've always been fascinated by this rifle since I read an article on the French Foreign Legion serving in Afghanistan in a Soldier of Fortune magazine back in 2005. It's very distinctive and appealing, it's up there with the SVD for my personal favorite rifles aesthetically.

[@mathieubeaudoin6522]

One time during a marche forcé, me or my body lost a part of that gun. We walk back a big part of the marche and we never find the part. We where very lucky, the adjudant keep the secret, we do gard duty that nigh and we have to pay a pack of beer for the armory guy. We buy beer for the adjudant to, he keep some and let us have the rest. We where two very lucky légionnaire.

[@mrhaltstop2294]

Same happened to a guy of my platoon during an exercise in 1973…he lost the silencer

[@teller1290]

​@@mrhaltstop2294wow, silencer...in '73, on that FR-F1 rifle?

[@teller1290]

Very interesting!

[@hendriktonisson2915]

I really hope you get a chance to make a video about the AA-52.

[@cyrilscordia9565]

Yesssss

[@loiccardenas3980]

And with it, the French Cold War loadouts would be complete!

[@jfu5222]

It's a great feeling to come across a gun, or any kind of machine, that you never thought you would see in person. Good for you Ian!

[@znutar]

The glass on this rifle is actually quite good though the reticle is incredibly basic. Got to fondle Ian's at DB and he really made it shine. Check his upcoming videos...he gets rather excited about it's performance 😜

[@themastermason1]

You lucky bastard!

[@teller1290]

Are there newer videos of Ian's pertaining to this rifle?

[@teller1290]

Yes, easy to find.

[@joet.s.6283]

Such a unique looking firearm

[@nova2293]

One of the coolest looking imo

[@elitewarnut]

I've had the pleasure to shoot this interesting rifle with the mentioned Scrome J8, while serving with the French army overseas. The J8 reticle reminded me of PSO-1 from the good 'ol SVD, and was honestly pretty confusing to use. But the gun itself was a solid piece with a good accuracy, even when shooting AP to 600m.

[@teller1290]

I sure hope the one I'm buying still has a good barrel. I just received a J8 Scrome from Navy Arms. It seems sound enough. Glad to hear you were happy with it for war. I hope "surplus" status now doesn't mean it's spent. Thx for your service.

[@chemistryofquestionablequa6252]

Ian's DEFINITELY going to be buying one, if not two of these.

[@ForgottenWeapons]

Haha - I already did; the one in this video is mine. :)

[@phileas007]

@@ForgottenWeapons There are many like it, but this one is MINE

[@aaronbaskerville8261]

Is it actually Ian’s rifle or not and did he actually buy this?

[@vulekv93]

@@phileas007 *not many, only about 3500 ever made into the F2 type.

[@jacobt1027]

@@aaronbaskerville8261 It is,he bought it

[@lsq7833]

Small correction, the aa-52 when converted to 7.62 was renamed AN-F1. Currently it's phased out as a SAW but a large number of vehicles still use the remote triggered coaxial model with a heavy barrel.

[@norwegianwiking]

And Chap from BotR has one and still hasn't made a video on it

[@cyrilscordia9565]

Brrrrraaaaaatttttttt ,1pressure 5rounds 😁

[@monkfish128]

'return the charging handle SLOWLY'. PRRRAAAAAT. oh la la

[@TheOriginalFaxon]

YES! I'm so happy Ian finally got a chance to get his hands on one of these, been curious about it for a while and I knew it was one of the few french guns you had never had a chance to film. It definitely looks cool as hell, it has some of the look and feel of a PSG-1, but with a bog simple reliable bolt action, and gorgeous wooden furniture. Sexy as hell, and the weight from the wood probably helps with recoil as well.

[@jerrytugable]

Amazing engineering on the bipod legs, looks like they are from a steam locomotive.!

[@matthewg.305]

“The French copy no one and no one copies the French” I have never heard that but it makes so much sense.

[@yop_cholo]

I remember on one of your older videos, you had replied to one of my comments stating the FR-F2 was one of the rifles you were missing in your collection. I'm glad you finally got one. :)

[@Atma_Weapon]

ian with a french gun. you can almost see his molecules vibrating with happiness and excitement.

[@obiwankenobi2749]

I love this era of rifles. The psg-1 and the wa-2000 are my favorites

[@lonedruid9869]

I’ve always loved the simplicity of the French! ❤️ They often try to upgrade as much on their products. They don’t try to make anything new they rather use something til it’s unusable. And I gr8ly admire their idea of conservation😁

[@nightlord8756]

The point is everytime we try crafting something innovative,it is either awful (chauchat lmg) or with such a complicated mechanism, it is extremely costly to produce (like the mas 38 smg in ww2,reliable but insanely expensive) so well executed simplicity is the best way to craft something reliable.

[@jonathanbohm6489]

The French using F for rifles because France The Germans using G for rifles because Germany The US using M for rifles because MERICA

[@olivierpuyou3621]

This explanation is obviously the correct one. Ian must have had a micro AVC ^^

[@AlexSDU]

And the UK use L for rifle because lngland? *I use lower case L in 'Ingland'

[@PavelNygryn]

It's MURICA!

[@AndyWoohoo666]

No that's not it because the Air force is named FR-G1 and G2/ G3 Swedish system have the same as US they use the M number. However it was a funny one ;)

[@speedythree]

@@PavelNygryn That depends on where in ‘Merica you are from.

[@joachimbui4841]

Hier, Ian. At 4:00 you did a good summary however I want to clarify. The MAS was founded in the 1800's while GIAT was created in 1973. MAS closed un 2001 but never belonged to GIAT. GIAT took over the maintenance contract fort the famas while MAS was closing, then became Nexter. They still exist but now they make only armored vehicules and their related ammunition (e.g 128mm,...) I apologize fort my grammar. I am French and I rarely have the opportunity to practice. Regards.

[@martyhorst989]

Thanks for the history lesson 👍👍 It's very informative and interesting stuff !!!

[@andersjjensen]

Thanks for the info. And Ian is fluent in French, so he probably understands Frenglish too :P (As a Dane: You're perfectly understandable!).

[@joachimbui4841]

@@andersjjensen 😁

[@michaelangelomaimone3181]

Perfectly comprehensible and neat info

[@dogboy0912]

Very trusty jack of all trades sniper rifle in A.V.A. I always loved how it looked. Feels very classic yet a bit sci-fi.

[@kelvin3103]

Steam AVA playtest started today, such good timing for a video!

[@NgocLinh-iv9cg]

When this rifle was first introduced in ijji A.V.A. People judged its stats and laughed at it, claiming it would suck against TPG-1 and even the atrocity AWM.

[@bigmikeh5827]

Love the bipod. Thank you GJ for the info. I’ll add this to my bucket list of arms I’ll never have. 👍😉

[@CooperHudgins]

If you took away the scope and bolt, I think you could pass this off as a blaster rifle from Star Wars.

[@benwhite3227]

That bipod is awesome! I wish my USMC SAMR had a bipod mounted near the receiver and could pivot left/right like that.

[@max6462]

Actually, it has a drawback: any movement from the shooter induces a shift. It was not uncommon to lock it to on side as to eliminate 1 axis. On the pros side, it is perfectly centred on the rifle’s center of gravity.

[@benwhite3227]

@@max6462 I can live with that. That’s also true of the Harris bipod I used.

[@PrivateSchemers1]

I'm not much of a firearms expert, I've never held one and I probably never will. But I can tell from the moment I saw this thing: that is one gorgeous looking rifle.

[@Gruvy]

This has some good design features. Enough to make your life easier but without being complex. The barrel shroud and standard profile barrel are my favourite choices in this design. Also that safety is fantastic. It really was a rifle designed to fit its role.

[@MegaGouch]

It's incredible how little sniper rifles changed from in the 30 years leading up to 1990 vs how the 30 years since, virtually every rilfe from the coldwar was carryover from WW2 with weird stock/action set ups with proprietary everything, and scopes that were about as technologically advanced as those in WW2. Virtually the rifle from 80s that still exists virtually unchanged are the AI rifles and the only scopes that are worth a damn since then are the PMII scopes and maybe a few Hendsolts. Looking at this rifle you can really see what a game changer the AI PM/AW rifles were vs everything that came before. Even the Remington 700 based rifles are barely the same, with the base action being really to only thing that has carried over.

[@MisterAnonymous1000]

This gun pretty much got me an S rank on every stage in Mercenaries.

[@billyBob-bf8pw]

Super fusil. Très précis. Bonne vidéo

[@22tanmay]

I only saw a photo and read about it. Thank you so much for the video Ian

[@BlurredOutBoy]

Love your channel. It s a welcome break from the tacticool masses out there. Keep up the good work.

[@claywilson2751]

Ian (loosely translated) “The French Army rifle scope sucked.” Back of Ian’s mind: “I must have it all!!!!”

[@Kinkampoiana]

Une vraie beauté ce fusil... Thank you for your work.

[@jfu5222]

The pistol grip checkering(?) is certainly utilitarian looking!

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

@4.55, It's funny how Ian often comments about things being designed for right hand people only BUT He can't say anything negative about his new French friend!🤣 Great Video and that Is a cool rifle. BTW, I went to Sniper school many years ago and I too would rather have any well built bolt action over nearly any self loader. Ya'll Take Care and be safe, John

[@cheyannei5983]

In your opinion, is the bipod good? It seems really, really handy!

[@JohnDoe-pv2iu]

@@cheyannei5983 I like it. I used a Harris bipod on a heavy barrel Remington. It gave some maneuverability but probably not as much as this one. That was well thought out.

[@AlexLee-dc2vb]

Ian: bolt actions are obsolete, even for sniper rifles Also Ian: FR-F2 > FN SCAR-H

[@termitreter6545]

Prefering something personally doesnt mean its better in military use. And you can make automatic rifles as accurate as bolt actions, its mostly just a matter of price. That said, I am a bit confused in this case, because the Scar-H might be accurate enough for a DMR, but probably not to replace a long range sniper rifle.

[@NoFunNoMoshNoCoreNoTrends]

@@termitreter6545 False. A bolt-action is inherently more accurate because less moving parts, simple as that. But yeah your 8000$ gun can barely outperform my 300€ M48, congrats.

[@termitreter6545]

​@@NoFunNoMoshNoCoreNoTrendsYoure not actually refuting anything I say. The claim "bolt-action is inherently more accurate" is just a naive statement; its actually not that simple. Theres way more things that determine accuracy than that mechanism. And fun fact, modern service rifles like the HK416 will be way more accurate than your M48. The 8000 dollars are bullshit, but yes, it is more expensive, but you can easily do it. Thats the point.

[@NoFunNoMoshNoCoreNoTrends]

@@termitreter6545 Fair enough. You're right. It's a naive statement. However the ceiling of precision is higher for Bolt-Actions, also due to caliber if that makes sense. I think it's a naive statement to say a modern 416 will be way more accurate than my M48. Depends on the distance entirely.

[@filouphilippe7680]

Depend about what doctrine you adopt ...

[@michaelmcatee221]

I can’t imagine how excited Ian must’ve been to get his hands on this! Great video!

[@timbaskett6299]

Seen the FR-F2 in the desert brutality video and was wondering about it. Thanks for the video.

[@michael5045]

That bipod design is awesome. Wonder why we don't see it utilized more.

[@RabidBadger_]

Raise your hand if you knew this was Ian's rifle the moment he said they'd been imported.

[@huntermurphy2148]

Congrats on your new beautiful rifle Ian

[@sovietrook7425]

I've saw this in a few videoganes and always liked it. Didn't realise it was this cool

[@Star_Lancer]

Flow of Resident Evil: Village comments - intensifies.

[@moonlightwarrior3769]

I recommande you to clean the dry sand or durt on your bipod Rubber pad. If they going too dry they will easily break, same recommandation for the handguard ! My dotation rifle actually 😁 soon replaced by the Scar H-PR. Going to the formation next week

[@teller1290]

Why would plastic handguard break? Also, what about care for rubber shroud at the end of handguard (around barrel)...do you have to treat that rubber to keep it from cracking?

[@Living_Target]

Been playing breakpoint, never heard of this before that game. Good timing.

[@MythicMagus]

I'm glad you could finally find one of your "White Whales" Ian. I'll be looking forward to your range video tomorrow.

[@jameswesten2018]

I love this channel so much, thank you for showing/shooting all of these amazing weapons. I'll never be able to fire all of these unbelievable weapons so the next best thing is watching you.

[@jameswesten2018]

P.S. I just watched the Nazi Belt Buckle Pistol Video, that was the coolest thing I've ever seen...

[@AnonEMus-cp2mn]

History question: the FR .50 was seen in the hands of South African special forces in the Congo, but did the FR F1/F2 ever proliferate into similar conflict zones as well?

[@SebastianScholle]

Nice piece of kit. Spared no expense.

[@LeFeuauxpoudres]

I'm happy you get your hands on one of these =)

[@ealtar]

an apt representation of the french military, extremely capable despite all hinderances

[@davidpage4005]

A question to which I hope you can provide an answer. At around 11:25 on the video you are talking about the "tuneable muzzle device", it being a 3 slot device to match the 3 rifling lands, and that it can be screwed in or out to get the best out of the rifle. As someone who spent a lot of time with the L1A1 SLR and L4 Bren with similar "Flash hiders", could you possibly explain ( in old simple squaddie terms ), just how this system worked please.?

[@joec5680]

Literally acquired this rifle just yesterday in Resident Evil Village and now it appears on my recommended. Great!

[@effynme]

Thank you Ian!

[@TheWhoamaters]

My favorite H3 bolt action, weird that so many in the community hate on it

[@1leggeddog]

You know its a good day when Ian gets his hands on yet another French Rifle :)

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Ian .

[@perfectcell8130]

That rifle is just gorgeous!

[@TheRogueWolf]

It looks like those crosshairs were designed to inflict blunt-force trauma on the target.

[@johnybloom5575]

Hehe

[@kevinjogoo8730]

Looks like some sort of steampunk Lebel

[@2487Greg]

AAAH ! Meilleur fusil de précision jamais créé. Merci Ian.

[@ctyoung0271]

Did anyone else catch his comment of FR-F2 triggers in yesterday's video? I was pleasantly surprised to see this one in my sub box this morning.

[@GrimRX]

"Not a very good scope... but it was what was chosen for the military contract" Annnnd all of my military bros absolutely know that feeling, lol.

[@khaelamensha3624]

so true 😂

[@l33tster]

My favourite sniper in Nexon's retired Combat Arms game! Such a fantastic weapon.

[@dogboy0912]

It was my favorite in Alliance of Valiant Arms, another Korean f2p lol

[@l33tster]

@@dogboy0912 I remember that too! I only learned of it toward the end of my time playing CA but I was far too invested in the one to learn another ahaha. I'm so glad we got to e joy those games at the time.

[@dividedbyzero96]

I haven't thought about that game in at least a decade lol

[@l33tster]

@@dividedbyzero96 Yeah bro it's been far too long! I miss it so bad sometimes haha. Great memories. I used to roll the name LostMyShoe and wore the reindeer head Christmas cosmetic 24/7 bahaha. So fun.

[@Predalien195]

Still running under new ownership. People back in the day used to complain it was pay to win, but now it really is.

[@bigfreddie4854]

Hope you had a good holiday Ian .

[@Rahknai]

Very cool looking. I like the mix of plastics/rubber/wood/metal all over the gun. It looks like a gun from the Fallout videogames, or some Star Wars pulse rifle.

[@phillipcowan1444]

I've often stared at my MAS 36 and thought "damn this thing is ugly" but I'll bet it could be a super accurate target rifle. The action is milled from solid. The magazine walls are very deep and integral making it very rigid. Mauser fans won't like the rear locking lugs but they are substantial and the oversize bolt diameter limits flex. All it needs is a match barrel and a trigger. I like the FR 2's hanging bipod arrangement. I think it would eliminate some of the bedding headaches of the two piece stock.

[@gabrielschake6259]

I love my MAS 36. I would shoot it every day if I could get cheap ammo. It's such a handy little carbine, and so accurate.

[@richardpowell4281]

Funny how French rifles in their category often get the title of "best" by Ian 🤔

[@joet.s.6283]

No bias whatsoever

[@richardpowell4281]

@@ommsterlitz1805 I don't doubt it's a good rifle. But the best Cold War Sniper? There would be some heavy contention. And I will eat my shoes before I say the Famas is the best Bullpup rifle. I would put my money on the Dragunov as the best Cold War Sniper, it's still being used by snipers today. Semi auto, heavy caliber, reliable, nice range, very accurate, widely produced.

[@TheMCD1989]

@@richardpowell4281 you may want to look around on the internet, there are plenty of discussions regarding the SVD and it's actual use. It's a fine rifle but saying it's the best cold war sniper rifle is a stretch, practically it's been shown to be more of a DMR rather than a true sniper rifle. I would argue pretty much any of the bolt action purpose built sniper rifles (such as this frf2) from the same era would vastly out perform that thing at a sniping role.

[@ahalfsesameseedbun7472]

@@ommsterlitz1805 what are you talking about "looked too much like a hunting rifle?" The M40 was adopted in 1966, and that literally is a hunting rifle.

[@discerningscoundrel3055]

Check out 9-hole reviews video on the F1 - it performed magnificently

[@versoarmamentcompany]

Great video

[@mikewinings4120]

I really want one as well,thanks for the video!

[@kortexsirvasil]

Beginner's guide to Forgotten Weapons, Chapter 1 -The best = The most French

[@jonathanbohm6489]

I wish the French truly developed a 7.62 mas 49/56 DMR (they experimented with 7.62 but as a regular standard issue rifle)

[@DC2022]

I don't remember which armorer did some testing with some 49/56 MSE revamping them in some VERY ugly form. It was proposed as a stop gap weapon but Army didn't see this as an opportunity.

[@johnsonwang7253]

I've been waiting on this video

[@jazon9]

To be hones one of the best and coolest looking rifle. This combination wood adn steel is so nice.

[@johnpalmer5131]

This would make Scout Rifle similar to Jeff Cooper’s scout rifle concept. Good for hunting larger game like elk, mule deer, buffalo, caribou, etc. Probably want replace scope with more optic.

[@Verdha603]

Biggest issue is that it most likely would never meet his height & weight requirements (off the top of my head he stated a Scout Rifle preferably weighs less than 7.5 pounds and 36 inches or shorter), never mind some of his more asinine requirements like a magazine cut-off and the ability to top feed from stripper clips.

[@BeingFireRetardant]

I look at it like power windows and locks on a car, or disc brakes... Meaning things that come standard now on every car made were still a luxury or novelty thirty or forty years ago. Rifles like this, or Cooper's Scout concept, were very cutting edge technology back in the day. And yes, while you can spend $3500 on a precision/sniper/dmr/long range build, the average shooter can also achieve very passable results from a rifle build that costs a fraction of that. In fact, most manufacturers are today releasing even their low end entry level rifles at a state of quality that exceeds almost every firearm ever made up until the last few decades. Just refinements on already proven platforms. Which is cool, because now just about anyone can have access to an accurate scout type bolt gun for a reasonable amount, that is literally superior to what what many millions marched off to war with. Cooper was right about the man with one gun who knows how to use it thing... There's just something about having at least one decent bolt gun, if nothing else.

[@Verdha603]

@@BeingFireRetardant I think I'd appreciate bolt guns a bit more if I was a right handed shooter, but when your wrong handed your options tend to be limited to the most basic models in the most common calibers. Combined with how many semi-automatic rifles can now compete with bolt actions in terms of reliability and accuracy out to moderate ranges makes it difficult for me to really appreciate bolt actions as a practical tool compared to say a good lever action or semi-auto for my uses.

[@teller1290]

​@@Verdha603I'm spoiled because I shoot lefty but am a righty and left-eye dominant! A bit odd.

[@echomande4395]

Will 9 Hole Reviews be testing this rifle like they did the FR-F1?

[@Kreot7]

yes

[@calyth6615]

Of course Ian has this rifle. Look forward to the range videos.

[@manmallard]

Backup plastic sights. Attached to the barrel shroud. That Ian just showed moving massively relative to the barrel... I'm sure they worked great.

[@Brokokush]

"The French copy no one and no one copies the French" I think It was first meant as a mockery, but we're so proud we take it as a compliment :) Thanks Ian for showing us this beauty.

[@odizzido]

I am curious what your thoughts are about the SCAR heavy that lead you to choose the FR-F2 over it? Is it much more accurate? Or just lighter, nicer shooting, ? Thanks if you take the time to answer this :)

[@wesleygay8918]

it's french , unique and historical.......I suspect that's the only justification he needed. french guns are like POKEMON to Ian, he's gotta catch 'em all

[@IncredibleMD]

The SCAR was made by Belgians.

[@ChaosPootato]

Hyped to see it in action

[@tcbbct509]

Gun: I'm french Ian: you're the best gun.

[@filouphilippe7680]

Lol Ian don't have only one French Rifle ! His videos show the large knowledge he have about them ! Always fun to read US people knowing nothing more about France than "Escargot ... Frogs, coward, cheese and Baguette" lol . (i never eat Escargot and Frog's leg lol ... but Cheese or Bread are never better than in FRANCE lol) , and not the large Gun/rifle history from France, and some excellent gun as this FRF2 or FRF1 .... or famas etc ! The border with Germany (which need USA, UK and URSS to be beaten) haven't help french People to show their War Knowledge ... but if you know some History in all over the world ,you can discover "an other reality" lol. French People will never Forget what Us (UK, Australian, Canadian) Soldiers have done against Nazis ... but sometime they will be happy than more people remember Lafayette etc ! God bless you !

[@steveh1792]

We also remember french pastries and wines (even though I don't drink), too. And we never will forget Lafayette.

[@filouphilippe7680]

@@steveh1792 That's rigth ... i a real Pastries fan lol, and i live in Burgundy, so i'm obliged to drink Wine ... sometime lol ( lol I think it's more serious not to know French gastronomy than not to know French weapons) Fortunately, French charcuterie (Pork salting manly) survived the disappearance of the French arms factory (Manufactures d'armes de Saint Etienne, Tulles, Chatelleraut etc ) which were sacrificed by some armaments manufacturers ! However France is not the only country which have done rhe choice to buy their "ligth Army gun" to an other country ! (Cf Glock, HK used in USA)

[@GammaMorser]

Why didn't they replace the whole FR series with the PGM 338 series? The French BRI already uses the PGM Ultima Ratio.

[@nicolaspeigne1429]

it works, why buy new things when you have working rifles and no budget...

[@cookie3072]

it's for military use, a bolt action wasn't cutting it anymore so it's getting replaced with the SCAR-H 17

[@KyussTheWalkingWorm]

The .50 BMG Hecate II is already the recommended platform for sniper use beyond 800m. The bean counters may not be interested in filling the gap with a .338 rifle. On the other hand I think it still makes sense to adopt a .308 precision rifle and in this day and age it really ought to be a semi-auto for the increased flexibility. Also for low volume procurement like sniper rifles it's not too uncommon for weapons that *aren't* formally adopted to see use nonetheless.

[@jhnshep]

@@KyussTheWalkingWorm besides the SCAR, the FRf2 and the Hecate II are being looked over for upgrades and modernisation so they might be around for a while longer. as for .338 and the like, yup sniper teams and commandos outside of regular line regiments have access to other calibers and rifles, but we would refer to that sorta stuff as gucci gear.

[@genghiskhan6809]

That magazine catch on the gun itself seems like it would’ve been amazing had it appeared earlier on the MAS-49 series of rifles.

[@andrewtucker7990]

I love the design of the bipod.