Help me pick a FAL...

[.357SIG]

I'm interested in getting a FAL knockoff of some kind and need to know what to look for. I was looking at the DS Arms SA-58 and, for the most part, hear it's pretty good and somewhat expensive. I was also told to stay away from the Century Arms because it's crap. Should I get the DSA or build my own from a parts kit? Any others to consider?

I've already started my mag search and buying spree. The other day, I ordered a couple of metric 20 rounders. They seem to be very cheap (price, that is).


[This message has been edited by .357SIG (edited July 31, 2000).]

 

[Stephen A. Camp]

Hello, sir. I've fired only one of the DSA FALs, but it was reliable and accurate as far as I could tell with only iron sights and a make-shift rest. Ejection was positive and the trigger was better than that on my FM-FAL(Argentine licensed copy). Best.

 

[Destructo6]

Buy something with a DSA or Imbel receiver. Even if it's a Century gun, with the Imbel you can rework it to achieve an outstanding rifle. If it's a Hesse or other, rework may not be worth the effort.

Federal Arms and Pacific Armament Corp (PAC) both have Imbel receiver for around $220. PAC is supposed to have recently acquired some Argentine or Brazillian parts kits; price currently unknown. If you did a fair amount of the work yourself, you could kit a FAL together for around $700. The bonus over buying a Century is that you know, exactly, who built it and that it was done right.

 

[orsogato]

Make sure you get either a DSA or IMBEL receiver as others have said. I would say on the cheap go with one of those Century FALs on the IMBEL. DO not buy Hesse or Entreprise Receivered rifles. Their QC is way suspect.

If money is no option order the DSA.

Stay away from the inch pattern FALS also and go metric pattern (IMBEL is metric)

DSA used to make rifles with their parts on IMBEL receivers. I think this is the best of both worlds and makes a real great FAL rifle.

 

[DougB]

I have a Century metric FAL on an Imbel receiver. I'm happy with it. It looks and shoots fine. But I've seen some that weren't as nice. I ordered mine, and I guess I got lucky. If I didn't live in California, I'd probably buy a receiver and kit and try to build another one. A friend of mine did this, paid a guy to put it together for him, and wound up with a very nice looking rifles for about what I paid for my Century. Except his jams and seems to have a lot of functioning problems, whereas mine works fine. I'd recommend the Century if cost is an issue - especially if you can examine it before you buy.

Doug

 

[BB]

Theres nothing wrong with the Century rifles with Imbels. Just make sure you check the headspace on it before you fire it. Whats the big deal with that?

 

[CrociJA]

.357 Sig,

As many have said, go with the DSA if price is of no option (though when discussing price, many of their rifles are no more expensive than a "pre-ban" Colt or a Springfield M1A...Not to compare apples and oranges and further confuse the issue) I'd go with the DSA rifle. I received mine a month ago, and it's a BEAUT! Course than I purchased the SA 58 Medium Contour, one of DSA's more expensive rifles. It's accurate as I am, and their service is top notch.
I ordered a parts kit from them, and they ran out of Belgian front-sight tools so they mailed it to me within two weeks, free of charge!
If you do decide to go with a FN-FAL you can't go wrong with a DSA, for sales ask for Melony, for a gunsmith ask for Joe and for Customer support ask for Jeff (?-Memory). All very helpful!
But first I would advise going to www.fnfal.com. A company that is preported to put out a good product is "Arizona Response Systems". May find a FN-FAL built to your spec's, for a little cheaper than DSA.
However, one thing from my understanding is that all of DSA's parts are manufactured right here in the U.S. using Steyr blue-prints and the "latest and greatest" in firearm machining/metallurgy.
But like I said check out www.fnfal.com first and look over the list of manufacturers.
Also you might not have that long a wait on the rifle that you want if you go through DSA, think that "Y2K" scare caused people to place orders and than back out when their rifle was avaliable 5-9 months later...

Jon