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Posted: 10/8/2008 2:55:55 PM EDT
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In todays market everyone wants a deal. I am no different. Even worse I want a carbine length FAL and I want to blast through 308 ammo like it's 4 cents a round. I can't swing DSA, but I will no longer deal with Century. I'll need some pointers from those bona fide FAL owners out there. What's the best surplus? I don't need match quality, but I do need to hit a 8 inch pie pan every time at 500 yards. |
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For $700-$800 you can get one already built with an Imbel reciever which is pretty good. A few dollars to a gunsmith to make sure it was built properly and headspaced within spec would be a good idea IMHO. For $900-$1000 you can get a DSA built STG-58 on the used market if you keep your eyes open. I'd go with the DSA if I could swing the extra money. Check Gun Broker the EE here and if you're not a member sign up and watch the FAL Files Marketplace. |
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8" at 500 yds, lol. I think you are looking for a different rifle. If you want a decent FAL build for a good price go to Falfiles and keep your eye on the marketplace. Good builds sell there all the time for about $800. Don't expect it to produce hits into 8" at 500 yds though. You'll be lucky to get that at 300 yds. |
This is an unreasonable expectation for any gun shooting surplus ammo. |
What is reasonable? |
agreed. The best consistency I've ever had with surplus was about 2-3 MOA with occasional fliers....surplus is sold as surplus for a reason. |
Get something other than a FAL. You won't find a FAL that can reliably hold 8 inches at 500 yards. 20" groups at 500 yards with a FAL (even with the finest ammo) would be doing well. Especially if the rounds are fired in reasonably quick sequence from the magazine. |
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imo, that's asking a lot from any FAL, shooting surplus ammo. I have a DSA and an Enterprise, and the DSA is the better of the two, usually shooting 3" groups at 100 yards, often 4" groups, and occasionally 2" groups. at 500 yards, this would translate into 10" to 20" groups, so imo 8" is a bit unrealistic, unless you are using an accurized FAL rifle with handloads tailored for the rifle, or match-grade ammo (if you are lucky enough to find a brand and weight your rifle likes).
the occasional 2" groups, and I stress occasional, are with Federal American Eagle, which goes for $0.65 per round. I mainly shoot South African Surplus, which goes for $0.45 to $0.50 per round. I'll probably get "flamed" for this, but if this is the accuracy you want to achieve, the FAL should probably be your fifth, choice, after a 4) HK-91 clone, 3) M1 Garand, 2) M1A or M14 clone, 1) AR-10. the obvious and most cost-effective solution would be a bolt-action 308, and buy your FAL also, so you have ammo commonality. I personally don't like the AR-platform based on my opinion of its reliability, but M1A's that will perform as you ask won't be inexpensive or come with 18" barrels, either. HK's will need some work to perform that way, as well, and get ready to spend some $$ on optics, at least a good spotting scope. a 500-yard shot is by no means an impossibility, but I would expect to have to work up that distance, at least to develop your dope and settings for your rifle. |
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