If you had your choice of one rifle, either an AR in or a FAL in their standard calibers, which would you take, and why?

The FN/FAL... .308 is more versatile,useful for hunting, as well as any personal defense needs.

steyr scout rifle in 308, 10rnd mag well stock scope... or if an ar - a 20" govt barrelled flattop with an elcan...

steve

I think I'd hide in the bushes and stick with my pinned-barrel SKS. It's the only autoloader I own that NEVER jams. Though AR's are potentially much more accurate.

AR, accuracy, reliability, versatility, and weight.

Gotta go with FAL.

FAL carbine, 16 1/4" bbl. Have fired and handled several extensively. Own both carbine and full length barreled models.

The carbine weighs the same as a full sized AR15 and is the same length.

The muzzle energy at 300 yards for the .308 is greater than at the muzzle of a .223.
There is nothing a .223 can do that .308 cannot. There are a number of things a .308 can do that a .223 cannot.  

The FAL is a much more rugged rifle. The design is now a classic for reliability.

No, you cannot carry as much ammo but you will not need it.

Ever read "Blackhawk Down"? The SS109's being fired out of the M4's were really ineffective.
Now the military is thinking of issuing the M4's for general issue. It don't add up.

So much for the wisdom of the military leaders and planners.

Anyhow, one guy involved in the incident in Somalia had an M14. He refused to give it up. It was quoted of his fellow soldiers that they thought he was crazy for lugging that large piece of history around until the SHTF.

Some of his buddies began delinking M60 ammo, which they apparently had a lot of, because all he had to do was pop the bad buys one time and they were down, and apparently out, unlike the M4's. Some of the Somali's had to be shot 3 and 4 times to be put down.  

I think it is a clear choice.

BTW - One was of my rifles were made from STG 58 parts kits initially, the other from STG 58 parts. One has a DSA receiver and one an Entreprise Arms. Both are great rifles. I have had one 3 years and it has never malfunctioned.
The other I have had about 4 months. It had a problem that was tracked down to a faulty extractor. Fixed it myself.  

My AR in 7.62x39 cal. [:D]

1)M14-E2 if we are playing in fantasyland.
2) HK-91
real world, a M1A.
[sniper]

my AR in .308!!

Armalite AR-10

FAL  carbine

cheap  postban  or  expensive  preban(they  shoot  the  same  anyway)

garand

AR over FAL for weight. ASSuming I would have to hump the weapon and ammo too. The 5.56 mm is all too common now in europe so that would help in the choice also.

Kuiper

DSA Carbine with Leupold Mark 4 M3 10x40.  

This would do for me as the best choice for the ONLY rifle, as I would be able to use it with 5,10, 20, and in some cases even a 30-round magazine for hunting, target, multiple-target, and endless plinking pleasure scenarios.

The caliber is suitable for the urban evironment or urban Environmentalists or just plain old Mentals.
Bullet weight choice allows the .308 to be fairly versatile.

The magazines are relatively inexpensive.  It's a proven design and the best version ever made. The barrel is long enough for the intended purposes I would be using it for, within 300-yds.
The scope is adequate for most situations without the extra protrusion of high profile knobs. I wouldn't think of any other scope on this short and powerful rifle.

Whatever was hunted with this firearm wouldn't stand a chance.  If it didn't go down on the first hit, several more are sure to follow.
Since I couldn't have a .375 H&H on hand for those rampant Olympic Elephants, I'd just have to shoot 'em 20 times!
Works for me.

Given the choices, I would go with the FAL, based on the caliber. [smash]

DSA SA-58 Limited Edition lightweight carbine(.308), or Bushmaster M4gery, w/ ACOG NSN, col. stock, KMC RAS w/ vert grip & tac light.

An equal case could be made for either one.