The Down Range Forum

Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: liftstationman on July 13, 2009, 12:26:26 PM

Title: FN-FAL
Post by: liftstationman on July 13, 2009, 12:26:26 PM
wonderful thing about life is variety, same goes for the sport of shooting.

literally hundreds of choices for pistols, revlovers, shotguns, & rifles......

probably my favorite  post WWII battle rifle is the FN-FAL.

at one time as many as 90 countries fielded this weapon as their MBR. & america came very close to doing so too.

my friend introduced me to the FAL a couple of years ago and since have put two into my safe. the FAL has a great heritage and IMHO good balance, acceptable accuracy, reliability and fire power.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: deepwater on July 13, 2009, 12:28:48 PM
I've been looking for a reasonably priced FAL for awhile now and hope to have one soon.
where's the porn?
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Badgersmilk on July 13, 2009, 02:02:25 PM
NOT what I'd call reasonably priced, but NICE!  I go to their site just to drool pretty often.


http://www.dsarms.com/SA58-FAL-Rifles/departments/8
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: deepwater on July 13, 2009, 03:22:09 PM
NOT what I'd call reasonably priced, but NICE!  I go to their site just to drool pretty often.


http://www.dsarms.com/SA58-FAL-Rifles/departments/8

I've looked here before as well, but have been able to find them for under $1000.00 so unless I can find another deal I may go with one of these sites. now if I can just stay out of the bars this trip I'll be able to save enough to buy 2 or 3 of them.... asking alot though.
 ;)
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: True_Texan on July 13, 2009, 05:49:29 PM
I've looked here before as well, but have been able to find them for under $1000.00 so unless I can find another deal I may go with one of these sites. now if I can just stay out of the bars this trip I'll be able to save enough to buy 2 or 3 of them.... asking alot though.
 ;)

After the last few chats I've had with ya, I know that to be the truth for sure. ;D

Just go to the bars till you are left with enough for 1 of them or get someone newbie on the crew to buy your drinks. ;)
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: deepwater on July 13, 2009, 05:58:00 PM
yeah, they find out to avoid me after one trip though.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Steyr M40A1 on July 13, 2009, 10:37:43 PM
wonderful thing about life is variety, same goes for the sport of shooting.

literally hundreds of choices for pistols, revlovers, shotguns, & rifles......

probably my favorite  post WWII battle rifle is the FN-FAL.

at one time as many as 90 countries fielded this weapon as their MBR. & america came very close to doing so too.

my friend introduced me to the FAL a couple of years ago and since have put two into my safe. the FAL has a great heritage and IMHO good balance, acceptable accuracy, reliability and fire power.

My brother has one, mostly original stuff on it, thumb hole plastic stock, sand cut bolt. It was a bear to shoot due to a horrendous trigger, got it fixed and man o man it is a pleasure to shoot. Iron sites at 500ft we could put all rounds onto a paper plate no problem. 
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: kilopaparomeo on July 16, 2009, 08:12:15 AM
Here's my favorite battle rifles from my collection...while they all have their good and bad points, the FALs are my favorites overall.

(http://i44.tinypic.com/d6ykz.jpg)

CETME, 7.62x51mm
PTR91, 7.62x51mm
DSA StG58A, 7.62x51mm
DSA SA58, 7.62x51mm
Egyptian FN49, 7.92x57mm
Springfield Armory M1A Loaded, 7.62x51mm
WASR-10 AKM, , 7.62x39mm
Yugoslavian SKS M49/51, 7.62x39mm
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Steyr M40A1 on July 16, 2009, 11:45:21 AM
Remember too the FAL's legacy, the 8mm semi's like the FN49 and the Hakim.
Very interesting rifles.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: liftstationman on July 16, 2009, 01:58:52 PM
nice collection ;)

Egyptian FN49, 7.92x57mm
basically a fal with a conventional stock, great rifle and still holds value.
the hakim, swedish (ljungman) semi is kool and i remember when hakims & k-31's were really cheap! . i like it 2nd to the swiss k-31 as a very desireable 'other rifle.'
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: blackwolfe on July 22, 2009, 11:26:45 AM
I'd like to get an FAL and a M1A some day, but money has been a little tight lately.  Was at a gu show several months ago and thought I found a reasonably priced M1A.  Had to stand in line quite awhile yp get in and was talking to the guy next to me.  He mentioned he had a M-14 he wanted to sell.  I thought he meant a M1A.  Ilooked at it later that day.  It was semiauto and had a TRW receiver.  I'm not very knowledgeable on these and as near as I could find out there were never any TRW receivers released to the public.  I was afraid that it might have been a stolen receiver or a reweld so I stayed clear of it.
 Aim Surplus has some DSA FALs available right now.


  http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/DSA__Inc._.38_7.62x51_STG58_FAL_Rifle.html
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Combat Diver on August 05, 2009, 11:44:00 AM
I also love the FAL, owned two first a Belgium 50.63 in Germany with a Douglas Premium Match barrel and second a Springfiled Armory SAR-48 Bush rifle.  Also handle and fired an orginal T48 US Army test FAL made by H&R that compeited against the M14, that one had the stripper clip guide on the reciever cover.  The Ljungman and Hakim are not related to the FAL as they use the gas impingent system later used on the AR10/M16/AR15.  The FN49 was designed before the outbreak of WWII by Dieudonne Saive (who also finished the HiPower pistol) worked for FN and then fled Belgium, he offered it to the British but they had to get Enfields fielded.  I had a Venesualian model 49 in 7x57.
I've also carried the M14 and FAL in Iraq.  Here's a pick of the FAL that I carried there, it also has the happy switch which I have learned to shoot the rifle in full auto controlable.
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/P2270001.JPG)
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/P2270002.JPG)

Just remembered another story of finding FALs in Kuwait in 2000.  EOD uncovered three FN manufactured FALs that were buried since 91'.  Two of the three rifles were just cleaned up and fired well (M118 Match is too long for the mag).  I fired abouit 1000rds thru those two FALs without any issues.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Kid Shelleen on August 05, 2009, 12:31:11 PM
Great info on the FN. Thanks, as well, for sharing your interesting experiences.

Interesting info on Saive and the FN49. I love this site and learn something new almost every day. As I understand it, Saive designed all of the HiPower and only used JMBs locking system. Browning generally gets the credit for the full design.

I don't take anything away from John Browing. IMHO, the greatest firearms designer ever. Look at how many off his designs have stood the test of time.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Pathfinder on August 05, 2009, 01:09:08 PM
Diver, welcome aboard, glad to see you here. Care to stop by the Cafe and find the New Member thread, introduce yourself, and what you're up to in the sandbox? As much as you can anyhow . . .  8)  :-X
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Hazcat on August 05, 2009, 01:13:33 PM
He already did, Path.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Combat Diver on August 05, 2009, 11:45:02 PM
Couple more things....

The FN49 had a good reputation for realibility during the Korean war right along with the M1 Garand.  Most of those were carried by Belgium and Netherland troops attached to the UN.  Those rifles were chambered for the most produced chambering the 30-06.

The M14 I carried in Iraq in 04' was a National Match TRW rilfe that I also shot the All Army Match with in 06".  Iron sights out to 1000yds.  In 05-06' kept a 50.61 folding stock, std bbl select fire in my HMMVE, along with my M4, M79, MP5K.  Last year in Iraq had the above pictured FAL along side my M4.  I like the adjustable sights on the M14 but as a battle rifle to engage troops out to 400m I prefer the FAL.  Only modifications I did to the M14 was install a Springfield Army Scout rail to allow mounting of an EOtech 552.  The FAL just needs a DSA reciever cover to mount an optic.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: kilopaparomeo on August 07, 2009, 06:21:59 AM
Combat Diver -- welcome to the forum and thanks for standing the line

I also like the way you think.  I like all my battle rifles but the FALs are my favorite

(http://i44.tinypic.com/d6ykz.jpg)

(http://i29.tinypic.com/vcz6dw.jpg)
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: blackwolfe on August 07, 2009, 05:06:42 PM
Combat Diver -- welcome to the forum and thanks for standing the line

I also like the way you think.  I like all my battle rifles but the FALs are my favorite



KPR,  YOUR M1A is MY favorite, but the longer FAL comes in a close second.
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Ping on August 07, 2009, 06:59:32 PM
Have always dreamed of owning a FN-FAL when I was young. The older I get the more I have to agree with Blackwolfe about the fondness of the M1A. Gun show next weekend and looking forward to seeing how many deals can be made!!!
Title: Re: FN-FAL
Post by: Combat Diver on August 08, 2009, 02:35:23 AM
KPR,

  Very nice collection sir,

 :D