Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Any Thoughts on a FN actioned FI Musketeer?

I found this on a local board and decided I needed it! It is a Firearms International, FN Supreme actioned, mannlicher style stock, 18.25" barrel in .243 Win. The action is the FN Supreme, H breech, with Finnish(Sako) trigger. Mechanics and bore are excellent and it only has a few minor boogers from handling over its 50+ years. I shot it just to test function and everything worked properly. The stock is American walnut and the buttplate is marked 'Bishop'. I never was too crazy about the chambering(.243) but I figure it is easy enough to have it rebarreled to a .257 Roberts or a 6.5x55 if the .243 doesn't work out. I am guessing it is circa 1958ish or so. This is the first one I have ever seen in the flesh; I vaguely remember seeing it advertized in some old gun rags from the 50s or 60s when I was a kid. Have any of you run across one of these or use one? Anyway I like it. PH

I like it, PH! A vintage Leupold or Weaver fixed would be ideal for Mid-State game and vermin.

If it doesn't work for you in .243, AI it or rebore it to .260

One very similar just sold here on the classified section for $500. It was a Husqvarna FN with original stock. I was waiting for a photo and it got away from me.
In this part of the country the action alone is worth $300-400.
It looks like it is solid as it but has enough meat on the stock that if you wanted it could be re-shaped into something pretty nice looking. Might even be a market for that while-line spacer with the retro guys.

Forgot to mention the bottom metal/trigger guard is steel. It looks like 'regular' 98 bottom metal but the finish is slightly better. Yeah Coldcase a vintage scope would be a nice addition. 458- I gave $300 for it and figured I couldn't let it get away at that price. Maybe I can recoup some by selling the white plastic spacers?? LOLOL PH

I can't tell you anything about the rifle, but along about that same time period, I purchased an FN Supreme action with the Magnum bolt face. My action also has the Sako trigger and side safety.

I installed a Douglas 7mm WTHBY. Mag barrel on it.

I still have it, and I have used it in Colo., Wyoming, and here in GA.

IIRC, I paid about $65.00 for the action, new from F.I. My opinion is it is probably the best commercial 98 Mauser ever made.

I see these on this forum quite frequently, except the rifle is usually a Sears, H & R, Flaigs, and several more which used the same action except they were barreled and stocked by independent companies. Most used the Standard FN action, which has the wing type safety and original Mauser type bolt shield.

I have had an FN Musketeer in 30-06 since the early 70s. It's a solid rifle without question. Mine has a semi-beavertail forend and a doe-foot pistol grip cap. Walnut stock with rosewood caps, skip-line checkering. It stays under an inch with ammo it likes, and isn't overly fussy about ammo. It has a slide safety like a Remington 700, not the classic Mauser bolt wing safety.

For just $300, you got a real bargain. Just the action is worth that. If you don't like the .243, you can rebarrel/rebore to 260, 7mm08, 308, or some wildcat like the 25 Souper or Ackley version of any of these. If you stay with anything that uses the standard 308 case, no magazine or bolt rework would be needed. And it's a CRF, not a pushfeed action. What's not to love??