Shot a FAL yesterday

[RJ]

I was at the range with a buddy of mine, and he brought his Imbel FAL rifle. I'm sure most of ya'll are much more familiar with it than I am, but it was my first exposure to a real battle rifle.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_FAL

This particular example was an IMBEL (?) model, with wood furniture. Although used, it shot with no issues.

For me, being a lefty, it was pretty hopeless to shoot very well. The safety, box mag catch and bolt were all on the left side, which was very awkward.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the recoil, but I gripped tightly and held it firmly to my shoulder. I've never shot .308 Winchester (which I gather is also known as 7.62mmx51?) but the kick was not too bad.

Due to ammo cost, I didn't want to shoot more than about 5 rounds, but it was a lot of fun.

Afterwards I watched a few videos on the FAL and was surprised how ubiquitous it was, having been used in over 90 countries, and being one of the premier battle rifles after WWII for a long period. Very interesting to see, handle and shoot a piece of history like this.


https://youtu.be/-RIAgSGBJoE

[gkieser92]

A DSA STG-58 was my first black rifle, back when 7.62 surplus was plentiful and cheap. In theory, it was to be my do it all rifle. But in reality, it's too heavy for hunting, not quite accurate enough for precision shooting, and now too expensive for plinking. But it COULD do it all in a pinch. There is something just badass about it though. It's the one rifle I can shoot a .30 caliber round in all day without being sore. By the way, I am a lefty too and the controls never bothered me. I'm used to operating safeties with my trigger finger, a charging handle with left hand and mag release with my to right hand thumb.

[Lex Luthier]

The FAL is one of my most enduring long-gun "bad ideas I just can't shake".

For a long time they were known as "The Right Arm Of The Free World". I will yet have one. My sibling has one of the Century Arms cobbled together thumbhole-stock Imbels which he has further bubba'd, but it still runs like a champ. I favor the slim forestock wood furniture types.

Glad you got to enjoy one of the best battle rifles yet made.

[GJM]

My PH carried a real, as in full auto FN FAL, when we hunted in Zimbabwe on several hunts. Good memories.

[jeep45238]

The FAL is one of my most enduring long-gun "bad ideas I just can't shake".

For a long time they were known as "The Right Arm Of The Free World". I will yet have one. My sibling has one of the Century Arms cobbled together thumbhole-stock Imbels which he has further bubba'd, but it still runs like a champ. I favor the slim forestock wood furniture types.

Glad you got to enjoy one of the best battle rifles yet made.

Same. The dinger for me is the rear sight scratches my glasses under recoil occasionally . Still want one badly.

[Sigfan26]

I've got a DSA Para Carbine that I absolutely love.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[RJ]

My PH carried a real, as in full auto FN FAL, when we hunted in Zimbabwe on several hunts. Good memories.

Woah. Did it ever get used? I would, uh, imagine a full auto .308 would be pretty sporty.

[GJM]

Woah. Did it ever get used? I would, uh, imagine a full auto .308 would be pretty sporty.

The memorable hunt was during a period of unrest, leading up to an election in Zim. The FAL was for our personal defense. Not on our hunt, but he used it on full auto following up a wounded leopard.

[Paul D]

I have a DSA 16 inch carbine. It will eat up your brass. The ejection with imprint a corner of a square on the rim when it flings it out.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i45/pnduong/IMG_2726_zps7b1a6272.jpg

[GJM]

You would have to pay me, or scare me a lot, to shoot a 16 inch FAL in a bathroom without plugs and muffs.

[1slow]

YMMV.

I have had and shot FALs since the 1980s, I really like them. The ergonomics work well for me. My favorite of the classic 7.62x51 rifles. I have had Galils. HK 91s, M1As, Yugo AK in this caliber. The ergonomics and logistics of the FAL were very good.
I have had several dozen FALs, Para, fixed stock, heavy barrel, Belgian, SAR-48, Imbel. My favorite is the 50.63 variation, Para with about 17.5'' chrome lined 7.62x51 chamber barrel. They call them 18'' and 21'' barrels. They are more like 17.5 and 20.5''.
When ammo was $135-165 per 1000 I shot 10,000 rounds through them annually in some years. I shot the guns a lot and had very little trouble.

The extended thumb safety DSA makes is good. DSA scope mount is probably the best.

I did notice across, multiple FALs, shooting at 500 yards that with a scope I would get 12'' or so vertical rise on the 2nd 20 round magazine shooting at a measured pace. I did not notice this with iron sights. The front iron sight moves with the barrel so it may have been sort of self correcting as the barrel heated and moved.. Scope being receiver mounted did not move with the barrel as it heated. Just a guess.

Probably the SCAR Heavy is a better bet now. I had Armalite AR10s match and otherwise and while more accurate they were not as reliable.

[Paul Sharp]

YMMV.

I have had and shot FALs since the 1980s, I really like them. The ergonomics work well for me. My favorite of the classic 7.62x51 rifles. I have had Galils. HK 91s, M1As, Yugo AK in this caliber. The ergonomics and logistics of the FAL were very good.
I have had several dozen FALs, Para, fixed stock, heavy barrel, Belgian, SAR-48, Imbel. My favorite is the 50.63 variation, Para with about 17.5'' chrome lined 7.62x51 chamber barrel. They call them 18'' and 21'' barrels. They are more like 17.5 and 20.5''.
When ammo was $135-165 per 1000 I shot 10,000 rounds through them annually in some years. I shot the guns a lot and had very little trouble.

The extended thumb safety DSA makes is good. DSA scope mount is probably the best.

I did notice across, multiple FALs, shooting at 500 yards that with a scope I would get 12'' or so vertical rise on the 2nd 20 round magazine shooting at a measured pace. I did not notice this with iron sights. The front iron sight moves with the barrel so it may have been sort of self correcting as the barrel heated and moved.. Scope being receiver mounted did not move with the barrel as it heated. Just a guess.

Probably the SCAR Heavy is a better bet now. I had Armalite AR10s match and otherwise and while more accurate they were not as reliable.

Do you have any experience with the Spanish CETME?

I seriously have a love/love issue with the SCAR Heavy.

[LittleLebowski]

You would have to pay me, or scare me a lot, to shoot a 16 inch FAL in a bathroom without plugs and muffs.

Exactly why I labeled my FAL as my "werewolf rifle."

[SLG]

I have always loved FALs. Shot them a fair bit overseas, but never owned one. Sounds like PaulD is unhappy with his. Better send it my way for obedience training:-)

[Dagga Boy]

I was always a bit weird in that I liked the HK91 better than the FAL. I have had good ones.....and not so good. I have gotten rid of all of them except my beautiful ParaFal......because the actual Belgian ParaFal may be one of the best looking, well balanced traditional Cold War battle rifles out there. For all the folks who say that the DSA FAL's and other clones are as good or better than original real Belgian FAL's.....don't own Belgian FALs. The DSA's make great beaters, but there is nothing like the real thing.

As far as full auto.....Hard to describe which is worse, a G3 or a FAL, but both should not have a fun switch in my world.

[JSGlock34]

As far as full auto.....Hard to describe which is worse, a G3 or a FAL, but both should not have a fun switch in my world.

I'll sign your petition...I never had the "pleasure" of shooting a full-auto FAL, but I have experienced the G3 and I wouldn't miss the happy switch at all on the HK.

[Edwin]

Afterwards I watched a few videos on the FAL and was surprised how ubiquitous it was, having been used in over 90 countries, and being one of the premier battle rifles after WWII for a long period. Very interesting to see, handle and shoot a piece of history like this.

This really highlights how insular Americans are to the rest of the world where ARs and 1911s were not the dominating firearms but the FAL and Hi Power were.

[1slow]

I was always a bit weird in that I liked the HK91 better than the FAL. I have had good ones.....and not so good. I have gotten rid of all of them except my beautiful ParaFal......because the actual Belgian ParaFal may be one of the best looking, well balanced traditional Cold War battle rifles out there. For all the folks who say that the DSA FAL's and other clones are as good or better than original real Belgian FAL's.....don't own Belgian FALs. The DSA's make great beaters, but there is nothing like the real thing.

As far as full auto.....Hard to describe which is worse, a G3 or a FAL, but both should not have a fun switch in my world.


I had several of almost all of the Belgian variations. My favorite was the 50.63, the shorter Para for the reasons you mention. I also had most of the DSA guns when they first came out. DSA then was OK. We later saw some issues with later guns mainly barrel to receiver threads. DSA .308 chambers could be finicky with 7.62x51.

SAR 48 Springfield FALs were full Imbel built FALs and to me were as good as the Belgian FALs.

My beaters were 50.63 clones built on Imbel receiver with chrome lined barrels. I ran these hard and had no issues.

Having shot a FAL fully auto, I agree not very useful to me.

[1slow]

Do you have any experience with the Spanish CETME?

I seriously have a love/love issue with the SCAR Heavy.

Buddy of mine had several CETMEs seemed to work OK but I never ran one much.

I like the SCAR Heavy.

[GJM]

My recollection, is during the conflict in Rhodesia, they has HK 91 and FAL rifles. The FAL rifles went to the better trained soldiers, like the Selous Scouts, and the HK 91 rifles were issued to the locals, as they required less maintenance.

[rob_s]

A DSA was also one of my first "black rifles". I used to shoot mine in the FDCC (local 2-gun) matches. Mine was a ban-era so it had that monster brake on the end. Ammo wasn't much more than .223 at the time so that wasn't an issue. The SO/ROs hated me, especially in shoot-house classes.

Still love them, would still prefer the FAL to any other .308 semi-auto, but the ammo price makes it un-shootable for me so there's no point.

[flux]

Some FAL action in this video, happened many years ago.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FYoHWFoE9Q4
When speaking to those who were part of the Rhodesian war, they always mentioned how effective the FALs were in turning cover into concealment. :o
They are common this side, only semi auto allowed for sport shooters.

[GJM]

Some FAL action in this video, happened many years ago.


https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FYoHWFoE9Q4
When speaking to those who were part of the Rhodesian war, they always mentioned how effective the FALs were in turning cover into concealment. :o
They are common this side, only semi auto allowed for sport shooters.

Eye Pro, check

Helmet, check

Ear protection, check

Looking pretty for the vid, priceless

[flux]

This was a good few years ago, judging from the cars used. Highly respected guys and always stuff to be learnt from them, well tactics and equipment has come a long way compared to what's in the video. Amongst other areas, Our rangers here in Kruger National Park also use FALs for anti poaching patrols.

[Coyotesfan97]

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20161212/4446c1d8fa5d44394e11fd8e69f66693.jpg

My DSA SA58 and Talon. I still have the FAL but Talon passed away. They were my Belgian Defense Team.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[GJM]

This was a good few years ago, judging from the cars used. Highly respected guys and always stuff to be learnt from them, well tactics and equipment has come a long way compared to what's in the video. Amongst other areas, Our rangers here in Kruger National Park also use FALs for anti poaching patrols.

Understood, definitely looked like another time!

[Dagga Boy]

My HK91 and FAL's were my go to guns for turning things into "not cover". Currently, my Arsenal SAM 7SF is fulfilling that role. I did an article for the Surefire magazine on the 7.62x39 as a specialty gun for some LE units that need a counter vehicle capability in an easy to handle package.

I have seen the video posted before. Yes, 50.63 FAL's are simply dead nuts retro cool beauties.

[jc000]

I have gotten rid of all of them except my beautiful ParaFal......because the actual Belgian ParaFal may be one of the best looking, well balanced traditional Cold War battle rifles out there.

Really hard to take this post seriously without any pics. :p

[MistWolf]

In the Beginning
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Liberty/Workbench.jpg

DSA StG58 with kickstand and purse handle
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/STGIII.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/StG58/DSC_0208.jpg

Imbel kit built on an Imbel receiver
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Brazilian%20Beauty/imbel.jpg

Numbers matching Argy kit built on an Argy receiver
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Argentina%20Girl/Argy.jpg

Franken Fal PARA
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Para%20Mods/Para001.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Para%20Mods/DSC_0077.jpg

FALs are a blast to shoot. I love the 308 battlerifles

[JSGlock34]

Afterwards I watched a few videos on the FAL and was surprised how ubiquitous it was, having been used in over 90 countries, and being one of the premier battle rifles after WWII for a long period. Very interesting to see, handle and shoot a piece of history like this.


This really highlights how insular Americans are to the rest of the world where ARs and 1911s were not the dominating firearms but the FAL and Hi Power were.

In the category of historical "What ifs?", the US Army actually tested the FN FAL as the T48 (http://www.nramuseum.org/guns/the-galleries/wwii,-korea,-vietnam-and-beyond-1940-to-present/case-42-guns-of-vietnam-and-desert-storm/harrington-and-richardson-t48-selective-fire-rifle.aspx) in the competition that ultimately resulted in the adoption of the M14. The FAL didn't really have much of a chance, but an interesting historical footnote nonetheless. Here's a decent SAR article on it - T48: The American FAL Rifle (http://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=1689).

http://ww3.rediscov.com/springar/full/10890-SA.A.1.jpg
http://ww3.rediscov.com/springar/full/10891-SA.A.1.jpg
http://ww3.rediscov.com/springar/full/10892-SA.A.1.jpg
http://ww3.rediscov.com/springar/full/10894-SA.A.1.jpg
http://ww3.rediscov.com/springar/full/10895-SA.A.1.jpg

[Alembic]

In the Beginning
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Liberty/Workbench.jpg

DSA StG58 with kickstand and purse handle
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/STGIII.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/StG58/DSC_0208.jpg

Imbel kit built on an Imbel receiver
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Brazilian%20Beauty/imbel.jpg

Numbers matching Argy kit built on an Argy receiver
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Argentina%20Girl/Argy.jpg

Franken Fal PARA
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Para%20Mods/Para001.jpg

http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/Para%20Mods/DSC_0077.jpg

FALs are a blast to shoot. I love the 308 battlerifles

That Para-Franken, wearing a HK91 forearm, nice to see everyone getting along...

maybe it's not a slim line 91 forearm, don't see the pin hole up front. Can anyone ID?

[MistWolf]

That's a slimline forearm I robbed off of a PTR-91 and did some trimming to make it fit. I really like how it feels in my hand

[Lex Luthier]

That's a slimline forearm I robbed off of a PTR-91 and did some trimming to make it fit. I really like how it feels in my hand

I would have never considered that. Very cool application...

[MistWolf]

I got the idea from a guy on FALFiles. He modified a wood HK handguard to fit his FAL

[Lex Luthier]

Okay, now I really want one again. (shakes head "no!" at internal OCD generator)
Love the franken-Para. Can I PM you for build details on that, MistWolf?

I have mentioned an acquaintance who spent some time as a merc- he was an American 'volunteer" in Rhodesia 1979-80, fresh out of the "Old Guard" 3rd US Infantry Regiment. He ended up a Lieutenant in Grey's Scouts, carrying a FAL on horseback. Had nothing but praise for it in use compared to the M-16A1 he carried in the US. The fact that he was a strapping six-foot-seven-inch young soldier didn't hurt, I suppose.

Lex

[Al T.]

He ended up a Lieutenant in Grey's Scouts, carrying a FAL on horseback.

Long ago and faraway, I knew someone else who fit that description, though not as tall. Hmmmmmm....

I have an Imbel/Austrian parts gun FAL. Put a DSA scope mount on it, mounted an Aimpoint and it sleeps in the safe. Way too easy to hit stuff, so much so that it's boring, even off hand.....

[Malamute]

That's a slimline forearm I robbed off of a PTR-91 and did some trimming to make it fit. I really like how it feels in my hand

I liked the slimline fore end on the G3 I had. I dremelled out the oval "vent holes" so they actually vented. I was going to try to adapt a slimline to an AK project but never ended up doing it before selling it. If shortened from the rear, I think the pin would actually work, right at the gas tube base. The rear needed a little shaping and epoxy work I believe to get it to stay positioned.

[MistWolf]

Love the franken-Para...build details...?

These are the details-
-DSA Type 2 receiver
- South African R1 barrel, cut down to 18" and rethreaded. It currently uses a Belgian combo device. I had a BABC and an adapter (BABC had r/h threads, barrel has l/h) but that got moved to another rifle
- Long gas tube. Since the HK style handguards are open on top, I had to use a long gas tube to cover the piston
- Modified handguards from a PTR-91. The nose was trimmed a bit. I don't remember if it was trimmed for a better fit, or simply for aesthetics
- DSA noseless Para cover. I used a noseless cover because the receiver does not have the relief cut for the standard (with nose) Para cover. I've got the tooling to make the cut, but haven't done so, yet. I think the Para springs are from Falcon
- Sand cut Para carrier
- Mountain Man folding charging handle. The folding charging handle has the knobbed CH beat every which way to Sunday
- DSA aluminum Para lower with STG FCG. The STG FCG was used because it's what I had on hand.
- Extended and checkered mag release. Large foot bolt hold open. (Do NOT use the BHO to release the bolt. Use the charging handle and slingshot it. Using the BHO wears on the bolt)
- Rear sight is an HK drum, mounted on a special adapter made by one of the guys on the FALFiles
- I'm unsure about the origin of the folding stock assembly. It came with a hard rubber butt pad which broke apart awhile back. With a little work, I adapted a Magpul butt pad to fit. It's actually a bit more comfortable than the original
- Grip is a SAW type. Angle is less than the original FAL grip and more comfortable

What I Would Change-
- The LOP is too long. It's usable, but it would be better if shorter
- The trigger is typical Euro battle rifle, heavy with plenty of creep
- The HK rear sight has a notch instead of an aperture at the 100 meter setting. Someday, I'm gonna hunt down a drum that has an aperture at all range settings
- The rear sling swivel needs to be re-staked. I have a South African R4 webbed sling I'm gonna use. In fact, once I post this, I'm gonna dig out that sling and install it

PRO TIP- Don't let the action slam closed on an empty chamber. The bolt will hit the back of the barrel causing damage to both

[MistWolf]

I liked the slimline fore end on the G3 I had. I dremelled out the oval "vent holes" so they actually vented

Ha! I did the same thing!

[Dagga Boy]

Really hard to take this post seriously without any pics. :p

Not mine, but it is the same and in fantastic shape.

[Ed L]

Here is a picture of my Belgian 50.63 next to my FS2000.

The FS2000 was sacrificed to help finance a 14.5" HK416 upper.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i232/eds-stuff/FN%20FAL%20%20FS2000%20B_zpsfclf5yy8.jpg

[gkieser92]

This thread has inspired me to put the Siege of Jadotville next in my Netflix.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3922798/?ref_=ttmi_tt

[MistWolf]

Check out Wild Geese. Some excellent FAL action in Africa. There are a couple of other movies that take place in the Dark Continent during the same era, but I don't recall their titles. I'll have to see if I can find them

[TiroFijo]

I really like the FAL and the G3. Most of the ones I've fired were real .mil contract (argie, brazilian, and belgian FALs and german G3s). Never had a problem with recoil, but full auto bursts obviously strings the shots. Full auto IMO isn't even that useful in 5.56, and does not make sense in 7.62 N for these rifles.
Difficult to choose among them, probably the FAL 50.63 and fixed stock G3 would be my favorites.
I prefer them both to the M14, but the M14 can be made into a good DMR. The G3 can also be a good DMR, the FAL not.

[Dagga Boy]

I really like the FAL and the G3. Most of the ones I've fired were real .mil contract (argie, brazilian, and belgian FALs and german G3s). Never had a problem with recoil, but full auto bursts obviously strings the shots. Full auto IMO isn't even that useful in 5.56, and does not make sense in 7.62 N for these rifles.
Difficult to choose among them, probably the FAL 50.63 and fixed stock G3 would be my favorites.
I prefer them both to the M14, but the M14 can be made into a good DMR. The G3 can also be a good DMR, the FAL not.

Good post, and mirrors my experience.

[That Guy]

Okay, since this thread has become a generic everything about FAL's-thread... How about us lefties? Are there left-handed safeties available? Any other modifications that are considered necessary/helpful? (Recognizing that not every control has to be ambidextrous for the gun to work left-handed. In fact the only thing I've done to my AR is flip the safety around to a left-handed configuration, and the gun seems to work pretty well.)

[K.O.A.M.]

I have a few FAL's. I'm a big fan of the design and used one as a patrol rifle back in the day. I have found them to be softer shooting than my H&K types, but not nearly so easy to mount an optic to with any kind of stability. I have a Hensoldt 4x surplus on one using an Argentine mount that works fine, but I've never had good luck with the top cover/rail mounts.

If you're interested in these, check out the FAL Files. A whole lot of knowledge on that board.