Advice on getting something in 308

[beerslurpy]

I am thinking about getting a FAL/CETME/G3 variant or perhaps a 308 saiga.

I have heard the century arms FAL variants generally suck badly but I have seen nothing available except century arms guns. Can the 308 saigas be made to accept FAL mags? Are they accurate at all?

Advice for getting an accurate, affordable, FAL mag semiauto chambered in 308? What should I expect in terms of accuracy from most of these guns?

Or is there just no substitute for bolt action, at least in the accuracy category?

 

[cidirkona]

I'm with you on this one... trying to talk myself out of something in 308 and AR with a Cetme or a Saiga...

-Colin

 

[0007]

Go over to www.falfiles.com. There are always several Fals for sale in the Marketplace section. Additionally, you might find a parts kit and have one built for you. Jerry Cole (Cole's Guns) down in Clearwater has done a couple for me. The business is now owned by Tass (the Mad Greek) but Jerry still does the builds.

 

[wally]

I'd never buy a Century Arms gun sight unseen (meaning ordering one is out) but if you go to gun shows and learn what to look for to avoid the problem guns, you should eventually find good examples at prices reasonabley close to the order price+shipping+FFL fee. I'm willing to go up a bit for better than average finish.

The various FAL & HK/CETME forums will have the info you need to avoid a lemon.

I looked at lots of Romanian AKs before I found one with properly aligned sight block and and front sight, so patience is a virtue.

I've managed to find good working exampls of English (L1A1) and Metric (SA58 parts, Imbel reciever) Century FALs and a nice Century CETME.

--wally.

 

[beerslurpy]

Yeah I'll check out cole's guns one of these days.

 

[MrMurphy]

If you can eyeball the Century guns before buying, you should be able to avoid being lemoned. Otherwise, avoid.

Friend of mine's got an FAL from Century that shoots fine, I had a Century CETME that ran fine.

 

[NMshooter]

The more money you are willing to spend the better off you will be.

 

[ny32182]

I have a new SA58 from DSA. It is a smooth shooter, but I'm having some issues with the sight heights right now. Once the groups are on paper, they aren't any bigger than what I shoot through an iron sighted AR.

 

[71Commander]

Here is something to have dreams about. SA SAR48-match. Shot a 3/4" group @100 yds.

 

[Black Snowman]

I got a fairly good example of a Century R1A1 FAL after looking for about 3 or 4 years. Managed to ruin it too Need to go over to the FAL files more often to look for a barreled reciever . . .

 

[wally]

How'd you ruin it?

--wally.

 

[Mannlicher]

I am surprised no one has suggested a Springfield, Fulton Arms, LRB, or Smith M1A. Far and away, the best 7.62 X 51 platform.

 

[Nitram68]

I'd take a FAL over a M1A, all day long, BTJMAMHO, YMMV.

 

[itgoesboom]

I have a CETME, and I think I got one of about 2 dozen that Century did a good job on.

Even then, I had to do quite a bit of work on it, including changing out many of the internals (extractor spring, firing pin, firing pin spring, several new trigger parts to comply with 922 (r)), HK stocks and wide forarm (which required grinding off the old style bipod ring on the triple frame) and I had to file the mag well and mag catch. And several mags still needed fitting to work.

But I think the results are worth it.

This group is from about 80 yards, prone supported, iron sights with surplus ammo. I was using the 200 meter sights, so they are about 3 1/2" high at 80 yards.

And here is the rifle with my amatuer paint job that I gave it.

I.G.B.

 

[cidirkona]

I ended up getting the Cetme... gritty, but seems like it should be a decent, fun purchase..... it'll at least give me something to work on!!

-Colin