Price check G3/FAL

S

Smiley

New member
I just got back from shopping for my next rifle. The store I went to had a Springfield Armory SAR-8 for $1150. A Century Arms G3 for $800, a Hesse G3 for $600. (Although at this point I think I my have switched the Hesse and Century price tags). He also had Two FALs. One Imbel which was $850, which is what I have heard is the better one I think. The other one I don't rember but if you rattle of a few names in the $650 price range I would remember. Please let me know if these prices are good for the matching firearms. I know that switching the price tags on the Hesse and Century is a big screw up but i am working on 2 hours sleep in the last 48 hours. (In-laws are here and im trying to avoid them). I know that I should run away from the hesse receiver so i put it up there just in case I did screw up the prices.

I was also interested in one of the M1As he had but it was a few hundred out of my price range. As the SAR-8, which is the one I kinda favor is right at my ceiling. but remeber just because i can spend that much doesnt mean i have to.

I also want to take a poll on which is overall better/reliable/accurate. The G3 or the FAL. Please no favorites, just experience.
Also please explain to me about the mag availability and cost. I know that the FAL are sometimes tricky to make sure that they are metric or non metric or something. Once again just tired and guessing.

Just as a side note he also had a HK SL-8 with a forearm grip and sight rail setup just like the G36. Looked really neat.

Thanks a bunch. Its my birthday tommorrow and this will be my present to myself.
 
$600 sounds about avg for a Century HK or FN. I'm interested in what you describe as an Imbel. Imbels are fine receivers, but you should find out who put the gun together. If it's somebody like Arizona Response Systems (unlikely, for $850), I would go with that choice.

You find a lot of good info on The Fal Files. The only problem with metric and inch guns is when the parts are mixed together. Most guns were/are metric.
 
Your first inclination about staying away from Hesse's is the right choice. I have first hand experience with 3 Hesse guns and all 3 have had problems. They were my FFL's guns and I shot them plenty, but wouldn't buy one.

G-3's are good guns(clones) if you find the ones with the SS rcvr's not the aluminum ones. While the Alum rifles function good, SS is always a better choice from a wearability standpoint. You can find a decent G-3 clone(Century) for around 550-650 at most of the gun shops on the web. The CETME is a good HK type rifle that you can get for 550 or less right now from various sites(Impact and others)
The FAL, always a great choice and yes most would agree to get the Imbel rcvr'd rifle, but I offer you this. Check out DSA's FAL they ae offering right now for 795.00. You can choice from either a Type I or II rcvr. They make their own out of solid billet steel with a limited lifetime warranty. FAL mags are massively abundant and go for 5 dollars each. METRIC pattern. There is no hassle with these. SOme of the FAL guns were made on a inch pattern(Australian, NZ and other commonwealth countries of the Brit empire).

I own a CETME, FAL and have shot many HK91/G-3's and of them all I would have to say, the FAL is the most user friendly gun to own/operate. Parts are plentiful, DSA, Enterprise etc stock all of the parts you could ever need...You can find FAL parts everywhere! It is accurate and fun to shoot. I think the FAL is the best choice of the guns you've listed. What ever you pick, they are all good weapons, just be careful with the G-3 clones out there. Alot of them are built on used kits that are just crap. Atleaset the CETME's are built on new de-milled sPANISH MILITARY RIFLES WITH ss RCVR'S.....

gOOD LUCK AND hAPPY bDAY!
 
WHATS THIS ABOUT A DSARMS FAL FOR $795 ???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
 
I just recalled that the Imbel for $850 on special was a DSA. The other FAL for $650 was a STG I'm pretty sure of that. So would a century G3 be a good functioning firearm? I'm pretty sure that the DSA Imbel is well liked from what i see. Keep the imput coming.

Thanks
 
AFAIK, DSA doesn't use an IMBEL receiver. They always use their own reveiver.

The DSA $795 gun is a kit gun built by DSA. The only thing that's "new" and warranteed is the receiver. (such is the case with all other kit guns around the country)

$795 is the dealer price...if you don't have a good-guy dealer, then you price will be higher.

An "all new" DSA rifle should run closer to $1200 or more...even used. Every part is new, and not from a real FAL from another country.

Depending on the builder, an Imbel receivered FAL will run from $400 to, well, the sky's the limit, really. The Imbel is considered the best receiver you can buy, and is the ONLY receiver now available that is built by an FN liscensed factory. Entreprise and DSA are not liscensed, and therefore are not theoretically as "up-to-snuff" as the Imbel...however, they seem to operate fine. (I have an Entreprise myself). The Imbel receiver itself goes for $219. A Century FAL on a Imbel receiver sells for $529 from AIM Surplus, Fed Arms, and a few others. Century has it's problems, but most times folks are satisfied. However, I don't think they have any with bipod cuts on the barrel anymore. DO NOT get any FAL with a Hesse reveiver. Do not pay more than $600 total for a Century FAL with Imbel receiver. If you're looking at one (Century) check to see if the gas piston is straight and one piece...if not, deduct $20 from the price. Check to see that the gas system works correctly (you can turn the knob). Take the bolt out of the carrier, put it in the locked position in the receiver, and wiggle it back and forth. If it moves a discernable amount, deduct more or walk away. Be sure the sights move freely. Be sure there is no play between the lower and upper preceivers. Check the bore, especially just before the chamber and right at the end of the barrel.

If all that I described is correct, and it's a Century with an Imbel, the price I said is still HIGHEST you should go. Folks walk around at gun shows with guns like this for $500.

Be aware, you may be buying an illegal rifle due to # of foreign parts. The total # of foreign parts a foreign rifle can have is 10. There are 17 "parts" to the FAL...therefore, 7 have to be changed. An American made (Entreprise, DSA)receiver counts as one part...an Imbel does not. Reference the FAQ here for more on parts:

http://www.fnfal.com/falfiles/usaparts.html

Obviously, a full-fledged $1200+ DSA rifle is all-American and therefore is immune to this law. The kit-guns, however, do. BTW, there is nothing wrong with a kit gun...How can you get better than original?

Please post some more Q's...we'll try to help.
 
I just talked to my local Gunshop and they said it would cost me $45 for the transfer. Is that normal? or am I still not going to get the $795
 
Well, you're going to pay $795 + $45 and I'll bet they try to stick you with tax, too. Your dealer is charging too much, IMHO. Try to find one with a $20 transfer charge. Also, pay for the gun itself + shipping through DSA, then do the transfer through the dealer. The el-cheapo $20 transfer dealer will thank you because it's less work for him, and you won't have to pay tax (assuming you're not in the same state as DSA).

Oh. yeah...waiting period. I've heard 1-2 months, but some are getting them within two weeks. This offer just started. BTW, you can choose Type 1 or 3 for the same price.

OOPS! Type I or II...not III.
 
I did just what Steve mentioned. i called DSA and purchase my "kit" gun from them direct and paid them. To do this though you'll need a friend who is a FFL or an FFL that will let you send in his license with a letter from you to DSA. I did this, My friend(who is a FFL) gave me a copy of his Licnese. I sent it in with a letter stating that I wanted them to charge me for the gun. I like this because then i get the added protection and warranty of using my gold card vs. cash etc....

The difference(so I've been told) between the two rcvr's(Type I and II) is that the Type II has the cuts in the back that was suppose to strengthen the rcvr for heavy usage, saw type firing or full auto rifles. Is that true? I don't know, it's more asthetics than anything else I would think.

The good thing about a DSA gun, is they stand behind whatever they sell. AIM is also another reputable dealer but the Century guns are hit and miss. I have a CETME form Century and it is a very good gun, but I have seen some of their G-3 clones and they were crap. Enterprise is another good FAL manufacturer but higher cost. From all of my research prior to buying my DSA FAL kit gun, DSA got the best reviews, quality assurance and customer service. I was gonna by a kit, get an Imbel rcvr and build one, but it would have cost me about the same as buying the DSA with the Limited Lifetime warranty.

And as far as the fact that DSA is not a licensed manufacturer of the rcvr like Imbel, that's very true but they use a better hunk of billet for their rcvr than Imbel does and you don't have to be licensed to make a quality product so I don't get hung up on that. To some people that is important, if it is to you, then you should buy an Imbel gun. Either way, as long as it has a good bore and was put together well, any FAL is a fine gun and is fun to shoot and own!
 
Rock-n-Glock...just wanted to tell you that I agree with you 100% on the non-licensed receiver stuff. After all, I have an Entreprise. However, the only non-licensed receivers that seem to be worth a darn are the Entreprise and the DSA. You're also exactly right that the DSA is probably one of the best FAL deals out there. Unless you get lucky and find a good Entreprise on Imbel receivered gun out there already build correctly, then the DSA is the best bet. Building one will cost you $200 or more, due to buying the proper tools. Add that to $219 for an Imbel, and $300 for a parts kit, and another $100 for US parts, and you're at $800. Then you'll have to refinish it...I'll bet.

BTW, for sweet pics of my STG-58, click here:

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=948690&Auth=false
 
IAI FALs

Has anyone seen theses Israeli FALs on Imbel type III receivers.My distributor is listing them and says they are nice and are available
Thanks
 
cpermd:

(post edited to correct major deletion caused by trying to insert the same URL twice. Dang I wish this software let you put two links in a post!)

I'm pretty sure IAI isn't Israeli, they're Imbel kits rebuilt on Imbel receivers, with the requisite U.S. parts count. I think that the $795 DSA gun is the same concept using DSA receivers instead of Imbel.

While I have not seen one, the consensus on FAL Files is that the IAI guns fill a hole between the $500 Century guns (motto: Assembled by Angry Beavers!) and the higher end $1100-$1400 DSA and quality smith-built guns.

Go to FAL Files to read more on this topic.

Make sure you understand how the gun you purchase meets U.S. parts count requirements. You want sufficient U.S. parts to be able to use all foreign magazines, or else worry about changing followers and/or floor plates in all the mags you buy.

[Edited by JimR on 03-04-2001 at 10:09 PM]
 
sodapop - the type I is the original design, it's more graceful with more beveled and contoured lines (look at the edge at the top of the mag well)

the type III is strenghtened because of cracks developing from the fal being fired on full-auto :eek:

smilely - if noone else has yet addressed this all the fals you have mentioned are metric. the only inch receivers are british, canadian, aushi and kiwi. metric mags are a great buy at <$10 each :D

the g3 v fal arguement is like the ruger v colt arguement, i love my python :cool:
 
g3 vs fal

sodapop - the fal was considered the 7.62 NATO standard battle rifle (apdoted by the most NATO countries) with outstanding ergonomics grip, cocking handle, mag release, carrying handle, sights and butt stock. the type I has nice touches like beveling of edges. tilting block locking with adjustable gas system.

the g3 came later (replaced the fal with the west german army) used modern manufacturing (stampings), self regulating cutting edge action (roller-locked {acually delayed}), quick detachable scope mount (claw type), helicopter drop safe (really...thats why the standard trigger is so heavy)

you can drag a g3 through muck and drive over it and it still works...like a ruger...or a mercedes

the fal is easier to shoot better but requires more care, it responds to stroking...like a python...or a porsche
 
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