The FAMAE FD-200 is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle of Chilean origin and is chambered in the 7.62x51mm NATO round.
Overview[]
The FAMAE FD-200 had a very limited production run in the early 2000s, and was based upon their license-made SG 540 assault rifle's action and frame, although all mechanics were house-manufactured to be permanently semi-automatic in nature. The furniture of the FD-200 was wooden, and featured scope attachment points and an accurized barrel. The FD-200 saw some civilian sales, but none outside of its home country.
Civilian sales controversy[]
On July 15, 2019, an ongoing investigation was made public after some irregularities were revealed regarding the rifles sold to civilians. According to Carabineros de Chile (the national police force), 30 FD-200 were sold by accident to members of the public between 1999 and 2014. These guns were originally registered as .308 caliber, bolt-action rifles.
On July 17, FAMAE sent out a press release in defense of their actions, stating that the rifles sold to the public were, in fact, especially manufactured with state permission as sport guns. The rifles were chambered in .308 Win and built as a straight-pull bolt action —with no previsions for a gas system—, as shown in their original registration papers. These rifles received the designation FD2000. Furthermore, FAMAE stated that the National General Movilization Department (DMGN in Spanish, the military body responsible for gun control and registration in Chile) had reviewed the guns and cleared them for the civilian market.
Gallery[]
References[]
- Official Website
- FD-200 at Securityarms
- www.enotes.com
- Bio Bio Chile, Revelan que fábrica del Ejército vendió "por error" 30 fusiles de francotiradores a civiles [Military factory found to have sold 30 sniper rifles to civilians "by mistake"], July 15, 2019 (Spanish)
- Press release by FAMAE, July 17, 2019 (Spanish)