How Does Your FAL shoot?

[M1key]

Just took a challenge on the FALfiles forum. Can it consistently shoot 2 MOA or less? I hear complaints from some owners..."well, it ain't a match rifle"...and I was wondering how well your FAL shoots.

Here are some pictures I took today. Groups were shot at 100 yards. The rifle was a DSA built, FAL StG-58, Leupold 1-4x scope, handloads with 168 match bullet, prone from padded rest, clean cold barrel.

First group was high, barely on paper, measured 1.582", 6 shots.

Adjusted scope elevation down 5 clicks, fired 5 more, dead center, measured 0.882"

I only had eleven of those handloads, so I had to leave early. Will try a few different loads later this week, maybe some 7.62 Nato ball for comparison.

Also curious how my new Aimpoint Red Dot will work on the FAL rifle. Anyone tried one on their FAL?

 

[TexasRifleman]

Oh, 2-3 MOA I guess, with just about any ammo I feed it. I shoot mostly surplus stuff so I have no complaints anyway.

Not sure how good it would do with decent ammo. Looks like yours is working just fine!

 

[T2K]

Distance? 100m?

 

[M1key]

yep....

 

[Gordon]

Mine shoots German surplus in about 2" at 100 yards and British Radway a little worse. I shot some Lake City 118 in about 1.5 MOA and Federal match just over the magic inch. It had a new Austrian barrel and a tuned trigger off the factory bipod with a ACOG 3.5x scope. I have a friend who gets a little better on his super high dollar build. My as issued L1A1 with 3x SUIT scope doesn't do quite as well as my Austrian build. They are superior battle rifle IMHO and can hit you good enoug to 600 yards with plenty horsepower! At 300 yards or so I can make a head shot and all are contained in the vitals of a shilo with a good rate of fire. No question on the power !

 

[Robert]

I have never fired mine with optics but I have been able to ring steel targets out to 425 with mine. I can hold 2 to 3 MOA with my irons at 100. I know that would tighten up some with optics.

 

[Still 2 Many Choices!?]

I'd also have to say 2-3" groups wih any ammo, but some of that is my bad eyes. Last time I shot, I used the Eotech and a cheap magnifier, but my vision made it hard to find the center if the dot repeatedly. A friend of mine with better eyes, was consistently under two inches.

I've never shot any type of match ammo through her, but may have to try some from a good rest, just to see what happens now!

Still 2 Many Choices!?

 

[evan price]

Mine are minute of pop can at 100 yards with irons or a red-dot sight. That's good enough for me.

 

[Al Thompson]

I'm with Evan. BTW, just got a DSA scope base and an Aimpoint for the Franken FAL, no data yet....

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

My Imbel Fal shoots minute of T.V. at 50 yards. I have other guns for long range precision, my FAL is a medium caliber cover fire weapon.

 

[Slamfire]

This FAL was built around an IMBEL receiver with tightest fit being my preference.

The barrel is a new Argentine.

At 100 yards, 2.5 to 3 MOA with match ammo.

I read a thread from a guy who matched out his FAL. My memory was that he got close to 1 MOA, maybe better. It certainly was not half MOA. He gave up the rifle because he wanted better, and his case life was awful.

2 to 3 MOA is perfectly adequate for a combat rifle. One Vietnam veteran, I asked him about zeroing before a mission and the acceptable accuracy, and he said "minute of oil drum". If he could hit a 55 gallon drum his zero was good enough. He was more concerned with lead on target than pin point accuracy.

He was a Master Class shooter in Highpower, I think it amused him to hear us prattle about accuracy and combat.

 

[FLAvalanche]

My Imbel Fal shoots minute of T.V. at 50 yards. I have other guns for long range precision, my FAL is a medium caliber cover fire weapon.

19" or 55" big screen?

 

[Taurus 617 CCW]

19" screen. Good observation FLAvalanche!

 

[xtriggerman]

I bought a SAR 48 23 years ago. Made up my own mount system and hand loaded Seirra 168g MHP on top of Win 748. The muzzel was thread crushed so I cut back an inch or so, recrowned and fit a broken M14 flash hider on it I had. 1 day I shot 10 consecutive shots into a 5/8ths 100y group. It may never happen again but it did hold 1.5 MOA regular with those loads. The saw stock sucked, its off now

 

[M1key]

Interesting way to mount a bipod...

Who made your scope mount?

Good shootin' by the way.

 

[Robert]

The SAW stock may suck but the SAW pistol grip is a must. I love the one on my FAL. I added the extended selector switch from DSA as well and could not be happier.

Who made your scope mount?

I believe he made it him self.

Made up my own mount system

 

[gunnie]

M1key,

have you tried federal american eagle ball ammo? all of the FALs i have owned prefered this, even over 308M [old designation in red and white box fed GMM].

$0.02

gunnie

 

[M1key]

No, but if I find some, I'll give it a try.

Here's my next attempt, my favorite "frankenFAL", the CAI FAL on a Hesse receiver...

with 4MOA Aimpoint Red Dot.

Trigger shoe is my idea of a FAL trigger-job.

We will have to see how this rig performs...

 

[xtriggerman]

M1KEY,
the "key" to putting good groups down on any hi power gun is barrel harmonics. My rear mounted M14 bipod and specific forarm hold pressure had hit upon a consistent tune in the barrel whip. I also tuned the trigger to a crisp 4.75 single stage pull with that big ass shoe on there. That scope mount started out as a left hand shotgun mount. Back in those days the only scope mount you could get was the big$$$ military one. Good luck on the frankin.

 

[M1key]

Yeah, I scrapped the whole bipod idea for the "challenge". My FALs seem to shoot fine just off the bags.

The "Franken" wears a Tyler trigger shoe, (as in Tyler grip). Helps with that heavy pull.

 

[MCMXI]

How Does Your FAL shoot?

I'll let you know in a few months once I work up a load for mine ... a DSA SA58 PARA with a 16.25" barrel. I'm hoping to get the trigger worked on before I start the process. I have a scope mounted but may remove it once I get the "perfect" 168gr load for it ... we'll see. The Mark 4 3.5-10x40mm scope shown has 1 MOA vertical and 1/2 MOA windage adjustments with a .308 168gr BDC elevation dial ... kind of well matched to the FAL methinks.

 

[gunnie]

M1key,

wouldn't expect impressive 100yd groups from a 4MOA dot. perhaps a quick change to most any ole scope for testing at that distance? no need to dial it in, as long as it hits paper, you'll know what group size the round is capable of, not what the optic will allow.

gunnie

 

[M1key]

RE: the frankenFAL with Aimpoint

Initial test groups with some ball ammo (Australian, I think) were flirting with 2 MOA, but I couldn't finish as the light was fading and shadows made it difficult to see the target. Maybe I can dig up some more of that ADI ball somewhere. Will have to try again later...hopefully this weekend, at the local range.

 

[Birddog1911]

I'll let you know tomorrow. Just picked up my FrankenIzzy.

 

[Steve in Allentown]

I recently mounted an Aimpoint Comp C3 to a DSA SA58 18" barrel. Being an old iron sight shooter I've got to say red dots are a great leap forward. Very, very fast and if you can see the target with your naked eye, you can hit it using a red dot. Being mounted so low there is no need for a cheek pad to raise my line of sight. The rifle itself feels agile and quick. As for group sizes with the red dot, all I can say is paper plates are in serious trouble at the 100 yard line. Obviously, red dots are not meant for shooting bullseyes and whatever can be accomplished with them in this regard is due to shooter skill. For shooting groups get a 36 ounce Nightforce 8-32 x 56. For more "practical" shooting get a 7 ounce Aimpont.