FN CAL

Infobox Weapon
name=FN CAL


caption=FN CAL
origin=flag|Belgium
type=Assault rifle
is_ranged=yes
service=
used_by=Democratic Republic of the Congo
wars=
designer=Ernest Vervier
design_date=1963-1966
manufacturer=Fabrique Nationale (FN)
production_date=1966—1975
number=
variants=
weight=3.35 kg
length=980 mm
part_length=
crew=
cartridge=5.56x45mm NATO
caliber=
action=Gas-operated, rotating bolt
rate=850 rounds/min
velocity=3200 feet/second
range=
max_range=
feed=20, 25 and 30-round detachable box magazine
sights=Iron sights

The CAL ("Carabine Automatique Légère") was the Belgian arms manufacturer Fabrique Nationale's first 5.56 mm rifle.

Design details

Contrary to popular assumption, it is not a scaled-down and rechambered FN FAL. FN had already constructed a Mini-FAL prototype before shelving the idea as unmarketable, noting the growing sales success of the HK G3 rifle. FN decided that for any future rifle to be competitive and successful, it would need to use fewer expensive precision-machined parts. These would be replaced by less expensive castings and stampings where possible. While the construction of the new CAL reflected these design principles, it met with no significant sales. It was eventually dropped for the even less expensive FN FNC.

A small number of FN CALs are sold to the US. [ [http://remtek.com/arms/fn/fnc/ Remtek.com's FN FNC.] Retrieved on July 28, 2007.]

Operation

Although this weapon resembled a scaled-down FN FAL, it was in fact a rotating bolt, unlike the FAL. The earlier models of the weapon had a 3-round selector system, which allowed the weapon to fire a three-round burst with each trigger pull. The weapon could also fire in automatic and semi-automatic form.

The gas system used a tappet piston rod to operate the bolt carrier, and the bolt itself had interrupted lugs to lock it into the chamber. [Citation
last =Hogg
first =Ivan V.
author-link =
last2 =Weeks
first2 =John S.
author2-link =
title =Military Small Arms of the Twentieth Century
place=
publisher =Krause Publications
year =200
location =
volume =
edition =7th
url =
doi =
id = ]

References

ee also