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Posted: 12/12/2003 7:07:57 AM EDT
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I am considering getting a FAL after the holidays. Possibly one from Ohio Rapid Fire. I was contemplating a carbine length but was wondering about the ballistics of the .308 in a 16" barrel. Naturally, muzzle velocity would be different between a 16" and a 20" barrel. What is the story with accuracy and effective range of FAL carbine as opposed to the full length barrels? Thanks |
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I can't say anything about effective ranges, I've killed paper at 200 yards (longest range where I shoot) When I was sighting in the iron sights on my DSA, from sand bags at 100 yards I had a three round group, two holes were touching, the other was just outside. About 3/4" of an inch group. I was very happy with that. |
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Barrel length has almost nothing to do with accuracy. It does cost you velocity. I haven't chronographed mine, but I suspect you'll loose close to 200 fps when dropping from the standard 21" down to 16". I'm partial to a compromise of 18" where you retain more velocity but gain handyness of the gun. |
| you can see pics at www.ohiorapidfire.com under the FAL section. |
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One of the reasons most military 7.62 cal rifle barrels are 19 inches or so is that length allows the muzzle flash to be sufficiently attenuated by a flash suppressor. Recall that the Springfield, M1917 Enfield, and the M1 Garand were of considerably longer length as they did not have integral flash suppressors installed. Personally, I would not own a rifle that produced the sort of fireball that a non-flash-suppressed 16.5 inch 7.62 cal rifle is known to belch forth. For that matter, I'd like to be assured that a flash suppressor would even be satisfactory on such a length barrel before I bought it. The fact that the decrease in length fron OEM configuration not only causes a loss in range but also serves to render useless your OEM sight graduations as well as any Bullet Drop Compensator in your optics is also a matter of concern. YMMV. |
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