kparker wrote:Whirlibird,
Hopefully starting a (friendly!) rwar of FAL vs M14 isn't off-topic here.
I really need to be educated here...
Cause the FAL is more ergonomic.
What other features, besides the pistol grip, do you prefer over the M14?
Cause the FAL is easier to work on.
By "working on" are you talking about just strip and clean, or about doing/installing mods?
Cause it's a FAL
What other details does this imply? Are SA M-14's not well-made these days or something?
Crud, did it again. Lots of typing lost. Shorter version to follow.
From cleaning and maintaining the weapon to actual building, the FAL is much easier to work on. The ease of construction is one definate point in it's favor, as with a minimum of tools and knowledge one can keep an FAL running almost indefinately.
I've built half a dozen M-1a's and around the same number of match Garands and in wood stocks they can become finicky and accuracy can go south for no obvious reason.
Don't get me wrong I like the M-1A, the most accurate .308 autoloader I've used to date was one (1" at 200Y witnessed from the bench). Wish my eyes were up to that today. But for something that I'm going to carry, respond to unknown situations with and may abuse between cleanings, the FAL has shown itself to be more reliable in my experience. The M-1A's tend to eat scopes with the clatter and slap bolt movement. (That might just be my experience though)
My current beater FAL will at best only go 2" at 100Y but it will do it reliably. With mixed junk ammo, it's good for somewhere between 4-6" at the same range. Again, reliably. Some of the garbage I feed it is the same stuff that used to choke the M-1A, I'm almost out of it thankfully.
The varied lengths of stocks available for the FAL, varied cheek heights and buttpad thicknesses means that I can make the FAL fit a whole mess of people for a whole lot less than any adjustable stock for the M-1A. Plus I can mix and match the forend to match my wishes and situation.
I run a metal fore-end on the beater right now, however I can swap out them for the plastic DSA ones in about a minute with no loss or change of accuracy.
The FAL has better ergonomics, the safety being under the thumb rather than having anything to do with the trigger finger is a good thing. Again the easily changed stocks some into play.
The charging handle is easily accessed by the off hand and doesn't require changing a firing grip. I actually prefer the "proper" rifle style grip of the M-1A for range work but it's not as useful for all around use as a "pistol grip".
I'll grant the M-1A's have more accurate sights (unless some work is done) and the rifles are more accurate but how much accuracy do you need being practical? For the price of a good M-1A I can build 2 FAL's. Or 1 FAL and pick up a bunch of mags and ammo (reloading components).
Metric FAL magazines run 1/2 the cost of the M-1A mags, less if you buy in larger numbers.
My department just authorized the use of .30 caliber rifles (we all carry AR's right now) and I'm switching out as soon as I can re-qualify with my FAL. Not as handy in tight spaces, it allows for a greater reach and the increased available power more than make up for it's shortcomings.
I've owned M-1A's, I've built them. They don't stay.
I own FAL's, I depend on them.
As for which would I get first?
That's easy. I'd get the most useful first, I can get specialized weapons later.
A rifle can do what a carbine can, it may not be as handy but it will do the same jobs.
The carbine can't say the same thing.
The carbine uses a reduced power round. In this case a varmint round. I like my AR and do depend of it on the job. But I've had it fail me on a dog (with a good shot) much like CC and his .40 caliber story and ultimately I trust the .30 rifle more.
Do I want the same kind of failure when I'm shooting for blood? No.
Do I want to risk the same failure when the odds are not in my favor and other peoples lives are at risk? No.
The .30 rifle makes cover into concealment.
The .30 rifle has mass on it's side not just velocity.
The .30 rifle makes swiss cheese of the faux-armor that some of the more serious skels wear. If the LAPD had issued or allowed real rifles (heck even carbines) before the Northridge robbery, it wouldn't have been more than a footnote in history.
It's simple, when you need a rifle, you NEED a Rifle.
Get the .308 and stock for it.
Still want a carbine, pick up an AR receiver for a c-note and stick it back for a rainy day.
But have your rifle handy.