Which DSA FAL?

C

Coronach

New member
Yes, I kinda asked this same question before, but 1. I never really made up my mind and 2. it is now time to purchase...

I'm uncertain which DSA rifle to buy. I'm torn between:

1. Standard .308 rifle ... weighs less than the medium contour, I'll not be using it as a precision tool (combat accurate is fine, thanks), so the semi-bulled barrel is of questionable utility. I'm not sure what practical differences there are between the peep rear sight or the match rear sight, and the handguards? Practical difference or mere asthetics?

2. Medium contour ... weighs more. More weight to lug around, softer felt recoil. Pretty much a wash. Semi-bulled barrel...'improved accuracy potential' I probably won't need or use. See above comments on match vs standard rear sight and handguards.

3. The STG58A 'parts gun'...has a bipod (which I won't use) and the receiver is obviously cut for a carry handle (about which I couldn't care less). Its also several hundred bucks cheaper (and money I CAN use ;)). If so, do I want a type I or type II receiver, and why?

What I'm looking for is a NICE high-end FAL for use as a shooter (not a collector) in the classic 'battle rifle' role. I'm willing and able to spend the extra loot on the all US-made guns, but if there is no practical difference in the performance/durability/accuracy department...well, I can ALWAYS use money elsewhere.

The way I see it is this, the BIG question is between the STG58A and the SA58...the differences between the medium/standard rifles are filed under 'flip-a-coin'

Legal issues: is there a practical legal difference between a STG58A and the SA58?
 
The standard .308 from DS Arms is plenty accurate. I'm shooting 1" groups at 100 yard with Hirtenberber ammunition from prone. I'm curious how well match ammo would improve this. The trigger is pretty good.

The parts guns are an excellent deal for the money. Hold-open after last shot can be iffy and many shooters replace it with the DS Arms version. For reasons I don't understand, many parts owners upgrade to the DS Arms gas rod as well. These guns tend to be only as good as the person who assembled them. You could luck out, and you're likely to get 2.5 MOA unless a monkey assembled it. Most parts guns can be brought up to DS Arms quality with $300-400 spent on parts and a good armourer.

I went with DS Arms instead of a parts kit because I am doing some target shooting and wanted it now instead of waiting on a gunsmith to rework the parts kit. If you can spare the time to deal with a good smith, you're likely to get a very nice gun.

If you do go with the DS Arms gun, get the optional synthetic hand guard. After 60 rounds in 45 minutes the metal handguard get very hot.
 
60 rnds in 45 minutes? How about 60 rounds in 45 seconds? Then you'll be wanting that bipod or a leather glove.

About the only difference between a type01 and a type02 is looks. As in lots of lightening cuts versus a few more.

Functionally, my parts FAL came out great. Looks wise, it could use a little refinishing. It has a DSA receiver and US parts, with STG-58 (what else?) donor parts.

I've been tempted to do an Imbel with a DSA 16.25" barrel and wood furniture for fun.
 
I was in your same situation about a month ago. I ended up with a DSA "Kit" gun and am extremly happy. This rifle is well put together and shoots outstanding. My bolt open functions fine. I have shot Port, Hirten' and malaysian, with the Malaysian being my favorite.

The price is excellent and you get a limited lifetime warranty, theres alot to be said for that. As far as type I vs. II, I've been told the type II's are stronger due to the cuts to counter where the type I's were failing from full auto stresses. Most people will say it just asthetics, but that's what I have been told and read. Gunplumber could confirm the real difference.

The smith guns are great guns, but only as good as the kit's you supply them. If I were to go the smith route, I would buy one from ARS, they seem to have a really good rep and there guns look really nice.

All in all, money, quality, warranty etc....DSA "Kit" gun. They are really good.

first shot groups 50 yds from my gun using Malaysian surplus, mid 80'2 production:
View

View
 
Uhm...

perhaps I misunderstood something on DSA's webpage...or, possibly I was unclear here, or am misunderstanding a response. Wouldn't be the first time :D

DSA is offering their standard SA58 offerings, and they also have a new section (labled "new for 2001!") where they are selling STG58As with type I or II DSA receivers and a mix of genuine Austrian or Belgian parts. I had assumed these guns came pre-assembled, with no additional gunsmithing required. Incorrect?

We're looking at $1.6k for a DSA SA58, and $1k for the DSA STG58As, using the figures quoted on DSArm's website. here is the url: http://www.dsarms.com/SA58Rifles/SA58A_STG58_Austrian_FAL.htm When I said the DSA 'parts gun' thats what I meant.

Mike
 
When you go to their webpage, there is a link(button) for "STG58A Authentic Austrian FAL", it is the second buttom from the top on their webpage. It will got to a page that describes the rifles and gives you the option of a type I or II rcvr. It shows the retail price of 995.00. The dealer price is 795.00 which DSA themselves posted on the FAL board back in early Feb. So alot of us ran out to our FFL's(friends) to get them at the 795.00 price. In my case, I got my freind, who is an FFL, to send in a letter authorizing DSA to charge my Credit Card for the 795.00 and ship the rifle to him, in that same letter I enclosed a copy of my Credit Card and Drivers License with a note from me saying I understood DSA would charge 795.00 plus shipping to my CC. i signed it and sent the letter to them. About 12 days latter, a new DSA "Kit" FAL was at my buddies house.

You're right, the page says 995.00 retail.....but the dealer price is 795.00. Most of us have gotten the rifles for that price plus a small fee to the FFL. In my case, it was a 12 pack of Heineken! I think you would be very happy with this rifle. The bore looks new, the whole rifle looks excellent and shoots very nice.
 
Ok,

We're on the same page. The gun is assembled by DSA. gotcha. :)

Rock-n-Glock, the big question is this...if you had it to do over again and you had the scratch to buy a SA58, cash, or a DSA STG58A for $600 or so less, which would you do? 'Cause thats pretty much the boat I'm in...I started saving last year and I'm here now (having missed the DSA STG58 announcement, apparently) with the loot burning a hole in my pocket.

I'm into quality and all, but if the gun is just as damned good for almost half the price...jeesh. There're a few OTHER nice guns I'd like to add to my collection as well. And ammo. :D

Thanks for the help!
Mike
 
back to your original question - the DSA and DSA kit guns

they are both put together by the DSA folks who do very nice work. the "kits" are steyr STG58 (austrian) :D kits which are also very nice, likely the best metric fal's made.

the only difference ;) , as far as i can see :) , is that the DSA guns are put together from (domestic) all american manufactured parts. logic would say that tolerences should be tighter since they make the whole gun. the "kit" guns will have a mandated number of american-manufactured parts to be legal for domestic sale (DSA makes the best parts kits, ask ARS) and they are working with the tolerences of another manufacturer.

the DSA gun should command a higher resale price as a true "american FAL" :cool:
 
The other way to look at this is that Steyr and FN built STG-58s to save lives (or kill, depending on which side you were on) and therefore are absolutely tough. DSA parts are built to make Americans happy. If I were doing it, I'd get as many battlefield-intended parts as possible...therefore, I'd buy the DSA kit gun.
 
oops...

i forgot to add, i'd get the DSA "kit" gun too. even if you have to pay full retail, it's got to be the best buy out there unless you "need" to go custom
 
Both the DSA kit gun and the SA-58 are excellent choices. I CAN tell you that the Badger barrels used by DSA in the SA-58s are a perfect military match cut, whereas the kit guns use the standard NATO cut. I seriously doubt accuracy would be affected unless you were planning on scoping it and doing some additional accurizing. For a battle rifle, I'd go with the parts gun (I'm planning to get one to go with my SA-58) and spend the extra money on good Hirtenberger ammo.
 
If I had it to do all over again, knowing what I know about the DSA Kit gun(I own one now), considering price, quality of assembly and parts used, warranty....

I would still choose the "Kit" gun as it allowed me 400-500 more dollars to put towards the FNC I just bought. As all responders have stated, all of your choices are good ones. To me, there isn't enough difference to justify the additional cost for a well made, good shooting FAL. The Austrian kits DSA used are excellent and these guns look(including the bores) like they just rolled off a factory line for the first time.....I guess it boils down to money. IMHO for around 800.00 skins, you can't get a better FAL right now than this option.
 
Dealer cost

Is the dealer cost on these puppies still $795? The gun shop I just went to quoted me a price of "10% above dealer cost" and said it came out to $1020.

Have I said lately how much I *love* the internet? ;)

Mike
 
Yeah yeah

I always strongly suspected these guys were waaaaaay overpriced, but never before did I have both dealer price, MSRP *and* internet reference points prior to a purchase.

On the plus side they seem willing to wheel and deal (with that much of a margin, who would not?), but I strongly dislike being told the cost quoted is 'cost plus ten' when clearly it is not.

That is, unless DSA had a price spike. Again, is dealer cost still $795?

Mike
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top