Originally Posted by
Templar
The only truely significant reason is the weight issue....the SA58 Carbines use newly manufactured aluminum lower receivers. The StG-58 use new/surplus FN or Steyr steel lower receivers.
The SA58's use new lowers, new uppers, new gas pistons, new barrels, and the rest of the parts are new/surplus parts from FN or Steyr, like the bolt, bolt carrier, gas block.
The StG-58's are built from parts kits from Austrian service rifles on newly made uppers, with the minimum of new US parts to make 922r.
Some of the StG-58's use excellent condition surplus Steyr barrels, some use newly made US barrels.
My R1 clone started out as a DSA StG-58 that I dressed out. The quality on the StG-58's is outstanding.
Both the DSA SA58's and StG-58's use the same newly made US upper receiver, which is marked SA58.