The display has only a couple of individual T-48s. Any pictures of large quantities in racks probably dates from around the time of the troop tests.
Problems with the FAL that I have observed in troop service are:
1. Extractor breakages. Serious problem and common as the weapons age. Requires spares (which third world nations never seem to be able to lay hands on, if they ever had them) and a bench to fix. This is no sweat to any half-competent tinkerer, let along a gunsmith, but is a major poser for the guy with a third grade education who's a battalion armourer somewhere.
2. Ejector breakages. This also downs the weapon, and it is a depot level repair.
3. Sights. The metric FAL requires a tool for sight adjustment. Anybody reading this whose ambitions include designing weapons for Joe/Josef/José Snuffy, do not EVER design a weapon to use a tool for something that can be arranged to be done without. In all the world, the only armies that will not lose the tools are the Germans and the Swiss (the Anglosphere armies can control the tools, but only if they are kept in the hands of quartermasters, which defeats the purpose).
4. Stocks and handguards. The jerk that designed the metal handguard (as on the RSA-built FALs) did not intend for the weapon to be fired more that once. Dumb. The wooden stock on older FALs (while often a piece of beautiful walnut!) is prone to breakage. The plastic furniture isn't the last word either but it beats wood for durability and metal for heat control.
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
4. Stocks and handguards. The jerk that designed the metal handguard (as on the RSA-built FALs) did not intend for the weapon to be fired more that once. Dumb. The wooden stock on older FALs (while often a piece of beautiful walnut!) is prone to breakage. The plastic furniture isn't the last word either but it beats wood for durability and metal for heat control. d.o.l.
Not quite. Those were the German and Austrian versions, based on their WWII experience in dealing with Soviet troops in overwhelming numbers, the same reason they forego bayonets in favour of an extra magazine's worth of ammo or two.
Both the Austrian Stg58 version of the FAL and the German G1 came equipped with bipods, and their users were expected to take cover and use it. Later with the coming of the West German Marder Mechanized Infantry fighting vehicle, the real return of the German Panzergrenadier came about, and with the mid-1960s, the shorter-barrelled German G3 rifle, also in a collapsing butt version used by Germany's paratroops.
Likely most of those Germans and Austrians expected to have their winter gloves or mittens along most of the year too. But both the earlier MP44 and the later Walther MPL and MPK machinepistols share the stamped metal foreends, and whatever their other failings, they don't melt or char.
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Given that most of the folks who will be reading your posts are American civilians, rather than government-small-arms-procurement-specialists (either foreign or domestic, past or present ;>), allow me to offer a few opinions.
Problems with the FAL that I have observed in troop service are...
The needs of American gun owners are somewhat different than those of professional military organizations of any type, as I'm sure you would admit.
;>)
1. Extractor breakages.
I've been a member of the FAL 'community' for about 15 years. Most of the folks I've been in contact with own FALs they've built themselves, using well-worn surplus FAL parts kits. I've never - not even once - heard of a broken extractor, even from folks that run thousands of rounds through their FALs. If you did suffer a broken extractor, parts are cheap: I've got an L1A1 bolt/carrier assembly that headspaces the same as my Israeli bolt & bolt carrier - and I only paid $20 for the lot. Why keep a spare extractor when you can have a spare bolt/carrier assembly?
2. Ejector breakages.
Ditto - I've never seen or heard of one, and FAL parts are cheap.
3. Sights. The metric FAL requires a tool for sight adjustment.
Everyone I know just buys the tool, dials in the sight for whatever ammo they purchased (in 1,000-round bulk lots ;>), and leaves the sights alone. No problem.
4. Stocks and handguards
I prefer the Israeli wood furniture: if the wood handguards break (something I've never heard of happening ;>), you still have the steel 'grills' underneath - no different functionally than the G-1 forearms. If you're worried about breaking the wood and burning your pinkies, get a 'chicken mitt.' Or use plastic furniture. If the wood buttstock breaks (something else I've never, ever heard of happening ;>), "just take your shirt off, tie a bandanna around your head, and shoot from the hip!"
In summary (and in addition ;>), the FAL is easy to build at home; it is cheaper than much of the competion; it is just as reliable as much of the competition; FAL parts are cheaper & more readily available than most of the competition; and FAL magazines are cheaper than most of the competition. For the price of ONE M1A, for example, you can probably build or buy TWO FALs. For the price of only FOUR new M1A (M-14) military surplus magazines, you can buy FOUR new FAL mags - PLUS 1,000 rounds of 7.62 NATO ammo.
If you've got money to burn & want a nice target gun, consider the M1A or SR-25/AR-10. If you're willing to gamble on the "angry beavers" at Century (and some folks do win ;>), get a CETME. If you want an affordable, reliable, 7.62 battle rifle (with a forged-steel, FN-licensed receiver, instead of folded sheet metal ;>), look for an IMBEL-receivered FAL...
"FAL - The Free World's Right Arm"
(My opinion - your mileage may vary. Flame away... ;>)