Gun Nut Vanity: need advice on auto loader rifle in .308 Win.

self

[300winmag]

Not trying to be critical but with that rifle you should be cutting one ragged hole at 50 yards. Mine will hold sub 2 inch groups at 200 from the bench but I had to replace the stock trigger, their junk.

You're not as harsh as I am with my own work. It still has the factory trigger, although I was able to tune it up considerably. And my shooting position was what I call "half-ass offhand", where I lean my shoulder against partition wall of the firing point. A shooting bench and sandbags sound pretty luxurious for me.

[Joe Brower]

You state a preference for the FN-FAL as a .308 autoloader, and I have to agree with you. So stick with that idea.

I have a DSA SA58 medium contour (metric) and it's the cats meow.

Click the pic to see DSA's current selection. Figure out which one you like and then try gunbroker.com or other firearms-classifieds sites for the best deal.

[Noumenon]

I’ve owned an FN FAL for years. It’s a great rifle, well deserving of the tiel of “the free world’s right arm”.

Built mine on a DSA receiver using a very, very nice Austrian StG58 parts kit. It’s the one I bring to Appleseed shoots, and the one I’ll reach for when the SHTF. I’m still good enough to make consistent head shots at 500 yards - which is prettty much what you can do once you qualify as Rifleman at the Appleseed shoot. Highly, highly recommended. Worth every penney.

[yarddog]

I have always wanted an FAL but somehow never got one.

Even when I was making good money and buying guns almost daily I just never ran into a good deal on one. I saw some imported by Gun South and they were really beautiful. I think these were intended for civilian sales as the workmanship seemed better than most military models.

I guess the reason I never got one is the price. Back when I had the money, I could buy a new AR or Hk-91 for $500 and the FALs were $2000. I had a friendly dealer and stocked up on AR-15s and HK products just before the ban and ridiculous price increases.

I remember bringing a brand new in the box AR-15 HBar which included a .22LR conversion unit to a gun show. I recall one dealer had a well used AR-15 with a $2500 price tag and he would not give me $700 for mine. Absolute thieves. I don’t mind them making money, that is what they are in business for but those who would not deal with you unless they could absolutely skin you sort of disgusted me.

[rarestia]

G3A3/CETME! I bought one for $500, and I’ve not regretted it once. Turns heads at the range and you can put just about any .308 through it.

I bought 900 rds. of Indian milsurp, and I never once had a hang or misfire. Keep it clean, and you’re good to go.

Only downside is cleaning the trigger assembly. Much consternation and swearing when trying to put that Rube Goldberg back together (heh).

[Gilbo_3]

bumpity...

[ExSoldier]

IMHO, you can never go wrong with a Springfield Armory M1A. I have one set up for fairly long range shots and I mounted a Shepherd range finding scope specifically calibrated for Federal Gold Match 168gr BTHP. I can shoot three rounds at 100 yds and cover the holes with a nickel. Used to be a dime, but as I age.... I love the FAL too but what about parts? Are they going to be hard to come by if the SHTF? Were I going for one of those I might get one from DPMS and do it in carbine length.

[ExSoldier]

Clyde was known to favor the Browning BAR. IIRC he had one that was "cut down."

[green iguana]

Do you get any failures to feed with that thing? If no, what kind of ammo do you use?

[Billthedrill]

Great thread and for me, timely - I do not (gasp!) own a .308 at the moment. I won't go into details but no, a boating accident was not involved. I'm very much an FN fan but this time around I'm leaning toward a Springfield. I shoot the latter a little bit better with iron sights, which may be a silly reason to buy a rifle but there you are. Neither is cheap; either is a lifetime investment.

Sure interesting to see what the others say, though. A BTT for more input.

[Durus]

AR10 all the way. Most accurate semi-auto rifle period. I love M1As, I really do, but the AR10 is the superior rifle in everything but a hand to hand Fight and I'm not keen on judging a rifle by it's utility as a club.

[GingisK]

I have two L1A1s that would be nice except they are from Century Arms. DON"T EVER DO THAT!!! The FN_FAL is a wonderful weapon, and DSA is probably a good choice. Of course, a real Belgium one would be nice if we had the cash.

I also have a Springfield M1A, which is also a very fine weapon. It is reliable and a very straight shooter that chews on any ammo I've put in it.

Given a "Do Over" on the L1A1s, I'd go with the DSA version of the FN-FAL. Those things shoot very smoothly and are just really classy looking. You can also get plenty of "dress-up" stuff for mounting a scope and Picatinny rails.

[antisocial]

Not to change the subject but

Joe was it you that posted a thread about a CZ82?

I just ordered one and was wondering where the wood grips were from.

[Trailerpark Badass]

What are you going to use it for?

.30 cal AR-type rifles are the way to go these days; they beat the legacy battle rifles (FAL/HK91/M14) hands down in optics mounting, ergonomics, and accuracy. They're not cheap, though.

I would look at the LMT MWS (recently adopted as the British Army's DMR), Larue Tactical's OBR, or if you really want to splurge, KAC SR-25 EMC or EMR. Colt 901 is also supposed to be available soon, and it willlet you use both .30 cal and AR-15 uppers on one lower.

[going hot]

Glass bedding the action and clean up the seer for a satin smooth pull of slight travel, then a crisp click as it releases, will push that 1 inch pattern out considerabley further. 1/2 moa hood on the peep sight if not already there for finer adjustment, and more crisp sight picture.

After that, consistancy in ammo is paramount.

[TexasRepublic]

“DPMS makes tons of .308 ARs in every imaginable configuration.”

Three years ago I learned the hard way that DPMS .308 magazines are hard to find and expensive. I have not looked lately. Nor are they interchangeable with AR-10 mags; that would have been too easy.

[mcshot]

I’m a fan of the BM59 series of weapons which were way ahead of time. I have one of the rare BM62s which is a sporterized version. My AR10 is in .243 and another absolute keeper.

[antisocial]

Never mind I found it.

[ExSoldier]

Where did you get your RFB and if you don't mind me asking, how long did it take to get you one and at what cost?

[mylife]

I have the FAL
the CETME
the .308 VEPR
the .308 Saiga
and the .308 MAS 49/56

I enjoy shooting them all, but the one I shoot the most is the lowly CETME.
Put a 6x scope on one and you will whack gongs at 400 yrds all day.
If you do get a HK G3, HK 91 or a Cetme besure to check the bolt gap before you buy it. It should measure .012 - .020 Inch