FN CAL
FN Herstal · Assault Rifle · Discontinued · 1966
Also known as: Carabine Automatique Legere, Light Automatic Carbine
Overview
The FN CAL is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by FN Herstal since 1966.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3000 g (105.8 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 3400 g (119.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 926 mm (36.46") |
| Barrel Length | 467 mm (18.39") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Rotating Bolt |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 975 m/s (3199 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1901 J (1402 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 400 m (437 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 850 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56x45mm NATO — also known as 5.56x45mm, 5.56 NATO, .223 Remington
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Burst 3, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Fire Selector
- Features: Select Fire, Three Round Burst, Gas Operated, Rotating Bolt, Folding Stock Option, Bayonet Mount, Flash Hider
Service history
Operators
- Gabonese Armed Forces
- Lebanese Armed Forces
- Mexican Armed Forces
- Royal Moroccan Armed Forces
Conflicts
- Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990)
Production
Estimated total produced: 12,000 · Production years: 1966-1977
Only approximately 12,000 units manufactured. Some sources cite up to 30,000 but the lower figure from Modern Firearms is more commonly accepted.
Origin
Country of origin: Belgium
Discontinued: 1977
Notes
The FN CAL represents FN's initial entry into the 5.56mm market, predating its highly successful FNC by over a decade. The rifle's complexity and cost made it commercially unviable against simpler designs like the M16. The CAL's three-round burst mechanism was ahead of its time, as this feature would not become common on military rifles until the 1980s. The lessons learned from the CAL's market failure directly informed the design philosophy of the FN FNC, which prioritized manufacturing simplicity and cost-effectiveness. Some sources report 20- and 30-round magazine capacities, while MilitaryFactory also mentions 25-round options. The weapon was adopted in small numbers by Gabon, Lebanon, Mexico, and Morocco.
Background
The FN CAL is often called FN's 'first failure' in the assault rifle market, a stark contrast to the legendary success of the FN FAL. Yet without the CAL's expensive lessons in 5.56mm rifle design, the world might never have seen the FN FNC, the SCAR, or the other successful FN military rifles that followed. Every great success story needs a first draft.