[Long Cut]

i keep my Charles Daley 12-gauge loaded with #6 as well. I also keep a slug around handy, just in case.

The C-D Field Tactical I have is a joy...weighs 6.5 pounds, 18-inch barrel, works any kind of shell, Magnums or 2 3/4". AND, it only ran me two hundred bucks, new-in-box. As a home-defense weapon, it is quite heartwarming to have leaning up in the corner.

That said, I AM keeping my eyes open for a good rifle. There are FN-FALs and CETME's around for under $500.00 lately, and I LOVE getting a lot of bang-for-the-buck.

[Blood of Tyrants]

If you are looking at the sub $500 FAL's, be advised that they are assembled with CIA receivers, gas pistons, and hammer/trigger/sear groups whose quality is questionable/hit or miss at best and crap at worst. You may get one that performs perfectly nes, but the odds are against you.

My suggestion is to get yourself over to the FALFiles and learn about L1A1's and Imbels and FAC receivers and FSE HTS groups and Tapco.

[Nebr FAL owner]

If you get a Fal go with the metric version rather than inch, reason being more magazines at lower price also the inch pattern mags have a small metal piece brazed/welded on the top front of the magazine just below the feed lips to strengthen the magazine while you can put metric pattern mags in a inch rifle & have them function you can't do the same with inch pattern mags in a metric rifle unless you grind the little metal tab off since there is no space milled out of the reciever to accomodate the tab

[Nebr FAL owner]

One other little oddity concerning FN-Fal's if you do get one be certain to check the gas piston /operating rod several folks have been cutting the steel rod in half & then threading on an aluminum piece at the end to make the rod the correct length to qualify as a required American made part. The problem is that after firing a few dozen round the aluminum BENDS & is able to cause damage to the reciever end of the gas system but for $20.00 you can get a new made stainless steel gas piston as well as other parts from tapco.com .