Spanish FR-8 (FR8) Rifles from Hunter's Lodge (Review & Closer Look Under the Wood)

[@MidwesternFC]

Well I had to do it. Spoke with James a few weeks ago and put in an order for a couple of these. Looking forward to working on them. I got one of the NOS that you recommended. Cant wait.

[@kiotiugly2221]

I just received my FR 8 from Hunters Lodge (ordered right after I saw this video). I was lucky and got ahold of James on the 2nd try. At the time, he said he could only sell me one $88 FR 8 because they didn't have that many and they were getting several orders and he didn't want to short someone. The one I got actually looked better than the ones in the video (and had a matching bolt), but the stock was pretty much a disaster. It was shattered around the wrist area. I might be able to get it glued/pinned back together. I have a stock set coming from RTG and I think I'll end up with a pretty good looking FR 8 for around $300, which is a pretty good deal in the current market. I also ordered a $98 M43 and $49 M43. The $98 was in great shape, good stock, pristine bore, missing no parts. The only only damage was that the clip on the back of the handguard was stuck to the barrel and had come off of the handguard. The $49 was in decent shape, missing the handguard, front sight and all of the bolt except for the bolt body.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

@kiotiugly2221 wow, sounds like you got a nicer FR-8 than me lol. BTW, Numrich, Century Arms, and Legacy Collectibles are all good places for parts for the am43.

[@robertsonwilliam573]

for rust scraping before brushing a copper (pre '82) penny works pretty well and generally will not harm the surviving finish, especially if used with oil.

[@georgeclontd4984]

I always enjoy your content. Thanks.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Thank you sir, I appreciate that!

[@GenerationKill001]

I enjoy watching your videos.... Depriming and resizing 30 06 while watching... ❤

[@The_Casual_Collector]

🤣 very cool, I appreciate that!

[@Michael-im1vc]

My compartment actually contained a Spanish cigarette with handwriting on it. I couldn't fully translate it as the writing was difficult to read but the gist was basically a comment on war, risk, and luck. I kept it. Pretty cool

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Wow, that's really cool!

[@robertsonwilliam573]

finds are super rare but always exciting. never found a note like that but i did find one once in the (welded shut) barrel of a p08. Note said where and when it was surrendered, did some research and it looked as though the German officer escaped to Central America after the war where he surrendered himself to local police who then seized the gun, welded the action and barrel shut, and put it into storage.

[@Michael-im1vc]

@robertsonwilliam573 yeah exactly! It's the fact that someone, somewhere left a personal stamp of their own on or with an item and that in and of itself makes, history!

[@robertsonwilliam573]

@@Michael-im1vc That is one of the aspects that I find so interesting about these old guns. I don't mean to glorify war or the choices of men in power that send other men to their deaths but I think it is important to remember the fact that when reading history with numbers, dates, and equipment that there were real people with lives as complex as yours or mine behind each of these artifacts. It is a sobering juxtaposition that as I sit in my living room relaxing by cleaning up an old weapon, I know that somewhere at sometime someone else was having an experience with the exact same item that couldn't be more different. Its a hobby to me but it wasn't "a hobby" to them. I try to keep that in mind and put my own life in context. Ultimately it is "man's blind indifference to his fellow man" that fuels so much violence and hurt. For me, finding a personal item is exciting but also sobering and I'm always left wondering "did he make it home or am I holding the only remnant of his existence that survived whatever he went through?"

[@The_Casual_Collector]

@robertsonwilliam573 now that's a story. Yeah, I've definitely never found anything like that.

[@firchkn7932]

I ordered one myself, just waiting for it to arrive. Can’t wait to see how these turn out.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Very cool, I hope your stocks are in better shape. Might be a good idea to go ahead and get a stock from RTG like I did.

[@robertsonwilliam573]

first order from HL or have you done it before?

[@firchkn7932]

@@robertsonwilliam573 first time so we’ll see how it goes🤞🤞

[@hquiller]

Called and wrote a few emails to Hunter's Lodge, to see if they still had any SKS and FR8s in stock. They never answered.

[@shawnoandrew]

Yeah, same here. Thry apparently either get enough business or couldn't care less...

[@Geronimointhewild]

Cleaning can become an art. Sometimes plain hot water and soap , sometimes mineral spirits, or clo lol. Looks rough but useful. I noticed Hunters Lodge always states to send enough to cover shipping. How do you compensate for that? Thanks for the video, great stuff.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Yes it can. I know @legendofdrago1113 said he would send about $20-35 per rifle, but I know it varies based on your zip code. Thanks for watching, I appreciate it.

[@RUSTYSURPLUS]

Casual lots of cleaning to there an can't wait to see them up and running.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Thank you sir, same here lol, my headspace gauges actually arrived today, so a good cleaning and headspace check is definitely in order.

[@ralphalter3621]

Been looking for a FR 8, any ideas. Thanks

[@The_Casual_Collector]

The only place I've seen them cheap is Hunter's Lodge.

[@clintdowell581]

Was wondering if you had any way of contacting hunters Lodge other than what is on their website I'm trying to order guns but voicemails are full and haven't gotten a response from email do you have an email for James the guy in the warehouse I'm trying to confirm if they have the broken stock fr8's in stock and anymore Enfield 2 revolvers so I can order and the prices and shipping cost any help would be greatly appreciated

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Sadly, I don't, but the best piece of advice I can offer is start calling about 12:30pm and keep calling up until about 4:00pm, roughly every 5 minutes or so. Eventually, you'll get him. Persistence is key.

[@traviscochran6280]

They don't look too bad. Clean them up and do the stock work, you will have a solid pair of rifles. Looks like most of the metal is there and usable.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Thanks, I think so too, I just got my headspace gauges in, so a good clean-up and headspace check is next on the list.

[@gilliland426]

they both look good to me just needing some good loving!

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Thanks, yep, some TLC and maybe these will be some nice shootable rifles.

[@hortonjones7503]

I want one, anyone been able to go to the location in person?

[@thefrenchgunsmith6488]

For spanish Mauser's quality, these are pretty good. They were abused and left to rot. Nice find !

[@brendangriffin1791]

You need to go th harbor freight & get a couple of those magnetic trays for your small parts

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Great idea, I keep forgetting about those. I think I'll do just that tomorrow!

[@robertsonwilliam573]

@@The_Casual_Collector thats what I use, works great. you also need to get a sonic cleaner

[@The_Casual_Collector]

@@robertsonwilliam573 I do at least have an ultrasonic cleaner lol, works great for reloading cleaning brass cases.

[@thewolfhunter]

Another good video brother ..👍🏻👍🏻 Can't wait for the SKS videos..

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Thanks, I'll try to do a teardown on those next week.

[@shawnoandrew]

Wish I had extra cash to get a 7 and a 8.

[@herd118]

The recoil lug has absolutely nothing to do with the headspace on a rifle.

[@The_Casual_Collector]

Yeah, unfortunately I figured that out after shooting the video...