Battle Rifle Advice Wanted

self ^ | Tuesday, November 9 | self

[Atlas Sneezed]

have you used any of the new recoil buffers out there???

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I haven't, and the reviews are mixed as to whether they do much.

I'd get a wide buttpad for a fixed stock.

[MileHi]

Joe, you got a link?

[Charles Martel]

How easily can you mount optics?

The FAL scope mounts replace the sheet metal bolt cover. There are several on the market, ranging from a simple Weaver rail to high-zoot Picatinny rigs. Check Falfiles.com for commentary.

Also, some people feel that the FAL's pistol grip is raked back at too sharp an angle. If you find that to be the case, check with TAPCO for one of their replacement grips modeled after that of the FN Minimi/M-249 Squad Automatic Weapon. The grip angle is less severe, and you get a neat trapdoor closure for storage of cleaning patches, etc.

[AnAmericanMother]

My dad was also in the Combat Engineers in WWII.

They issued him an M-1 Carbine (piece of junk!). After a little mixup with a German soldier, the safety, and the clip release (he dropped all his bullets in the street, but Fritz didn't even turn his head, he just kept running for Berlin), he picked up a Garand off a dead GI and carried it for the rest of the war.

Where did your dad serve? (We may have talked about this before, but I forgot - sorry).

[Joe Brower]

"Joe, you got a link?"

Sorry, MileHi, I don't. I saw this part featured in their two-page ad in the Shotgun News. You could call them at (847) 277-7258 and get the info, probably.

[hubno]

I have a Ruger Mini 14 with both stocks and 30 rd.clips.
It is sweet to shoot.I have dressed it up with flash hider and a fore grip.
Paid $300 five years ago.for rifle,two stocks,5 clips and 200 rds of .223.

[yarddog]

Yes I remember discussing it.

Daddy served in the 208th Engineers, Combat Batallion.

He actually spent a fairly long time in England and Scotland. He took a dislike to the English but liked the Scots. Went over after D-day, he was not involved in the invasion.

They went through Belgium, Holland, France, and Germany. Also were the first American troops sent into Berlin after the Russians captured it.

I think he got the Garand before going to the continent. He acquired an Austo-Hungarian .32 which he used to kill small animals such as geese, since they had to clean the Garand thoroughly if it was fired.

They were supposedly not allowed to scrounge due to the possibility of poison. Daddy said he got the only chewing out he ever got because the CO caught him with some eggs he had traded a German kid out of using candy bars as barter.

[hubno]

I stand corrected.
Everyone in the 82nd Division were required to turn in their Springfileds for Lee-Enfield SMLEs. York carried the Lee-Enfield.

[hiredhand]

We've got AR-15s (Armalite) and an FAL.

I LIKE the FAL that I can put the red dot on a target at 400 yards and EXPECT to perforate it with with substantial energy transfer at that distance.

I like the AR-15 (Armalite) because it's VERY accurate, has low recoil, and you can carry a substantial amount of ammo over an equivalent weight of .308 ammo. But it has a BAD reputation as a battle rifle.

The ".223 vs .308" discussion is a religious war. :-) You're going to get everybody's opinion here, including mine! But I'll tell you this. I've got a most gracious and lovely woman in my house who simply does NOT have the upper body strength to effectively handle the FAL. The odds of her ever being as effective as I am with it are very low. However, she shoots the AR-15 VERY well, as does my 9 yr old (boy)....as does my 11 yr old (girl).

The trade off in my purist rifleman's mind was that the AR is useable by more people in my house than just me. So my primary weapon is the FAL, unless it breaks, and then I fall back to the AR (always keep a spare!).

Having said all that....I wish I had bought a DSA SA-58. (http://www.dsarms.com) instead fo my "mostly" STG-58 FAL. :-)

[tophat9000]

Check out the Russian VEPR it's an AK but in .308 built on the RPK receiver... http://www.robarm.com/

[hiredhand]

have you used any of the new recoil buffers out there???

BufferTech makes em for just about everything. We buy them for the FAL and SKS from www.tapco.com. They make a big difference with the FAL. Not so much with the SKS.

[Pyro7480]

If you want a .30 caliber, the FAL, particulary the DSA, is the way to go.

Any special license one needs for that gun?

[Tempest]

Damn! I thought that this was going to be a Halo2 discussion.

[Joe Brower]

"Any special license one needs for that gun?"

Good question. Being in the red state of Florida, there's no problem. Blue states like NJ, MA, CA and others probably require registration or don't even allow them at all.

A call to the folks at DSA (847.277.7258) would tell you right quick.

[Pyro7480]

I did a Google search for the gun, and it said that an "FFL" (Federal Firearms License) was required for purchase. I'm guessing that's only if you want to buy it directly from them. Otherwise, buy it though the dealer.

[petro45acp]

Re the ACOGs, the military has just made a huge buy on them (Marines @ 40 or 50K!). Don't look for the price to come down any time soon.

Top sends.

[GunnyHartman]

U.S.C.M. M41-A Pulse Rifle

[Joe Brower]

An FFL is the license that is issued by the Treasury (via the BATFE) that allows a gun dealer to buy and sell firearms. You as an individual don't need one per se, although, as I mentioned, other state restrictions on you as an individual may apply.

So you go to your local gun shop, tell him what you want or have him help you decide (get a DSA catalog and start browsing), you give him money, he'll order it, sometime later he'll receive it, you'll fill out a form 4473 (BATFE firearms sale form), you'll get a NICS background check run which takes about five minutes, pay him his remaining fees and that should be that.

Some states/counties/municipalities also have a "waiting period" on long guns -- you'll have to check on those laws for your specific locale. That's about it. I'm sure if I missed anything, the RKIs here will help you out.

Oh, and some states allow "private transfers", where you don't have to do any of this stuff, if it's one private individual who already has said firearm simply selling to another. Like here in Florida, for example: a friend of mine has a firearm I want to buy, I give him money, he gives me the gun, we shake hands and head off to the range.

Freedom. It's a beautiful thing... $:-)

[Barnstormer]

Agreed! Springfield M1A (M-14) is best choice by far. The preferred semi-auto choice for long distance shooters. They also make a Match version if you want to get really serious. And, if $$ is not an issue, they make a Carlos Hathcock Sniper version (M-21 and M-25) fully tricked out.

Springfield is also making a .308 version of the old M-1 Garand, but it costs nearly as much as the M1A?

[AnAmericanMother]

Dad never made it to Germany. After Italy was over, they sent him to the Greek Islands to supervise the elections (and get shot at by Communists). The worst he had to endure was eating sheeps' eyeballs as the Guest of Honor in every little Greek village they came to (he couldn't eat lamb for years~!) He had his orders to get on a ship for the Pacific when Truman dropped the bomb. < whew! >

His best buddy went to Southern France, where he was shot in the knee by a Vichy Frenchman (figures.) (He's fine though - still got the bullet in his knee but going strong at age 81.)