Teach me about the FAL

[MPi-KMS-72]

Rebarreling them is pretty easy. There is a ton of info out there on doing it on FAL Files. If you have some basic tools and knowhow you can do it at home. It isn't as easy as an AR but thanks to the interchangable locking shoulders headspacing is easy. I think they are probably the 2nd easiest rifle to build at home out there.

[Cameron]

Templar you posted this pic of Larry Vicker's FAL said he had a G2 attached to the handguards, and later that you were going to attach a light to one.

Originally Posted by Templar

That pic of Larry is from the Battle Rifle 1 class that he held a couple of years ago. He's running his DSA SA58 carbine with... G2 on a piece of 1913 rail he put on the standard handguards,

Originally Posted by Templar

I'm going to attach a piece of picatinny rail to the handguards to mount a while light.

Did you attach the white light? If so how are you and Larry attaching the picatinny to the handguards?

I have a G2 I would like to attach to my DSA PARA.

Thanks,
Cameron

[KY FAL Guy]

Originally Posted by ballistic

DSA SA58 Carbine
DSA Rail Interface Handguard, Tango Down VG and rail panels
DSA Extreme Duty Scope Mount modified for ACOG
Trijicon ACOG TA11C Red Donut calibrated for .308
Para BUIS (sights visible through channel under ACOG)
DSA M249 SAW Pistol Grip

My first post, but that rifle is sweet!! Here's a pic of mine. It's still a work in progress as is it's little brother. It's a G1 built on a DSA receiver. I had the bbl cut down form 21" to 16.25". It's a little louder, but the accuracy has not suffered much.

[ballistic]

Originally Posted by KY FAL Guy

My first post, but that rifle is sweet!! Here's a pic of mine. It's still a work in progress as is it's little brother. It's a G1 built on a DSA receiver. I had the bbl cut down form 21" to 16.25". It's a little louder, but the accuracy has not suffered much.

Thanks and welcome to M4Carbine.net. Nice sticks! 16.25"-18" is the sweet spot.

[SteyrAUG]

Originally Posted by Warvevy09

The nicest ones are built on DSA Arms receivers, but, despite rumors to the contrary, the Entreprise ARMS STG-58 is a workable rifle.

The one I had sure wasn't.

I really wish it was workable, when my Grandfather passed away several years ago he left all the grandkids a grand. I took mine and grabbed an Entreprise when I/O was selling them and looked forward to making fond memories with a rifle that would make me think of my grandfather every time I went shooting.

Sadly the thing was a jamomatic and completely unreliable. As a result I sold it, something I never would have done otherwise, and turned it into a DSA rifle. The DSA rifle has run accurate and error free ever since I got it. The best part of course is the DSA FAL reminds me of the rifle it replaced, which makes me think about my grandfather.

[TOrrock]

Originally Posted by Cameron

Templar you posted this pic of Larry Vicker's FAL said he had a G2 attached to the handguards, and later that you were going to attach a light to one.



Did you attach the white light? If so how are you and Larry attaching the picatinny to the handguards?

I have a G2 I would like to attach to my DSA PARA.

Thanks,
Cameron

Cameron, I bought the piece of rail that DSA sells that allows you to attach to the standard handguards through one of the vent holes. I'll be honest, I haven't installed yet, I've been swamped with other stuff.

As soon as I do, I'll post pics though. I'm probably going to run it with a tape switch to allow either hand to activate the light.

[f.2]

The Springfield Armory store is selling what is reported to be unused IMI SAR 4800 magazines for $13.50 each,
which I read are metric FAL mags and that they can be / are a tight fit.

Are there any reservations with these mags for use as primary mags, or only for range use?

SAR 4800 Magazine 7.62mm 20 Round

[TOrrock]

Originally Posted by f.2

The Springfield Armory store is selling what is reported to be unused IMI SAR 4800 magazines for $13.50 each,
which I read are metric FAL mags and that they can be / are a tight fit.

Are there any reservations with these mags for use as primary mags, or only for range use?

SAR 4800 Magazine 7.62mm 20 Round

Well, they show a picture of a M14 magazine for them, but FAL mags are good to go, whether they're Belgian, German, Israeli, Austrian, etc.

[QuickStrike]

So what are the Pro's and Con's of the Inch vs. Metric patterned FAL's?


I've been playing with the idea of ordering a rifle from DSA with an L1A1 receiver...

[TOrrock]

Originally Posted by QuickStrike

So what are the Pro's and Con's of the Inch vs. Metric patterned FAL's?


I've been playing with the idea of ordering a rifle from DSA with an L1A1 receiver...

The "Inch" or "Commonwealth" pattern rifles have better ergonomics than the metric rifles; the selector is larger and easier to use, the cocking handle folds flat against the receiver, and the magazine release is larger and easier to hit.

Having said that, DSA will sell you an Inch style selector for the metric rifles, and you can also get a folding cocking handle for a metric rifle as well.

It really depends on what you're looking for in the rifle. The metric rifles have so many spare parts and accessories on the market for them that the Inch pattern rifles are generally relegated to a "fun" rifle, something to have because you want it. They are very serviceable, but there is a lack of spare parts and accessories for them.

[Davesrb]

Originally Posted by Templar

The "Inch" or "Commonwealth" pattern rifles have better ergonomics than the metric rifles; the selector is larger and easier to use, the cocking handle folds flat against the receiver, and the magazine release is larger and easier to hit.

Having said that, DSA will sell you an Inch style selector for the metric rifles, and you can also get a folding cocking handle for a metric rifle as well.

It really depends on what you're looking for in the rifle. The metric rifles have so many spare parts and accessories on the market for them that the Inch pattern rifles are generally relegated to a "fun" rifle, something to have because you want it. They are very serviceable, but there is a lack of spare parts and accessories for them.

While the above is accurate, I do suggest you try Inch vs. Metric if possible before you buy. I like inch selectors, but I can't stand the inch furniture. The Metric fits me better, to the point that I don't even shoot my Inch patterns anymore, except the heavy barrel.
As to receivers, I have 17 FAL's, with builds on Imbel, Century, DSA, and old Entreprise. All work flawlessly, but thats due to the quality of the build.

Davesrb

[TOrrock]

Below are two FAL's, one Inch, the other Metric, that are from my collection. Both are close clones of classic rifles that would have seen service from the mid 1960's on.

Commonwealth L1A1, British Pattern. The receiver is an early Entreprise that has been massaged to work well, and the parts are British surplus. The Entreprise receivers have the lightening cuts of the Australian L1A1, but that's a cosmetic difference.
















Brit troops in Northern Ireland during the Troubles:






Rhodesian R1. This is the basic pattern that Rhodesia and South Africa adopted. The base rifle is a DSA StG-58A, which is built on a new DSA metric receiver with a pristine Austrian StG-58 parts kit. The handguard is a true veteran of the African bush wars.












Rhodesian cavalry trooper:

[Davesrb]

Nice pictures! That shows the differences well. The grip angle and pistol grip shape are slightly different and the length and shape of the buttstock are as well. Many people love the Inch pattern, but I much prefer the metric.

My favorite variant, G1's early and late versions:


My favorite range guns!

Davesrb

[Longshaor]

is Enterprise Arms still in business? Their website hasn't been updated since '07 and most of the links are dead. Are they OOB or have they just moved? Thanks in advance!

[M4Fundi]

Rhodesian cavalry trooper:

[/quote]

They were called the Grey Scouts. I worked with a former Grey Scout for awhile and he told me their motto was

" A second class ride is better than a first class walk"

They used Bushman trackers on the ground in a v-formation out in front and when they made contact they would dismount (Bushman would hit the weeds & later collect the horses) and the Grey Scouts would fight on foot.

[VooDoo6Actual]

Originally Posted by M4Fundi

Rhodesian cavalry trooper:

They were called the Grey Scouts. I worked with a former Grey Scout for awhile and he told me their motto was

" A second class ride is better than a first class walk"

They used Bushman trackers on the ground in a v-formation out in front and when they made contact they would dismount (Bushman would hit the weeds & later collect the horses) and the Grey Scouts would fight on foot.[/quote]

Good stuff !

I learned Combat Tracking from one of the best alive today David Scott Donelan.

A Selous Scout / Grey Scout and a living plethora of knowledge on Tracking, SPOOR and Ambushing a Quarry...

Giving credit where credit is due...

[El Mac]

Originally Posted by ballistic

DSA SA58 Carbine
DSA Rail Interface Handguard, Tango Down VG and rail panels
DSA Extreme Duty Scope Mount modified for ACOG
Trijicon ACOG TA11C Red Donut calibrated for .308
Para BUIS (sights visible through channel under ACOG)
DSA M249 SAW Pistol Grip

That sir, is a rifle!!

[sixgunsal]

The FAL is a very ergonomic rifle. Keep in mind that allot of the guns out there are kit guns built by god knows who !! If You run a DSA new rifle or a well built kit gun by a reputable smith, shouldn't have any problems. Keep in mind all magazines are surplus new at best, new in wrap but over 40 years old. Any mags purchased have to be cleaned and proofed in gun. Keep recoil assy clean and lightly oiled, bolt and carrier greased. These are all little things that make reliability issues, ask me I learned the hard way !! My kit gun is reliable but I had to do some tweaking and sort out bad mags ( I got 20 mags with kit !!) I only have 12 mags I would trust my life too !!
Summarize:
1) Factory gun or reputable smith
2) Mags are the fals weak link keep them pristine
3) Just like any other gun, clean/lube properly

[DMR]

I Judy modified a inch mag release by drilling it out with a 3mm bit to fit my metric rifle. If I can move the mountain of barrels blocking the safe I'll try to get it installed and tested.

Pic's of the Inch release:

[Armati]

Question for guys running STG-58 stocks with optics.

Do you find the optic still sits too high?