Finally got one

[unokubi]

Been an admirer of the FAL for a long time. With the elections coming up, I had gotten serious about looking, so...

I was at a gun show in Orlando last weekend and found a bunch of FALs. I liked the quality of the DSA models and had read good things about them here....

One dealer had a tactical para at a price that I didn't think was too outrageous, so now it's mine. Picture is below with my XCR for comparison. She handles beautifully -- light in the muzzle and points effortlessly.

First trip to the range was pretty decent: not driving tacks, but not bad for a new rifle with iron sights at 100 yards.

I'm thinking I'll add the para scope mount, a tapco pistol grip, extended safety and maybe the railed handguard. Thoughts? Other mods you'd go for?

tk

[powermad]

Nice rig.

Get a SAW grip for it. The knuckle button won't be in the way and driving you nuts.

Scope mount...... I suggest you get good with the irons.
It may be a while before you see one.

Railed handguards.. That's up to the end user.

[Survey Punk]

Always wanted a Para. Very nice.
I'd opt for ammo now instead of bling for your rifle. Keep in mind the reasons you wanted to get this rifle in the first place.
Score your first case of good surplus, a few magazines, extra firing pin and extractor parts then start looking for parts to customize.
Personally I'd leave it as is, but that's just me.

JB

[unokubi]

I got what I thought was a pretty good deal on some surplus NATO ammo when I picked up the rifle -- $100 for $200 rounds of brass-cased, boxer-primed. Supposed to be from Germany. I need to get some dies and go into reloading mode.

Any particular dies that stand out for the .308? I reload with a Dillon 650.

Reasonable point about learning the sights. I think the sight picture is as good as with most BUIS I've seen.

I need practice with her -- learn the sights better, get used to the blast. But I was pleased enough with my first trip to the range. Ain't driving tacks, but that's not what she's for. And I think I lost accuracy as the barrel heated up. These are from 100 yards, which is as far as I was able to try last weekend.

[flyboy]

I think your doing a nice job at the range, and those look like some nice and effective hits for open iron. Wish I had one of those fine rifles.

[brownknees]

I've used the Hornady "New Dimension" I like them a lot for the FAL as the case mouth dings run over the egg-shaped expander ball very well. Just make sure the decapping stem has the "semi-threads" on it rather than the older smooth style with a collet type clamp as they will slip if decapping crimped-in primers.

You might want to re-load 165 Gr bullets, not 150's as they seem to be more accurate in many FALs owned by several members here.

[J. Armstrong]

I'm in agreement with SurveyPunk. A#1 priority would be several cases worth of ammo along with maybe 10 mags. Close behind would be spares and basic web for the mags.
The SAW grip does have a slightly better angle, as do the Penguin PGs which have the added plus of looking more original. Extended safety is advantageous for you righties. I am WAY not a fan of railed HGs and other foo-foo, although with increasing "age adjusted" () eyesight, a solid scope mount and either EOTech or low power scope is becoming increasingly advantageous ! The DSA mount is solid but obscenely heavy, never tried an ARMS, currently have a Grenadier Precision to test - feedback on these low production mounts has been varied, so I can't comment pro or con till I get some serious use on mine. Generally, my feeling is keep the excess crap off the rifle or pretty soon it is heavy, awkward, prone to damage, etc -- plus at the range very few of the "tacticool" gents ever get enough practice with all the various trinkets to become very proficient with any of 'em. JMHO,YMMV

And ---- welcome aboard

[1mlt]

Nice looking rifle. SAW grips, buy more ammo and a few spare parts before you "bling" as SP said. I have always used RCBS for reloading and never had any issues. I prolly have 10 to 12 sets of dies in pistol and rifle cals.

[USMC 0341]

If you are going to own just one FAL, or if you are just getting started with your first one, it would be hard to go wrong with the primo example you picked.

Nice para!

[Billwil]

Good looking cabbine there! I hove one quite similay on order and now inbound. For your Dillon press I would use dillon dies as I feel they "auto align" a bit better than traditional dies (made for single stage presses). I use Redding dies in my RL-550 when loading precision ammo, but all of them will work and the Lee dies are very economical (now that we blew all our money on the DSA!)

Buy some of the Lithuanian surplus 7.62 NATO ammo if you can still find it, it is quite accurate in my rifles. And US made XM80 is of course good stuff too if you find it. I prefer not to use steel case ammo (Wolf, etc) in my rifles, but opinions vary.

[weld387]

Very nice rig. I reload with a RL550B. Picked up a set of 308 dies from Dillion. There $60 bucks. At the range I was hitting what I aimed at almost every time. This weapon is known for moderate accuracy. I can get about 2.5 MOA with my load that I worked up. Using 147 Winchester FMJ's Remington brass and WLR primers. And Ramshot "TAC" powder. The charge is not real hot. pushing about 2,750 fps. OAL 2.775 been sticking with whats working out at the range. GOOD LUCK FINDING BRASS!! most of my sources or out. The ones that have the stuff are asking WAY too much for it.

[Azrial]

Nice Rifle! Keep in mind that the barrel is threaded like an AR if you decide to change out the flashhider. I put an AR Vortex on mine after boreing it out to .311".

[Fn/form]

Cool to see an XCR next to an FAL. Would you mind taking a few more side-by-side pics? I know the angle can make the nearer firearm look bigger... is the XCR really as big as an FAL?

I've been wanting an XCR in 7.62x39 due to features... very interested in more comparison pics!

[unokubi]

For those not familiar with it, the XCR is a modular weapon system made in Salt Lake City. It borrows design elements from several different rifles (including, obviously, the FAL), but is unique -- the barrel and caliber can be swapped in just a couple of minutes with no special tools. It uses a rotating bolt and can be completely field stripped (bolt, gas piston, etc) without tools.

Mine is in 5.56 and has the 18.6-inch heavy barrel (I've got a kit on order for conversion to 6.5 Grendel). There is no .308 version yet.

It's a fine, if unproven, weapon. The receiver is slightly larger then the FAL. The barrel is 2.35 inches longer, but the FAL has about an inch longer LOP, which I appreciate (I have long arms). The FAL is also lighter, and lighter at the fore-end (the monolithic rails on the XCR are a great feature, but add weight), which means it's faster on point.

Here's a couple of photos that, I hope, will give a better comparison.

[bronco_buster]

Nice looking rifle! I can't wait for my first para! Would love to see some other angles. I'm new to FAL's as well, but I must say a big +1 to the SAW grip; I don't really like the looks of it, but it gives much better traction to the rifle IMHO.

[unokubi]

I already ordered one and it's been shipped. Was hoping it would arrive today so that I could put it on and try it out tomorrow. No such luck. Ah, well...

tk

[Fn/form]

tk,

Thanks a LOT for the pics! Just what I wanted to see. That puts things in perspective. Man, I can't imagine a carbine-caliber rifle that's bigger than an FAL. The cost of 7.62x39 ammo and XCR design make an attractive combo, but for the size. Practically speaking, I could swing it if I could get it accepted for duty use. Would want to test swing of other railed ARs, tho.

Very helpful insights, too. I wonder how a 16" 5.56 or x39 XCR would point compared to your 18.6" heavy barrel....

Thanks again!


-josh

[unokubi]

The footprint and weight of the xcr are almost exactly the same as that of a similarly railed AR, and it's really the rails that are responsible for the size of the weapon's footprint. An interesting comparison would be to see a railed FAL side-by-side with the XCR.

btw: I like the heavy barrel, but I know a couple of guys who switched out their heavy barrels for light after taking them to carbine courses. When you're handling them that much, a couple of ounces at the end of the barrel makes a real difference.

tk