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STAR FNC Model 7000 review
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04-09-2008 3:50pm#1Manufaturer: STAR
Build Material: Stamped steel, Alluminium alloy, Nylon 66 (Synthetic grips)
Stock power: 390-400fps with .2's. Warning! If you intend to import this AEG into Ireland it'll have to be downgraded to legal muzzle power first.
Gearbox: Custom (Modded V2) Polycarbide shell, quick release spring guide, mechanical 3 shot burst. Motor and hopup are secured to the gearbox.
Included in box: AEG & one metal 120 round STANAG midcap magazine. No instructions, battery, cleaning rod or BB's.
The FNC arrived in a plain cardboard box with a formed foam interior for the AEG and magazine, not much chance of transit damage with this one. First off this gun is heavy, 8.2lbs unloaded and 8.4 loaded, this puts it at the same weight as it's RS counterpart. I ordered the smaller Model 7000, AKA FNC Para, the larger Model 2000 is about 5" longer.
Full view, left side.
Full view, right side.
The build quality of the body is quite high. Upper receiver is stamped steel and lower is Alluminium alloy like the RS. The frontend seems to be a combo of both and is solid as a rock. The rear sight is close to an M14 tangent sight with windage control. The foresight is a post with arms design similar to an M1 Garand although the post is identicle to an AK version and can be adjusted for elevation with an AK sight tool.
Selector switch is a 4 position type, Safe, Single, 3 shot burst and Full auto. The selector is much larger then an Armalite selector so moving through it's fire modes with your thumb isn't possible. Some can't get it beyond semi with their thumb, others like myself can get it as far as 3 shot. Two hand mode selection is required.
The Bolt and carrier are a particular favourate of mine on this gun. A large 45 degree charging handle much like the one on the Gewehr 43. Loacted on the right hand side as the FNC uses the same internal mechanism as the AK series of rifles. The carrier is almost full travel, a bit over three quarters but doesn't lock back unfortunatly. The tension mounted dust shield is quality, like on the real steel it prevents dust and dirt entering the receiver when the carrier is in it's forward position and raises up when the bolt is pulled back. This has the added advantege of hiding the gearbox when the carrier is forward, very nice
On the early production models the charging handle was attached to the bolt carrier with a cheap pot metal screw. Pulling back on the handle and letting go would result in your charging handle sailing off into the distance 
Fortunatly STAR have fixed this problem and the handle is now bolted to the bolt carrier. Pulling back and the bolt and letting go produces one of the best sounds I've heard from any AEG (and I own a VFC AK74) I'd put it on par with the M14 bolt, not as loud but just as good.
The upper receiver has also been stamped with real company trademarks, the models caliber and seriel number.
Notice the wield marks on the receiver, the same as the real steel FNC.
Frontend
The folding stock is full Alluminium alloy, very solid. On some FNC's the butt of the stock was rubber coated, this has been omitted on STAR's model as it's based on the earlier production models. The stock folds to the right side of the receiver and is held under tension by a large high gauge spring. This presents one of the problems with STAR's build. On the real FNC there is a lever located on the bottom of the stock mount, moving this lever to one side releases the spring tension allowing easy folding of the stock. STAR hasn't included this and as a result folding the stock is quite a problem. Moreover the spring is prone to seizing quite quickly, a problem the real steel also suffers from, mine has already started to seize. The spring has to regularly lubricated to prevent this. The stock must be pulled downard and then folded/unfolded. Failing to do this properly will cause metal on metal grinding and the stock will eventually not lock in the folded position.
The grips are good quality, especially the FN type pistol grip, well molded and strong black look. As with the real FNC the full weight of the receiver falls on the bridge of your thumb, prolonged use without cloves can become quite painfull. The foregrip is again well molded with a small seemline that is hardly noticable. It's held in place by a Delta ring similar to an M4's but is not a full circle, the FNC's delta only retracts at the bottom. Removing and replacing the foregrip is a pain until you get the correct technique down.
Battery space is good, I can fit a 9.6v 1500mAh Firefox with room to spare. For some reason STAR included a really long connecting wire, ensuring this is well tucked away before you replace the foregrip is important.
The FNC has 3 sling points, one on the rear of the receiver, one on the rear of the stock and a free spinning sling point on the barrel. Cranked trigger guard allows you to rest your finger inside away from the trigger.
The included midcap magazine is excellent. Sheet steel construction, 120 round and feed perfectly. I'll be getting more of them although are quite pricey, RRP is $22 each. Standard Armalite type magazine locking mechanism. Pressing the release button doesn't cause the mag to drop out, they have to be pulled out. I'm very pleased with this, drop out magazines is one of the worst idea's in gun manufacture.
Overall I love the body on this AEG, I'm sure you could hammer nails with it and not break it. I'm a tough room when it comes to AEG builds after using a VFC AK for so long but the STAR FNC fits the bill.
I haven't used it in a skirmish yet so I'll hold off on a performance review untill that time.2
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