[burnera]

I want a rifle! mostly cause they are fun to shoot.

I've been eyeballing this FN-FAL from a private seller, this is what i know so far:

"my friend's brother is selling his FN FAL for around the $400 region... Has that pistol grip you're looking for, and some respectable accuracy. It's not the coveted Belgian version, but it still has the West German barrel, and bipod, plus some US manufactured parts. "

i'd plan to keep it ironsights, forego a scope.


*
soooo... Anybody have experience with them? what'd you think? any comparisons to the AK or AR??
*

 

[brucelee]

Adler will kick your ass if you don't buy it! :lol:


Seriously, it's one of the best rifles in the world, up there with the AK and AR... Used by almost all nations, solid and very devistating.

Now pic an avatar!

 

[burnera]

Now pic an avatar!

done.


i know some of these guns are really "hit and miss" as far as grouping accuracy goes, but even crap examples are better than i currently am. I also realize sniping is not what this gun was built for.

but um..how does the accuracy compare to an AK or AR??

and i'm still wondering about the feel of these things.

 

[ORCA]

but um..how does the accuracy compare to an AK or AR??

The AK and AR shoot a smaller round the the FAL. Your accuracy will be effected by the larger round, recoil and other factors when comparing to a smaller calber rifle.

Recoil Examples:

AR-15 (Bruiser of AEX)
http://aex.fullmetalimage.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3759

G3-SG1 (Thumper of AEX) While this is not the FAL the HK G3 SG1 shoots the same 7.62 round.
http://aex.fullmetalimage.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4354

 

[brucelee]

The FAL shoots .308, which is arguably one the best rounds for all around combat. It's accurate, and very powerful. You can buy surplus ammo for the same price of .223.

 

[fatcat]

The FAL's are heavy as hell, there built to be strong but the recoil is not as much as the G3/H&K91 because of the mass of the weapon.

Hell if you dont want it, il gladly buy it!

 

[burnera]

The AK and AR shoot a smaller round the the FAL. Your accuracy will be effected by the larger round, recoil and other factors when comparing to a smaller calber rifle.

Recoil Examples:

AR-15 (Bruiser of AEX)
http://aex.fullmetalimage.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=3759

G3-SG1 (Thumper of AEX) While this is not the FAL the HK G3 SG1 shoots the same 7.62 round.
http://aex.fullmetalimage.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=4354

ah ha.. somehow i forgot the ammo is equivalent to the .308. duh!

from what i read the FAL was pretty pointless in full auto except for scaring people. Most armies opted to have the option removed.

i think i'll buy it.

i'm still interested in what ya'll think of it though.

 

[ORCA]

Nothing wrong at all with the FAL. Big Brother to the FNC, Uncle of the M240, and Grandfather to the SCAR heavy It's a great lineage.

Nothings pointless in Full Auto! I'm in Kalifornia so full anything is a rarity (i.e. full 30 round mags, full auto, etc.)

Great place for FAL parts when your ready if you don;t already know:

http://www.tapco.com/departments.asp?dept=18&last=75

 

[Adler]

Actually if this is built on West German marked parts, they are actually Belgian made. You see the G1(German designation for the FAL) was purchased from FN and never licensed. It seems when the Germans wanted a license to manufacture the Belgians denied it to them. I think it was because they were still sore over WW2 and a bit nervous about the German Army being rearmed. Thats why the Germans went to the G3 so fast since it was produced by ex Mauser engineers working in Spain. It had already been ell proven there and Franco was all too happy to make a chunk of change licensing a German product back to the Germans.

The FAL and G3 are my fav battle rifiles. Only one thing you want to watch for, and that is the reciever. If it is marked Hesse or Olympic Arms.....run like hell. You also want to stay away from most Century Arms FALs since they use either their inhouse reciever which is hit or miss or junk Hesse ones. They did make a run with Brazillian IMBEL recievers that are marked so. Those guns work really well since IMBEL was an FAL contrator to FN and makes the frames for Springfields 1911s.

 

[Mach5]

If it is marked Hesse or Olympic Arms.....run like hell.

What's wrong with Olympic Arms do they suck?

 

[Adler]

Olympic Arms is an ok AR manufacturer but when they tried to do FAL stuff it tanked. They didnt make the recievers in spec and there were constant feeding problems due to the poorly machined feed ramps. Infact the machining on the inside was just awful and rough. There is a reason they quit making them...they all needed extensive work to get going on a basic level and most FAL smiths will not build a FAL on an Oly Arms reciever.

 

[Mach5]

Olympic Arms is an ok AR manufacturer but when they tried to do FAL stuff it tanked.

Thanks, I’m looking to get one of their AR’s.

They have an awesome military discount + I can get it tax free…that = some really good saving for me. I just don’t want to get a good deal on a piece o’crap.

 

[Adler]

AS long as its a forged lower and not a cast...then Oly Arms is fine. They used to have some cast lowers on their Plinker Carbines.

 

[burnera]

is there an easy way to tell forged from cast? Do the un-machined surfaces look different?

 

[Adler]

Not from what I remember off hand. Just stay away from the "plinker" models and you should be fine for new Oly Arms ARs. If you do go with plinker models make sure it is a brand spanking new one from atleast 2005 onwards. I think they phased the cast ones out in O4. If in doubt you can always call up Oly Arms and getr serial # ranges for the cast lower recievers.

 

[Yeager]

Plus dosen't the FAL have some sort of buffer tube system that reduces recoil further?

 

[Adler]

Nope not really. That is the recoil spring tube and does nothing to dampen recoil. The bolt slams into the rear of the lower recever with every shot. The tricks to reducing recoil are.

Get a recoil buffer from Buffer tech. It dampens the bolt when it hits the reciever and cuts down wear and recoil slightly.

Adjust your gas system to vent as much gas as possible and still cycle with your ammo.

 

[GTKrockeTT]

you would be sick not to pick up that FAL for $400.

here's my CA neutered FAL-kenstein build, and i love every bit of it.

 

[burnera]

the guy backed out of selling it

thanks for the info though! i do want one now.

 

[Adler]

if you look around enough at Gunbroker or Auctionarms you can pick up a Century built on an Imbel pretty cheap sometimes. I saw one going for 450 last week in 95% condition.