Cheap FALS?

[556A2]

Been checking out the FN FAL design as of late and looks very interesting, especially with the adjustable gas system. I was wondering what makers have the "value" FAL? The DSA Arms would be nice one sunny day, but what is an econmic FAL?

 

[Nightcrawler]

DSA sells a parts gun, the STG58A Authentic Austrian FAL. Still pretty pricey at $900 or so (I paid $950 out the door for mine), but it's excellent quality. Little heavier than the SA58s, as it has a steel lower receiver.

The Imbel/IAI M444 seems to be a deal at $675.00. Observe.

However, most of the new guns less expensive than that are going to be Century parts guns. Some are good, some are bad, and most can be fixed. AVOID HESSE RECEIVERS.

Oh, if you buy a receiver, a parts kit, enough US parts, and have some basic skills (and a small work area with some hand tools) you can probably build one, but make sure you get a good construction manual or armorer's video to ensure you do it right.

 

[HSMITH]

Buy an Imbel reciever, and a quality parts kit. For about $500 you can have a really solid FAL.

 

[Meowhead]

What HSMITH said.

 

[556A2]

Never really thought about building one. In Tapco's catalog they have the FN G1 Parts kit, and the Imbel FAL kit however they were military guns so they would be used. Who else would have a good NIB FAL parts kit and would these be good for a first FAL?

 

[Redlg155]

The cheapest ones out there are the Century Arms products. They typically run from $400-$500 in cost. As with any gun out there you have satisfied users as well as some very dissatisfied when it comes to Century Arms FALs.

The M44s seem to be next in line and finally the DSA rifles being the cream of the crop. DSA also offers them in .243 and other calibers. You can also get very nice STG kits from DSA, but they are pretty pricey.

Another option would be to purchase everything and have it sent off for a build. Figure about $200 or so to have one put together.

You can find just about everything you need to know at this place....FAL Files . Everything from what the best kits are, builders, home projects and other items of interest.

Beware...they can be very addicting!

Good Shooting
RED

 

[Onslaught]

If you'd rather have a "NIB" (sort of) FAL, Entreprise Arms sells a newly manufactured receiver that you can purchase for around $250-ish, which is only about $25 - $50 higher than the used Imbels.

Most any parts kit you buy will be at least surplus quality. There are some (Chile?) parts kits rumored to have been purchased in expectation of a big border war that never happened, so the parts are unused but 20+ years old. I've read about them on FALFiles, I'm just to lazy to re-look them up right now.

 

[Destructo6]

Dealer's Wherehouse has brand new Imbel barrels if you are going for a build and want the best.

You might spend as much doing a build, but you'll be able to have it put together to your specifications.

If you go for something on an Imbel or DSA receiver, you'll at least have a good foundation.

 

[556A2]

Thanks for the input, I'm still toying around with building one. My other option is to buy an SKS instead which does look a little more promising right now. (College=Broke All The Time)

 

[SodaPop]

FALs are some of the most unreliable guns I've seen at my Gun Club. Its amazing that such a reliable and simple design can get screwed up so bad.

BUYER BEWARE!!

I played it safe and picked up a DSA, STG58-type II. Every non-DSArms, FAL, I've seen at my range was junk. The real thing is the FNFAL and DSA is second best. 80% of what you see floating around needs to go back to a smith to be reliable.

 

[Nightcrawler]

Hell, Sodapop. DSA uses very modern technology in their receivers, making them even stronger than original Belgian. I daresay that the DSA gun is BETTER than the original Belgian rifle, and has been refined by DSA quite nicely.

 

[SodaPop]

Yeah but.............. I want a select fire FAL. DSA doesn't make them.

 

[SteyrAUG]

I'll tell you hard learned wisdom.

DSA is the cheapest FAL.

Nothing else comes close, nothing else competes.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I want a select fire FAL. DSA doesn't make them.

Actually, I think they do. I believe Select-Fire models of their OSW are available to LE, which means they have the capability. You can't buy one, of course, for the children, but I have no doubt DSA would sell one to you if it was legal for them to do so.

Me, I don't feel like I'm losing anything by having a semiauto only FAL. Sure, full auto would be fun, but from a purely utilitarian point of view it's usefulness is limited.

(it would be really fun though wouldn't it...)

 

[SteyrAUG]

DSA does make NFA weapons, SBRs and post sample MGs.

However having shot more than a few select fire FNs they aren't the best candidate for full auto. They are about as practical a MG as the M14. Give me a G3 anyday. Or if you are gonna beat the hell out of me with a weapon as big and ungainly as the M14 or FAL in full auto you might as well go all the way with it and make it a BAR.

It was with this in mind that the British military adopted the L1A1 which is a semi ONLY inch pattern version of the FAL.