Best semi auto .308 ???

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Like Hillbilly, I built my own FAL and am very pleased. I think I have about $400 into it and it's as good as anything from DSA - and far more aesthetic since I stuck with the original walnut and park finish.

It's really very easy to build a FAL since they are designed to be "soldier-proof" and strip and assemble very easily.

You won't get anything like that for the amount of money you want to spend unless you build your own.

Keith
 
Hated my FAL enough to get rid of it...

But I still have my BM-59, and M14NM!

Might be a CETME in my near future, too. ;)
 
Keith, it was an inch-pattern Imbel on a L1A1 parts gun...

If the old saying holds true, about "the only interesting guns are accurate guns", then this one wouldn't make anybody bat an eye. Even with a new heavy barrel, cleaned-up trigger, and (hard-to-find) Hythe rear peep sight.
 
Ok, Keith...

You've got my interest, where does one go to get good deals on parts or a kit or whatever, and what is involved (skill level, tools, etc.)
 
I hate how everyone calls every single M14 civilian clone an "M1a" (which is a registered Springfield Trademark), while these same people feel free to call their FAL or AR15 clones "FALs" or "AR15s" instead of their actual clone names!
 
Yeah. Everyone should remember every damn proprietary name from every maker of these pieces. :rolleyes:

PCR, anyone? L1a1? STG-58? RFA2-24SP? TL-15P? PCWA2Y 16SL? Get real.
 
On a budget, the VEPR or the Saiga! Hard to go wrong there (cept for the 10-round only mags).

J-wise, why doesn't Krebs make an FAL mag conversion? Much cheaper mags - must be a technical reason....or a legal reason (not a US part if not an M1A mag)??
 
I will get an FAL or SAR8 when my M1A quits.
Been running it at the local action rifle games
here in sandy FL, cleaning at 1k intervals/as
long as the piston moves/ with Port. Im pleasantly
surprised since these newer versions are supposedly
fragile. 3k per year x 3yrs it has the beater look.
Save for mandatory 25 yd sightin been straight OOB, uses
home depot axle grease only.5 mags from coles.
Good luck with your choice.
 
I'm partial to the FAL concept as well. I liked my M1A (it was a Springfield-as I'm sure most of the ones mentioned here are). I liked my AR15 style rifles (had a few).

I ended up selling the other two and keeping the FAL. The FAL's proven design is rugged, it uses a powerful round without substantial felt recoil, It's as accurate as I need it to be, it's scope mount friendly ( if that's your desire) and there is an abundance of inexpensive parts, hi cap mags, etc, which allows a person on a budget to keep them on hand for "someday".

Mine started out as a Belgian made, German G1 rifle. The Turks bought them years ago, and recently sold them on the surplus market. Some kits (everything but a functioning upper receiver) are in bad shape, but others are pretty good. You can still pick up a kit, a quality receiver AND get it professionally finished and assembled for $600-700. If you're a do-it-your-selfer, for a little less.
 
That's not what I'm saying, I am saying you should call semi auto M14's, M14s just like you call semi FALs and ARs, FALs and ARs...
 
Tech,

The best advice I can give you is to explore falfiles.com. It's an entire site devoted to building FAL's.
You can get kits from a number of places; tapco.com and dsarms.com are two well known and reliable sources.
For my money the best receiver on the market is the Coonan available from fac.com for about $200. Imbel receivers are also good and go for a few bucks less.
As far as tools go, you need a special thingy to install and remove the buttstock spring - available for about $10.

If you are installing your own barrel, you need access to a vice and barrel wrench and standard "Go - No Go" gauges. If you don't have this stuff (or have a friend with this stuff) you're probably better off letting a gunsmith do this part.

There are a number of legalities you need to be aware of - required US parts, etc. All of that is best explored over at falfiles to learn the cheapest and best legal alternatives.

Depending on how much you pay for your kit, you can still be up and running for $400, or a bit more... the prices on kits are starting to rise because nobody has imported any lately. I don't know if that situation will change or prices will continue to rise.

Keith
 
Mags are a one time purchase, and how many do you really need, folks?
Click to expand...

Well, one guy some folks think is an authority said one should spend at least as much on mags as on the weapon.

you need 20 mags loaded and ready to go?
Click to expand...

Well, it's a start. I only have 35 FAL mags, but I'll get more. :)

John
 
OK, I really want a FAL but it is out of my budget. I'm intrigued by the idea of building one. However I've never done anything like this.

What would I expect to pay to have a gunsmith put it together for me?

THANKS,
 
Well, one guy some folks think is an authority said one should spend at least as much on mags as on the weapon.
Click to expand...

So if you spend $1800 on an HK91, you should buy 600 $3 mags?

Or buy a used Glock 19 for $300 and only 3 mags?:D
 
The only thing you need consider having a gunsmith do is wrench the barrel on and measure the headspace - a twenty minute job. I don't know what a smith would charge for that, but I'd shop around before committing.

You really can do the rest yourself.

Keith
 
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