We Were AR Bashers Once, And Young

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amprecon

amprecon

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I believe I am now certifiably insane. I was an AR hater once, and young :scrutiny:

As I've stated on posts before, I had detested the very existance of Eugene Stoner's rifle. I didn't like the direct gas impingement system, I didn't like the caliber, I didn't like the goofy "carry handle" and the way the rifle looked overall and I didn't like how it was forced down the throat of our military. I just plain didn't like it. I guess the biggest detractor for me was its caliber. Now I'm no physics expert, but I just can't embrace the .223 when there are just so many more effective alternatives out there.

Then along comes alternative calibers for the AR platform and it peaks my interest, the more I looked at them the more appealing they became, especially the flat-top models. There just weren't many other alternatives to choose from.

For .30 cal rifles, I was a die-hard M1 Garand/M1A rifle fan I'd even resort to a bolt-action if I needed a scoped .30 cal.
I ended up with all three for awhile, a Garand, an M1A and just recently a Remington SPS Tactical in .308.

Being the pragmatist that I am I like to take things down to their lowest common denominator, why three .30 cals when one would do for everything?
The Garands and M1A series of rifles were not designed to be scope friendly, I did scope the M1A and it was awkward and clumsy and made it heavier than it already was....duh. So I put it back to its original form and bought the .308 bolt gun.

Then I start thinking, how will I ever apply the M1A? If I need to shoot at longer ranges, I'll be taking the bolt gun. If I ever feel I need short to medium ranges unscoped or with irons I have an AK and I have my other RRA LAR-6.8 with a red dot on it, all my bases were covered and couldn't find a niche for the M1A.

I never was a big fan of bolt-actions, I just had them because there weren't many affordable options for "scopable" .30 cal semi-auto rifles.

As much as its not an issue with trained shooters, I never like the operating rod exposed on the M1/M1A rifles, I never got caught or injured by it when firing, but it made me consider other rifles such as the HK or FAL, rifles without any large masses of exposed high-speed reciprocating mechanisms

I owned an HK once (actually the PTR-91) and it had atrocious ergonomics and operating functions, got rid of it quick. Then I considered the FAL, and as I was considering it the thought crossed my mind, why not just get a .308 AR that is scope ready, it would have the same form and function as the other AR, is shorter than the M1/M1A and doesn't have any of its operating mechanisms exposed, is semi-automatic and has hi-cap magazines.

So here I am, with my new .308 AR, feeling like I should be feeling guilty for letting go of my other .30 caliber rifles and replacing them with this one......but I just can't :uhoh:

Now, where can I find good quality affordable FAL metric 20-round mags at?

RRALAR-8.gif
 
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Now, where can I find good quality affordable FAL metric 20-round mags at?
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I'm afraid you've missed the boat on these. It hard to find used ones for less than $17 each, and these probably won't look great.

JG Sales listed some in their last flier.

DSA is supposedly making new ones but time will tell if they will be good or not as they are trying to "improve" it.

I've got the 16", collapsible stock version of your RRA and they are great shooters.
 
For FAL mags, sources to try:
What A Country
Keep Shooting.com
Palmetto State Armory
Springfield Armory, parts section of the website, SAR-48 or SAR-4800 magazines (those are both FALs)

Expect to pay $20-25 for something that looks OK and works. That's not much more than SR-25/DPMS 308 mags are going for, and a bit less than Armalite-branded AR-10 mags, or about the same as new M14 mags.

Best mags are generally original Belgian or the perfect license-made copies made in Brazil and Argentina. Austrian mags have been 100% in my experience but there are occasional reports of issues with them. Israeli mags are probably fine. There are some brand-new Korean FAL copies now on the market, but they aren't nearly as good as licensed mags.
 
You are correct in hating AR's. Unless that AR is in 6.8 SPC or greater caliber, and rocking a piston kit. Then it's actually a rifle/carbine. :D
 
Nice rifle, there are several good .308 AR options now. I owned a LR-308 and want LMT's .308 offering badly.

The nice thing about AR type rifles is how adaptable they are. Quality AR-15 rifles are very reliable, the problem is the commercial manufacturers turn out a lot of cheap and unreliable rifles.

75 / 77 grain OTM actually make 5.56 a decent caliber for its intended purpose. A person with a single AR-15 is better served with a 1:7 twist 5.56 AR-15 with 75 / 77 grain defensive ammo and 55 grain practice ammo than a 6.8 SPC.
 
You know, every one of us has something he or she really likes, and something he or she doesn't like. I am happy for you that you have found something you like.

It doesn't really matter what other people think about your choice.

I'll stick to my PTR91 for my uses out to about 600 or so. :)
 
I didn't like the direct gas impingement system, I didn't like the caliber, I didn't like the goofy "carry handle" and the way the rifle looked overall and I didn't like how it was forced down the throat of our military. I just plain didn't like it.
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Strangely, the reason I don't like the M14 is because a small clique of Army officers forced an obsolete cartridge and rifle onto the US military in defiance of everything actual shooters and killers had learned about infantry combat in both world wars.
 
NICE rifle! Have you grouped it yet?

Now, where can I find good quality affordable FAL metric 20-round mags at?
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I don't know how much of an actual difference there is betwixt the metric and inch mags, (sorry for my ignorance:eek:) but here is a link for inch mags. Never tried 'em, but the reviews look good.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=390466

If someone could explain the difference of the inch and metric mags, I'd appreciate it.
Matthew
 
amprecon,

You wrote: "I believe I am now certifiably insane."

Enjoy your rifle. Join the NRA.

I am not interested in the so called AR rifles. I won't even look at one.

I do like other guns.

Merry Christmas.
 
My only real gripe with the AR deal was the newsie-noise about this "devastating new cartridge". :barf: I'd already been loading for a .220 Swift for some years, and I never could figure out why I should get excited over three-fourths as much performance. If I'd wanted a .222 Rem Mag, I'd have bought a .222 Rem Mag. :)
 
amprecon has been an NRA Life Member for at least 6 to 8 years now.
I have yet to order scope rings or BUIS for it yet, but I am yearning to shoot it to see how it compares to those it replaced.
 
If someone could explain the difference of the inch and metric mags, I'd appreciate it.
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They are mostly incompatible. "Inch" mags have a large cast front lug welded on and are generally sturdier. "Metric" mags are the original and the front lug is a stamped dent in the mag body sheetmetal. Only the L1A1 and derivatives use the "inch" mags.

Metric mags will fit into an inch magwell but be loose and may not be reliable. Inch mags will not fit into a metric magwell, period, though you can grind down the front lug if you just have to make it fit. If you do so, the ghosts of Diodonne Suave and his UK military procurement counterpart will come and haunt you. You will also be decreasing the mag's value by 1/3 to 3/4 depending on condition.

Both "inch" and "metric" FALs were built using inch measurements and thread sizes. Only the Israeli and Indian FALs used some or all metric measurements (and obviously neither one was on the exact same pattern as the "inch" and "metric"). So the common labels are misnomers.

I bought and returned some of those mags at Midway. Really poor condition IMHO.

Metric mags are still reasonably available and in far better condition up to like-new. Get the right mags.
 
nice AR. and if i ever do get an AR it will be a .308. all the concerns you mentioned are things that run through my head as well. what gun for what job; what cal. and what scope ect........ that kind of mind set can lead to a great collection.........and you mentioned "letting go" of your .30 cal. rifles. i hope you still have your M1A.

i remember some navy seal saying that if he could have one gun in only one configuration, it would be a standard rack grade M14 with open sights (plain jane style). i think the AR10 is beautiful, just dont get rid of your M1A.
 
There is a link somewhere to a PBS interview with one of the M-16's original designers. He has some misgivings about the lack of DOD's inertia to changes after so many decades. "pbs.org/newshour/bb/military/july-dec07.."

But from the very little that I've seen, if a gun needs rapid fire/full-auto the AR seems to have less muzzle rise and recoil than those with larger rounds, among other qualities. The best is that they divert huge piles of cash and eyes away from the CMP, "Joesalter", and many tables at gun shows!

stubbicatt: A guy let me try out his CETME (not Century-from a parts kit) days ago, and not only was the recoil mild, he had a really smooth trigger in it.
 
I lived with that platform when I was in. It did it's job, but on the outside I like wood and blue. I do agree that for those that have the reason to own one, it is a very flexible platform and does a number of jobs well. I see your reasoning as sound - have fun :)
 
http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.as...c)&groupid=4

That's as good as I've found for FAL mags.
Click to expand...

I posted a review of those mags on here a month or two ago. I can't really recommend them. They didn't even fit, at all, in DSA-manufactured receivers. They fit and worked in another gun but only one of two would lock the bolt back. For the time being you're better off spending $20-25 on true military FAL mags than these copies.
 
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