FAL questions

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kaferhaus

kaferhaus

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Mobile, Alabama
I know little about these but a guy locally has a couple for sale. Both are on Imbel receivers, one is built with an all matching STG (austria) parts kit, barrel is excelllent, entire kit is refinished to like new... but it has a wood buttstock (also refinished), plastic grip and NO BIPOD... everything I've read says that all the STGs had bipods... he says no.

He also has an R1 (post ban configuration, nothing matches) plastic furniture WITH a bipod..

He wants $1000 for the STG and $850 for the other...

I'm not familiar with these rifles but seems maybe the bipod should be on the STG and the price should be a bit lower?? or am I underestimating the value of these?

Help me out here if you can
 
kaferhaus said:
He also has an R1 (post ban configuration, nothing matches) plastic furniture WITH a bipod..

He wants $1000 for the STG and $850 for the other...
Click to expand...

The orignal STG58s had bipods. The R1 sounds like a Century build, in which case it's a good $300 or more overpriced.
 
I agree he definatly wants to much for a home build i just bought a STG58C from Enterprise for 1,000 with all the bells and whistles.
 
I agree, the prices are out of line for what you have described. It sounds like the guy is trying to get his entire investment out of a build project. (Good luck with that.) As advised, you can certainly do better elsewhere.
 
I don't KNOW that he built these.... he may or may not have, I guess that question never entered my mind.

If these were built by a company specializing in FALs would the prices even be in the ballpark?

I do know to stay away from anything built by Century.

I'm thinking of offering him maybe $850 for the STG, if he puts the bipod on it, tosses in a few extra mags and it was built by a reputible smith.

If those conditions are met is the price I have in mind still out of line?

I don't "need" any of them, just looking for a new toy and this guy is local so I'll be able to see exactly what I'm getting.... no FFL or shipping fees either.

Or I'll just look around awhile longer.


thanks for the info you guys have shared.... ARs, M1As etc I know about as well as anyone, but AKs and FALs I know very little about.

May just have to buy the M1A.... and forget about the FAL.

Just looking for something I've never had before.
 
At those prices, I'd definitely be willing to pay a hair more, and get an STG-58 straight from DSA... best receiver in the business, and you know that a very reputable build was done, and with what parts. Takes all the mystery right out of it.
 
I picked this one from a friend that is a retired engineer and part time fn fal builder.he built it on a imbel reciever most parts are dsa and G-1 kit.
paid $500.00 worth every penny.
 
yeah, lots of guys "got deals" but I sure don't see any around.

DSA is getting well over a grand for theirs now.... maybe you guys haven't checked his prices lately.

AND their NOT matching # guns. I've priced the shops that advertise on the net and nothing they have that looks worth a darn is less than $1000.00, with many being a couple hundred more...and some of them have been bastardized with both inch and metric parts.

The Receivers alone are bringing over $400 once you pay shipping. Add a excellent condition "kit" and that's another $300.... which may or may not include all the pins and springs (ad disclaimers)..... then you've got to either buy tools to build it with or have someone who knows what they're doing build it at another $200+.... most seem to want $250 or more... THEN it needs refinishing which is another couple hundred or so...

I Don't see where you guys are getting these prices.... please show me where I can buy one of the same quality as this guys for less money

And then of course there's the FFL fees.... which here are $60 for a one page form and a phone call.

Seems like putting one together "correctly" is gonna cost $1200 or so if you have it done and maybe a grand if you assemble yourself....

Maybe that M1A is looking more and more like a bargain!!!
 
kaferhaus

DSA lists their STG Rifle $995.00 and their carbine for $1,045.00

http://www.dsarms.com/catalog-list.cfm?Category=04&storeid=1&CFID=3890834&CFTOKEN=42568631

Now it’s your money, but last year I picked up a DSA SA58 built to my specs for 1075.00 before shipping and a $15 transfer fee. Their list prices haven’t gone up all that much. You can easily check out either Guns America or Gunbroker to find a FFL near you that will handle a transfer for a reasonable price. Get them to contact DSA and you’ll get the DSA dealer price.

The newer STGs might not be matching number kits, but DSA still builds one of the best FALs around, and it will have a warranty. They will also come with a bipod like they’re supposed to.

Chuck
 
Chuck R. said:
kaferhaus

DSA lists their STG Rifle $995.00 and their carbine for $1,045.00

http://www.dsarms.com/catalog-list.cfm?Category=04&storeid=1&CFID=3890834&CFTOKEN=42568631

Now it’s your money, but last year I picked up a DSA SA58 built to my specs for 1075.00 before shipping and a $15 transfer fee. Their list prices haven’t gone up all that much. You can easily check out either Guns America or Gunbroker to find a FFL near you that will handle a transfer for a reasonable price. Get them to contact DSA and you’ll get the DSA dealer price.

The newer STGs might not be matching number kits, but DSA still builds one of the best FALs around, and it will have a warranty. They will also come with a bipod like they’re supposed to.

Chuck
Click to expand...

Now THIS is the deal that I've never been able to find... I paid nearly $1500 for my SA-58 by the time it was all said and done. Where do you get an SA-58 for just over $1k? My dealer went direct to DSA, but I still basically got charged according to the website MSRP.
 
goon said:
DSA is still selling STG-58's for $995 plus shipping.
Click to expand...

That was my point.... add shipping, FFL fees and you've got over a $1,000.00 in a refinished "used" rifle. Assembled correctly I'm sure.

Yet everyone's telling me they're not worth over about $600 and that you can build one for that.... Maybe you USED to be able too, but not today you can't. It would seem buying a professionaly built one is gonna be far less expensive than building one once you price the tools and refinishing along with the parts..


If I can get the guy down to $850 with the bipod, extra mags and determine that he didn't build it up himself then I'll save over $300 vs buying one through DSA.... there's also 9% sales tax here which the dealer will also collect on top of the base price so that would add another 90 bucks to the cost.... putting a DSA gun in my hands at around $1300 minimum IF my dealer will sell it to me at DSA's price.

Most want to add 10% and no dealer within 50 miles of here will do a transfer for less than $60. There's only 5 and they pretty much have the same prices on everything they sell.... used to be over a dozen, but WalMart and Academy have run them all out of business as far as the average hunter goes as those guys are only shopping price and the dealers can't compete against wallmart on a M700, M70 and the like cause wallmart is selling em for what they buy em for.

Ever try to get WalMart to do a dealer transfer? LOL


Anyway thanks for all the very valuable opinions, I've taken them all seriously and I've just gotta pin this guy down a bit on the history of this rifle. If everything shakes out, I'll be a new FAL owner.

If not, there's a guy with a mint M1A with the box, accessories etc. nearby for $850.00

By monday I'll have one or the other. So I'll be all smiles any way it works out!
 
ny32182

I’m not the first, nor last to have done this, all it took was a little work. Your "dealer" got you for the difference, or a reasonable mark-up.

DSA will quote you the dealer price, once they have received permission (in my case it was a letter and follow up phone call) from your FFL. The “permission” is for DSA to deal directly with you. The hardest part was finding the FFL to deal with. DSA doesn’t care if they get dealers cost from “Joe’s Gun Shop” or “Joe Blow”.


Once my FFL sent DSA the letter and called, I gave DSA my specs and they quoted me the dealer price, which was about $170 or so below their list. I ordered the rifle directly through DSA, paid with my CC, and the rifle was shipped to my FFL. I paid cost, plus shipping (something like $22.00). My FFL charged me a $15 fee.

Chuck
 
kaferhaus said:
That was my point.... add shipping, FFL fees and you've got over a $1,000.00 in a refinished "used" rifle. Assembled correctly I'm sure.

Yet everyone's telling me they're not worth over about $600 and that you can build one for that.... Maybe you USED to be able too, but not today you can't. It would seem buying a professionaly built one is gonna be far less expensive than building one once you price the tools and refinishing along with the parts..
Click to expand...

Actually, you need to look closely at the quality of manufacture of he DSA product. They are top notch. To call them a "refinished, used rifle" is like calling a 1965 Pontiac GTO Convertible a great car to drive the family around.

Plus, find a transfer dealer to order direct from DSA and only cahrge you transfer price. You'll get a superior rifle for much less than the $995 you're seeing in shops.
 
Kaferhaus,

He's making a buck or two (or five hundred) if you purchase those rifles for the asking prices...

Prices from the "good old days" of FAL building...

$250 retail/shipping/transfer per Imbel Type 3 receiver...

$300 for the STG kit (and yes, it always came with a bipod)

$150 for the R1 kit

$100 each, ballpark, for US compliance parts

$100 each for refinishing/assembly/tools/etc.

That STG, worst case scenario, cost about $750 to build. The R1 cost about $600 to build. I don't begrudge anyone making a profit, but asking $1850 for two rifles that top out "new" for $1350 total is a bit of a leap, especially when one is still in post-ban configuration. They might be fine shooters, but you'd be paying more than top dollar for them.

Best,
John Bear Ross
 
ny32182 said:
Now THIS is the deal that I've never been able to find... I paid nearly $1500 for my SA-58 by the time it was all said and done. Where do you get an SA-58 for just over $1k? My dealer went direct to DSA, but I still basically got charged according to the website MSRP.
Click to expand...

I think you are confusing DSAs Stg-58 and SA-58 rifles. Two different beasts, the SA-58 is pricier.

Tex
 
I know nothing of FAL's, but what is the difference betweeen SA-58 and the Stg58? I expect I'll get one in the next year or two and want to make sure I know the difference.

Also, I may be in Houston, but there are always guys with FFL's around who don't have a shop. Many get tables at gun shows around, but I am sure you can find one of those. They are always interested in making a few bucks by helping you out. The guy I have used has a web page, but no shop. He has a day job.
 
MechAg94

A DSA STG is a “kit” gun built by DSA using very nice surplus Austrian STG Kits. It has the required US parts and is very well built and finished. The barrel should be in excellent to new shape. If you order one from DSA you can get it with a brand new barrel for an extra fee. It should have steel handguards and a bipod. It will also most likely have a STOLL flash hider (long and cool looking). It’s a very good buy because the DSA receiver alone has a dealer cost of $325

A SA58 is a DSA brand new rifle complete with a new aluminum lower receiver.

Both will feature a DSA upper receiver with a DSAXXXX serial number. Probably the best receiver made. DSA also sells complete allow lower receivers. The only way to be 100% sure is to contact DSA and have them check the serial number.

Hope this helps,

Chuck
 
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