Have survived first night in the Gun Free Paradise, although being here in the Boy King's home city is making me slightly queasy. I'm going to treat my queasiness with a dose of the other white meat, the FAL battle rifle...I've always been fascinated with the FN-FAL, a huge success worldwide yet never really accepted in America. It's also interesting to me (and I hope to SG viewers) that we're sort of in another one of those military sweepstakes to develop a whole new MBR, a 7.62 gas pistol rifle reliable enough for swamps, deserts, the Arctic, whatever. That's sorta what the FAL is, isn't it?
I'm up here today to spend some time on the range with the DS Arms FAL variants. DS has had a lot of success with their updated/upgrades FAL-style rifles. Looks like fun outside the city limits!
If I've got the 3G signal, I'll be on Twitter...
"we're sort of in another one of those military sweepstakes to develop a whole new MBR, a 7.62 gas pistol rifle reliable enough for swamps, deserts, the Arctic, whatever. That's sorta what the FAL is, isn't it?"
ReplyDeleteI was about to write that the FAL has a poor reputation for reliability in sandboxes, but a few minutes of Internet research says that's overblown.
DSA sure makes some pretty ones.
I have an FN-FAL Para,Match Imported from Belguim By Gun South That I bought in 1991 It and its Little Brother the FNC Para (5.56 Piston) are the only Rifles that I will Never Part With
ReplyDeleteThe SA58SPN (their Spartan model) I handled at the NRA show two years ago was beautiful. Smooth lines, well balanced, and of course handling a man's round, the 7.62. It's on my must get list once I hit the lottery.
ReplyDeleteIn a news story on Haiti, they showed a Brazilian UN trooper carrying some variant of the FAL. Or at least it looked like one to me.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jul/19/tentative-calm-brings-optimism-to-a-failed-haiti/
The IMF had less than wonderful things to say about the FN FAL they had in the 1968 war.
ReplyDeleteJust got a DSA StG58 Austrian FAL 16" carbine (to go with my Franken-FAL parts gun) so if you shoot one of those, please let me know how you liked it! Haven't had a chance to take mine out yet.
ReplyDeletePlease tell us more about the DSA when you're through wringing it out. I'm very interested in getting one and would love to hear your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe continued success of the basic AK round indicates that the US should seriously reconsider something a tad bigger than a 5.56. If not the 7.62x51, then maybe the 6.8 Rem SPC or even a juiced up short-round .30
ReplyDeleteI have wanted an FAL ever since I learned of them. Never had the money and opportunity at the same time. :-(
Last weekend I finished an urban rifle course with John Farnam, and I ran it with my DSA FAL in 7.62. It's a lot of weapon to be "running and gunning" with but that was my choice. I need to do more push ups (and have more range time) to be able to run the thing steadily and consistently from the offhand position, which John trains for as the most likely position to engage from. It's been a while since I've been that sore....
ReplyDelete"7.62 gas pistol rifle"
ReplyDeleteIs a gas pistol rifle the same thing as an assault weapon? Does it have a barrel shroud that goes up on the shoulder?
One of the first rifles I ever considered purchasing was a FAL. Not sure of the make, but it came with two magazines. Full sized model.
ReplyDeleteIt was at some local Pops Knife/Gun in a mid-Missouri town of about 5000 when school was in (where I went to college). The guy wanted $300 for it. I asked him about the price, and he said he had no idea what type of rifle it was, but the guy came in and traded it for one of his better SKSes, so he thought the price was about spot on.
To this day, I kick myself for not buying it, but it was either that or pay my rent, and having a roof in Mid Mo in Winter was a bit more important. Piss on me, I could have bunked with a buddy for a bit. Ah well, live and learn.
The FN-FAL has always been a personal favorite, but then again, my favorite big game rifle is a 7x57 Mauser, so I am atypical as an American
ReplyDelete