What about the FAL?

Murdock · Nov 11, 2023

Somebody started an AK thread, so I think an FAL thread is only fair.

The standard rifle is a Springfield Armory SAR-48 (For those who may not know, the SAR-48 is a metrc, Brazilian made, licensed FAL imported by SA in the late 1980s and the 1990s, until the ban). The PARA is a Coonan receiver on (mostly) DSA parts. I hit the lottery for a FN Belgian Gendarmarie original parts kit (except for receiver) that's in the mist of a build, but want a Type 1 reveiver rather than the Type 3 DSA offers to complete this FN kit.

biku324 · Nov 11, 2023

South Africa built the FAL as the R1 when they were embargoed - excellent rifles.

mckenney99 · Nov 11, 2023

One of my favorites and an inconic rifle platform. My first was a DSA medium heavy weight 21" factory rifle. I then got into building them during the "good" times. I wound up building 5 total. 1 Imbel kit on an Imbel receiver built into a standard 21" rifle. 16" carbine built on a Coonan receiver, 17" para-trooper build on another Coonan receiver, a 16" DSA OSW upper on a Coonan receiver and a para lower. My last build is my favorite, an 18" bush rifle on my last Coonan receiver.
I sold the DSA as it was too heavy and didn't shoot any better than any of my own builds. The FAL will never be a target rifle but with it's adjustable gas system and easy access for routine maintenance they are a tremendous combat firearm.
When I was shooting in the local CMP league, I would always shoot at least 1 match with the standard 21" Imbel/Imbel rifle and while I was never a contender for winning, I always held my own shooting against the guys with M1a's and mouseguns.
For once I finally got into something before things dried up and prices skyrocketed. I managed to stock up on surplus ammo by the case just before it all dried up. I also snagged almost 100 mags, half steel and half the aluminum ones, when mags were $5 to $10 bucks a piece . Fortunately my Rock River Arms LAR8 also uses FAL mags, so I came out good there also.

s&wchad · Nov 11, 2023

Now you're talking!
The "Right Arm of the Free World".

I've owned this Steyr Daimler Puch imported 50.00 Match for over 30 years. It was made by Fabrique Nationale in Herstal Belgium.

I owned this early Howco imported FN 50.63 Paratrooper for years, but sold it a while back. I prefer a solid stock/adjustable sights and a friend made an offer I couldn't refuse.

I have managed to squirrel away a little ammo and a few extra magazines over the years!

Valmet · Nov 11, 2023

I have a few-

Well Armed · Nov 11, 2023

Who offers the best commercially and what are they going for nowadays? Nice to see some love for non AR15 platforms instead of seeing hate via those who are AR fans.

Murdock · Nov 11, 2023

With respect to the FAL today, DS Arms is pretty much the only active, commercial supplier of new-made, complete firearms and new parts. Their reputation has been that it may not work correctly as purchased, but if so they will fix it. This subject will always be good for an argument on the FAL Files.

zeke · Nov 11, 2023

Have 2, both older DSA's. 18 in paratrooper and 16 in with integrated brake. Durable, reliable and easy to clean. They seem to be more accurate when gas is adjusted a little past just locking the bolt back and bolt carrier hits stop. Decent accuracy for open sights.

leonardocarrillo · Nov 12, 2023

The FAL rifle was also produced in Argentina by Fabricaciones Militares, I am not sure if they currently continue to manufacture it due to the economic difficulties that my country is going through.
My personal experience with the FAL is good, since I used them during my military service in their parachute version, 40 years have passed and the FAL are still in service in the armed forces of my country.

Valmet · Nov 12, 2023

leonardocarrillo said:
The FAL rifle was also produced in Argentina by Fabricaciones Militares, I am not sure if they currently continue to manufacture it due to the economic difficulties that my country is going through.
My personal experience with the FAL is good, since I used them during my military service in their parachute version, 40 years have passed and the FAL are still in service in the armed forces of my country.

FM rifles are on par with factory FNs- fantastic rifles.

BB57 · Nov 12, 2023

I built a few FALs 15-20 years ago when parts kits were coming in, parts were plentiful and there were very good Imbel receivers available.

I kept an inch pattern L1A1 for a good 15 years but sold it as it just wasn’t a rifle I shot a lot.

On the plus side the FAL feels lighter and shorter than it really is. People might complain about the nuances of switch ergonomics with the FAL, but they miss the bigger picture that it handled exceptionally well for a battle rifle of its size and cartridge.

In contrast the HK-91 and clones like the SAR-8 and CETME C feel both larger and heavier than they actually are.

On the negative side, the FAL has never been all that accurate and isn’t easy to accurize.

Echo40 · Nov 12, 2023

Excellent rifle, but I still prefer the AR-15 as far as service rifles go.

zeke · Nov 12, 2023

BB57 said:
I built a few FALs 15-20 years ago when parts kits were coming in, parts were plentiful and there were very good Imbel receivers available.

I kept an inch pattern L1A1 for a good 15 years but sold it as it just wasn’t a rifle I shot a lot.

On the plus side the FAL feels lighter and shorter than it really is. People might complain about the nuances of switch ergonomics with the FAL, but they miss the bigger picture that it handled exceptionally well for a battle rifle of its size and cartridge.

In contrast the HK-91 and clones like the SAR-8 and CETME C feel both larger and heavier than they actually are.

On the negative side, the FAL has never been all that accurate and isn’t easy to accurize.

Had to have a HK-91 to try it. The center of gravity was way too forward, and too long of a lop for my short arms while delivering out of proportional recoil. While really liking the open sights, it got sold and bought first FAL.

Also the hk beat up the brass.

WR Moore · Nov 12, 2023

I have very limited experience with the FAL, but liked it.

Seeing the pix made me realize where Gene Stoner got the grip angle for the AR series. If only he'd borrowed the reach to the trigger too.

kmyers · Nov 12, 2023

One of those rifles that I always put it as: One of these days, when money is more abundant...

rickyt · Nov 12, 2023

The L1A1 rifle, commonly known as the SLR, was the standard rifle of the British Army from 1957 until 1985. It was a redesigned version ofthe Belgian FAL. When we see the photos and video's of the Irish conflict between the UK and IRA ,we allways see these rifles being used. They must have been a solid reliable rifle in there time.

LVSteve · Nov 12, 2023

rickyt said:
The L1A1 rifle, commonly known as the SLR, was the standard rifle of the British Army from 1957 until 1985. It was a redesigned version ofthe Belgian FAL.

It wasn't redesigned much, just enough to make it semi-auto only and in Imperial measurements.

I have yet to meet anybody who served in the British military that really liked the FAL. SLR officially stood for "Self-loading rifle", but to many it was the "Stupid long rifle". Those who transitioned from the Enfield No.4 detested the irons on the FAL and considered it wildly inaccurate. It also has a considerable forward weight bias compared with the Enfield, though not as extreme as the HK91. I agree. In favor of the FAL I can say it recoils less than you might expect for a full caliber battle rifle.

lihpster · Nov 12, 2023

Forte Smitten Wesson said:
Excellent rifle, but I still prefer the AR-15 as far as service rifles go.

To paraphrase my response in the AK thread: Prefer the AR. Respect the FAL.

TeamPB · Nov 12, 2023

Sometimes clones are good to go

I've known I always "needed" an FAL. I had never even seen one in the flesh until I was at a gun show at the Pima Fair Grounds last March. Literally the first table I stopped at, a gun store had a DSA Rhodesian. Two tables over, another store had a Para. They were good looking rifles, but the prices were over 2k, so I knew (actually my Honey knew) they would be there when we came back. A row away I was enjoying a display of SMLE type rifles. The vendor and were enjoying interacting about a new looking Bahrain Mark 1#3 when suddenly, on his other table, there was this 50.63 DSA based clone. It looked good, it felt good, he said it shot well, he built it, considered it "his" and it was under 2k. I knew it's DSA serial # indicated a forged receiver and I have learned to trust what my hands tell me, so we struck a deal. He was concerned about my state of residence so I suggested he keep the mag. The deal was done and it has been a very good shooter and a good intro to the FAL experience.

Murdock · Nov 12, 2023

LVSteve said:
It wasn't redesigned much, just enough to make it semi-auto only and in Imperial measurements.

I have yet to meet anybody who served in the British military that really liked the FAL. SLR officially stood for "Self-loading rifle", but to many it was the "Stupid long rifle". Those who transitioned from the Enfield No.4 detested the irons on the FAL and considered it wildly inaccurate. It also has a considerable forward weight bias compared with the Enfield, though not as extreme as the HK91. I agree. In favor of the FAL I can say it recoils less than you might expect for a full caliber battle rifle.

The SpecOps unit to which I was assigned always had a British Royal Marine commando assigned as our assistant communications officer. At least one I knew really loved his SLR/LAR, which he had used in Northern Ireland and in the Falklands. He was stunned when a US Marine officer came to him with an FAL he had just purchased to ask for advice about cleaning, field stripping, etc. Our Brit couldn't get his mind wrapped around Americans being able to just buy one to keep privately. I heard a few years later that when he retired he decided to emigrate to the US.

Regarding accuracy, I've never used an LAR/SLR, but can say I've won local matches against shooters using ARs, FNCs, 1903A3s, and yes, Mk 4 Enfields, with my metric FAL. Some of those matches were 3-position, and some shoot-and-move action stuff. With a scope mounted and using Federal match ammo my SAR-48 can do 1.75 inches at 100 yards.

On any given day I would expect a tuned M14/M1A or Garand to outshoot almost any FAL though.

What about the FAL?

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