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Posted: 1/25/2011 2:38:40 PM EDT
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Hey, total Newb here, had a bunch of questions:
#1- What's the difference between a type 1 and type 2 receiver? #2- What's the difference between a regular FN FAL and a "Congo" FN FAL? #3- What is the type of accuracy can you expect from this rifle? #3.5- And is there a difference in accuracy between .308 vs. 7.62x51? #4- I have read that FN FAL's will beat up scopes pretty bad, this concerns me because I want to mount one, what are some ways to eliviate that issue? and the total newb question: #5- If you have a rifle in 7.62x51mm can you use .308? My guess is yes, but the other way around (.308 to 7.62x51) is unnacceptable (such is the situation with 5.56 vs. .223) #6- What type of ammo does the FN FAL like the best? Is Wolf an issue? Are there rounds that have too heavy a grain to use? #7- Where can you find magazines? I think I would prefer to go with Metric magazines, is that better than non-metric magazines? Thanks! |
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1. The types are based on the way the receiver is cut. More metal is shaved out of some types. Makes it lighter and maybe more rigid I would assume. Doubt it makes a big difference though.
2. The "congo" FAL is a supposed copy of what the Rhodesian scouts used in Africa. (Sealous Scouts), google it. Minor differences such as barrel length, carry handle, flash hider versus a standard 21 inch barreled FN FAL. 3. Accuracy is around 2-3 MOA out of my 16 inch barrel using South African surplus. I can hit a 10 gallon bucket at 300 yards with it easily. Good enough for me. 4. I mount an Aimpoint on a Larue mount over the DSA railed receiver cover. Cant say how an actual scope would do, but I doubt the accuracy warrants a very expensive scope. Save it for a match M1A or AR10 in my opinion. 5. You can shoot 308 in a 7.62. 6. The FAL is pretty robust. Ive shot plenty of Wolf, Barnaul, Silver Bear. Mainly I just run surplus, lots and lots of surplus NATO ammo. 7. Mags, havent heard any good things about the Korean mags hitting the market for around 10 bucks each. I would go on gunbroker and pick up some slightly used or new European or Israeli mags. You may pay around 10 bucks for used and up to 25 for new mags. Get as many as you can afford. |
| They are all chambered for 7.62 Nato no matter what they are marked. I really never heard of the "Congo " version and Im a native Rhodesian...(well was anyway..). Just buy a good quality rifle and it should perform well. The FAL is a pretty forgiving system as long as you do your part... |
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Quoted:
They are all chambered for 7.62 Nato no matter what they are marked. I really never heard of the "Congo " version and Im a native Rhodesian...(well was anyway..). Just buy a good quality rifle and it should perform well. The FAL is a pretty forgiving system as long as you do your part... Im pretty sure the "congo" model is a DSA attempt at selling a few rifles. A buddy bought one, his love of counter insurgency led him to spend the extra money. |
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Quoted:
and the total newb question: #5- If you have a rifle in 7.62x51mm can you use .308? My guess is yes, but the other way around (.308 to 7.62x51) is unnacceptable (such is the situation with 5.56 vs. .223) Thanks! When I asked about ammo for my first FAL, as mentioned by the others above you CAN shoot .308 despite having a 7.62 chamber. Though I was recommended to stay at 168gr and under...maybe some 180gr. That's what I remember from FALFiles. |
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Congo is a US commercial term. You can expect 3-4 MOA out of the average FAL. Many FALs will shoot better with heavier commercial or handloaded .308. FALs with shorter barrels will often be a little more accurate than FALs with full length barrels.
Most FALs eject hard enough that the case whips around and deflects off the receiver/top cover. This is why you often see brass marks in those areas, and it is possible that they will hit the scope mount. But plenty of people successfully scope their FALs. |
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Good Questions and an excellent response by another forum member. I am a long time FAL fan and wanted to add a few thoughts.
The FAL isnt meant to be an accurate tack driver, it is SUPER reliable and while they arent MOA precision rifles, they do shoot consistent groups in the 2" range. They can be accurized to a degree, but you will generally get better groups with an M1A, or a Remington 700 bolt gun. .308 and 7.62x51 have the same dimensions, and you wouldnt be able to tell the difference if you had both cartridges in your hand, they would be identical. BUT .308 is meant for commercial rifles and generates higher pressure then 7.62 Nato. The FAL receiver is certainly strong enough to shoot either and I do so myselrf. There is lots of debate on other forums on this topic, I generally use the rule that any commercial rifle chambered for .308 Winchester can shoot any 7.62 nato round, but I wont shoot commercial .308 ammo in any of my old mil surp bolt action rifles. (Your assumption on this is correct is what I am basically saying) I have a few hundred rounds of Wolf ammo in my ammo stash, it runs fine in my FAL but it is pretty dirty. The FAL has an adjustable gas system, so you can use pretty much any ammo in them, I personally like British and German surplus ammo in my FAL, Australian surp is also good and you will get mixed reviews on surplus South African ammo. Generally milsurp is 147-150 grains but a FAL will shoot anything including 175 gr. Mine is the most accurate using custom ammo: 150 grain ballistic tip boat tails over 48 grains of hodgdon H-380 powder in a virgin remington case and remington 9 1/2 primers You can totally scope a FAL, and the Brits and Israeli's did so using a scope called a SUIT. The Austrians also used a 4X scope made by Hensholdt that works well with a FAL. I am planning to add a Nikon Monarch Africa 4X scope on my FAL sometime this year. The DSA scope mount for the FAL has a good rep for stability and quality, but the attachment system can slightly mar your receiver..I am OK with that. My personal goal is to be able to use an Eotech or a 4X scope on my FAL. magazines- you will either get an inch rifle or a metric rifle depending on where the receiver was made. The mags are not really interchangeable, I think you can use metric mags in an inch rifle but not the other way around. Metric mags are more in demand and cost more. Look for mags at gun shows or in the classified section at the FALfiles ( great FAL website!). I recently read that DS Arms is going to be selling made in the USA FAL mags and typically DSA does anything well if its for a FAL. I am seeing metric mags at gun shows for $15-$20 each. You cant ever have too many FAL mags. I hope this helps! |
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As far as accuracy is concerned, what I see posted here most often is 2" groups or 2 MOA. Of course a 2" group could involve various methods, but a FAL that will consistently shoot a solid 2 MOA is rare, not common.
The reality- http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=241840 |
| The FAl is the way to go if you like .308. I have seven of them.The reason is that my friend used to build them for Entreprise. He does not do it anymore. I have two British inch pattern On Entreprise receivers, two Isrealis pattern Heavy Barrrels Entreprise recivers and one DSA shorty and two German on Imbel receivers.. try to stay way from century and early Entreprise. You have to watch on some of the Fal's because they are new receivers with old parts. DSA does that too now. The metric pattern mags are eaiser to find then inch pattern ones. They look identical. excett the inch one have a big lug and metric have a small lug. The are like AK's very reliable,but not very accurate.best is about two inchs at 100 yards. Not picky on any ammo. THE GAS REGULATOR HELPS WITH THAT. |
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Quoted:
Congo is a US commercial term. You can expect 3-4 MOA out of the average FAL. Many FALs will shoot better with heavier commercial or handloaded .308. FALs with shorter barrels will often be a little more accurate than FALs with full length barrels. Most FALs eject hard enough that the case whips around and deflects off the receiver/top cover. This is why you often see brass marks in those areas, and it is possible that they will hit the scope mount. But plenty of people successfully scope their FALs. Alter brass kisses by looking here. |
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