DSA SA-58: Should I bother?

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lwaldron

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So, I've been considering making an FAL my next purchase. Well, when I get out of California, that is.
The DSA SA-58 looks sooooooo good, but I keep reading terrible reviews about performance right out of the box. People seem to keep saying they're having to endlessly tweak to get the rifle to cycle, or even having to send the rifle back to DSA to get problems fixed.
I read about having to grind rails in the receiver. I read about sights being a problem.
These are pricey rifles, so I'm wondering if anyone can say whether it's worth the money to buy one. Is it always a problem to get them into working shape? Or can I expect it to work out of the box?

THX
 
I occasionally drool over the DSA FALs like the SA58 in their catalog but I didn't realize they had issues since I never looked too far into them due to their price.

If you did the research and found out they have problems that aren't easily resolved at home, maybe it's worth looking at another platform like the M1A or a .308 AR.
 
I've never heard of problems with DSA. The problems you stated, I've heard plenty about the Springfield M1A.
 
Somneone had one posted for sale at our range - saw the sign tonight. $850 and it came with 6 mags. What do these things cost new? The ad stated "as is" - I wonder if that's a hint of problems?
 
Is he selling an SA-58, or an STG-58? The STG is a austrian STG kit on a DSA receiver (which should work just fine), the other is an all-new DSA rifle. "Like new", that's a so-so price on a STG. For a like-new SA-58, that's a smoking deal.

If DSAs have problems, this is the first I have heard of them. My STG works great, and DSA has a lifetime warranty.

Are you sure you're not thinking of other makers' FALs?

Mike
 
That's news to me

The DSA SA-58 has a great reputation. In fact, I'd say it has the best reputation for out-of-the-box reliability of any .308 battle rifle. I have one, and I have friends who have them. None of us have ever had problems.

The DSA is built in the U.S. entirely out of new U.S.-made parts, and it is put together with great care. DSA receivers are universally recognized as the highest quality FAL "clone" receivers available.

There are lots of other FAL clones out there, and they all aspire to the quality of SA-58's. They are made on Imbel and other receivers and assembled using parts kits that are take-offs from used FAL's. Often, they are not well assembled, and may not fit well at all. That's why you go with an SA-58 -- you're getting a brand new rifle with parts all manufactured by one company and assembled with care.

$850 for a used SA-58 is a very good price, depending on configuration and condition. If it's been used a lot and abused, that may be only a fair price. New ones often sell for far more than that. I don't often see them sell for much less.
 
Dsa Fal

DSA has, in my experience, put out some superior products. But they, like any manufacturer, can have problems.

I can only attest to my DSA STG 58A working flawlessly out of the box, with no tweaking or modifications required.

I have played with, but do not currently own a SA58 (yet), but will probably pick up a PARA one of these days.

DSA does have a lifetime warranty on their rifles, and they do honor it from those that I've read about on the FAL FILES .

Here's my current set-up:

DSA STG-58A type 2 receiver with TAPCO T-48 front, Versapod Bipod, VO windage adjustable rear peep, and Falcon Ergo G3 grip.

FAL1.jpg

As always, check the individual gun out before buying, but DSA has one of the best company reputations in the FAL business.

-LeadPumper
 
LeadPumper, that's a nice looking rifle, and GREAT picture. Nice work on the photography.

And I will echo what he said -- even the best manufacturers occasionally let a bad one slip by. Check every rifle out. In some ways, used guns are better than new, at least if you know the seller. That way, there is someone who has shot the gun before and can tell you of any problems with it. With new guns, it's always a crap shoot.
 
lwaldron,

I haven't heard that about DSAs. They actually have about the best reputation among the various FAL manufacturers. Their receiver metal finishing is better than the original FNs. (I'm talking about the mill-work, not a surface finish, such as parkerizing, etc. They are good on that account, too.)

Steve
 
I've got the STG58, runs like a sewing machine. I reload for it so the gas setting sometimes needs adjustment, but with either the Australian or Portugese ammo its flawless.

rk
 
Miltary Gun Supply has been selling some very nice STG-58 built on Imbel recievers for $800. I got one at a gun show here a while back 100% out of the box and I put 5 rounds of surlplus ammo off sand bags into 3" at 100 yrds -- not impressive for most, but with my presbyopia and iron sights its fantastic and the amoung best groups I've gotten with this ammo even with scoped rifles.

They are on the web and will ship to your FFL: [email protected]

--wally.
 
I’ve had my DSA SA58 for a little over a year now, and it’s been flawless. I’ve shot a little over 1K rounds through it mostly reloads and some Port without a hitch. It’s reasonably accurate for a “battle rifle” and very easy to maintain.

Find a dealer that will handle a transfer, get him/her to send DSA a letter stating that you can deal directly with DSA, and you’ll get the “dealer price”. I did and my SA58 set me back about $1075 total.

Last month I ordered one of DSA’s lightweight “Para” lowers for it. So far I’ve been very happy with the rifle and the company.

Chuck
 
somewhat off topic: are the gas adjustments in those things enough to permit it to cycle with subsonic 308 ammo?
 
So, I've been considering making an FAL my next purchase. Well, when I get out of California, that is.
The DSA SA-58 looks sooooooo good, but I keep reading terrible reviews about performance right out of the box. People seem to keep saying they're having to endlessly tweak to get the rifle to cycle, or even having to send the rifle back to DSA to get problems fixed.
I read about having to grind rails in the receiver. I read about sights being a problem.
These are pricey rifles, so I'm wondering if anyone can say whether it's worth the money to buy one. Is it always a problem to get them into working shape? Or can I expect it to work out of the box?
Click to expand...

You were probably reading my threads about my initial "problems" with my SA-58. Let me just first say that since I corrected them, I have not had a single malfunction of any kind. The rifle is also very accurate for a FAL style rifle. I've shot groups of less than 2 moa off of a very crappy rest.

In the end, all I had to do was break the edge of the receiver rails with some fine grit sandpaper, and put on a taller rear sight.

The sighting issue is one that is inherent to the FAL design... with the front sight on the gas block, and the rear sight on the lower receiver, there is lots of room for tolerances to stack up. But, once you find the sights you need, there shouldn't be a problem.

My SA-58 was my first and only FAL, and that is why I posted and made a big deal about the issues. If I bought another one today, I'd polish the rails before even taking it out to shoot for the first time, and if the sights were off, I'd just get the one I needed; it wouldn't even warrant a post to ask about it. :)

So, would I buy another DSA rifle? Yes, I would. If I had more money at the moment, of course. :D
 
I love my SA58.

The only thing I would have done differently in hind sight would be getting a shorter than 21" barrel. I am going to para-ize it whenever DSA gets their parts in stock and have the barrel chopped to 18"

I have never had any of the problems you cite.
 
Ttbadboy

Yeah, it was likely your posts I was reading. I was also poking around some on FALFiles. There, some folks were complaining about customer service.

I sure like Chuck R.'s idea about getting the dealer price. Should I ever get out of California, that's how I'd go about purchasing an SA-58, going through a dealer to get one straight from the factory.

DSA's website has a reprint of an article about a 10,000 round torture test. Fun reading.

It's interesting reading what folks have to say about the accuracy of these rifles. I get the feeling my Garand might shoot tighter groups. I'm not really a "group guy", though. I like shooting holes in metallic objects.
 
DSA has always had the best rep I'm aware of for FAL/STG-58 type rifles.
 
It's interesting reading what folks have to say about the accuracy of these rifles. I get the feeling my Garand might shoot tighter groups.
Click to expand...
The FAL platform is not known for its accuracy. An M1 Garand is definitely capable of much better accuracy. Both of my Garands, and my HK 91, will outshoot my SA-58. AK-47's aren't known for their accuracy, either, but you don't get an AK or an FAL to shoot tiny groups on paper.
 
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The FAL is combat accurate. The are, in general, better than AKs in the accuracy department, and have a more powerful, flatter-shooting round, to boot. They are not, as a rule, as accurate as M1s, M14s or AR-15s. They are, however, accurate enough for "social" work.

Mike
 
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