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Posted: 10/21/2006 9:22:59 PM EST
I've heard some reports of a few individual soldiers using both the
HK-91 and the FAL  with scopes on them in Iraq.

Today I saw a film clip on FOX news that clearly showed a
soldier using an HK-91/G3 with a high powered scope on it.
Painted in desert camo,and standing up using a wall for support.

It was difficult to see the soldier behind him,but he appeared to be
using an FAL .The kind with the bipod cut plastic handguards ,
but no bipod.
Also with a high powered scope.

Did anyone else catch this ?

I don't know the new uniforms ,so I can't
say which branch.

Anybody have a link to this clip ,or any other info about it ?

I'm wandering if this was just some individuals ,or perhaps our
military is quietly re-evaluating these weapons for the role of
designated marksman ?

BTW ,YES I'M SERIOUS !
Link Posted: 10/21/2006 9:56:14 PM EST
[#1]
I didn't see it....
Link Posted: 10/21/2006 10:03:46 PM EST
[#2]
you sure it was a US soldier?

ETA:  I know a lot of times news stations use stock footage of troops for their segments...I once saw them use clips of Airmen to talk about Marines.  I wouldn't be too shocked if they mistook Canadians or Brits for US troops.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 4:45:23 AM EST
[#3]
I know there are a nuimber of contractors with HKs and FALs over there. On HKpro one HK gun smith made a G3 cut down to a MP5K with a folding stock for a contractor.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 5:24:45 AM EST
[#4]

Quoted:
you sure it was a US soldier?

ETA:  I know a lot of times news stations use stock footage of troops for their segments...I once saw them use clips of Airmen to talk about Marines.  I wouldn't be too shocked if they mistook Canadians or Brits for US troops.


Most of the rest of the squad was armed with M-4s ,most of them with
Aimpoints on top.

It appeared as though most of those with M-4s were advancing while
4 soldiers remained against this wall.

It looked like of the 4,1 HK-91/G3 ,one FAL,1 SAW ,and one had
an M-4 with a scope on it.

They wore some type of digital camo,but were covered with dust.
They were wearing the Kevlar helmets we use ,and
using US gear and intercepter vests.
I didn't see many dark colors on the camo,
so I'd lean towards Marines if I had to pick one.

The film clip was quick,and I wasn't paying attention before
seeing the HK.

The first rifle being held in that line was DEFINATELY an HK
painted in desert camo.
Standard stock and forearm to.
The second being an FAL I'm unsure of ,it could have been
a longer barreled M-16 with a funny flash hider  ,but
I thought I saw the characteristic humped stock of an FAL.

If you've watched FOX news ,than you know they'll show it again,just
watch for it.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 7:30:00 AM EST
[#5]
I've seen a lot of pics of Marines using pickups, especially when Fallujah happened. One guy was carrying a PPsH.

And during the initial invasion I saw a pic of an officer clearing a horse stable with a Para FAL.

So it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 9:31:33 AM EST
[#6]
I've seen that footage, looked like an HK to me also. I'm almost certain they were U.S. troops.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 12:05:05 PM EST
[#7]
More than likely they were Special Forces and they have alot of leeway in their gear choices. Seems more and more though that standard soldiers are getting some leeway too.
Link Posted: 10/22/2006 12:55:47 PM EST
[#8]
I believe it, I've seen photos of America troops with a variety of arms...

At least he has good tastes in guns...
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 10:37:23 AM EST
[#9]
If it was Marines, then it could be a MSG90 sniper rifle since I thought the USMC bought a few of those for DMRs before KAC redid the AR10 to the SSAS.
Link Posted: 10/23/2006 11:06:03 AM EST
[#10]
The only FALs I've seen have belonged to Brit security contractors, inch pattern pimped up with folding stocks.  They also had MP5s and the mandatory PKM in the truck bed with pintle mount and Haji gunner.
Link Posted: 10/31/2006 8:33:18 AM EST
[#11]
Ive seen it around here. Commanders are given a little discretion when outfitting troops and in this case, they need troops with DMR rifles. If the armory is out of M14's they often buy local StG58's and M1A's. Finding a PTR/91 in the mix would be a little unusual but not so much for the FAL
Link Posted: 11/1/2006 4:36:51 PM EST
[#12]

Quoted:
Ive seen it around here. Commanders are given a little discretion when outfitting troops and in this case, they need troops with DMR rifles. If the armory is out of M14's they often buy local StG58's and M1A's. Finding a PTR/91 in the mix would be a little unusual but not so much for the FAL


Where have you seen Stg58 DMR rifles in use by US Forces?
Link Posted: 11/1/2006 4:40:26 PM EST
[#13]
Link Posted: 11/1/2006 4:49:04 PM EST
[#14]

Quoted:
I've heard some reports of a few individual soldiers using both the
HK-91 and the FAL  with scopes on them in Iraq.

Today I saw a film clip on FOX news that clearly showed a
soldier using an HK-91/G3 with a high powered scope on it.
Painted in desert camo,and standing up using a wall for support.

It was difficult to see the soldier behind him,but he appeared to be
using an FAL .The kind with the bipod cut plastic handguards ,
but no bipod.
Also with a high powered scope.

Did anyone else catch this ?

I don't know the new uniforms ,so I can't
say which branch.

Anybody have a link to this clip ,or any other info about it ?

I'm wandering if this was just some individuals ,or perhaps our
military is quietly re-evaluating these weapons for the role of
designated marksman ?

BTW ,YES I'M SERIOUS !


At least in the early days of OIF, there was a shortage of rifles, and enemy-capture weapons were used (including the FAL and HK91 - Iraq was a weapons museum disguised as a country)... Weather they still are or not is another issue - but it is 100% unofficial.

The FN FAL and HK91 will never see official service here -t hey're obselete designs.

While the same holds true for the M14, it's an obselete design that is currently on the shelves, so they do get used officially, simply because they are cheaper to field (being allready paid for) than a more up-to-date design such as the SR-25....

The Designated Marksman concept *IS* getting re-evaluated, but the weapons that will be used in the future are all AR-type. The Army is presently fielding an accurized M16A4 as a squad wepon, while replacing the M-24 bolt-action with the SR-25, the Marines are also looking into the SR-25...

Both services are using M14s as stopgap weapons, out of convenience & availability....
Link Posted: 11/1/2006 5:08:12 PM EST
[#15]
IIRC there was an article in a gun mag a few months ago about DSA making a FAL for testing by the army,

i want to say it was an article about the army's marksman ship unit,

i can't remember what magazine it was in, but the showed a soldier with a short FAL, with a folding stock

Link Posted: 11/1/2006 5:36:21 PM EST
[#16]
IF somebody can find the photo with this caption


US Army Capt. William Summer trains his rifle at a stable at the Iraqi Equestrian Centre in Baghdad, Iraq to take back ousted Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein's pure bred Arabian horses in an operation dubbed "Arabain Ali Baba" on Tuesday, June 17, 2003. Prior to the war, Saddam had 70 of the rare bred Arabian horses and found only 16 Tuesday. (AP Photo/Micah Garen)


It shows a guy with an FAL

www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?postid=649953
Link Posted: 11/2/2006 6:07:33 AM EST
[#17]
height=8
Quoted:
height=8
Quoted:
Ive seen it around here. Commanders are given a little discretion when outfitting troops and in this case, they need troops with DMR rifles. If the armory is out of M14's they often buy local StG58's and M1A's. Finding a PTR/91 in the mix would be a little unusual but not so much for the FAL


Where have you seen Stg58 DMR rifles in use by US Forces?

whether or not it was an actual DSA made FAL, it WAS a FAL. collapsing stock, modern handguard with what looked like a run of the mill scope that one might expect from Tasco or similar. The furniture was in pretty good condition which leads me to believe it wasnt a scavenge find. guy it was with was Army at Balad AFB while i was there. only insignia i saw was a funny looking strawberry thing with a crack down the center.
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