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Letter Re: Recommendations on FAL and L1A1 Manufacturers and Custom Builders
Jim,
In the 2/23/07 blog, you replied to Stephen D. that: "If I ever hear
shooting nearby and have my choice of grabbing either an AR-15 or FAL,
then I'll grab the FAL." Would you please recommend/suggest a brand name
of a FAL type rifle that is currently available in the U.S.? I read your FAL
FAQ, but didn't
see any brand
references. I've researched from the Century "cobbled togethers" to
the "new" DSA's, etc. I know there is a huge price range, but I am
mainly interested in reliability (and accuracy, of course). Also, will FAL's
perform equally well with either 7.62 X 51 NATO or commercial .308 Winchester
[soft nose] ammo?
Thanks, - Russ in Atlanta
JWR Replies: I highly recommend Dave Selvaggio's (DS
Arms)
FALs. In contrast, the Century Arms FALs have a bad reputation for very un-even
quality control. Many of them
have functioning problems--both feeding and cycling glitches. If
you have a bit more money, I also recommend both Century
Gun Works (CGW, run by Rich Saunders in Gardnerville, Nevada--not
to be confused with Century Arms) and Arizona
Response Systems for custom FAL and
L1A1 builds,
using post-ban receivers. And if you have an even bigger budget,
you might buy a pre-ban SAR-48, Argentine FM-LSR, or an
original Belgian FAL.
For what it is worth, we have four L1A1s here at the ranch, all of
which are pre-ban. Two were re-built by Century Gun Works, using pre-ban
Australian inch receivers, and two were re-built by Arizona Response
Systems on SAR-48
receivers that they converted to inch specifications. Up until recently, I also
owned a "Para"
FAL that had been converted to take inch magazines by Rich
Saunders.
But
sadly, I had to sell it to pay some bills. (My blogging income is
still not yet paying all my bills.)
I believe that
there are several distinct advantages to having an "inch
pattern" (L1A1) instead of one of the metric measurement FN-FALs.
These advantages include:
1.) The ability to use inch OR metric magazines. If you have a metric
FAL, you are limited to using only metric magazines. But if you have
an inch receiver rifle you can use both inch and metric mags. (The
latter wobble a bit when used in an L1A1, but they still feed reliably.)
2.) Inch magazines are sturdier than metric magazines, because they
are heavier gauge steel. And if they ever do get dented, L1A1 magazines
can be repaired with a mandrel block, but metric mags cannot. (If you
lay an inch mag and a metric mag side by side, you will notice that
the floor plate retaining tabs on a metric magazine are turned inward,
whereas they are turned outward on an inch mag. Hence there is no way
for a metric magazine to accept a dent-removing mandrel.)
3.) A larger safety selector switch that you can't miss with your thumb.
4.) A larger, ambidextrous magazine release. (Unlike the tiny mag release
on the metric FAL, which is designed for the convenience of right handed
shooters.)
5.) A sturdy folding charging handle is standard. If you've ever tripped
and fallen while carrying a metric FAL, you'll appreciate this feature.
There is nothing quite like taking a blow from metric charging handle
to the solar plexus!
6.) Sturdier and less reflective stock furniture. The British Maranyl
pebble grain black plastic furniture is practically bomb proof.
7.) Buttplates that come in a wide range of thicknesses, to accommodate
shooters of various heights. Proper stock length usually means more
accurate shooting.
8.) Better rear sights. OBTW, the inch pattern "Hythe" dual-aperture
variant is a great sight with the versatility needed for long range
shooting, close quarters combat, and night shooting. I have Hythe sights
on all of the L1A1s at the Rawles
Ranch.
9.) An integral winter trigger arrangement that is always stowed and
available in the pistol grip. (One downside is that L1A1s don't have
the "in the grip" miniature cleaning kit found on metric
FALs.)
10.) A slightly more efficient flash hider. (I've viewed a video of
a nighttime test that was filmed by a SurvivalBlog reader, using identical
ammo, and the difference was apparent.)
11.) Specially-designed "Sand Cut" bolts and bolt carriers,
designed to operate more reliably in grungy environments.
In summary: Yes, the parts and magazines for inch pattern L1As are
slightly more expensive, but the advantages that I just related more
than compensate for the greater expense.
BTW, for those of you reading this that presently own metric FALs,
I suggest that you keep them and just improve them a bit: For example,
I recommend
retrofitting
them with inch pattern magazine releases and selector switches. And
unless you have one of the excellent Israeli-style forward assist charging
handles, you should also consider retrofitting with an inch-style folding
charging handle.
All of the aforementioned parts might be available from Gun
Parts Guy.
In answer to you other question: A FAL or L1A1 will indeed function
with commercial .308, but it is best to turn down the gas adjustment
a bit,
since commercial
soft
nose
ammo
has
considerably higher pressure than the 150 grain military ball. You
will also notice
a slight difference in point of impact.
