So this happened. It doesn’t go all the way through.
Ouch. I know the plastic hinges breaking have been an issue, but haven’t experienced it first hand. What caused this? Normal use?
On the plus side, there are a variety of options on replacement if it gets worse/unusable.
No babying. I run and gun, shoot suppressed.
I own a 17 as well. Only 1000 rounds through it, and I haven’t taken it to a class yet.
Out of curiosity, how often do you open and close the stock? I’m trying to get a gauge as to how much one needs to use the side-folding feature to create this problem that many people predicted and have allegedly witnessed.
I still don’t understand why FN won’t add metal reinforcement to the lower (like a Glock frame) and make the buttstock hinge all metal. Makes no sense to me. The whole gas screw thing is another issue…
Hmm. Odd. I’ve never babied either of mine, and no issues. Lucky me I guess.
Angler, not sure. I do fold it often. And when I lock it back…not gingerly. I suppose this could be same issue socom is having. Some break, some don’t.
Ya’ll had to know I was going to be along soon enough on this one.
#1 Handl Defense has a positive relationship with FN-Herstal. Anything I say here is not meant to construed, implied, or considered as a slight or degrading the reputation of FN-Herstal. If a poster in this thread attempts to morph my comments into some kind of FN bashing they can promptly go **** themselves.
#2 In my opinion, FN solutions came from a couple of constraints (weight, cost, materials of the time, etc) I PRESUME that elements of the gun that at one time were aluminum that became polymer were done to save weight. That when the gun was designed it was intended as a 5.56 gun first the other calibers second. Notice the butt stock assembly has the exact same part number for the 16 or 17. IMO they came up with what I see as the future as small arms, the platform that will transition between brass cases and the future. They developed this platform under constraints that Handl Defense does not have.
#3 Since the very beginning I have advised Handl Defense from direct input from other team guys in the field (NSW and SF). Some of these guys were my friends from the Q or the 18-19 years I’ve been in SF. No 3-4 layers of filtering from force mod. From calling dudes at range 37 and listening to them rip the gun to illiciting information from NSW guys on both coasts. The solutions I’ve told Handl Defense to chase come from those conversations.
#4 With the 2011 spec sheet and the input from the field as guides, the first thing to change was materials. There is a reason the hinge plate was the second item to be released. If you think of the hinge as the foundation for operating group, I have always advocated a stronger foundation for the operating group. Is this going to matter for most SCAR owners? most likely not.
#5 Through my research I found examples of issues with OEM polymer stock hinges under specific conditions from both foreign and US SOF. Having several examples with similar stress fractures I know what conditions causes that particular type of fracture. I consider it a failure of a part but not one that is catastrophic. Not one that is common but one I know exactly how to replicate.
#6 https://youtu.be/_SxDsx7DaQ8 if a picture is worth a thousand words, what is a video worth?
#7 There is also a reason why we made the hinge metal, the trigger module a stressed member, and we chose the suppressor company we did.
Thanks Fox.
Sent a handl guy a message on fb avoit pricing.
Agreed.
Did some research for a wealthy guy who wished to purchase one. He offered me money for my opinion so I spoke with a couple of guys who work at Crane as well as a few guys who used them.
That hinge was one of the items that was identified.
I asked FN about the hinge and control levers way back in 2006 at SHOT and they dismissed it. I told them that their way is not the way I would have done things but to each his/her own…
“One cannot awaken a man who pretends to be asleep.”
So noticed this when cleaning the SCAR 17 for a class I’m taking in March. The rifle has been babied and is not suppressed. Is this something I should bring to the attention of FN? The crack doesn’t go all the way through, but do you think its integrity is compromised?
Mine did the same thing. I called fn and they said send the stock with no new stocks in stock. So I replaced it with the handl hinge.
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Damn shame one has to spend $200 extra on a $2800 rifle for a faulty part from the factory.
Is this a bandaid for FN using the wrong gas screw?
I have since replaced the port with a smaller size.
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I have been talking about this for years now. Unfortunately is has mostly fallen on deaf ears, Handl Defense was lambasted for saying this happens. Not only does it happen but I know how it happens, and how to prevent it. The solution is one part our aluminum hinge the other we are going to be announcing very soon.
nof555 also could you show the other side
here is a video that shows a few things… https://youtu.be/_SxDsx7DaQ8
I certainly will when I get off from work, but it’s intact with no signs of cracking.
Well looks like it will definitely need replaced. Looking at the other side in a certain light the crack is clearly visible. I no longer have any faith in this and am not happy with the stock strength in general. For something that was made for troops in the field, it’s quite disappointing a rifle that was babied (I mean no more than 500 rounds through it) would show this kind of damage. Glad I caught it now and not right before the carbine class, or have it break at the class, or worse have it break if I ever had to rely on it for my life.
Come’on already.
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