New Entreprise STG58C -- Happy Customer, but a few concerns.

[steelmi1]

Despite all the negative publicity here concerning Entrprise Arms, I ordered one of their "Government" model rifles on February 5, 2009. On the day that I ordered, I got a phone call from them, asking if I wanted anything special added to the rifle, or did I want to order extra magazines, etc. They told me estimated delivery time was 12 weeks.

I had my local FFL fax their license to Entreprise that day.

I finally got my rifle on June 4th, which is a good deal longer than I had hoped, but given current circumstances it was understandable. I did not contact them until after the original 12 weeks was up, because I knew they were busy, and didn't want to be a pest. After the 12 weeks, I PM'ed Matt about my order, but was told that he could not look up information about internet orders. He suggested that I send email to their sales team, which annoyed me considerably, but I did anyway. I got in contact with Lily at Entreprise, who told me that my rifle was in the queue, but hadn't been finished yet. Once I got in contact with her, she did an outstanding job of communicating with me, and letting me know what was going on. A couple weeks before my rifle shipped, I emailed her and asked to have the rifle shipped with two extra magazines, and she took care of that.

For some reason, I got three different phone calls from Entreprise stating that they did not have an FFL on file for my rifle. In mid-May (after the first call from Entreprise), I called the FFL, and had them re-fax it. I understand them being busy, but three calls? I was starting to worry.

Now, here ends the concerns. I got a call on a Friday stating my rifle had shipped. I got another call the following Thursday from my local FFL to pick it up. When I pulled the rifle out of the box, it looked great. All of the controls were stiff and a little gritty, but smoothed out with hand cycling and dry firing. This is my first FAL, so I'm not an expert, but everything on the rifle looked right, and seemed to fit right.

Last Wednesday, I took the rifle to the range. I fired about 60 rounds of Norinco copper-washed steel .308 (which I consider to be total junk). The rifle functioned flawlessly. I do need to adjust the rear sight. The rifle is printing about 8 inches left and 8 inches high at 100 yards. I didn't have a screw driver in my range bag to zero it, but I don't expect any problems. Eventually I had to stop because one of those Norinco cases stuck in the chamber and ripped off the rim. That can hardly be blamed on the rifle.

Yesterday, I got three South African battle packs from AIM. I can't wait to get back out there and burn through them. I'm shooting an Appleseed in July, and will probably use my Entreprise FAL.

Despite the long wait and the sense that they didn't quite have their act together at times, I am quite happy with the end result.

[W.E.G.]

Da-yum.

600 rounds on the first outing?

You ARE a hard-chager.

A little sight-adjustment, and you'll be good to go.