Who knows information about STG-58/ FN FAL rifles?

Me

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

I was looking to buy an STG-58/ FN FAL rifle in the future and was wondering what exactly I should look for. I would like to spend no more than $650 on the rifle. What is my best option? Could I get a good quality FN FAL/ STG-58 rifle for that price?

Also, is there anyway to modify these rifle types to make the pistol grip into a thumbhole stock so I can legally put a flash hider on it?

Are L1-A1 rifles better than STG-58 rifles? Are Heckler & Koch G3 rifles heavier than STG-58 rifles?

I also have a side question for a friend about 20 gauge shotguns. Anybody have any recommendations on a good home defense models of 20 gauge shotguns (he would prefer models which have a stock and not just a pistol grip).

[Republican Extremist]

I have owned sevral FALs, and think they are wonderful rifles. For $650, I would try to find a metric rifle built on an Imbel receiver. ARS is a good place to have one built. Stay away from Hesse and Enterprise receivers, as the quality is spotty, and Imbel is made on Belgian machinery, and is mil-spec.
You may want to spend a little more and get a DSA STG-58 like mine. They use DSA receivers, on new Austrian parts kits. Plan on around a grand for one.
Mine is a DSA DSA STG-58 carbine (16"), with bipod, and Elcan scope.

[tet68]

That Elcan set you back at least $600+ too.

I have a Imbel L1A1 with Israeli furniture, and a tapco
scope mount, been wanting a SUIT scope but money is tight.

Really like mine.

[Lurker]

If you can afford it, I highly recommend the M1A.

It's a few bucks more than the AR-10, but mags are cheaper and (IMO) it's a lot more accurate.

L

[wku man]

Back in January I bought an Aussie L1A1, with a US made receiver for $500 plus tax, background check, etc. I got mine at a local store, but Shotgun News used to have them listed for the neighborhood of $400. Many dealers are more than happy to order something from the papers or magazines, and charge you an extra 10-15% to make it worthwhile to them. It works out very well.

I've only shot my L1A1 a few times, but I can tell you it is an absolute joy. The adjustable gas tube is wonderful...you can adjust the amount of gas used for cycling the next round to just the minimum needed, and bleed off the rest. The result is recoil something akin to a 7.62x39, from a full scale 7.62x51. Sweet!

A word on mags...be very careful of the bargain basement used inch pattern mags you may see in Shotgun News or elsewhere. Some of the ones I bought had worn out springs, and by the time I ordered new springs, I'd have been better off just buying brand spankin' new metric pattern mags. But that's the beauty of the L1A1 over the FAL. The inch pattern receiver can take both metric or inch mags.

Good luck on your purchase...I love my little Aussie sweetheart.

Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!

[Travis McGee]

Here's another FAL forum link.

FAL Forum

[The_Macallan]

I agree. I have a DSA STG58 and it's a beaut. (Thanks SA)

It was well worth putting off the pool table I was planning on getting and spending the extra $$ to get this one.

---

It's Not Just A Gun...

It's My "HOMELAND DEFENSE RIFLE"!!

[Travis McGee]

What's an assault rifle thread without...

[ExSoldier]

I have a Springfield Armory Supermatch in .308 set up for long range "target practice" by a buddy of mine, a fmr SEAL sniper.. Had it worked on (his "ask for the moon" suggestion list) by ROBAR out in Arizona. Included was their exterior proprietary coating called ROGARD and their exclusive interor coating they call NP3. THIS stuff is soooo cool. All metallic pieces which bear against each other peel off molecules which essentially makes the coating "self lubricating" which makes cleaning a snap (just wipe clean) and it feels just super smooth in every way. My scope is a automatic bullet drop compensator Sheppard. I only feed it Federal Match 168gr. Soooo I don't shoot it very often! LOL But I have it zeroed at 100 meters and can cover a three shot group at that range, with a quarter. I'm sure the rifle is capable of shooting dime sized groups...I'm just not capable of that at this point. I have also hit targets at 800 meters but the group size is a bit bigger....let's just say if the target had been live, I'd have killed it. With the Harris bipod attached, it's a tad bit heavy to go lugging all over God's green Earth; so I have a well made Ghillie suit to help me in case I jes decide to "sits and wait."

My choice for closer range would be (if I could afford it after almost selling my soul and blood for the M1A) a DSA SA-58 carbine in .308, of course. Close in knockdown power far surpassing the .223 and still fully capable of reaching out there with iron sights to 300+ meters. After that, these tired old eyes will settle behind the scope of the M1A.

[Mulder]

What kind of scope do you have on your Springfield?

[ExSoldier]

"I can legally put a flash hider on it?"

Me? I'd rather put a muzzle brake which will hold my recoil and flip down and make my shots more accurate to the volume of fire so I'll have fewer "incoming" to even worry about.

"Are L1-A1 rifles better than STG-58 rifles? Are Heckler & Koch G3 rifles heavier than STG-58 rifles?"

L1A1.....I' a wee bit confuzzled...is that the British "Bullpup" Battle rifle? I have some friends that used to be in the British army (and SAS). When they were soldiering for a living (seems everybody gets older and retires or moves on) they just hated that thing. I dunno why. I do think that the H & K series is a heavy rifle, but a durn good one....well proven in many conflicts.

"Anybody have any recommendations on a good home defense models of 20 gauge shotguns (he would prefer models which have a stock and not just a pistol grip)."

I wouldn't own any shotgun that didn't have some form of stock, even a folding stock and I dang sure wouldn't shoot such without the stock extended! It's just a personal preference, but I'll take a semi-auto over a pump anyday for self defense. I've seen the "short stroke and jam" scenario under competition conditions a lot of times, hate to think of what might happen when lives are on the line.

My Benelli M121 12 guage recoils about the same as a Remington 1100 20 because it's recoil action and "pro-porting" absorbs so much of the felt recoil. It's got an extended tube and rifle sights....Mighty quick. I can rattle off all rounds before the first hull has hit the ground and the hits will be on target at self defense ranges for such a weapon. VERY accurate with slugs, too!

[pointsal]

Oh.....you must be talking about the Philadelphia model.

[ExSoldier]

"What kind of scope do you have on your Springfield?"

It's in the post, but I was typing so fast I didn't actually specify it as the scope. It's a Sheppherd Rangefinding scope. It's awesome, has these little "circles" that just match the shoulder area on a deer and coincidentally the chest area of an average man. When you buy it, you have to specify the bullet weight that will be fired and the factory tunes the scope to this calibration. Independent knobs for adjustment allows a "one shot zero"...believe it or not. But you've got to have some form of "Ransom Rest" to lock the weapon down while you make the adjustments after you fire the one shot, otherwise it's a pain.

If you read "Shotgun News" you've seen their full page ads a thousand times. I love my scope. But I'd feel limited if I shot more than one bullet weight. However, the scope is mounted in such a way that I can still use the iron sights in a "see thru" mode.

[King Prout]

been a LONG time since last I handled one, but I liked it a lot. The gas regulation system took a little getting used to, but once I figured it out I thought it was a nifty feature.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Most FAL's made were metric pattern. The L1A1 is the British Commonwealth (Great Britian, New Zealand, and Australia) version of the FN FAL. It is slightly different and an inch pattern rifle. Most parts are not interchangeable between the two rifles, including the magazines, however, the kist are similar enough that you may assemble a metric kit on an inch receiver and vise versa.

I have an Australian inch pattern kit assembled on a metric receiver because at the time I also had an STG-58 metric rifle on a metric receiverand did not want another mag to buy.

Go over to the Marketplace forum at the FAL Files and see what people have for sale. A lot of the guys love to build their own but can't afford to buy a lot of guns so they build one, shoot it for a few months, sell it and build another.

[Blood of Tyrants]

As for a shotgun, a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870, both in 12 ga. is hard to beat for functionality, reliability and price.

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

So, with $650 buy a metric FN FAL rifle with an imbel reciever right? Anything else I should know?

[2nd_Amendment_Defender]

I like flash hiders because you can shoot at night and not be blinded by muzzle flash. I'd take that over less muzzle rise.

I had a Springlfield M-1A that I bought in California. After relocating I had a flash hider put on. Barely any muzzle flash at night now with the flash hider on it. I was much more pleased.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Coonans is also a good quality receiver. I would feel comfortable buying one.

[ExSoldier]

Muzzle flash can be controlled by the type of ammo you use, especially when it's dark...some powders just give off less light and heat signature. If you only fire ONCE you've killed or neutralized your intended target and he won't have any idea where you are...at least thats the theory.

[ExSoldier]

"I was much more pleased."

That's the real name of this game: "Am I happy?" If you are, well then screw the rest of us....and what we have to say because opinions are like buttholes, we all got 'em and they all stink! But tell us why you're happy and we'll be happy along with you!