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3/18/2011 12:33:56 PM EDT
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=93&t=840902    Did I do o.k. Little worried about drawback of a 16" barrel.

Knocked a couple hundred off of asking price.
3/25/2011 9:22:16 AM EDT
[#1]
I was looking at that one myself. Didn't have the money at the time. I'd be interested in how well it functions with the 16" barrel. I've been thinking about having mine cut down.
3/25/2011 9:57:41 AM EDT
[#2]
Congrats on the snag.  I had a Para with a 16.25" brl and it was really fun, but I currently have a para with an 18" that I like too.  One thing about the shorter brl's, make for a better handling rifle in my opinion.
3/25/2011 10:33:34 AM EDT
[#3]
I wouldn't sweat the 16" barrel. .308 is still ballistically viable to 450-500 yds out of a 16" barrel.
Some folks have extraction or feeding problems with the 16 but that problem can be fixed fairly easily.
The real problems start with fals at barrel lengths below 16".
The ballistics on a 13" or 11" equate to a loud, expensive 7.62x39.


I would recommend using a vortex flash suppressor, and for serious use , hornady tap ammo.
That combination should tame your muzzle blast pretty well.

Don't get hung up on the 16" hate, there are tests online of an fal with a 16" barrel shooting NATO spec ammo getting velocities around 2650 fps. Thats good enough for a general purpose rifle. Larry vickers claims a 16" would be his go to rifle, I tend take someone like his opinion to heart more than an overly analytical fal purist whom collects then vs shoots them IMHO.

Get a shitload of ammo and mags and shoot the piss out of it.
3/26/2011 11:38:48 AM EDT
[#4]
I'm no expert so take this as you will.

I'd say a .308 coming out of a 16" will kill just as effectively as an 18" as long as the rifle is capable of accuracy. My FAL is an 18" cut and crowned Steyr barrel. It is a 2 MOA rifle easily and just playful shooting it is no worse than a 3 MOA. Those numbers are with cheap Herters/wolf ammo open sights. I'm sure if I wanted to run some gold medal match 168g through it and a good optic I could scratch 1.25 MOA. But we don't tend to shoot $1+ per round ammo through our FALs.

The 16" I would expect to be loud, have a bit more flash, but overall point well and take a little access Forward  weight away
3/26/2011 3:57:41 PM EDT
[#5]
Quoted:
I'm no expert so take this as you will.

I'd say a .308 coming out of a 16" will kill just as effectively as an 18" as long as the rifle is capable of accuracy. My FAL is an 18" cut and crowned Steyr barrel. It is a 2 MOA rifle easily and just playful shooting it is no worse than a 3 MOA. Those numbers are with cheap Herters/wolf ammo open sights. I'm sure if I wanted to run some gold medal match 168g through it and a good optic I could scratch 1.25 MOA. But we don't tend to shoot $1+ per round ammo through our FALs.

The 16" I would expect to be loud, have a bit more flash, but overall point well and take a little access Forward  weight away


This is what i though but when i shot 168 FGMM it did worse then my 146gr Portuguese surplus ammo. I think the FAL twist rate has difficulty stabilizing heavier rounds.
3/26/2011 5:46:16 PM EDT
[#6]
The FAL does a lot better with the 146,147, 150 grain bullets.  I once tried the heavier stuff and the accuracy got worse too.
3/26/2011 8:31:29 PM EDT
[#7]
my fal 16" carbine shoots 147fmjs about 2655fps. i still have a original style flash hider. muzzle blast is not  bad. shoot and enjoy.
3/27/2011 12:42:47 AM EDT
[#8]
Standard F A L twist rate is 1:12. This is the same twist rate as the M14. This twist rate is adequate for 168 gr lead core copper jacketed bullets. It is the velocity that makes the heavier ( longer) bullets produce larger groups than lighter(shorter) bullets out of the same rifle. Adjust the velocity of the longer bullets to suit that barrel and the accuracy will equal or surpass that of the shorter bullets.



That is a Belgian barrel. The lower is Austrian. If you want accuracy, leave that bi pod folded or remove it. They were meant to provide a stable platform during full auto fire, not for accurate fire.

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