Rifles: M1A or FAL?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’d like a modern battle rifle and I’m really torn between the M1A and the FAL.

FAL: Easy to field strip. Cheaper - More money left over for ammunition. Has a pistol grip. Has a more modern look and feel to it. Was the standard arm of the Rhodesian Grey’s Scouts, my favorite historical military unit post-WWII.

M1A: Looks classier. Like a super-Garand. Greater accuracy (the US military still uses it as a marksman’s rifle.) More historically interesting - had a very short period of service, quickly replaced by the M16, and so is more of a cult firearm.

Also a consideration is the G3. This is available in a clone version (PTR-91) from Atlantic Firearms that looks beautiful and performs very well from everything I’ve heard. The downside is that it supposedly damages the ejected shell casings, and my uncle is going to teach me to reload later in the summer so I don’t want a rifle that will tear up the cases and make it so I can’t reload them. There are also lots of CETME’s from Century Arms but I’ve heard mixed reviews of them.

I’m leaning strongly towards the M1A. What would you choose, if it were you?

2

The FAL was used by the Israeli infantry (along with the Uzi) from the 1960’s until the early 1970’s. My dad carried one for a while, and he hated it, as did everyone else who ever had one. Take that as you will. I think the fact that the IDF, which *never * throws anything away (my wife carried an Uzi twice her age) had no trace of them by the time I reached them 20 years later must indicate something.

The M1A - that’s the civilian version of M14 sniper mod, right? That was the standard IDF sniper rifle when I was in regular service back in the mid-1990’s. It’s since been replace by something bolt-actioned, but it was pretty popular in the day. I’ve never actually fired one, but I’ve handled them, and even disassembled one a couple of times (which is NOT easy, at least compared to an M-16). I remember really liking its “feel.”

So it seems to me that your choice is between a primative, marginally successful “modern” weapon and a superb “old-fashioned” weapon. I’d choose the latter.

3

I’ve never fired an M1A, but I used to have an FN FAL. I liked the FAL a lot, though it’s a bit long and heavy.

I sold it so that I could have the move-in money for my first apartment, figuring I could get another one later. I lived in California. :smack:

I used to have an HK-91. I sold it to get the FAL. Now I have a SAR-8, which is Springfield Armory’s version. AIUI, the important bits were made by H&K while the stampings were made in Greece. Mine has a PSG-1 pistol grip on it, which I like. (I also have the thumbhole stock plus a regular pistol grip, plus three fore-ends – one with a bipod, one without the bipod mount, and the ‘slimline’ one.) From every indication this rifle is identical to the H&K I used to have. That is to say that the quality, fit and finish are the same. A friend looked at G3s and said they looked like crap next to mine.

There are two things I don’t like about the HK-91/SAR-8. First, I find the charging lever awkward. I like them closer to the back end. (I like the simplicity of the hold-back notch though.) The other thing is that the bolt does not stay open after the last shot, a standard thing on virtually every other military firearm.

The HK-91 series will ding the brass on its way out. Fortunately there is an accessory called an ‘ejection port buffer’. This is a spring steel clamp that fits over the top of the receiver, which has a rubber bumper on it. This prevents damage to the brass so that you can reload it. I don’t know how much they are now, but IIRC mine was $39.

Which would I choose? I have a hunch that the M1A is probably the best of the bunch. But I would choose the FAL if it’s an original made-in-Belgium FN. I’ve heard that the quasi-military ones can be problematic depending on the maker, and the ones I’ve seen are not as nice as an FN.

Incidentally, I’d sell the SAR-8 with all of its accessories (fore-ends, stocks, grips, tool, buffer, bipod, five or six magazines, original box) if I could get back what I paid for it. But IIRC you’re in California and you wouldn’t be allowed to buy it.

4

Thanks for the response. Any more input from our resident gun people?

5

Thanks, Johnny L.A.

California?!?! I’m a lifelong resident of gun-friendly Southern Indiana.

6

I can’t answer your main question but I can tell you to avoid Century Arms all together if possible. Their QA department must be run by drunken monkeys. I’ve bought one rifle from them and it is the only firearm I have ever regretted buying.

7

Johnny, PM me about the rifle. Preferably send some pics of it and the different fore-ends.

8

Whoops! Sorry about that! There are a couple California shooters on the board and since you (we) all tend to post to these threads I got confused.

9

No problem. (I’ve never even been to California.) I would rather do business with you than some anonymous person. PM me with more details about the rifle and preferably some pics.

10

Your PM is full, so I couldn’t send one. I’ll email you.

11

No, the email address in my profile is not my address anymore let me change it OK? There, changed my email AND cleared my message box…take your pick…

12

I too have only shot the M1A, and not the HAL, but it is a nice gun, and hella accurate. Buy a cheap one and mod it as you can afford to later on. It’s nice enough naked, and the sights are pretty nice. 7.62 is kinda pricey these days, but that doesn’t help you choose I guess :slight_smile:

13

I’m in love with the M1A (even though I don’t have one) so the answer is pretty obvious to me. Watching the guys at the Service Rifle matches shoot M1’s and M1A’s, their accuracy is top notch and the short-fused ex-gunny sergeant hasn’t managed to damage his, even after several temper-tantrums that resulted in the rifle bouncing down range.

Alas, I know nothing of the FAL.

14

I’ve always wanted a FAL. I just think they look cool. I’ve bought guns for dumber reasons than that, but the M1a OTOH is made by the Springfield Armory which I swear by (I’ve never seen a piece of junk made in Rock Island) so if I had the cash and had to choose between the two I’d probably take the M-14.

Don’t you have to do headspace checks on the FAL during assembly?

15

I’ve fired an M1A. Fantastic rifle but pretty heavy.

16

I’m surpised the M1A is more, how much are they? I like the DSA FAL’s, especially the Congo version here, but it’s $1900. Granted DSA does have cheaper versions.

I would rather have a FAL myself. A rifle called " the right arm of the free world" has to be pretty cool

17

I carried the Canadian version while in the army. It was called the FN C1 A1. Great rifle. It was pretty damn accurate from what I remember. At least it would hit what I aimed it at.
Pulling it apart for cleaning was pretty easy, but I do remember that sometimes the gas port dohicky (Hey, it was 25 years ago. I can’t remember the proper term) to get the piston out stuck after firing a few hundred rounds, or so. You had to get the tool out to jiggle it off.

18

I used an FN C1A1, which was a Canadian version of the FAL. On the whole, it’s a great weapon, although we occasionally had problems with the gas valves leaking in the field.

Which version of the FAL are you looking at?

19

Interesting - according to the Wiki article the Israelis didn’t have much love for the FAL because it didn’t like sand very much, was too big and long to carry easily in vehicles, and one of the versions they had tended to jam on full auto. That all sounds eminently plausible.

Umm - what? Given that it had no superpower backing it and was sold by a small company from a small country, a million-plus units produced isn’t what I’d call marginally successful. It and the G3 were by far the most widely used medium-caliber assault rifles. Granted, they were hugely outproduced by the M16/18 and AK47/74 families, but they were still very successful.

20

Well, it looks like I’m going to go for the M1A, I think. It would be the best rifle to have if I ever wanted to shoot in a match. (I’m going to need a lot of practice before I even try that, but I’d like to at some point.)

On the other hand…I am getting that Garand from my uncle soon…I could always use that…

AGHHHH!

One is a classic American wooden battle rifle with great accuracy - but the other one just LOOKS so badass! It’s a tough choice. I mean the M1A looks beautiful too, but the FAL or the G3 (which I’m also considering) have this sleek modern look that I like.

Hmmm…