DSA FAL - Please help me pick configuration

[ZombiesAhead]

Hello,
I am about to "pull the trigger" on my purchase of a DSA STG58. I understand I can get these shipped directly from DSA but I would rather give my local gun store the business and they have offered to sell it for less than retail. Does this make sense? What should I expect them to charge me without getting ripped off?

Barrel Length - I want something that's not too unwieldy but I don't want to compromise velocity too much. Is the 18" barrel a good choice?

Standard Stock - I don't think I need a folder for a big rifle like this and its not worth the money.

Receiver Type - What type receiver should I specify? Type 1 or Type 2?

 

[iamkris]

Barrel Length - Based on your criteria, 18" is perfect. I have a 21" and 16.25" barrel. I bought the first to have the "classic" FAL and the second to have the most compact. My small amount of experimenting with my chronograph shows about a 120-140 fps velocity loss going from 21" to 16".

Standard Stock - Can't go wrong with the standard stock, but the folder on the FAL is one of the most ergonomic and strong configurations made. I like mine a lot. Really depends on what you want to do with the rifle.

Receiver Type - No functional difference between the T1 and T2. T2 was created to create some stress relief for high-round-count full-auto rifles that saw some amount of cracking. For 99.99999% of us, we'll never see any functional difference. Depends on which one you like the looks of better.

 

[The Wiry Irishman]

What should I expect them to charge me without getting ripped off?

Well, you have two options for ordering from DSA. Either way, you make sure they have your FFL on file, then either the FFL can order a rifle for you, then you pay the dealer, or you can have the FFL call them and give them permission for you to order directly from them. If you do the latter, they do not charge you retail, you get dealer pricing. I ordered an SA58 Tactical Para Carbine directly from them a few weeks ago, and the base price for the rifle was 300 dollars less the MSRP listed on their site. If you have the FFL order, then they'll be paying that price for the rifle, too. I don't know how consistant the difference is with their other models, but you could use that as a starting point.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'd basically +1 everything iamkris already said. For barrel length, I think you're requirements are pretty easy to sort out -- you're looking for a compromise, and the 18" barrel is exactly that. (And a full length 21" barreled FAL is a really long rifle).

 

[USSR]

...a full length 21" barreled FAL is a really long rifle

Not necessarily. Depends upon what flashhider/muzzle break it's wearing. The Belgian short makes for a very manageable 21" barreled rifle.

Don

 

[HorseSoldier]

I don't think the flash hider makes much difference at all. It's still a comparatively unwieldy set up (though I don't think any other 7.62x51 options are better at that barrel length).

And I say that as a huge fan of the FAL and happy owner of two of them, one with the 21" barrel.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Whatever you choose you will be happy with DSA. They do beautiful work.

Here's a Collectors Edition G1 I got a week or so ago, it's flawless, and I can always use another excuse to show off this great rifle.

 

[ZombiesAhead]

Ended up going:

STG58/Type II with Carry Handle/Fixed Stock
21" Barrel - For the "classic" look - I'll get a 16.25" when I get a Para

I chose to get a flash hider instead of a muzzle break although I'm not realy sure I needed either. Hopefully I can remove it or replace it with something else if I want to to cut down on overall length.

Supposedly an 8 week wait and I'll be paying $1100 including 2 20 round mags. That's $50 under MSRP plus an extra mag. I may have been able to buy this cheaper straight through DSA but I'm happy to kick my local dealer some profit and it seems worth it to me.

Hopefully the iron sights on this are better than my other rifle (a WASR). I really want to get proficient with irons. I hoped to do this with my WASR but the irons were such garbage I had to buy some sort of optic (or spend money on new irons).

I also need to stock up on ammo now. It looks like the surplus is about 50 cents/round but I'm not sure which type to get yet.

 

[USSR]

HS,

It's shorter than a Garand, and nobody ever calls the M1 a "really long rifle". It just seems long in comparison to a para model or one with a shorter barrel.

Don

 

[Bwana John]

18" barrel with short combo device
"Humpback" fixed stock
Folding cocking handle
Para rear sight
SAW pistol grip
"Inch" style semi-only safety
Mid-mounted sling plate
Reciever machined for para cut and topcover ears.
Finished with HK satin black duracoated metal, and OD green BS,PG, and HG.

No bipod-(>8 MOA aint cool)
No carry handle-ITS NOT A BLOODY PURSE

 

[datruth]

you will be happy with a STG 58, I am so far

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=332455

 

[iamkris]

Hopefully the iron sights on this are better than my other rifle (a WASR).

NATO firearms in general are equipped with aperture sights which are heads and tails above any com-bloc open sights. The FAL doesn't have as nice of sights as say a Garand, M1A or AR but they are very usable. You can also get the hooded target sight if you want more precision.

Another option is the Hampton lower receiver that can take an A2 sight. I got a "tactical" sight for my Para that has an A2 AR flip rear aperture.

 

[Caipirinha]

Nice stained concrete. And the rifle ain't too shabby either.

 

[W.E.G.]

The only thing you will be unhappy about is the fact that no FAL can be every FAL.

FAL.

Always a good decision.