New DSA PARA Range Report

[Cameron]

I purchased a SA58TACP SA58 FAL PARA Tactical Carbine .308 Cal. on Saturday it has these options:

16.25" Fluted Medium Contour Barrel with Threaded A2 Flashider
Shortened Gas System w/ Short Military Grade Handguard
FAL A2 Hampton Lower With Integral M16A2 Sight System
SA58/FAL LOP Side Folding 5 Position Adjustable SOCOM Stock
SAW pistol grip
MSRP $2,192

I was excited to get to the range and see how it shot. I just got back after firing 80 rounds of Winchester 147gr USA 3081 and 40 rounds of surplus Pakistan ball from the 1980s.

I paced off 25 yards and settled down to break in the barrel and get the sights on target all at the same time.
I had set the windage to mech zero 84/42 clicks, and I bottomed out the elevation and then removed the rear sight and adjusted the turret with an allen wrench to enable going to 8/3 minus 2.

Fired the first shot at a 1" piece of tape at 25yards and I couldn't stop grinning. 1.5" high and dead center!

The gas was on 7 and the bolt locked back.

Ran the patch after each shot and fired a 5 shot group. I was hitting slightly high and a little left MPI. Shot another 5 cleaning the bore after each shot with copper cleaner as directed by DSA for the Badger Barrel.

Finished the second 10 cleaning every 2 rounds.

Then I loaded a couple of mags and tweaked the gas to 4.5 for nice positive ejection, I may be able to drop it back a notch or two as the round count goes up.

Once the gas was set the rifle fed and ejected perfectly with all the 4 20 round mags I had with me regardless of Winchester or Paki ammo.

Moved to the 100 yard line and fired 20 rounds at an 8" target.

I was still a little up and left but I had 4 out of 5 in the black, so I tweaked the sights and ended up with the front sight UP a total of 27 clicks and the rear RIGHT a total of 7.

I was right on with a 6 o'clock hold, the hardware works perfect!

My group needs a little work, but on the 100 yrd line I was shooting the 1980s production Paki stuff, so maybe it will tighten up with a newer production lot.

To summarize:
The DSA Para was very tight (which I prefer) and I spent a snowy Sunday cleaning, lubing, and running the bolt. The Para is now tight and smooth.

120 rounds fired without incident.

The sights where some of the closest I have had for any rifle POA/POI from factory mechanical zero. 5 minutes of tweaking and I was good to go for head shots at 100yds.

The A2 rear sights absolutely rocks and is a vast improvement over the L1A1 rear I am used to on my New Zealand L1A1s (I am a native Kiwi living in the states).

The LOP 5 position adjustable stock is worth every penny and then some. The recoil pad is phenomenal and the foam check piece is perfect.
I like a shorter stock and run it on position 2 from the shortest.

Overall I am 100% satisfied with the carbine!

Here are some pics of the Para











I will follow up in this thread when I get the chance to put another couple of hundred rounds through it.

Regards,
Cameron

[TOrrock]

Nice rifle.....there's just something about the bone-hammer authority of the 7.62 NATO round......

With DSA's....I put a lot of lube on the rails and on the inside of the bottom of the receiver where the wear marks occur for the first 200 rounds or so, as the phosphate is pretty new and heavy on these.

[Gewehr3]

Sir,

What is the LOP range with that stock?

Thank you.

[fivepointoh]

Wow....I'm super JEALOUS!!!

(reason being the next two rifles I need are the M1A and an FAL)

Need to step up into the .308....I'm workin my way up though...5.56..now 7.62X39...then .308. I love shooting 7.62 NATO any chance I can get. Great review and great looking rifle!

[Cameron]

Originally Posted by Gewehr3

Sir,

What is the LOP range with that stock?

Thank you.

I am not a good measurer... but with a tape measure from trigger to stock end.
13.5 - 16"
Whereas the M4 is 10.5 - 14.5" but the FAL has all that receiver out behind the grip...

Sweet rig.

Did you buy it direct from DSA? If so, is there still 12 week wait for them?

If you don't mind me asking, what did it run you?

Thanks!

[Cameron]

This was in stock in a local gun store, a place that regularly orders in DSAs.
I had been mulling the purchase over for awhile and when I heard they had this rifle in stock in the configuration I wanted I jumped on it.

I also bought extra mags, an MP5 guns case (yes it folds down that short) and ammo...

This store always offers a price below MSRP and I am happy that negotiations saved me several hundred dollars below the listed $2200.

Interestingly when I called DSA directly the guy basically laughed at me saying that I would have to wait 3 months and pay MSRP, I explained that a local store had 3 Paras in stock and they were discounted... I am sure in didn't believe me.

If you are in Colorado PM me and I will give you the stores name, actually they do sell on the internet, www.jensenarms.com


Cameron