My original intentions when I started saving money was to pick up a Romanian Sar-1, but I have yet to find anyone who has them in stock. A few weeks ago I shot a Fal, built on Imbel reciever, and was thouroughly impressed with its accuracy. Since I have been waiting so long on the AK I know have enough for a FAL or Cetme. Wholesale Guns and Ammo has the exact same FAL for 427.99. They also have the Cetme for 395.99. My question is which is the better rifle relaibility and accuracy wise? Also are the Cetme mags and G-3 mags interchangable?
FAL or Cetme?
- Thread starter mwv4
- Start date
OK
A FAL isn't a FAL isn't a FAL. With these rifles there seems to be a strong correlation between cost and quality (that is, cheap rifles are often unreliable, more expensive rifles are often very very good indeed. Yes, this is a generalization). This is unlike the AK rifles, where you very often end up with good reliability from even bargain-basement models, and with increased cost you get little more than higher quality fit-and-finish.
Currently occupying the sweet spot on the cost/quality curve is the DSA STG-58A, which is $800 if you know a FFL who won't soak you. I have one. You would never know it was a 'parts gun.' It also has a lifetime warranty, and DSA is a top-shelf manufacturer of FALs.
Mike
A FAL isn't a FAL isn't a FAL. With these rifles there seems to be a strong correlation between cost and quality (that is, cheap rifles are often unreliable, more expensive rifles are often very very good indeed. Yes, this is a generalization). This is unlike the AK rifles, where you very often end up with good reliability from even bargain-basement models, and with increased cost you get little more than higher quality fit-and-finish.
Currently occupying the sweet spot on the cost/quality curve is the DSA STG-58A, which is $800 if you know a FFL who won't soak you. I have one. You would never know it was a 'parts gun.' It also has a lifetime warranty, and DSA is a top-shelf manufacturer of FALs.
Mike
hksigwalther
New member
From what I've read at L1A1.com (the FAL site), Arizona Response does a pretty good job of working over FALs (as well as other guns). I've never used them as I've gotten my FALs already assembled.
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/
To compare the low cost guns I have, the R1 FAL parts gun (assembled and refinished by a dealer) kicks more than my CETME. This could be due to the R1 not having a muzzle break. I have yet to test the DSA SA58 which has an integral brake against the CETME to see if it kicks more also. But as tested, my R1 kicks more than the CETME. Accuracy is about the same, the FAL is a little easier and quicker to disassemble/clean. Also, more quality aftermarket parts available for the FAL. Both guns have shot very well. The only failure I have had with either gun was with the FAL (after getting the proper gas setting after puchase). For whatever reason, one round in the middle of a magful had a FTF with the point of the bullet lodged against the very small vertically flat portion at the end of the barrel below the chamber (and the bolt pushing against the back of the cartridge). How the point of the bullet was able to find that very small area to butt up against I do not know. It has never happened since.
How well a parts gun shoots is, IMO, more dependent on who assembled it and how well it was done. Century has had so-so reviews in both the FALs and CETMEs they've assembled. Luckily my CETME has shot great out of the box. The CETME mags will, I have read, fit the 91/G3s and visa versa. I've never tried the CETME mags in a 91 but the 91 mags I have (well, at least two of them) work in the CETME.
If you're looking to reload, get the FAL. The CETME will dirty and ding up the brass so much that it would be a chore to get them back to normal.
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/
To compare the low cost guns I have, the R1 FAL parts gun (assembled and refinished by a dealer) kicks more than my CETME. This could be due to the R1 not having a muzzle break. I have yet to test the DSA SA58 which has an integral brake against the CETME to see if it kicks more also. But as tested, my R1 kicks more than the CETME. Accuracy is about the same, the FAL is a little easier and quicker to disassemble/clean. Also, more quality aftermarket parts available for the FAL. Both guns have shot very well. The only failure I have had with either gun was with the FAL (after getting the proper gas setting after puchase). For whatever reason, one round in the middle of a magful had a FTF with the point of the bullet lodged against the very small vertically flat portion at the end of the barrel below the chamber (and the bolt pushing against the back of the cartridge). How the point of the bullet was able to find that very small area to butt up against I do not know. It has never happened since.
How well a parts gun shoots is, IMO, more dependent on who assembled it and how well it was done. Century has had so-so reviews in both the FALs and CETMEs they've assembled. Luckily my CETME has shot great out of the box. The CETME mags will, I have read, fit the 91/G3s and visa versa. I've never tried the CETME mags in a 91 but the 91 mags I have (well, at least two of them) work in the CETME.
If you're looking to reload, get the FAL. The CETME will dirty and ding up the brass so much that it would be a chore to get them back to normal.
mrat-
AFAIK DSA just manufactures their own FALs (Spendy! but nice!), and only recently started assembling 'parts kits' based upon genuine Steyr parts (unused only, IIRC) and their own receivers (which are CNC milled on the original Steyr blueprints, which are in turn direct FN designs- Steyr was a FN contractor/licensed manufacturer). I don't think they assemble other parts kits.
Mike
AFAIK DSA just manufactures their own FALs (Spendy! but nice!), and only recently started assembling 'parts kits' based upon genuine Steyr parts (unused only, IIRC) and their own receivers (which are CNC milled on the original Steyr blueprints, which are in turn direct FN designs- Steyr was a FN contractor/licensed manufacturer). I don't think they assemble other parts kits.
Mike
fal....
For informational overload, and general brain frying, go to fal files.com
Collectively, these guys can tell you what gas adjustment screw came from which of the 90 countries that adapted the fal. Clones, customs, junk and valuables; they're all there!
Read, learn; just "get in the water".
For informational overload, and general brain frying, go to fal files.com
Collectively, these guys can tell you what gas adjustment screw came from which of the 90 countries that adapted the fal. Clones, customs, junk and valuables; they're all there!
Read, learn; just "get in the water".
ammo first
New member
Also considering a cetme rifle from WGNA, does anyone know if the cetme's from WGNA have the stainless reciever they copied from SW or do they have the Hesse reciever?