The FAMAS F1 is a French Assault Rifle available in Phantom Forces. It is unlocked at rank 45 or could be purchased using credits.
History[]
The FAMAS ("French: Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne or "assault rifle from the Saint-Étienne Weapon Factory") is a French bullpup assault rifle. Issued by the French Military in 1979, this weapon features three fire modes: Fully automatic and three-round-burst toggleable by a fire selector behind the mag well as well as a semi-automatic mode directly in front of the trigger which toggled between burst/auto, semi-automatic and safe fire modes.
Prototype versions originally used the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, named FA-MAS Type 62, but it was redesigned to accept the 5.56×45mm NATO after the switch to the 5.56x45mm NATO during the 1960s.
The FAMAS has two main variants, the F1 and G2. The F1 is the standard model since 1978, using MAS's proprietary 25-round magazine and firing between 900 and 1000 Rounds Per Minute. The FAMAS G1 model was introduced in 1996 to partially replace the F1. The G2 model was then introduced to be compliant to NATO standards such as using a 30-round STANAG box magazine and used many of the G1's improvements. The G2 variant also features a faster fire rate of 1000 to 1100 rpm. However, the F1 is still very common in the French Army mostly because they have held off from a large-scale purchase of G2 specification rifles.[1] The French Navy is the primary user of the G2 model. The FAMAS will be phased out by 2022 and be replaced by the HK416 F variant.
In-game[]
General Information[]
The FAMAS F1 was introduced in the Phantom Forces Alpha. It sports average damage for an assault rifle. The FAMAS increases to a 5SK at 115 studs. Headshots will usually lower the shots to kill (STK) amount by one. The FAMAS sports a rather high rate of fire (RoF) for its class, at 900 RPM. This combined with the decent damage figures means the FAMAS has one of the lowest times to kill (TTK) values in-game.
In close-quarters-combat (CQC), it is on equal footing with most personal defense weapons in this regard, though the lower recoil allows for more precise control when firing. The FAMAS has low recoil towards the user, fairly low horizontal recoil, medium camera recoil, and moderate vertical recoil. Per-shot recoil is fairly mild, whereas sustained fire will result in the recoil climbing vertically significantly. Reload times are moderate, with the tactical reload being on the faster end for bullpup weapons at 2.3 seconds, but with a slow empty reload time for its class, at 3.1 seconds.
In the Canadian Update, the FAMAS G2 was replaced by the FAMAS F1, with a G2 conversion kit available in attachments.
Usage & Tactics[]
The FAMAS is versatile, able to handle multiple situations comfortably, mostly from CQC to more medium-range oriented combat. The high RoF allows for quick elimination of targets. However, the rate of ammunition consumption is equally high, meaning ammunition is often wasted, even with good trigger discipline. Due to the frequent and often slow reloads of the FAMAS, finding cover to reload is generally a good idea. Although the RoF is relatively high, ammunition is easy to replenish, as 5.56x45mm is a common caliber and other assault rifles that use this ammunition are easy to find.
The iron sights are obstructive, making it difficult to aim with and track moving enemies. As optics are available starting at just 10 kills, this problem is easy to surmount. The recoil is manageable, even in sustained automatic fire. With the introduction of the .223 Remington round, a user can now easily reduce recoil if they prefer recoil control over damage. Combined with the FAMAS G2 conversion, which allows it to fire at 1100 RPM, it allows the FAMAS to become a close-range powerhouse at the cost of reload speed and damage.
One of the factors that sets the FAMAS apart from other CQC oriented weapons like PDWs is its versatility. It has better medium range capabilities, due to sporting a 5SK, meaning it can easily engage targets outside CQC. One can effectively tap fire with the FAMAS at longer ranges to land accurate shots with only mild per-shot recoil.
Compared to its closest rivals, the M16A3 and HK416, it sacrifices better accuracy and handling traits, such as recoil and reload speed, for raw damage output and a lower TTK at most ranges, provided that enough shots connect to the target.
Because of its slow reloads, it is not recommended to engage large groups of enemies as the quick ammo consumption will force the user to run for cover once the magazine is depleted. It is safer to engage into combat against lone enemies or duos, as its devastating fire rate can quickly dispatch them up close.
Conclusion[]
The FAMAS is the ideal assault rifle for someone searching for the combined benefits of the PDW class and the assault rifles, making it potent in CQC but also allowing it to perform well at medium range. The slow reload however can be punishing if the user can’t run for cover, and the high ammunition consumption, coupled with the 5SK requirement at all ranges, makes fighting out of mid range useless.
Pros & Cons[]
Pros:
- Very high RoF.
- Low TTK.
- Common ammunition type.
- Good hipfire performance.
- Relatively low recoil.
- Burst mode useful for long range.
- FAMAS G2 Conversion gives the weapon a higher RoF and a 30-round magazine.
Cons:
- High ammunition consumption rate.
- Slow empty reload time.
- Extremely obstructive iron sights.
- Low minimum damage for its class, requiring 5SK.
- Slightly low magazine size of its class.
- FAMAS G2 Conversion lowers overall damage, increases reload time and decreases hipfire accuracy.
Trivia[]
- The reload animation for the FAMAS is currently glitched. When putting a fresh magazine into the gun, the user will not actually reload a magazine, and it will suddenly appear in the correct position when the animation finishes.
- In the Alpha stage and early Beta stage, the third-person model of FAMAS was the AN-94. This was fixed on December 30, 2015.
- It also used the same firing sound as the AN-94 until the v.2.0.0 update.
- The FAMAS was renamed to "FAMAS G2" in 4.7.0. In the Canada Day Update, it was renamed to the "FAMAS F1" and the FAMAS G2 was made into a conversion kit attachment.
- Prior to the Canadian update, the "FAMAS G2" had a firerate of 900 RPM, whereas in real life the FAMAS G2's firerate is between 1000 and 1100 RPM, and the 900 RPM is that of the FAMAS F1 variant.
- The FAMAS G2 model in-game has an unusable built-in bipod, similar to the bipods seen on light machine guns.
- It is also the only assault rifle that has a built-in bipod by default.
- The AK103 with Long Barrel (AR) gives it a bipod like the ones seen on the RPK, RPK74, and RPK12.
- The bipod is standard for the FAMAS series.
- Attaching the Long Barrel (AR) attachment will deploy the bipod, but has no effect on the gun's performance whatsoever.
- The WA2000 also has this, except the bipods are flipped down whenever an optic is equipped.
- It is also the only assault rifle that has a built-in bipod by default.
- A common nickname for the FAMAS G2 in real life is "Le Clairon" (French for " The Bugle") due to its shape.
- The FAMAS F1 in-game has the enlarged trigger guard from the FAMAS G2. The model could possibly be a FAMAS G1, which was an intermediate version of the FAMAS between the FAMAS F1 and FAMAS G2. The FAMAS G1 had the trigger guard of the FAMAS G2 and a modified magazine well designed to accept the FAMAS F1's 25-round magazines and standard 30-round STANAG magazines. The 25-round magazines are used in-game.
- After the Canadian update, attaching an optic on the FAMAS changes the weapon model to that of the FAMAS FELIN variant, the most modern iteration of the weapon.
- Prior to the Canada Day update, optics would be attached via a rail set on the existing iron sights.
- Before the current update, when the G2 Conversion equipped, the 30-round STANAG magazine is seen clipping through the standard 25-round magazine. Presumably, this is to make the reload animations simpler.