M1 Garand or FAL?

[ndh87]

My vote would be for picking up the FAL before it gets banned. Grands can always be found...and bought.

 

[lamazza]

^^ true and I voted FAL because of mag cap.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

But once those garands are sold out at CMP, how much is a rack grade going to cost me?

 

[helpless]

DO NOT BUY A GARAND

dont buy an M1 garand. More for me.

 

[rbernie]

There's a reason that virtually every army in the free world chose the FAL to arm their post-WWII armies and didn't choose the Garand. That's not to take away anything from the Garand, but simply to point out that the FAL is simply a more modern rifle.

A decent FrankenFal can be had for about the same cost as the average Garand with little historic value. For the cost of a breathed-upon and rebarreled Garand, you can likely get a DSA FAL.

 

[1911JMB]

DSA SA58's are plenty accurate with a scope, or even just with iron sights. A Garand is probably more accurate than a SA58 if its in good condition, but you can easily get 1.5" groups at 100 yards from a scoped SA58. With that in mind, and with mag capacity and all the stuff you can do to them, I never even considered a Garand. I HAD to get a SA58.

Sure Garands are powerful and accurate, and that distinct ping is the coolest thing WWII had to offer, but I like FALs way more.

 

[DMK]

So garands are more accurate than FAL's or is this just his garand?

Well, you're right. My sample is small and doesn't prove anything. I could just have been lucky with one of the rifles and by luck of the draw, it happened to be the Garand.

However, try this:

Poke around on Jouster.com and similar forums and read everything you can about making a Garand shoot as accurately as possible.

Now go to Falfiles.com and read everything you can about making a FAL shoot as accurately as possible.

You decide which is easier to accurize.

I know my ARs are more accurate than both!

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Guess I'll be making a trip to Camp Perry.

 

[Rail]

Dang

Too bad, I wanted you to buy the parts kit, build it and post your experiences here. I'm getting set to do it and want some guidance . 'Course, I already have a Garand - but I grew up with FALs

 

[akolleth]

I can see both aspects, honestly.

If timing were not an issue with AWB on the horizion I would definately say get the Garand first as its much more fun as a rifle.

But, with the very real possibility of an AWB the Fal may become VERY SCARCE in a heartbeat away.

tough call either way

 

[ilbob]

I saw the post after the poll closed so did not get to vote. I would have voted Garand. Really both are fine rifles, but a Garand has real history behind it.

 

[zoom6zoom]

I'm not voting - because I have both. As has been said, the choice depends on what you want it for. A fairer comparison would be the FAL vs. M-14 since they are both mag fed.

Another consideration is that 30.06 ammo is cheaper at the moment, at least from CMP.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I used a Garand my first tour in Viet Nam (my issue M2 carbine got wrapped around a tree.) I have also been in combat with the Australians who carried the FAL. I prefer the Garand.