The gas assembly on a prototype FNAR shows the short-stroke design, similar to that found on the M1 carbine.

My thoughts on the FNAR? It's an interesting concept that will offer accuracy fans--law enforcement officer and civilian alike--a viable alternative to the traditional bolt action tactical rifle. It's compact, reliable and has a high magazine capacity. It provides fast follow-up shots and is comfortable to shoot and easy to operate.

Best of all, the production Heavy model proved capable of bolt gun-like accuracy. Is it perfect? No. Due to its sporting rifle heritage it is not as robust as a military arm along, and it's much more difficult to field strip. Also, I think the bolt release is on the flimsy side for a tactical rifle.

It will be interesting to see if law enforcement units embrace the FNAR. It carries a relatively steep price tag of $1,735, but it's still less expensive than a custom-built bolt action. And it's a well-thought-out design, combining excellent accuracy and .308 performance in a compact semiauto platform--another example of FNH USA carving its own path rather than beating the same old drum.

Like the BAR (the sporting gun, not the military weapon), the FNAR utilizes a rotating bolt with multiple locking lugs that rides in a carrier.