yup... HK91-A3 with collapsing stock... mine was made in 1978 and still runs like a clock!!! got one with wood stock & forend too... love em both.
Shotgun and Guts, those two beget the other and vice versa.
No weapon will suffice the unwilling or the timid.
TT
Very accurate rifle, even in the carbine setup. Not as many add-ons as the AR-15, but that will probable change as the industry ramps up.
As far as reliability goes, stick with the name brands (Bushmaster, Armalite, DPMS) and you should be okay. If you do have problems, Armalite, for instance, has a lifetime warranty and they have no qualms about honoring it. Bushmaster also has a great customer service department.
Another plus for the Bushmaster is that it uses FN-Fal mags, which are readily available and cheap ($8.00 new for 20 rnd).
M-14 w/glass embedded stock and match sights -- extremely accurate without a scope to 1000 yards!
The reason that I recommend doing this is that although the "big three" are similar in configuration, each has a unique "feel". Some people love the FAL, but think the H&K has lousy ergonomics and harsh recoil. For others, the H&K fits just right, so the FAL feels awkward. Some who love the M-14/M-1A can't stand the pistol-grip setup on the other two.
If you should find that you like the FAL series of rifles best, consider buying an Austrian StG-58 parts kit and an Imbel semi-auto "gear logo" receiver. There are a bunch of good FAL-smiths out there who can assemble it for not too much $$$, and those people at Steyr-Daimler-Puch could really forge a rifle barrel. Naturally, the Austrian army didn't see much action while the StG-58 was issued, so all those parts are as-new.
Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you choose.
Don't take anyone's advice.
Read the $28 book that spends hundreds of pages with useful data and analysis on precisely this very question.
http://javelinpress.com/bostons_gun_bible.html
If you don't think the book is worthwhile, I'll buy your copy.
Trust me.
(It likes the M1A, but explains why, and explains why you might like others.)
For a pretty comprehensive discussion of the comparative merits of the major Battle Rifles currently available on the Civilian market, Check out:
http://www.gunboards.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=12
Feel free to register and post your question over there as well.
I have been rather partial to the old M-14 ever since I trained with one and carried one in Korea in 1968.
Never had much use for the "Jammin' Jenny" 5.56MM, but I guess they are better now than they were then and a lot of Soldiers seem to like 'em. I just have to think that when it comes to whomping an enemy down so he won't be getting right back up again a couple of hundred yards away, you just cant' do a 7.62 X 51MM's job with a puny little "Made by Mattell - I'ts Swell" plastic and aluminum .222 gopher gun.
But prices being as they are for the CivviLegal M-1A, I might be tempted by one of the CETMEs or G-3 varients.
They can be had for around $300 these days, and good luck finding an M-1A for that!
We are told that IF they are assembled on a US made semi-auto reciever and set up properly, they are accurate and reliable.
As far as I can tell, between the FN/FAL and CETME, it's pretty much Fords and Chevys.
These rifles have entirely different operating systems, BTW;
The FAL is a gas-op piston gun, while the CETME uses a very interesting delayed blow-back system.
For even more on the CETME, go to:
http://www.cetmerifles.com/pages/index2.html
But the buzz is that CETMEs are drying up, so we might not want to put one off too long.
I'm contemplating buying the "Parts Kit" and a reciever, and building one up.
Have fun!
UJ
First, do you want a target rifle or a battle rifle? If you want a target rifle, get an M1A or AR-10 clone. If you want a reliable, proven battle rifle get an FAL.
Only the US used the M14 while over 90 used the FN-FAL.
The M14 and it's civilian cousin the M1A are outstanding weapons and the FAL won't be able to match their accuracy. However, FAL's are EXTREMELY reliable.You can even screw one together from a kit in your garage, I have assembled 3 myself.
Spare parts, aftermarket parts, and mags are cheap and readily available. This means that you can do a bit of home gunsmithing without fear of destroying something really expensive. As someone said, go over to the FalFiles.com for all the info you could ever want about the FAL.
If you don't want to build one, just get a DS Arms built FAL and you will be tickled pink.
Then there is always the Garand rebarreled to .308. You can pick up a Greek Rack Grade for $295, have it professionally refinished and rebarreled and restocked and STILL have less then $800 invested. Also, with just a little practice, you can shoot just as many rounds from a Garand as any other mag fed semi-auto battle rifle.
I would go for the Bushmaster M17S
P.S. I just picked up 4 used 20 round aluminum FAL mags in very good condition at a gunshow for $5 each.
yup... HK91-A3 with collapsing stock... mine was made in 1978 and still runs like a clock!!! got one with wood stock & forend too... love em both.
P.P.S. You cna get a folding stock for a FAL and install it legally, now. Do that with an AR-10 or M1A.
congrats, you've narrowed it down to about 4 or 5 choices or maybe 6 or 7. You should be able to make a choice very easily now...Personally, I will stick with my Ruger M-77 .300 win mag. for long shots although I am a great lover of the M-14 and used to prize the M-1 Garand over all battle rifles and it is still a fine weapon but others are now much better.
Para FN-Fal
find an original , not a kit
You can't do with 1 battle rifle.
The first one should be an M1 Garand.
Get it thrrough the department of Civilian Marksmanship.
Qualifying is not that hard but does take a few months.
Cheap way to get a fine rifle!
Here's de link Mann:
http://www.odcmp.com/
The M14 is real nice.
With the AWB gone can I get a good AK-47? ;-)