So tell me about the FAL

I saw a nice DSA FAL at the local shop this last week. It looked pretty nice and felt beefy. I have never shot one before and my knowledge is limited about them. At $1265 with 5 mags, is it worth thinking more about it? I know FAL's are sometimes hard to find--this local shop hasn't had one in for about 3 years or so.

No personal experience with FAL's, but based on everything I've read and heard, DSA is a fine way to go if one wants an FAL.

Honestly, if I were to go down that road, I'd probably take a more serious look at an AR-10. Seems like there's a lot more products and support available for them, over an FAL.

Dev's our FAL guru.

Our own Doc's Gun Nation podcast Episode 120 (two weeks ago) discussed the FAL as not exactly meeting its legendary reputation.

I like FAL's. And DSA is about the best you will find in terms of quality. Mags usually run about $50 each, although lately that price may have come down some. But I suspect the ones with the rifle were bought at that kind of price. You should check that the mags are either DSA or IDF mags; those seem to be the most reliable.

You will need to know whether the gun is metric or US. There are some differences between these, and I think DSA made both, depending where they got the parts. I think now they make the whole thing.

FAL's were once the largest produced western combat rifle in the world (the AK was THE largest produced rifle). That may have changed recently with M4's, but I can't speak to that. But at one time all the NATO countries but us had the FAL as their main battle rifle. One can argue the relative merits of the M-14 vs the FAL. One strength is that the FAL had a recoil chamber adjustment, allowing for tuning for other ammo than the standard 7.62 military. The M-14 can have that if you purchase one of the adjustable plugs from somewhere like Midway, but they don't come that way.

At one point the Israelis produced their own version called a Ghalil. It was a main battle rifle for them, I think, in the '67 war. But like the AR, they had sand issues, and ultimately the IDF went looking for something else and has ended up with the Tavor. Meeanwhile, in the sandbox our M-14 have NOT had any issues.

Overall, I think your price is a good one. Calling it $50/mag leaves the rifle at $1,000, and that's a very good price for a DSA.

Hope you like it!