<$0.02
H2O MAN,
by refined and modernized are you refering to rail forends and dust cover/scope mounts? or the folding stock option of the para?
if so these are homegrown mods you can do to any FAL clone you buy. for the para mod, you would be well advised to buy the stock screwdriver/recoil spring retainer tool or risk wearing the springs.
at the risk of ruffling feathers and starting an onslaught of angry replies...back in the day, FN was the only game in town.
even the "browning" FAL's were just brand marked FN. the para models sold for more than a standard LAR (50.00), but for resale the fixed stock was more expensive. this due to the longer recoil springs in the stock being more tolerant of ammo variances.
i have owned century, heese, imbel and FN. some day, DSA will also be on that list. of those listed, the imbel full length was the most accurate.
it would shoot 5rds of american eagle into about 1 1/8-1 1/4", sandbagged rest, under the old style leopold EXTRA heavy duplex 1x4. not a one time fluke, but common on a day the shooter was doing his part. had to use "X" type targets to determine point of aim for very heavy duplex. not really a target scope as the thin bars of the duplex covered over an inch @ 100yds. but even before illuminated reticles this (to my knowledge, no longer made**) duplex was visible in any light that allowed target acquisition @ 1X, and not wash out your vision as many illuminated reticles do.
the imbel carbine would do about 2".
a century L1A1 had the bbl cut just behind the threads, and would shoot about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4". same-o for the FN.
the heese carbine would shoot about 3-4", but suspect the trilux/SUIT optic or mount had repeatability issues due to poor retaining spring system.
overall accuracy observations---the standard length 21" bbl with the "match" flash supressor seemed to be the ideal vibration length/weight distribution for the standard 150gr (+,-) ball ammo.
not sure about the DSA offerings, as noted above, but all of the FAL variations i owned prefered american eagle ammo. did not find ANY 160-170gr ammo they liked.
these opinions based on ONLY the iron i have owned, as such, they will not be found written in stone beneath the sphynx on indiana jones' next adventure.
you may detect a hard-core FAL addict here. GOOD insight on your part. but if reliability is the main criteria, i feel the HK mfgd 91 model, and the M1A have both got a slight advantage there. the FAL is not a good choice for very sandy environments, but this can be helped some with the british "sand cut" bolt carrier. the magazines are also slightly weaker than the '91 or M1A. however, if one is using an inch pattern upper, the BREN 30 chance mags are heavy duty designs on par with both.
if accuracy is top priority, the better made AR-10 clones win easily, but you had better keep them CLEAN. the HK PSG-1 is also very accurate, sell your car and buy one. for carbine sized iron look to the HK G3K. the later will probably be only half of the proceeds from your car sale.
still, MY ~overall~ rating prefers the FAL, for more various reasons than i feel inclined to get into here. and I WOULDN'T go with the opinions of somebody else, if i were you. find an owner of the flavor you are interested in. negotiate a one time rental at the local range with you supplying the ammo.
gunnie
**the "heavy duplex" designated reticles leo sells in 1X4 optics now are NOT as thick as the older offerings.
