Nightcrawler
New member
I'm looking to buy myself a FAL. I have a few questions. Should I choose inch or metric? Which will I be able to get more parts and magazines for? What's a good price for a new FAL?
FAL questions
- Thread starter Nightcrawler
- Start date
Destructo6
New member
There are currently more metric parts, magazines and whatnot, on the market than there is inch stuff.
Prices for good, "new", FALs is $900-$1400, depending on who built it and using what parts.
Prices for good, "new", FALs is $900-$1400, depending on who built it and using what parts.
Go to www.fnfal.com
Read everything. Then ask questions on their boards. Extremely knowledgeable group on FAL's.
You, too, can become an FALaholic.
Read everything. Then ask questions on their boards. Extremely knowledgeable group on FAL's.
You, too, can become an FALaholic.
Destructo6
New member
The FAL is the basic design as originally produced by FN.
STG-58 is the version of the FAL (metric type) as adopted by the Austrian military. Different countries adopted the FAL with slight modifications and named it according to their nomenclature (Canada = C1, S.Africa = R1, etc).
On a piece of paper, draw a big circle and label it, "FAL". Inside that large circle, draw smaller circles that neither overlap or coincide and name them, "STG-58"/"C1"/etc. IOW, the superset is the FAL, with subsets of "STG", "C1", "LAR", and so on. In reality, there's quite a bit of overlap between the different subsets.
STG-58 is the version of the FAL (metric type) as adopted by the Austrian military. Different countries adopted the FAL with slight modifications and named it according to their nomenclature (Canada = C1, S.Africa = R1, etc).
On a piece of paper, draw a big circle and label it, "FAL". Inside that large circle, draw smaller circles that neither overlap or coincide and name them, "STG-58"/"C1"/etc. IOW, the superset is the FAL, with subsets of "STG", "C1", "LAR", and so on. In reality, there's quite a bit of overlap between the different subsets.
Yes.
Mike
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
Mike
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
1)I have built 2 L1A1s [English inch pattern] in Entrepise recievers.
2)I built a South African just like the English.
3)I built a heavy barrel Autrailian inch on an Entreprise.
4)I have held lots of Century and Hesse FALs.
5)I have built a few STG 58 Austrian metric FALs on Imbel recievers.
My conclusions:
1) The fal plumber really knows his ****[see link above]
2) I like Imbel recivers and STG 58 kits best
3) I like DSA dragonoff stocks with over sized recoil pads
4) I don't like recoil compensators on the end of my barrel. Too loud and they wreck accuracy.
5) FALs only kick half as hard as a bolt gun of that wieght and bullet momentum
6) A case of reloadable .308 lasts forever.
7) Sometimes it is fun to just shoot the dirt real fast 20 feet away. You can't get dirt to jump like that with a wimpy cartridge
2)I built a South African just like the English.
3)I built a heavy barrel Autrailian inch on an Entreprise.
4)I have held lots of Century and Hesse FALs.
5)I have built a few STG 58 Austrian metric FALs on Imbel recievers.
My conclusions:
1) The fal plumber really knows his ****[see link above]
2) I like Imbel recivers and STG 58 kits best
3) I like DSA dragonoff stocks with over sized recoil pads
4) I don't like recoil compensators on the end of my barrel. Too loud and they wreck accuracy.
5) FALs only kick half as hard as a bolt gun of that wieght and bullet momentum
6) A case of reloadable .308 lasts forever.
7) Sometimes it is fun to just shoot the dirt real fast 20 feet away. You can't get dirt to jump like that with a wimpy cartridge
Nightcrawler
New member
Sadly, I've decided not to get a FAL. I'm in college, and am strapped for cash. I'm even going to sell my Professional-Ordnance Carbon-15 Type 97 rifle, will less than 500 rounds put through it, includinging a brand-new variable-intensity red dot site, four 30-round magazines, and seven 20 round magazines. I'll probably be able to get 1400 for it. Then I'll take a small portion of that money, and buy myself a nice, reliable, cheap, SKS, and maybe some accessories for it. It's a tradeoff, but it's okay. The SKS will probably last for a long, long time, what with all the parts and stuff out there for them.
George Hill
Staff Alumnus
Poor guy...I would never be one to comment on another's finances, and I freely admit that when I went through college I was very fortunate and was never *really* in need of money (now, wanting more beer money is another thing entirely...but thats 'want,' not 'need')...but...
If at all possible I would NOT sell your rifle. With the political climate the way it is, it is entirely possible that when you find yourself able to repurchase your gun it might not be legal for you to do so...or the cost might have spiralled upwards so much that it is out of reach. Someone here once said the only time he ever sold a gun he ended up, after a few months, with the money gone and the gun gone.
Examine the budget. You'd be amazed what you can do if you cut the fat. The gun retails for what? How long will you be able to live on that money? Subtract out the cost of that SKS, too...that makes the cash you clear on the deal even less.
Of course, I don't know your situation...it is very possible that this is your best alternative. If so, good luck to you and take care of business.
Mike
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
If at all possible I would NOT sell your rifle. With the political climate the way it is, it is entirely possible that when you find yourself able to repurchase your gun it might not be legal for you to do so...or the cost might have spiralled upwards so much that it is out of reach. Someone here once said the only time he ever sold a gun he ended up, after a few months, with the money gone and the gun gone.
Examine the budget. You'd be amazed what you can do if you cut the fat. The gun retails for what? How long will you be able to live on that money? Subtract out the cost of that SKS, too...that makes the cash you clear on the deal even less.
Of course, I don't know your situation...it is very possible that this is your best alternative. If so, good luck to you and take care of business.
Mike
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"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects." -Robert Heinlein
Nightcrawler
New member
Well, exactly, but if there's a semi-auto ban in the near future, parts for an SKS will be easier to get than for my rather rare Carbon-15. I mean, the only C15 parts that are interchanable witha standard AR15 are the magazines, pistol grip, and stuff like that. 'Sides. I don't want a .223 rifle. I've been getting an urge for something with more OOMPH. An SKS is my lowest-cost choice. All the .30 cal rifles, they're in any decent condition, are expensive.
Nightcrawler
New member
Also, I don't need the money to live on. I'm starting a new school (Northern Michigan University) soon and need a wad of cash to make my down payments for the first semester. Tuition, Room and Board, etc. They want all that in advance. After a while, my government money (from the Nat'l Guard) should kick in.
Nightcrawler
New member
Well, maybe I'll get that loan and I won't have to make the trade. I'll just get myself a FAL or an M1A. I held a FAL once in my life, at a gun store in Kalamazoo. I didn't like the grip. It pinched the skin between my thumb and finger, it seemed. I'm sure all the grips aren't like that.
Good friend of mine had a real HK91 with all the trimmings...bipod, ejction port buffer, lots of mags, the works. He neede cash and sold it for something like $1000. Two weeks later, after the ban, the price would have trippled. Now he can't get it back because he can't afford it. Keep the gun...seriously.
- gabe
- gabe
Nightcrawler
New member
Perhaps you guys are right. I shouldn't be so quick. I mean, it's a COOL little rifle. It weighs only 3.9 pounds. I just want a .308 something or other, and don't want a .223 carbine any longer.
Byron Quick
Staff In Memoriam
I sold a real H&K 91 to a friend for $500 in 1985. He was a real friend for he sold it back to me last year for only $1100. I sold an IH M1 Garand for $400 about 13 years ago. I really miss that rifle. A few years ago, I realized something: I regret every sale or trade I've ever made from my collection and I would have one hell of a better collection without having done so. So I'm very careful about what I buy but I don't trade and I don't sell. It's a good policy.
Just picked up a pre-sellout S&W Model 29 with six inch barrel and a preban Chinese SKS for $450 total. Pretty happy Even though I already have a S&W 29, I might wear one out. Needed a backup, just in case.
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Byron Quick
Just picked up a pre-sellout S&W Model 29 with six inch barrel and a preban Chinese SKS for $450 total. Pretty happy
Even though I already have a S&W 29, I might wear one out. Needed a backup, just in case.------------------
Byron Quick
Gunfighter
New member
Never sell a reliable firearm. They are too hard to come by and you always regret it.
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When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.
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When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns.