[Pendragon]

Well, it looks like we are going to make it out of Kali this summer. Wife and I have been slowly fabricating a large hot air baloon out of scraps of silk and nylon and making a basket out of popsicle sticks ;)

After I get settled in Jacksonville, I want to get me a nice repeating rifle - most likely in .308

I realize there are huge price differences from the basic ones up to the elite :rolleyes: HK style guns.

I know enough about handguns to know what I like and what I will settle for and what something is worth and what I care about.

I have no clue about Militia Rifles.

I do not want something overly "tactical" - I have no use for lasers or telescopes, etc. I just want something rugged and reliable and not as big and heavy as an M1A.

I am willing to go to the under belly of $2000 but I would like to stay at around $1200 ish.

I might later want to do the 3 gun competition but maybe this gun is not appropriate.

Mostly, I would like a repeating rifle in a good .30 cal cartridge - I would like to own about 20-40 mags eventually so that is a consideration.

Suggestions and resources would be most appreciated.

[Frohickey]

Sounds like you want a DSA FAL.

Magazines are still cheap for the FALs, around $6 a pop, versus $40 a pop for the M1A.
I think the HK 91s are in the same ballpark, if not more.

[Watchman]

Southern Ohio Gun has some HK's G-3 awhile back for 439. These were Hk's assembled with an Century Arms reciever to get around the "assault weapons ban" BS. You can get new mags for 5-6 bucks from several companys.

You can also get some FAL's for around the same money. Mags run a bit higher.

Romanian AKs are going for around 300 bucks. Mags are around 6-10 bucks.

All are very capbable guns. Do a little surfing and check them out.

[geekWithA.45]

Yup. FN Fal's the ticket, if you don't want an M1A.

Take a look @ DS arms...the sa58 is pretty nice, and about $1300.

BTW, a standard FN FAL is only an inch shorter, and 1/2 pound lighter than an M1A....

[JShirley]

If you can pony around over $1000 without effort, I'd get a DSA STG-58 (FAL). Then you should have close to $1000 left in budget for a good lockable case (I've ordered a Doskocil for my FAL), 20-40 mags, a sling, spare parts, and sighting options.

"Least for the most" option would probably be a CETME, precursor to the HK-91. You should be able to have a very workable setup for less than $800, including mags. Options for sighting and such will be more limited, and you won't have a DSA, but you might still be satisfied.

John

[Sven]

Wow, an M1A... they have those here in CA, you know.

[Watchman]

Wow, an M1A... they have those here in CA, you know.

Hmmmm....

The politicians must not know about them yet. When they find out, its over.

:scrutiny:

[Sven]

That's why it's next on my list.

IN CASE I fail to escape.

[SteyrAUG]

Frohickey is right on. DSA FAL is best .308 deal going right now.

Ignore Watchman, not only is SOG one of the worst companies to deal with, the Hesse and CAI G3s they sell are complete junk.

[twoblink]

The M1A in the PRK has the horrid muzzle break... The thing is loud and prevents you from going prone as dust gets sprayed around...

FAL, not a bad choice.

[9mmepiphany]

knowing how you are a very first class kinda guy, i can only see you going in one direction.

get a FN FAL clone. this was once considered the rolls royce of "battle rifles" and has great ergos and classy looks. DSA makes a blueprinted metric FAL clone completely manufactured in the USA and they offer lots of options as well as being available in stainless and LW versions. they are located down in SoCal and you could drive down to "spec it out" for your purchase when you relocate...like you did with your Valtro.

you could also get the parts for a FAL and have a custom smith assemble it to your specs. i've heard some very good things about ARS (arizona gunrunner systems)

[megatronrules]

You will kiss the ground when you get here :) I came from a gun grabbing state myself. The weather is great, no smog or quakes here.
Fal are the best bet for .308 I think, unless you can get into an HK-91 at a good price. I saw a pre ban 91 in a pawn shop for $1500! Of course I didnt have any money at the time:banghead:

Good luck

[beemerb]

Well I am going to throw another vote for the DSA FAL.Do not buy one of put together FAL's that are sold by century or J&G unless you want to learn how to work on one.I have worked on 6 of them now and have gotten all to shoot very well.
Magazines being a consideration go with the FN. You can invest the price of a M1A or better in mags for the M1A at around 50 a pop for good quality mags for it.
Bob

[Sactown]

they are located down in SoCal

DSA is located in IL. Entreprise Arms, another FAL maker is located down in SoCal. I believe they're in Irwindale.

[Quartus]

horrid muzzle break

Hey, any break in your muzzle is horrid! :what:


I've seen some pretty bad muzzle brakes, too. Y'know, those things that act like a brake to reduce recoil? Some of them are really lousy.


Pendragon, congratulations on your pending escape. I just dodged the bullet of having to move back to Kali, though it would have been a decent area. (Tehachapi.) Still, any place in Utah is better!

[9mmepiphany]

oops, brainfade again...it is monday.

it is enterprise that is in SoCal...but the DSA is still the best FAL

[MK11]

did you say 20 to 40 mags? Wow. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but you're gonna have some sore thumbs. :D

[QuickDraw]

Well, it looks like we are going to make it out of Kali this summer. Wife and I have been slowly fabricating a large hot air baloon out of scraps of silk and nylon and making a basket out of popsicle sticks

ROFLOL :D


QuickDraw

[0007]

Take a walk on the wild side. Log onto www.FALFILES.com and go to general discussion firearm related. Lots to learn. Have one built. Buy lots of CHEAP magazines. :D

[MolonLabe416]

If you want a self-loading rifle, you need look no further than an FAL or M1A. The FAL may be more reliable, and mags are substantially less expensive, while the M1A has a superior trigger and sights. Either will provide Yeoman service if properly set up and maintained.

I'd skip the G3/HK rifles. While well made and very reliable, they have an odd manual of arms and generally poor triggers and sights. Some parts are goof expensive.

For M1A info, see the Fulton Arms website.

For FAL's, see Mark Graham at Arizona Response Systems. He is THE FAL gunsmith. I've purchased three FAL's and a HiPower from Mark. Outstanding all.

Welcome to Free America.

[9mmepiphany]

the hk 91 can be an outstanding shooter if you can afford it...

they just don't take as well to "tuning" as the M1a... the only way to adjust a HK receiver/barrel relationship is to replace it. however you can easily replace the trigger group with their match/sniper one and get an outstanding trigger pull. i might be odd, but i really prefer the open sight setup on the hk to the M1a (about even with the FAL)

[Cableman]

I can't believe nobody came up with the AR10. I have a AR10 A4 and love it. Mags are expensive, but the rifle is as accurate as anything else I own, and loads of fun to shoot.

I paid $1200 for mine NIB.

[9mmepiphany]

the ar-10 would also be on my list (to keep my m-15 company) if it were available in this state, but i think i'd look at the FAL first for serveral reasons...

1. cheaper quality mags (way cheaper)
2. inherently cleaner (more reliable) action
3. lower sight plane ( i also prefer the ramped rear sight)
4. "the right arm of the free world"

[JShirley]

MK11,

If you're gonna do it, you might as well do it right. I ordered 25 metric mags initially...but that's just because I didn't have a lot of money! :D

John

[9mmepiphany]

25 might be a mite much. i settled on 20 :rolleyes: , but then i had to beat the deadline and pay for the 50 ar mags too :p