One of FNʼs best-received products in the past years has been the FNAR, a semi-automatic, magazine-fed, .308-Winchester (7,62x51mm) rifle that sports a “Tactical” layout in a frame and working system openly based on those of the popular Browning BAR semi-automatic hunting carbine. Since its first launch in 2008, the FN FNAR has gained popularity between local Police forces looking for either a hard-hitting, accurate patrol/squad car rifle or a counter-sniper/short-to-medium distance accuracy rifle, as well as between long-range shooting competitors, 3-Gun shooters, and hunters.
In order to better meet the needs and the requests of a very specific market share, that is, those very same target shooting competitors on medium-to-long ranges, the Virginia-based FNH-USA, LLC. branch of the Belgian FN Herstal S.A. group launched a new version of the FNAR platform at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas (Nevada). The FNAR “Match”, this is how the new rifle is called, features the same Browning BAR frame and working system as the standard FNAR, all embedded in a brand new, custom McMillan stock featuring an ergonomic pistol grip and fully adjustable cheekpiece and length of pull (through the use of rubber spacers).
The new FNAR “Match” semi-automatic rifle is 41 inches long, and weighs 9.8 pounds, versus the previous versions' overall lenght of 37.5 inches. The hammer-forged, chrome-lined barrel on the FNAR “Match” is 20 inches in length, and the action/barrel combo is manufactured to achieve an astounding 1 MOA accuracy. This gas-operated rifle has a rotating bolt lockup and comes with a one-piece, MIL-STD-1913 “Picatinny” optics rail; all controls, including the magazine release, are fully ambidextrous.
FNʼs new FNAR “Match” definitely made sensation at the FNH-USA booth at the SHOT Show: despite the extension of the stand area, the whole place was crowded with representants of the specialized press and distributors eager to do business, and a consistent number of pre-orders were placed. No deadline for its commercial availability, either in north America or elsewhere in the world, has been slated yet though.
