I'm currently researching battle rifles, and will possibly be getting one soon. So I just wanted to ask a few FAL vs. M1A questions that I could not find answers to in the older threads.
1) From the pictures and videos, it looks like FAL is relatively fragile compared to M1A, because the rifle basically consists of two pieces which fold for a quick field strip. Is it as fragile as it appears in the videos? How sturdy is the locking mechanism? If you have to use it as a club, in close quarters, will FAL hold up?
2)How strong are the magazines of each rifle? (FAL and M1A) If if you were to drop each one, magazine first on concrete, which rifle (or magazine) will be less likely to break?
3)Also, I know that FAL is less likely to jam, since its action is less exposed, compared to M1A, but if we were not to take in to account that one is less exposed than the other, which design would work better with dirt (includes salt sand, mud etc...) inside?
4)Which design generally requires less maintenance/fewer replacement parts over time? (given both are made by reputable manufacturers)
5)And finally, I keep hearing about that test that US military did a while ago when they testing M14 side by side with FN FAL. Can anyone tell me where I can read about it?
Also, guys, feel free to post even if you don't know the answer to all questions. I know, it's unlikely for someone to answer all these questions at once.
Thanks in advance!
1) From the pictures and videos, it looks like FAL is relatively fragile compared to M1A, because the rifle basically consists of two pieces which fold for a quick field strip. Is it as fragile as it appears in the videos? How sturdy is the locking mechanism? If you have to use it as a club, in close quarters, will FAL hold up?
2)How strong are the magazines of each rifle? (FAL and M1A) If if you were to drop each one, magazine first on concrete, which rifle (or magazine) will be less likely to break?
3)Also, I know that FAL is less likely to jam, since its action is less exposed, compared to M1A, but if we were not to take in to account that one is less exposed than the other, which design would work better with dirt (includes salt sand, mud etc...) inside?
4)Which design generally requires less maintenance/fewer replacement parts over time? (given both are made by reputable manufacturers)
5)And finally, I keep hearing about that test that US military did a while ago when they testing M14 side by side with FN FAL. Can anyone tell me where I can read about it?
Also, guys, feel free to post even if you don't know the answer to all questions. I know, it's unlikely for someone to answer all these questions at once.
Thanks in advance!