Just got off the phone with DSA

[Deer Hunter]

As the title states, I just got off the phone with DSA's order center. A wonderful person took my call, gave prompt attention, and in a couple minutes I had my STG 58 ordered. 18" barrel, type II receiver. Overall price was $860, shipped.

Sure, it'll take 8-10 weeks to be built, but hey, at least this day has finally come! It's been a year and a half. That's right, I've been drooling over one of these puppies for a year and a half, and now I've finally got the cash for it. So, what do you do once you've bought the FAL?

You buy ammo.

I just ordered 980 rounds of SA from Aimsurplus. My question is this, though. Is SA going to dry up anytime soon? Should I have bought more?

 

[DMK]

Check out http://www.falfiles.com/forums/

I'd stock up on a bit more 7.62x51 if I were you.

Congrats on your new rifle! Nice choice. Best of luck with it.

 

[1911JMB]

As someone who will have a Fal of my own within the next month, I would like to know, is steel cased ammo as stupid of an idea in a Fal as DSA says?

 

[Retro]

The list price for a STD STG58A is around $1100 on their website. Did they give you a $250 discount or something?

 

[Daniel T]

Overall price was $860, shipped.

Wow? That seems pretty low.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Yeah, when I heard the price, my jaw dropped. I verified my order, and it is what I wanted, just about 250-300 dollars below advertised cost.

What I think happened is that every rifle on their site is shown with duracoat finish, which costs an extra 300 dollars. I think since I ordered one without it, they didn't charge me for it. Either way, I'm happy with the price.

I just spent 200 bucks on ammo for the gun, I was hoping to save some money and get a CZ 75 and a Mosin Nagant while I wait on my STG58. I'll check out my money situation and decide tonight.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

A few questions...

How is a STG 58 different from a SA 58?

I don't see much difference between a type I and II receiver, whats the difference exactly?

Are all the lower receivers made of Aluminum?

 

[Retro]

Yeah, I am not very familiar with these FAL/Embel/Cetme type of European rifles... I have seen them at gunstores, used and made from kits, selling for $699 - $999 or so... depending on the conditions.

They are pretty heavy and looked quite rather menancing... some had bayonets mounted on them....

How does this type of weapon perform in terms of accuracy and reliability when compared to M14/M1A, since both shoot .308 winchester?

Thanks.

 

[Nightcrawler]

A few questions...

How is a STG 58 different from a SA 58?

I don't see much difference between a type I and II receiver, whats the difference exactly?

Are all the lower receivers made of Aluminum?

An STG-58 from DSA is made with surplus Austrian Army parts, a US receiver, and enough US compliance parts to make it legal. Barrel, lower, etc. are all orignial 1950s-60s Austrian Army. SA-58s are all US made.

The difference between the receivers is lightening cuts, not much else. Functionally, there's no difference.

Most original FALs (Belgian, Austrian, etc.) had steel receivers. A few "lightweight" models marketed by FN at one point had alloy lowers. The DSA all-US made guns all use their allow lower, to save a bit of weight. It's not a stress-bearing part in any case. Their STG-58s will have a steel lower (mine did), so it's going to have some heft to it.

Compared to the M1A...? About the same, in terms of accuracy with ball ammo. FALs are more difficult to accurize, so you don't see "sniper" versions of them too often (though with a Badger medium barrel, a free float tube, and good ammo, they might suprise you). A FAL, to me, is more like an overpowered AK than a traditional battle rifle. It's accurate enough to keep their heads down at 600 meters, but probably not the best choice for the one man Quigley act.

However, FALs are mechanically simpler and are easier to maintain. They're dirt simple to field strip, with very little in the way of small parts to lose. They're rugged, and you can beat the crap out of them, and they keep running.

Also, compared to a current Springfield rifle, the DSA FAL has a forged receiver. Imbel receivers are forged as well. FN went to investment casting in the 1970s. Century, et. al receivers are all cast. DSA makes the best FAL receiver ever, in my opinion.

But mainly, for FAL vs. M14, it comes down to personal preferance. Both work well enough for what they were designed for.

 

[444]

Great rifle.
I built mine from a parts kit and a DSA receiver.
I would buy as much of that ammo as you can swing. No matter how much you buy, it will dry up and you will wish you had bought more.

 

[dmckean44]

Buy your ammo now. The SA was 14cents a round six months ago and now it's 18cents and fewer and fewer places are carrying it.

 

[Deer Hunter]

I may spend up to 100 more dollars, but that's as high as I would go.

 

[iamkris]

For those wondering about the price, the list price is just that...an MSRP. That is what DSA recommends a retailer price the product at. The price this gentlemen paid is the dealer price as he is most likely either tranfering it to himself on his own FFL or going through a transfer dealer. Simple.

 

[Deer Hunter]

You got it, a transfer fee. No way I was paying 1k+ when I could get it for cheaper.