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Posted: 3/31/2003 1:21:05 PM EDT
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Hi guys this is my first post on ar15.com. I must say there are some very knowledgable folks on here!!! At any rate I am looking into buying an EBG in 7.62 nato and was wondering what you thought was the best for under $2000 way under $2000 is fine too! Long range accuracy dependability and parts/mag availability is more important than price! Ok lets hear it!!! Thanks Big Big |
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Welcome to the board. Opinions abound in this place, so bear in mind that this is just one of many, but based on my personal experiences. You really have 4 serious choices when it comes to a Post Ban civillian MBR (Main Battle Rifle), the FAL, the M-1A (M14), the H&K style G3 variants, and the AR variants like the Armalite AR-10 and the Stoner SR-25. Of those 4, my two personal favorites in a POST BAN are the DSA FAL's and the Springfield Armory M-1A's. Both are superbly accurate and reliable, with the FAL series getting the nod from me for ergonomics and a huge logistic base. The M-1A is inherently very accurate, and reliable. Magazines are more expensive than the FAL and take down, especially on a rifle that hasn't been broken in yet, is alot harder than the FAL. The DSA StG-58A is available for about $995.00 retail, and you can usually find them cheaper if you have a very friendly FFL. The Springfield Armory M-1A will start around $1100.00 or so over the counter. The AR series has some issues in my opinion. High cost is first among them, followed by extremely expensive magazines. Reliablity, especially with surplus ammunition, has also been spotty with the examples that I've used. Some are great and cherry, some have issues and are lemons. If you are willing to spend the money on the magazines ($75-$100 each) then go for it. Armalite has a lifetime warranty and will fix your rifle if yours happens to be one with "issues". DSA and Springfield Armory also have lifetime warranties. The POST BAN G3 style rifles are fairly suspect. If they are factory rifles, like the Springfield Armory SAR-8 (the Greek one with a stamped sheetmetal receiver, not the newer crappy one with the aluminum receiver) are excellent, easily comparable to the original HK. Special Weapons SW-3 have a spotty rep too. Some work great, some don't. I'd trust the ones with the Portugese stamped receiver a lot more than the ones with US made stainless receivers. The ergonomics on the G3 system do not do well for me. The M14/M-1A and the FAL are much better in that regard. A well built G3 is extremely reliable in all conditions. There are some pre-ban Portugese G-3 semi autos running around for about $1300-$1500.00 that wouldn't be a bad choice either. Oh well.....as you can see, as long as you buy quality, and it doesn't sound like you have a problem doing so, you won't have a problem with your rifle. If you are willing to go $2K, you can get a great PRE-BAN system. Springfield Armory offered excellent rifles prior to the 1989 Import Ban with their clone of the FAL, the SAR-48, and their clone of the HK G3, the SAR-3. Having owned both, they are easily the equal to the FN produced FAL and the HK produced 91, and are both available for around $1500.00 if you shop right. You can also find some pre-ban HK 91's for around $1800-$2K. The pre-1994 Ban Springfield Armory M-1A has more USGI parts in it than the post ban rifles, and that's always a good thing. You can usually pick up a standard rack grade rifle for around $1250.00 to $1400.00 depending on condition. If you are willing to go that high, look for one of the Springfield Armory pre-bans. Other wise, go for a DSA, Armalite, or Springfield Armory post ban. |
| I second DSA's rifles . Dave and his crew put together a kickass FAL,the finest right up there with the FN built stuff. If you think you might want a M1A/M14 clone then I suggest start hitting the shows and making some phone calls to scrounge up the USGI parts them check out the recvr situation or buy a recvr and give Fulton armory a call . I wish to hell I would have bought some M14 parts kits 10 or 12 yrs ago because the price today is some kind of mad stupid. |
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I don't consider the SR-25 a "battle rifle". It is manufactured to close tolerances to be a sniper platform. Thus, you must keep it very clean and feed it match ammo. Even if it WERE a battle rifle, the price tag is way more than 2K. I'd go with the FAL. I'm looking to get my first .308 battle rifle as well (I already have an SR-25), and I'm thinking about the DSA SA58 Para Congo--a very cool looking gun for just under 2K. |
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If this is your first rifle the thing will be more accurate then you'll be for a long long time. If you're looking for a target rifle then the nod goes to the M1A with National Match parts and work done. Until the AR-15 came into favor the M1A was the champion of the target range. The FAL is a better battle rifle in my not so humble opinion. It feels shorter and quicker to point in my hands. I like the pistol grip of the FAL vice the normal rifle stock of the M1A. The FAL is a couple inch to three inch rifle at 100 yards. I can hit an 18 wide human sillouette at 500 to 600 yards - the point that actually seeing the 24" wide target paper becomes very difficult. Magazines and parts are plentiful for both rifles but a hell of alot cheaper for the FAL - $5 magazines vice $32 on the M1A. Complete rifles minus the receiver are available for the FAL for about $100 to $200 condition depending. Parts for the M1A can be bought from the government. I bought a complete trigger assembly (forged sweet!) for $40 delivered IIRC. Bottom line is that if this is going to be a target rifle, carefully managed and cared for then the M1A will give you an advantage. If it's a social rifle then the FAL is the choice. Drop by your local high-power rifle competition and see what the guys have and if they'll let you shoot/handle the weapon. |
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If I had $2000 to blow on a battle rifle, here are the configurations I would look at: 1. Spend $1500 on an SAR48, $200 on mags and $300 on ammo. 2. Spend $1000 on an STG58, $200 on mags, $300 on ammo and $500 worth of optics. 3. Spend $1000 on two Imbel kits, Imbel recievers and US parts. Spend the balance on whatever accessories I could dream up, including one para kit with a block to make it legal until the AWB expires. $200 will buy you a ton of magazines. Vorbec can sell you some very good condition mags for $5 a piece. You can also get a para kit for $500 at many different places. You have to block them unless you buy a pre-ban. Pre-ban for a foreign gun is different than for a US gun. The critical date is 1989 or 90, depending on if you are more concerned about regulation or statute. They are getting very difficult to find and price are rising. One guy has a heavy barrel Israeli for sale in the EE for $1500. If you bought that, you could sell the parts for $500 and replace them with an Imbel kit if you didn't want the H-bar. |
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