# Rifles: M1A or FAL? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 8, 2008, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670 "2008-07-08T09:37:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670/21 "2008-07-09T13:24:58Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] Hmmm… [/QUOTE] Well you’re a young dude, both rifles will still be available whenever you have the cash, so buy one now and buy the other later. So that means buy the FAL before the Dems get control of things again and perhaps make them a bit more scarce. The M1A will still be getting cranked out in the state right next door to you. ETA- If you go for the M1A, see if you can pick it up in person. Everyone needs at least one trip to Rock Island to see the armory museum once in their life. They have at least one of everything… ---
**Author:** ![Bobotheoptimist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/919ad9/32.png) [@Bobotheoptimist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bobotheoptimist)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670/22 "2008-07-09T14:39:26Z")
[QUOTE=Argent Towers] On the other hand…I _am_ getting that Garand from my uncle soon…I could always use that… [/QUOTE] Wait a minute, when did the Garand come into the picture? Not much sense in getting an M1 and an M1A when you could have an M1 and an FAL. Save up after you get the FAL for the M1A. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670/23 "2008-07-09T14:58:32Z")
FWIW, as a non gun owner, the FAL is just about the coolest-looking gun ever, and the M1A isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670/24 "2008-07-09T15:33:48Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] FWIW, as a non gun owner, the FAL is just about the coolest-looking gun ever, and the M1A isn’t. [/QUOTE] The FAL does have the coolness factor. And I like the ‘dead rat assembly’ (the bolt carrier assy.) because I’m morbid. I’d get the FAL (again, if it’s a Herstal, BE original FN) before I’d get the M1A. Unfortunately, FN-FALs in great condition are going for three kilobucks or more. ☹ **Argent Towers** : I think the M1A is an excellent choice. As I said offline, I like the wood and the machined metal, and it’s probably the most accurate of the bunch. I’m in no hurry to sell my SAR-8, so it might be around when it’s time for you to get one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670/25 "2008-07-09T15:44:46Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] The FAL does have the coolness factor. And I like the ‘dead rat assembly’ (the bolt carrier assy.) because I’m morbid. I’d get the FAL (again, if it’s a Herstal, BE original FN) before I’d get the M1A. Unfortunately, FN-FALs in great condition are going for three kilobucks or more. ☹ **Argent Towers** : I think the M1A is an excellent choice. As I said offline, I like the wood and the machined metal, and it’s probably the most accurate of the bunch. I’m in no hurry to sell my SAR-8, so it might be around when it’s time for you to get one. 😉 [/QUOTE] Sweet, thanks. Yeah I’m still deliberating…the M1A is probably going to win out in the end. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rifles-m1a-or-fal/455670.md?page=1)