Considering buying an FAL

HorseSoldier · Jul 20, 2008

Grey's Scouts?

Also, I have heard time and time again about the "brutal recoil" of 7.62 Nato chambered firearms. I am not a puss by any means but even gun magazines are known to talk about how "awful" the recoil is. I fire a Nagant regularly so how does 7.62 Nato compare in an FAL?

Recoil is less than a Nagant, like others have said, though "brutal" can start feeling like an appropriate adjective if you start putting a lot of rounds through a FAL in one go (though with the cost of ammo, this may not be an issue for most shooters these days). Full stocked FALs are softer recoiling than folding stock versions, in my opinion and experience, though neither is bad for the first half dozen mags or so . . .

Dumptruck · Jul 20, 2008

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=479

Thanks for the replies everyone. Always good to hear from those experienced with a weapon before going through with the purchase.

The model I am going to buy is the one linked above. Anyone own one of these models?

*Edit: Also found this but I have heard good and absolutely horrid stories about Century. The price is great but I don't know if I want to chance it.

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/FAL-RIFLE.aspx

TexasRifleman · Jul 20, 2008

The G3 with it's roller locking recoil operated system has a sharper felt recoil than the gas operated FAL when the FAL's gas system has been properly tuned.

I think that's an important point. Lots of FAL shooters crank the gas adjustment way up, tossing empty brass 1/4 of a mile and slamming the heck out of your shoulder.

Templar · Jul 20, 2008

Dumptruck, I would save your pennies and get the DSA.

Lifetime warranty, absolutely top notch workmanship, and they have a good working relationship with FN in SC.

http://www.atlanticfirearms.com/programming/expand.asp?Prodid=389

nambu1 · Jul 20, 2008

I love mine and the recoil in hardly noticeable. My wife will even shoot it.

evan price · Jul 20, 2008

I like mine, hardly a stiff recoil, and they're the right arm of the free world.

Stevie-Ray · Jul 21, 2008

I think that's an important point. Lots of FAL shooters crank the gas adjustment way up, tossing empty brass 1/4 of a mile and slamming the heck out of your shoulder.

I could never understand that. Mine spits out the empties down by my right foot and kicks like a .22LR.

HorseSoldier · Jul 21, 2008

*Edit: Also found this but I have heard good and absolutely horrid stories about Century. The price is great but I don't know if I want to chance it.

One of my two FALs is a Century built Rhodesian parts kit, purchased back when I didn't know anything about Century's reputation and such. I seem to be one of the luckier buyers of their FALs, as mine has run really well on 147/150 grain military ball type ammunition (it does not like heavier bullets for some reason).

That said, my other FAL is a DSA carbine, and I'd agree with Templar that they are the way to go if you want to get a FAL. Excellent quality, etc.

TexasRifleman · Jul 21, 2008

I could never understand that. Mine spits out the empties down by my right foot and kicks like a .22LR.

Same here. When I'm just messing around at the range I have it set where the brass literally lands less than a foot from my arm.

Wish the HK could do that! It throws brass 1/4 mile!

CMAGNUM · Jul 22, 2008

FAL

Just my pic. I love my FAL. Very manageable as far as recoil.

For Freedom · Jul 22, 2008

I won't buy a FAL for the following reasons:

-Receiver is only good for 40-80k rounds. Maybe this is because it wasn't designed around 7.62 NATO from the start. I question its long term durability.

-My friend has 12 AR-15s, shoots service rifle, etc., tells me he's fired 4 of them, 3 DSAs and 1 FN, and none of them did better than 6 moa with commercial ammo at 100 yards.

BigSoundRacing · Jul 22, 2008

My favorite!

Templar · Jul 22, 2008

ForFreedom said:
I won't buy a FAL for the following reasons:

-Receiver is only good for 40-80k rounds. Maybe this is because it wasn't designed around 7.62 NATO from the start. I question its long term durability.

-My friend has 12 AR-15s, shoots service rifle, etc., tells me he's fired 4 of them, 3 DSAs and 1 FN, and none of them did better than 6 moa with commercial ammo at 100 yards.

I really question the round count on the receivers....besides the fact that I don't know too many people who've put 80K through a single one.

They've been used all over the planet and by countries that had to buy them, rather than get free AK's or M16's during the Cold War.

My FAL's will usually do 3-4 moa with irons, far better than the 6 moa quoted.

You might want to get some trigger time of your own in on a quality FAL before making a final decision.

Mumbles_45 · Jul 22, 2008

Would be my favorite rifle if it was working: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=379369

TexasRifleman · Jul 22, 2008

-Receiver is only good for 40-80k rounds. Maybe this is because it wasn't designed around 7.62 NATO from the start. I question its long term durability.

Let's see.....surlpus .308 is $0.40 (on a good day)....... carry the 5, do some cipherin' ..........that means a FAL is only good for (assuming today's prices)......

$32,000 worth of ammo.

Ya know, I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that if you can afford to burn $32,000 in ammo you can replace the $1200 rifle it goes in.

But maybe that's just me.........

-My friend has 12 AR-15s, shoots service rifle, etc., tells me he's fired 4 of them, 3 DSAs and 1 FN, and none of them did better than 6 moa with commercial ammo at 100 yards.

Your friend either needs

a) Shooting lessons or
b) shooting lessons

I don't care if he shoots service rifle or wins Camp Perry....... If he can't get more than 6" at 100 yards with good ammo in 4 different FALs he has problems.

I shot my DSA G1 Sunday afternoon, GGG Lithuanian, open sights, up on the bipod even, and didn't get more than a 4" spread at 100 yards just screwing around. But, I shoot .308 all the time, I'm used to the increased recoil. It matters. If all I shot was ARs it would take me a few rounds to get used to .308

Mikee Loxxer · Jul 22, 2008

My SA58 regularly does much better than 6 MOA.

Mumbles_45 · Jul 22, 2008

Your friend either needs

a) Shooting lessons or
b) shooting lessons

I don't care if he shoots service rifle or wins Camp Perry....... If he can't get more than 6" at 100 yards with good ammo in 4 different FALs he has problems.

Heh, I got a chuckle out of that, but yeah, I agree, maybe he just needs to take a break from his 12 poodle shooters and shoot man rounds till the flinch goes away.

Deer Hunter · Jul 22, 2008

I dunno about the receivers not lasting past 80k rounds. If I had 80k rounds through an FAL and the only thing wrong with it was the receiver, I'd say that's one hell of a rifle. However, I still don't believe that they would break at that point. I'd like to see evidence otherwise.

As for reliability, the FAL is hard to beat.... Ever heard of Ol' Dirty?

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68486

14,200 rounds without cleaning (Except for the mud-puddle he threw it in) and it's still truckin'!

Ian Sean · Jul 23, 2008

Haven't thought of Ol' Dirty in a while....still going...wow :what:

I built a G-1 on a Dan Coonan that will do 1-2" at 100yds with irons, if I do my part, and with my roll my own ammo.

My Imbel/Imbel will do about the same.

AndyC · Jul 23, 2008

Shoot, if the receiver happens to crack/break/wear out after 80,000 rounds, spend the $450 and buy a new receiver. I don't see the problem.

Stevie-Ray · Jul 23, 2008

Your friend either needs
a) Shooting lessons or
b) shooting lessons
I don't care if he shoots service rifle or wins Camp Perry....... If he can't get more than 6" at 100 yards with good ammo in 4 different FALs he has problems.

LOL, no kidding. My SAR-48 has always done better than that by at least 2 inches with iron sights. And I was always the weak point, not the rifle. Hopefully it does even better with the scope. But I'm a lot older now.

The Wiry Irishman · Jul 23, 2008

When I got my case of Lithuanian surplus which is supposedly "near match grade" I decided I'd try my SA58 short gas system carbine from the bench, since I hadn't shot it from the bench since I broke in the barrel. I could get 1.5 - 2 inch 15-20 shot groups at 100.

I can get 4 or so on a good day prone with a sling.

RaferJanders · Jul 23, 2008

I bought a postban L1a1 with the Thumbhole stock and no muzzle break, 425.00 Sent it to my buddy Matt at Enterprise Arms, Had it gone thru, Original stock and pistol grip, 16inch Barrle with 0break Flashhider, Parked the whole thing and parked 7mags 350.00 I love the rifle, but Ammo, If you can find it, It is alot of dough Dont Repeat Dont buy Indian 308 or 303 sometimes it is like firing black powder, click..........bang, or the 303 click....................... eject the shell.......... Bang, with no one hurt

RaferJanders · Jul 23, 2008

YUP Hunter sums it up best!

Mumbles_45 · Jul 23, 2008

Somewhere on this site there is a link to a thread on another gun forum dedicated to pictures of guns that blew up while shooting Indian surplus, including a full auto transferable 1919

Considering buying an FAL

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