Quoted: Is one more reliable accurate and/or durable?
BTW: Not in MT right now, but I live in Billings.
|
Reliability is a function of the builder, typically. In general, FAL's are boringly reliable once dialed in (if that's even necessary). It takes a good effort to screw up an FAL.
Accuracy is another matter. The FAL is not a sniper rifle, it's a battle rifle. Two MOA is pretty standard. You can spend a whole lot of money on custom parts trying to squeeze that down, but if you want a .308 sniper rifle, buy a bolt gun or an HK.
There are no really "new" FAL's being produced, just recievers and parts. Everything else is assembled from existing imported kits. The kit models usually vary by source (Argentina, Canada, South Africa, etc.), and the quality of each batch can vary (usually indicated as "grades").
For example, about five years ago, FAC was selling what is arguably the best of the FAL models, the StG-58 (Belgian) kits with little exterior finish but good internals, for about $170. Those same kits, if available, fetch around $300-$325 now. Dan's Ammo had IMBEL (Argentina) kits a few years later for (IIRC) $150, $120, and $100, depending on how much external finish was left. These were training rifles, so the outsides were well worn, but the bores and internals were pristine. TAPCO had $99 IMBELs a while back...they were beat to crap, but hey, for less than a hundred bucks each, many people bought several.
DSA is mentioned several times. They assemble all their rifles on excellent-grade StG-58 kits they imported years ago and hid. They produce their own recievers from semi-official specs, and are generally regarded as the highest-quality manufacturer. There are, of course, custom smiths who work on FALs and turn out as-good if not better work (AZEX Arms, Arizona Response Systems, Sledgehammer Arms Works, just to name a few).
Anyway, I hope I answered your question. Feel free to IM me with others, or just root around on the
FAL FilesBTW:Both my sister and my wife's sister (each are married) live in Billings.