FN FNAR
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.69 kg
- Introduced
- 2008
About
What it is, and why it matters
The FN FNAR (FN Auto Rifle) is a semi-automatic precision rifle chambered in .308 Winchester, produced by FN America from 2008 to 2019. Based on the proven BAR action system, the FNAR was designed as a civilian and law enforcement precision rifle capable of guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy out of the box. The rifle features a cold hammer-forged, MIL-SPEC fluted barrel with a hard-chromed bore and target crown, paired with a two-stage non-adjustable trigger. The gas-operated rotating bolt action derived from the BAR sporting rifle platform gives the FNAR a proven operating mechanism with a reputation for reliability. The synthetic stock features an adjustable comb for proper cheek weld, and the aluminum alloy receiver is fitted with a full-length Picatinny rail for optics mounting. Available in Standard, Heavy, and Competition configurations, the FNAR offered shooters an alternative to AR-pattern .308 rifles with its unique BAR-derived action.
The FNAR's operating system traces its lineage to John Browning's original BAR action design, making it one of the few modern semi-automatic precision rifles not based on the AR-10/AR-15 platform. FN guaranteed sub-MOA accuracy from the factory.
The FN FNAR was discontinued in 2019 as FN shifted focus toward more modular AR-10-style platforms. The rifle was manufactured at FN's Columbia, South Carolina facility. The Standard model featured a 20-inch barrel weighing 8.125 lbs, while the Heavy variant with its thicker profile weighed approximately 9.25 lbs. The Competition model added a match-grade trigger and additional ergonomic features. The FNAR uses proprietary FN DBM magazines in 10 or 20-round capacities. Despite discontinuation, the rifle maintains a loyal following on the secondary market due to its unique action and reliable accuracy.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- FN Herstal
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Belgium
- Status
- Discontinued
- Produced
- 2008 to 2019
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Overall length
- 1054 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.69 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated rotating bolt
- Firing mechanism
- Rotating bolt
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Trigger pull
- 22.0 N
- Capacity
- 20
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Cold hammer forged steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 850 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 3429 J
- Effective range
- 800 m
- Maximum range
- 3700 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Free floating barrel
Cold hammer forged barrel
Fluted barrel
Picatinny rail
Adjustable cheek rest
Target crown
Match grade barrel
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 3.69 kg | 5.04 kg | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 1054 mm | 1116 mm | Shorter than about 70% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 508 mm | 559 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles | 20 | 15 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the FN FNAR
How much does the FN FNAR weigh?
The FN FNAR weighs 3.69 kg (8.14 lb) empty and 4.20 kg (9.26 lb) loaded. It is the 4th lightest of 80 7.62x51mm NATO sniper rifles in the catalogue.
What caliber is the FN FNAR?
The FN FNAR is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO.
How many rounds does the FN FNAR hold?
The FN FNAR holds 20 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the FN FNAR?
The FN FNAR is 1054 mm (41.5 in) long overall, with a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the FN FNAR?
The FN FNAR is made by FN Herstal (Belgium).
When was the FN FNAR introduced?
The FN FNAR was introduced in 2008 and discontinued in 2019.
How does the FN FNAR operate?
The FN FNAR uses a gas operated rotating bolt action, and its firing mechanism is rotating bolt.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
Provenance
Confidence in this record
85%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/fn-fnar' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "fn-fnar", "name": "FN FNAR", "manufacturer": { "id": "fn-herstal", "name": "FN Herstal", "countryCode": "BE", "foundedYear": 1889, "website": "https://www.fnherstal.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:43", "version": "868b12ac455d24b965edddf486bafb1892f606961311b1ab9907556e3a23b075" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "BE", "year_introduced": 2008, "barrel_length_mm": 508, "weight_empty_g": 3690, "action_type": "gas_operated_rotating_bolt"}