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Posted: 9/19/2011 4:06:43 AM EDT
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wanting to move into 7.62. I'm still a new-b in the AR world 1-2 years but from what I have read the AR10 side of things kind of leave me confused with the options of what parts will fit what rifle??
seems the AR15 is more stable in the parts department for repairs or upgrades. I know nothing about the FAL. what should I look for in a FAL? are parts easily available for repair or upgrade? ease of repair or upgrade, is the FAL more involved to work on then the AR? any other tid bits of info will help my decision. |
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wanting to move into 7.62. I'm still a new-b in the AR world 1-2 years but from what I have read the AR10 side of things kind of leave me confused with the options of what parts will fit what rifle?? seems the AR15 is more stable in the parts department for repairs or upgrades. I know nothing about the FAL. what should I look for in a FAL? are parts easily available for repair or upgrade? ease of repair or upgrade, is the FAL more involved to work on then the AR? any other tid bits of info will help my decision. I like them both. FAL is a piston gun, reliable and cleaner. AR10 will be more accurate. I say get both! Stay away from Century FAL/L1A1 receivers unless you know about the feed ramp issues and how to check them. Those DSA Imbel FALs out there now for $999 are good stuff! |
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I've shot a DPMS AR in .308.
I own an FAL. I prefer the FAL. The DPMS is more accurate but will choke on reloads that my FAL eats like candy. However my friends DPMS is a joy to shoot and it runs great on factory ammo or with very carefully re-sized reloads. I would like to have an AR in .308 one day but it will be a LaRue OBR. There are plenty of parts available for the FAL from DSA. If you get a semi auto in .308 what types of shooting will you be doing? Define the mission..... |
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I have a Armalite AR-10 and a Austrian/DSA FAL. If I had only one, I would have the AR-10.
Easier to scope and add accesories, and it is more accurate. Personally I don't understand the FAL love. The AR-10 is more comfortable and easier to shoot. The only think I prefer on the FAL is the charging handle. |
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I've shot a DPMS AR in .308. I own an FAL. I prefer the FAL. The DPMS is more accurate but will choke on reloads that my FAL eats like candy. However my friends DPMS is a joy to shoot and it runs great on factory ammo or with very carefully re-sized reloads. I would like to have an AR in .308 one day but it will be a LaRue OBR. There are plenty of parts available for the FAL from DSA. If you get a semi auto in .308 what types of shooting will you be doing? Define the mission..... Define the mission.... OK... not looking for a single mission weapon, more of a jack of all trades! which is what my current ar15 is at the moment. plinking, 2nd home defence weapon, exploding varmint.. "don't flame me bro"  I got lucky I guess. I have a DPMS lo pro classic with 16" 5.56 bull barrel which I'm tricking out alittle at the moment. FF, JP trigger, adjustable GB, BSA sweet 223 scope.
why am I lucky? from what most say DPMS has a few problems from time to time. I'm at 3k rd count without a single failure. about 75% of that is wolf ammo. this thing eats it up! and its a nice shooter when I drop the money for some match ammo.. anyway, looking at 7.62 for the same mission with the addition of a little hunting and longer plinking. would like to keep it under 20" barrel. I was considering doing an ar10 build and got to reading up and it kind of left a bad taste on me. different companies using different methods of doing things where alot of things are not interchangible like the ar15. So just looking for options right now. so far the ar10 may be it from what I read here. wish I could do both but that would take a long time to get the money up for 2 rifles. |
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FAL vs. AR vs. M1a run a google search and you will find a zillion reasons, but....
plusses for fal Weight 8.75 (accoreding to DSA) Springfield claims 8.8# on basic model with composite stock, DPMS LR308C is 11.15 Price, Entreprise makes a decent one for around $1000, DSA just ran out of Brazilian kits so the are making them in house for $1700 (sa58) or using Austrian kits for $1150 (stg58), Springfield M1As start around $1500 DO NOTget a century that says "made by CAI" some of the older ones with Imbel receivers and kits are OK, Home built ones may be alright, look for Coonan, DSA and Imbel receivers, stay away from Heese and CAI, Insist on function and accuracy testing. Accuracy, with good handloads 1MOA is not unexpected in am FAL, MIA might take some smithing to get there, DPMS or RR no problem. The fully adjustable gas system allows the use of pretty much ANY off-the-shelf load, the other two can be finicky and if you use some high pressure hunting rounds might cause damage. System also allows for dirt and carbon build up under field conditions, just click the gas nut down 1 more click Maintenance, FAL has NO void spaces near the chamber, it locks on the frame, at the rear of the bolt, all gas washed parts are hard chromed including barrel, gas block, piston, cylinder and muzzle brake, it hates oil and only needs enough to prevent corrosion. I can field strip my fal, run 2 patches down the barrel, wipe the piston clean, re-assemble, re-load and chamber a round before I even get my M1A apart. The AR is not so bad about assembly and dis-assembly (still slower) but still takes longer to clean. If you have a strong tolerance for cussing, ask anyone who has spent time in "the sand box" how they feel about cleaning and maintaining their M4s...... Ergonomic, the forestock and buttstock's wrist are narrower than either of the others making it nice and comfy at port arms, the hand grip is angled a bit more than the AR and is fatter, it comes with a fold down carry handle right at the center of gravity and it is even somewhat usable with optical sights. Magazines: Sadly since the great mass gun and magazine buy in the spring of 2009 mags no longer go for under $10.00 used ones are closer to $20, DS sells new ones for $25.00 but always seem to be on back order, the Korean ones are crap and I have no clue about magpull, There is a private concern working on what promises to be a primo mag, but moses is in no hurry and it might be anywhere from a couple of weeks to a year or more before production starts. *Fact* The FAL was the weapon of choice for certain SEAL teams During 70's conflicts in Afghanistan, Vietnam and Rhodesia among others. *The FAL was used by pretty much every country that was not receiving arms from either the US or the soviet union* *these same countries phased the FALS out when they started switching to 5.56* Parts can be had easily enough, there are US manufacturers around, don't know what upgrades you need, DSA makes a top flight scope rail/topcover that is sledge hammer solid. I think a free floated, picatinney forearm would just ruin the feel and balance, but I don't like the Christmas-Tree, I like to shoot. I would rather strip hammer/trigger assy on an FAL than an AR, KISS easy, and tool free. |
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Actually I am in a hurry to get my mags out, it's just a long drawn out process to go from idea to actual finished product.
Now my cad guy and the mold making company don't seem to be in as big a hurry as me!!!!! I own all 3 types of guns and would recommend you do the same! If I could only have one it would be an FAL!!!! The FAL really is the best all around 308 rifle ever conceived!!!! |
| I've got a DSA Carbine and 3 AR10s. I bought the DSA after shooting one at a shoot a few years back. Shot an AR10 a couple of years back and got bit hard! Much more ergonomic, more accurate, better trigger. I don't think I've shot the FAL since I got that first 10. |
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Never had an AR10 but have 2 DSA Para FALs that I got recently. They are sighted in at 50 yrds with LC M80 ammo and I get 2 inch groups at 50. Will try further out when I get mey TR24.
Advantage with the FAL is that it is ultra reliable and in my case they seem to be accurate enough for a battle rifle. Also my 30rd mags work great in them. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I say get both as well. If I can only have one it would be the AR 10 becuase of the optics and accuracy. If you cant buy both, at least try them. By the way, what is the service history behind the ar-10? Apparently the Canadians using the Armalite AR10T and SASS (AR10 based). The US is using the Knights M110 (SR25). The British are using the L129A1 (LMT MWS). The 308 AR platform finally seems to be gaining some traction as a military grade, in service, battle-proven weapon. Granted, it doesn't have the 60 year fighting history of the FAL, but it's reached a point where civilian purchasers can benefit from the military usage. FWIW, I recently added an LMT MWS to my DSA SA58 and DSA STG 58. I'm now building a 308 AR on a Mega MA-TEN receiver set as well. |
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I say get both as well. If I can only have one it would be the AR 10 becuase of the optics and accuracy. If you cant buy both, at least try them. By the way, what is the service history behind the ar-10? Apparently the Canadians using the Armalite AR10T and SASS (AR10 based). The US is using the Knights M110 (SR25). The British are using the L129A1 (LMT MWS). The 308 AR platform finally seems to be gaining some traction as a military grade, in service, battle-proven weapon. Granted, it doesn't have the 60 year fighting history of the FAL, but it's reached a point where civilian purchasers can benefit from the military usage. FWIW, I recently added an LMT MWS to my DSA SA58 and DSA STG 58. I'm now building a 308 AR on a Mega MA-TEN receiver set as well. In all reality, the civilian market drove the improvements to the AR platform, If it were not for competition, the gunsmiths would not have bothered. Most FAL builders are trained to depot levels and build them as mil-spec battle rifles, once in a while, you run across somebody who actually knows what they are doing and were trained to make match rifles that can get 1, or even 1/2 MOA In general though expect 2 MOA, yo might get lucky but probably. RRA and DPMS both make sub MOA rifles as long as they are broken in properly and the shooter does not go cowboy and burn the lands out of the barrel and as long as good hand loads are used. (1/4 MOA is not unheard of.) As far as optics on a FAL goes the DSA topcover is as sturdy as you could want. and yes if I dont mind my rifle riding 45 degrees from vertical, the carry handle still works. |
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Quoted: As far as optics on a FAL goes the DSA topcover is as sturdy as you could want. and yes if I dont mind my rifle riding 45 degrees from vertical, the carry handle still works. Are you using the extended cover with your carry handle? My SA58 is handle-less, so I used the extended top mount. The STG has the carry handle, and I'm currently trying to decide between extended (ditch the handle), or regular (keep the handle). It also seems to be a good idea to go with the Para cover, in case I should decide to convert later. I hadn't thought of that until someone mentioned it. |
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As far as optics on a FAL goes the DSA topcover is as sturdy as you could want. and yes if I dont mind my rifle riding 45 degrees from vertical, the carry handle still works. Are you using the extended cover with your carry handle? My SA58 is handle-less, so I used the extended top mount. The STG has the carry handle, and I'm currently trying to decide between extended (ditch the handle), or regular (keep the handle). It also seems to be a good idea to go with the Para cover, in case I should decide to convert later. I hadn't thought of that until someone mentioned it. This one http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=868352 If you go with the para cover and you have a standard receiver, make sure you get the appropriate part. Or get the standard cover, when and if you go para get this kit: http://www.dsarms.com/US-Made-FAL-Para-Stripped-Parts-Set––-090P620APARA/productinfo/090P620APARA/ And sell off your old cover for the $65.00 difference between the regular para kit and the one with scope mount top cover. |
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I'm don't have a lot of financial independence. As a result multiple 20 rount mag dumps are but a fantasy for me. To that end every round counts. Liking the AR platform in general , the AR10 was an easy decision for a semiauto 308.
Considering this is a FAL forum, lol...I'll also add that nothing screams fun quite like a iron-sighted FAL. Gets wicked hot to hold after a couple mags though. |
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