Yeah i think they run like $100k+. Not exactly entry level

More like sell your house, cars, kidney and first born child.

 

Thank you for this write up it is good info


Today I shot my first MG a post sample  m16... It was awesome!

Haha you're hooked now! Better start saving for a RR. You will love being a
M16 snob, it's a lot of fun! :-)

Whatever you do, don't borrow money to buy a machine gun! Being as tactful as I can, I have to say that this hobby is for people who are debt-free, and who have $25K (or more) burning holes in their pockets. (Or people who got into it years ago at much lower prices, and who can trade around using their current holdings.) After all, this is a hobby, and one which has a lot of uncertainties and potential downsides. It makes no sense to jeopardize your financial future over a hobby.

I'm 26, car paid off, make 85k , currently don't pay rent and have over 30k saved to put down on a house (that won't be touched).
I think I am In a good place to buy one

Saw a 240B today at the SAR Show listed for $175K....they are pricey.

The FNC is the most under valued MG out there in my opinion.  There are a couple on GB right now less than 10K; thats crazy.

Disagree, compared to a mac, its a gold plated solution.

Caliper conversions, i dont use those, they run crapy and well, thats what the mac is for.

The FNC is a real battle weapon, like the RR16....but your negitives only apply if its apples to apples, but its not. Its $9500 versus $25K, of course there will be disadvantages.

Ive also never heard of a blown out fnc barrel and threre are replacements.

FNCs are nice guns (I have two of them  an 18" fixed and a 16" folder) but as mentioned above they have some issues/limitations that make them  more affordable on the pricing spectrum of 5.56 caliber machineguns.

While they may be a "bargain" being priced around $10K, my personal take is that a registered receiver M16 @$15K is well worth the $5,000ish uplift over an FNC.

While FNCs are robust they do break. Spend time on the FNC board and it seems at least once or twice a year somebody broke something and comes looking for parts.  These guns are all 25+ years old at this point and they do have a finite lifespan.   The barrels are really no tougher than any other thinner profile assault weapon barrel and you will be lucky to see 10,000rds out of one with heavy full auto usage  (to the point where the bullets start to tumble).   You could probably kill a FNC barrel in a single range trip if you are overzealous and put too many rounds through it without letting it cool.

Granted the good thing is that barrels are availble so you can replace them, but it is a send out for service type of affair for the majority of owners, similar to an HK replacement.

If you can save $10,000 for what is essentially a range toy, I always suggest most folks try and save another $5 to 6,000 and buy a RR M16 like an SGW, Frankfort Arsenal, or a SP1 conversion as it opens up so much more variety and the ability to self repair with basic tools.

If you already have an M16 and want something different to round out your collection, FNCs are great shooters and are an interesting piece of import history to expand a collection.

I take an FNC out maybe once a year and put it into rotation on the firing line and it might get 3 to 5 mags over the course of an afternoon.  However, I certainly dont think about ever locking a beta mag into one and letting it rip like I do with an M16.

Great points; and it's true, I've never put a Beta on my FNC like the M16.  I do like the 3 round burst though!

Well I've been doing MG's since the late 80's.  I've got a couple M11/9 guns that haven't been shot in years.  Iirc one of them was my first MG.  That said I lost all interest in them.  At that time they were a one trick pony.  It with rof and short barrel I won't let anyone else shoot them.  I guess with R Lages stuff now they are a little more useful.  I do have a couple Uzis that go out every time.  Solid mil spec gun and with a can, something I feel safe letting a novice use and get that first MG smile.

I really think as a first mg, get something that is versatile.  Get an uzi.  I've got/ had other one trick guns, like FNC, AK, etc.  got rid of them.  Except for the M11 I've kept and the Thompson, I only keep versatile guns.  My .02 fwiw.