Am I schizo or is the FAL more hamstrung as a choice than other platforms? Didn't there use to be a lot of frickery involved with them back in the day where a person couldn't just "buy" a FN made FAL off the rack. What's the issue exactly? I've only ever seen this level of weirdness online with people trying to build MP5 clones or obscure ex USSR SMG's and shit
Parts kits dried up, only off the shelf option may still kill you. Internet subculture drools over them for Rhodie nostalgia and contrarianism, these circles can overlap.
> is the FAL more hamstrung as a choice than other platforms?
Currently yes. The market for them is pretty much dead with very far parts kits, parts, or even magazines available. DSA is as far as I know the only manufacturer in the world still making complete rifles and the mags they make suck.
>Didn't there use to be a lot of frickery involved with them back in the day where a person couldn't just "buy" a FN made FAL off the rack
FN only imported complete rifles decades ago but they were expensive so only a few got in. They are basically unicorn tier unobtanium now. 1989 FOPA killed off any chance of importing more without a big rigamarole to cuck them first and then modify on arrival (which FN currently does with the SCAR).
The ones we got since then have been a hybrid of US made receivers/parts with imported parts kits but those dried up and/or got banned from import under Obama. This leaves only DSA now.
DSA Voyagers are bad to the point of being unsafe, but their traditional rifles are still ok. They're not good quality, but they are at least acceptable (kind of like the SAI M1A).
Rhodie LARP is real though. When I bring my DSA FAL out to the range there's always a couple guys who lose their minds even though it's really an unremarkable rifle in terms of shooting or mechanics. It is pretty though.
FN doesn't keep the tooling for anything old anymore. It takes up a lot of space and is prohibitively expensive to operate (lots of manual machines, lots of labor hours required, wages in Belgium are high).
>I GO CHOP YOUR DOLLAH
>I GO TAKE YOUR MONEY DISAPPEAH
>419 IS JUST A GAME
>I AM DA WINNA
>U ARE DA LOOSA
They might have at one time but last I heard they don't currently make them. Apparently SEDENA in Mexico had local production as well. There are so many places that should theoretically still have FAL tooling lying around. I wish PSA bought some of it and launched their own line.
>unremarkable rifle in terms of shooting or mechanics
You don't think an adjustable gas system or a LRBHO (+ quick bolt release lever) in a 1950s military rifle are remarkable?
NTA but no, the Hakim is of similar vintage and has both those features. The SKS has LRBHO and that's from 1945
FALs also got fricked hard by the 2005 barrel ban. I remember when people were still putting brand new G1 barrels on cheap blasters built from random spare parts. That stopped practically overnight.
Where do DSA FALs typically fail parts wise? Could I potentially take a DSA FAL and frankenstein it with quality overpriced FN parts or something?
Maybe, but—knowing nothing about the FAL market, mind you—I expect that after one or two parts you'd get into the ballpark of having just bought a quality parts kit gun to begin with.
If it's just a range toy that you trot out when it's short shorts weather, I've never heard of them failing catastrophically or DSA's CS being inadequate, so I'd hesitate to bother doing my own armorer work instead of having them deal with their shitty rifle's bullshit.
In my experience it is the receiver being out of spec and causing excessive wear until I got a dremel in there and since then the only issues I have are due to having shitty mags from the 60's. I am going to assume the issues are less related to any specific part and just that DSA doesn't have very tight standards.
also what FAL varient is this? I always liked the FAL because as a teenager I thought it was like the M16A1 but cooler.
Just a Type 2 metric with Aussie laminated L1A1 handguards on it. Probably based on some FrankenFAL the artist saw in a magazine.
why doesn't fn usa sell fals to civilians? Did FN Herstal sell off or destroy the tooling?
>Did FN Herstal sell off or destroy the tooling?
they shipped it the Nigeria
what did they do with it...
Build FALs,
>why doesn't fn usa sell fals to civilians?
Assuming you can't and I'm not aware of some way to get then from Fabrique themselves, I'm gonna say bullshit political reasons
There is literally no reason to buy a FAL instead of a G3 except for aesthetic preference.
it really doesn't matter that much either way. Everyone is doing it for the aesthetics and larp especially if they claim they aren't
One is objectively superior as a practical weapon, has much more aftermarket support, is cheaper and easier to maintain.
The other one is a FAL.
Of course it matters.
Yes but a FAL is a FAL.
That is factually correct as well.
it don't matta
the only people that dont like fals are the ones that bought a g3 clone/ptr
>easier to maintain
I've got an L1A1, shooting buddy got a G3. The FAL is easier to disassemble, and quite a lot easier to thoroughly clean. The G3 can get a bit fricky in this regard, esp. around the chamber, but I feel it would run without cleaning a longer than the FAL, plus there's no gas system to clean.
I like the FAL/SLR ergos more, it fits me nicely and all the controls are exactly where I need them, still have mixed feelings about the folding charging handle though. Interestingly, my buddy prefers his G3 ergonomy-wise, maybe because he's more familiar with it, but he's also got bigger hands. He had an issue with the charging handle getting stuck if not pulled just right, but a little paracord loop tied to it solved it completely. He loves the drum sights, I feel like they obscure too much of my field of view, but I like the front sight arrangement where the shroud helps you to center the front sight, and wouldn't mind having that on a FAL...
It's only interesting if you're the extremely common sort of gun person who confuses ergonomics with user interface/experience. Unless you have thalidomide baby flipper arms and can't reach the G3's wienering handle without hyperextending, neither rifle is going to give you a repetitive stress injury or anything, and since rifles have very few controls and they all do what you'd expect them to, the UI/UX of both platforms just comes down to personal preference.
I mean, not really. The G3 has positively archaic controls compared to the FAL. Especially the charging handle shenanigans descend directly from the MP40
Skill issue.
This. BHO is the only thing the FAL unquestionably does better. Apart from that I personally like the FAL's para stock more than the A3 stock.
>BHO is the only thing the FAL unquestionably does better.
>adjustable gas system vs having to change locking pieces
>Not needing to change the locking piece at all when firing normal ammo or not chopping the whole system down to HK51 levels ad still being more reliable and longer-lasting than the FAL.
Poorgay cope
FAL shooters spend half their time adjusting their gas block and the other half complaining about how their rifle is on the wrong gas setting.
Lel, I won't dispute that. Though it's usually less that the rifle is malfunctioning and more that it either barely shits out the casing or shoots it into orbit
I put mine on "3" 6 years ago and have fired several thousand rounds through it since then, of all manner of shit. Aguila, surplus 7.62x51mm, s&b, if you name it, and it's headstamped 7.62x51, I've probably shot it through with no problems.
Mine's a very old DSA StG58 parts kit though
My SLR worked fine on 5 but I flipped it to 4 because I started getting uneven ejection. Wonder if the gas port is a bit crusty
My L1A1 shoots brass to 15 meters regardless of the gas setting so I just leave it. Gf's Stg 58 needs to be adjusted properly though or it won't cycle some of the weaker ammo
The small one without the insulator is 2mm and the large one is 7mm
>small one 2mm, large one 7mm
Thank you, kind Sir.
>my friend and I personally prefer different legacy battle rifles, but it's not personal preference—he's just an idiot
If the AR-15 gets to claim superior ergonomics in every conversation despite the fricktarded charging handle, then I can claim the FAL to have superior ergonomics compared to the G3.
Ah, kinda thought that UI/UX are computer-related only, and I was pretty sure that controls placement is one of the things ergonomy deals with. Might be a language think as well (eurogay).
Anyway, from a UI/UX perspective the G3 sucks <for me>, as I can't reach the safety lever without changing my grip - plus it's stiff as frick on the G3s I've handled and fired. On the other hand, the SLR safety sits right under my thumb, is easy to flip up or down and gives tactile feedback. I mean, the G3 safety wouldn't be a problem in a Fulda Gap scenario, but that can't change the fact the L1A1 safety fits me much better.
The "interesting" (or maybe surprising) thing to me was that we both chose the rifles mostly due to aesthetics (and availability), yet ended up with guns that we actually prefer. Maybe it's just confirmation bias.
I don't get your point.
The SLR safety is actually better than the regular FAL's. Same with the mag release. It's more awkward when you don't have gloves on, but you'll see the point when you're wearing mitts and have to change mags
Yeah, I do like both the safety and mag release on L1A1 better than the metric style, I don't use the trigger finger, but press the mag catch with the thumb of my supporting hand while grabbing the magazine... I'm a bit unsure about the charging handle - the folding one is more comfortable for carrying the rifle, but can be difficult to grab quickly, esp. with gloves. I would definitely prefer the metric sights though, that folding rear sight seems to always be down when I want it up and is difficult to grab, plus the aperture feels a bit too big.
Also need to put a longer pin in the BHO to make it work again - don't know why the bongs decided to deactivate it.
>but can be difficult to grab quickly, esp. with gloves
I have managed it in inclement weather with period-correct British winter mitts on, rifle is fine
>plus the aperture feels a bit too big
There's an easy fix
Insulation from electric wire?
Honestly, if I could get a Hythe sight without paying an arm and leg, I think I wouldn't have any complaint.
>Insulation from electric wire?
Yep. First time I took it to the range I didn't have that at hand so I put a sticker over the aperture and pierced it with a needle, worked just as well but not as durable
Would you mind measuring the aperture sizes on your rear sight? I live under the impression that the large aperture is bigger and the small smaller than the standard one on single-leaf rear sight, but couldn't find any conclusive evidence.
tbh if it is so, I probably wouldn't bother with the stripped wire trick if I had a Hythe RS...
Both of them are blown out in every possible metric compared to an AR-10.
except reliability and service life lmao
The AR-10 is still in service today by a huge number of militaries, the G3 is only used by shitty armies or reserve forces now.
>AR-10 is still in service today by a huge number of militaries
Saying "still" is disingenuous, because I'm pretty sure nobody has the original in service to this day.
Aesthetic preference becomes more weighted when more sensible options like an AR in 308 exist tbf
If you're buying a G3 for practicality you're lying to yourself. If you wanted a practical, modular 308 rifle you'd get an AR-10. Calling the G3 more practical than a FAL is like saying a Mustang is a more practical daily driver than a Corvette because it has a shoebox sized backseat
FAL is more gentle with my brass. The G3 is like
>rip
Hope you don’t plan on reloading that
Get a brass deflector. It's a soft piece of rubber that the casing bangs into instead of banging into the metal of the receiver. I have one NIB if anyone needs one. I didn't realize they don't fit on the railed receivers, only the claw mount versions unless I were to weld it on permanently.
The G3 is an objectively worse rifle in every single way, genuinely one of the worst rifles made and not a single nation that had money used it, even the krauts who made it dumped it for a polymer AR18 as soon as they could.
>Still used today by Sweden, instantly BTFO out of that money argument. Used to this day/longer than the "superior" battle rifles M-14 or FAL. More accurate and reliable than a FAL.
Just like an AK's legendary reputation being fricked because 99.9% of its users are shitskins or Asians. Oh wait- performance doesn't care about your feelings FALggot. Keep that teutonic supremacy in mind while you dilate.
It's a rifle that works and specially in the case of the AK it was given away for free to anyone fighting in the name of communism by the crateload. The G3 was similarly given away because it was cheap, far cheaper than the FAL or M14 (which were also given to shitskins for free) but the fact pretty much no one still uses G3's is very telling how great they are just like how no one uses AR10's everyone is using FAL's and even fricking M14's over them. The reason the AK has stuck around is not due to it being the best but because the nations that make them can not afford to replace them, once these nations get money they drop the AK faster than a black father drops his kids. Places like Poland, Finland, China, Israel, South Africa and so on, of course these nations will continue to keep the guns they already have but eventually the AK will be phased out just as the G3. This will happen with all the cold war rifles but it will happen a hell of a lot slower than it did with the shitter rifles.
No one is using FALs over G3s in any decent military and you're smoking crack if you think otherwise. Sweden and Norway until late last year blow out most of the SLR users on their own while another 20+ countries use it for marksman and special forces.
Even Ukraine is using G3s while your precious do-not-redeem-sirs FAL is continuing to fall behind in relevance.
>muh ukraine
Ahh yes the war where they are using literally anything they can get their hands on what a great example, just about every weapon of the cold war is being used some bone stock some with "modernized" shit on it. This is not what I was speaking about but rather the rifles countries actually issue to their military. Which by the way they are using FAL's in Ukraine of all types from old FN and inch guns to more modern ones. They are also using bone stock M14's and EBR's along with G3's, AR308's, AR18's and again pretty much anything made in the last 80 years.
I don't recall seeing a single inch FAL in Ukraine. Aren't they mostly Paras?
The vast majority of them are paras or old FN guns yes. I wager the inch rifle I have seen was probably a gun someone brought themselves but I couldn't tell you for sure.
You are an ignorant idiot. Stop posting.
No
I’ve heard the Brazilian ones are ok and I think the Mexican marines might use some still.
I think they seem cool and they seem to work well.
it cost me a mint but I got a preban FN-made import a few years back and it's really, really slick
the Imbel ones iirc were handled by springfield, they weren't quite FN quality iirc but they're still nice
I'd call it unremarkable compared to today's platforms, especially for the price. you can get a lot out of an AR10 platform for a lot less compared to the FAL.
>I'd call it unremarkable compared to today's platforms, especially for the price. you can get a lot out of an AR10 platform for a lot less compared to the FAL.
That's my take on it. If you want a FAL for its historical interest or you're a collector then nothing else is going to scratch that itch. But if you want a semiauto .308 there are more practical choices on the market.
>unremarkable compared to today's platforms
That's a moronic take though
The Hakim was also an unreliable POS which the FAL was not
Not really
>but it was the best of the best in the 50s!
>04/25/2023 imprinted on the bottom righthand corner of screen
>t. Never even been in the same zip code as either
Every time my hakim has given me trouble it's entirely the fault of me using 40s vintage Greek surp ammo. Conversely it seems like I can never find a good FAL mag, either it's thermolds that feed reliably but have a habit of not tripping the BHO or surp mags that never cooperate
Your FAL is a mutt build
Nta but where's your Hakim to show you know what you're talking about? Not that I don't enjoy seeing you FALggots bicker
Why would I buy a piece of shit
Nah I would actually like to buy an AG42 but no good opportunities so far
Why don’t they import? Doesnt Taurus import from Brazil. The 5.56 ones seem b***hin.
Imbel is Govt owned and isnt authorized in their budget to export
you can't just import rifles because of gay restrictions. any rifle or shotgun that comes into the country has to be considered a "sporting weapon" by some government homosexual. so bergara can send b-14s all day, but aks either have to come in chopped up as parts kits that some clown at century tries to put together or else in a gay configuration with a thumbhole stock and a 5 rd mag that gets thrown out once it's in the country and then replaced with us made parts to make it compliant.
>or else in a gay configuration with a thumbhole stock and a 5 rd mag that gets thrown out once it's in the country and then replaced with us made parts to make it compliant.
hey have you ever seen what a SCAR looks like when it comes into the country
They did, Springfield imported them back when they were actually allowed to, due to gov restrictions though this is no longer possible. Also there isn't much profit in it anymore.
Imbel is probably the second best FAL after FNH, the one things Brazil hasn’t fricked up.
There used to be like 2 niche builders in the 90s and early 00s. You're trying to find a gun that's been dried up for 20+ years. You can get the American made versions still but the particular companies that make them (Entreprise & DSA) make shitty rifles. You can now get good American made G3s and the G3 was always a superior choice to the FAL. It's more accurate. An FAL is a waste of a .308 it's so inaccurate. Don't bother with it and get a PTR91.
It's because they were never made in the US and the US hates imports.
>It's because they were never made in the US
I see your claim and raise you the T48
Honestly, I think we would be seeing AR-tier shilling for the FAL and be swearing its virtues up and down, had the US adopted the T48
The T48 was a hideous inch pattern abomination that would've been dropped even faster than the M14 since it wouldn't even have >muh Springfield Armory to keep it above water. Even boomers wouldn't be very nostalgic for it since it's no good as a target rifle—the front and rear sights are on different halves of the gun, there's no especially good way to mount optics, the lockup changes depending on how many rounds are left in the magazine, etc.
You wouldn't be a schizo to think that you'd be a troony
i still have an old ass imbel receiver i bought but no parts kit to go with it. i want to get a stg58 or something with those sheetmetal handguards. i like the look.
yeah