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Posted: 1/27/2026 11:51:58 AM EDT
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I've had a DSA for 20 years now and it's been a great rifle. No complaints. But, if you had to rank the factory built semi-auto rifles, best to worst, how would that look? I'm assuming the grandfather FN would be best? And Hesse would be last? Where is the Springfield SAR48, Imbel M444, Enterprise STG58? |
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This is hard to compare apples to apples, due to the nostalgia factor. Im 40, been shooting my whole life and I've never shot a FAL factory assembled complete other than a DSA. Everything else was a kit in some shape or form. These 2025 DSA rifles are hard to beat though. Id argue that DSA has them consistantly more accurate than ever, they are durable as hell. This winter I've had my SA58 out in the -30f range and it never missed a lick. Even dropped it in the deep snow once or twice... Attached File Attached File |
Robert Muldoon Survived.
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We have three OEM factory FALs. One Argentine fixed stock FAL. Two SAR-48s. (a para and a fixed stock) I have owned an older DSA built FAL in the past and it was ok. The Argentine FAL is identical to an FN built FAL except for the makers marks. Built under FN License, probably with FN tooling. Same finish etc. In fact, I just examined an FN a few months ago at Rock Island Auction and it's really the same gun. The Brazilian SAR-48 is similar to the Argentine FAL in that it was made buy an FN licensed manufacturer. However, the fit and finish of the SAR-48 is actually better than the Argentine FAL or an FN built FAL. The fixed stock SAR-48s and some of the Paras have what is basically a medium weight barrel. hammer forged and fully chrome lined. The older DSA rifles can be very nice. My son ordered a new DSA a few years ago, directly from DSA. We took it out of the box at the FFL and it was such a disaster that it went back in the box and got shipped right back to DSA with a full refund and an apology. The barrel was so crooked that the gas piston was dragging in the receiver. Numerous flaws in the finish. it was a special order, it should have been a flagship of what they could build but it was trash. There is another option however. Round up the best quality FAL parts kit you can get yours hands on. Buy the appropriate DSA or Imbel receiver and send it off to Arizona Response Systems. Mark Graham will build you a wonderful FAL. The better the parts you send him the better it will be. So I rank them as follows: #1 SAR-48 #2 FN or Argentine #3 NOS parts kit built by ARS. #4 Roll the dice and buy a DSA (the older the better) |
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Originally Posted By stimpsonjcat: <--------------- SA48 with happy-switch. THEN everything else! There’s a little problem with availability on that one. At least with funds available! :) I bought one of the kits from Centerfire recently, and have a receiver inbound from DSA. So, it’ll have to due for now. I wouldn’t mind having an FN though. |
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