FAL - replacement iron sights?

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mmike87

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It occured to me that the primary reason that I think I want optics on my FAL is that I really don't care for the iron sights.

Any suggestions on replacement iron sights for an FAL? Preferable one that would move the rear sight off the lower and onto the picatinny rail, a la AR15 flat top style?

Perhaps some fiber optics or tritium?

Otherwise, I'm looking at a $700 leupold Mark 4 1.5 - 5x scope ... :what:
 
I like the windage adjustable para rear sights. There is a new para lower that uses A-2 rear sights.

I would suggest not scoping it.
 
I put a DSA windage adjustable Para rear sight on my 16" FAL carbine and love it! It has the AR15 style aperatures instead of the regular Paratrooper FAL style aperatures and it makes the sight picture 100 times better. It is worth the ~$60 the want for it.
 
Preferable one that would move the rear sight off the lower and onto the picatinny rail
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Not a bad idea, a BUIS as a primary on a receiver cover mount.

But...if the lock-up between receivers is sufficiently tight, then there's really no need for such a sight. IME, FALs tend to lock up plenty tight enough to make receiver wobble a non-issue.

I don't know if any such sights are available. There may not be a market need great enough for them. Fixing the lock-up might be more cost effective. Just guessing.
 
I recently Para’d my SA58 with a DSA Para kit so I’ve got the standard Para rear.

Before that I replaced the standard rear sight with a standard Para sight. I prefer the non-windage model, because once I’ve got it zero’d I leave it alone. The standard Para model has slightly smaller apertures, and zero wiggle, unlike the standard rear sight.

I’ve also mounted a Trijicon Tri-Power using a Larue #68 mount on the DSA scope cover. I’m really starting to like the Tri-Power due to it’s functioning and it’s ability to hit POI without a perfectly consistent cheek-weld, which with the Para stock is somewhat difficult to maintain.

The combination of the DSA rail cover and the Larue mount allows a near perfect return to zero after removing the scope, I’d guess .25-.5 MOA variance.

Chuck
 
I mean, is it just me, but I can't see sheet through the rear sight of this gun. I don't have a problem with the YH flip us BUIS on my AR - but good Lord I feel blind looking through that tiny hole.

Is there something wrong with me? Is it just the relatively poor light indoors?
 
Not sure where the Para comes from - but the sight options that come from Dan - "Volunteer Ordnance Works'' are very nice for FAL. I got some for my L1A1 but sadly the rear was only suitable for the metric.

The front sight tho I kept and it's a cross hair duplex deal - even with my old eyes, that and the std rear do make for a very useful picture.

My FAL by comparison has a Leupold on it!!:p
 
Why do you suggest not scoping it?
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Because it is a MBR and was not desigined for a scope:cuss: , ie stock height too low, dust cover is not a hard mount, trying to make the dust cover a hard mount has casused many problems with relibitity, the platform is not inherently precise (its a MBR, not a target rifle):banghead:

And last but not least, battries fail and glass breaks.:eek:

If you are almost legally blind I could see scoping it, but otherwise learn how to shoot it well with irons, it can be done but you have to practice.

A scope or other form of optics are just a crutch on a FAL (or G-3, or M-14, ect...).:scrutiny:

(Putting on my Nomex):evil:
 
I am very happy with the Para rear sight on my DSA as far as irons go.

Putting an ML3 Aimpoint on mine made a great rifle even better. With 10,000 ++ hours of battery life and spares easy to keep on hand, that point is mute. They are plenty durable but should it get damaged, a simple flip of the lever and its off. I'm plenty happy with mine.

FAL18.jpg
 
Hawkeye - what specific mount did you use with the aimpoint? My aimpoint mount on my AR has it sitting up really high, which works well on the AR but would suck on the FAL, IMO. Your mount looks good and low.
 
mmike87


I use a Larue Comp M2 RAS II (LT152) for my Tri-Power. It’s an Aimpoint mount that maintains a low profile. Its .5” lower than their standard mount and is too low to co-witness on a flattop AR.

On the Tri-Power, the objective bell has just a slight amount of clearance from the rail.

I also agree with Hawkeye, the right optics make a good rifle better. There’s a reason the military has so readily adopted them. I like the Tri-Power because for about 99% of my shooting the batteries are never even turned on, so I don’t consider them an issue. Like the Eotech, and Aimpoint it’s rugged and reliable.

Should something fail, simply throw the lever and you’re back to irons.


Chuck
 
I'm using the Larue RAS II mount as well. A standard Arms #22M68 mount (without the spacer) will work as well.
A Tri-Power was my second choice behind the ML3 Aimpoint. I went with it because I have lots of trigger time with one, its whats on my main AR15 carbine and I wanted to keep my sighting systems as similar as possible from one weapon to the next, and lastly, I had this one on hand for an AR I was going to do but decided not to.
An Aimpoint, Tri-Power, or EOTech would all be viable on a good battle rifle like an FAL or even an M1A Scout or M1A SOCOM. Hits out to 300 yards or so are very easy. This does not mean one shouldnt learn your irons first, by no means. You HAVE to be able to use your irons.
 
Hawkeye said:
I'm using the Larue RAS II mount as well. A standard Arms #22M68 mount (without the spacer) will work as well.
A Tri-Power was my second choice behind the ML3 Aimpoint. I went with it because I have lots of trigger time with one, its whats on my main AR15 carbine and I wanted to keep my sighting systems as similar as possible from one weapon to the next, and lastly, I had this one on hand for an AR I was going to do but decided not to.
An Aimpoint, Tri-Power, or EOTech would all be viable on a good battle rifle like an FAL or even an M1A Scout or M1A SOCOM. Hits out to 300 yards or so are very easy. This does not mean one shouldnt learn your irons first, by no means. You HAVE to be able to use your irons.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I have been having trouble finding the Larue Mount - their website didn't seem to have a store. Did I miss it somewhere?

Also - dig the camo paint job. Did you do that yourself? If so, what did you use?
 
Well, I checked out the ACOGS at Virginia Arms and Guns and Ammo Warehouse in Manassas today.

I liked the ACOG a lot. It's nice hardware. The recticle was awesome. The "both eyes open" aiming really works.

The bad news (besides the $1100 price tag) was the eye relief. WAY too close for comfort, especially on a 308. My wife said the scope was practically ontop of my eye - a slight stretch, I think - but it was very, very close. Too close for me.

So, I went with the familiar and got the Aimpoint ML3 2moa and an ARMS quick disconnect mount. The ARMS mount sits lower than the Aimpoint mount, and fits the FAL well. The Larue mount is probably better, but this one is tight, in stock, and I was able to test drive it on my rifle before buying.

Also picked up a Surefire Executive Elite flashlight for next months tactical pistol class ...

It was a good day. :) Thanks for everyone's advice.
 
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