[lenardlex]

Recently I purchased a DSA SA58 18" FAL para. My first FAL.

What an awesome firearm! Even though its design is 60 years old it ergonomically rivals any modern weapon for me.

The FAL platform in its original intended intermediate cartridge design(.270 I think) or modern 6.8 would be the near perfect weapon IMO.

I hunt with my M1a, if the zombies came I'd grab the FAL.

 

[gunadict]

Congrats, I have 3 DSA SA58's myself. You are going to enjoy it.

 

[captain steinbrenner]

I sold my last FAL in October..... It was a brand new Argentinian kit on an IMBEL gear receiver. Hell of a rifle. :twisted:

 

[Zeus]

FAL is my next purchase. I really like the look of the para style with the short barrel but I will be getting the standard type with the 18-20" barrel because I don't want to diminish the effectiveness of the 7.62x51 round. As I get older I am learning to be smarter and not just buy what looks cool, along with the wisdom I have gained from weapon Jedi Master Ullie and other experienced folk on this forum. Very nice rifle though, hope you enjoy it and have lots of $$$ for ammo.

 

[lenardlex]

FAL is my next purchase. I really like the look of the para style with the short barrel but I will be getting the standard type with the 18-20" barrel because I don't want to diminish the effectiveness of the 7.62x51 round. As I get older I am learning to be smarter and not just buy what looks cool, along with the wisdom I have gained from weapon Jedi Master Ullie and other experienced folk on this forum. Very nice rifle though, hope you enjoy it and have lots of $$$ for ammo.

Mine is an 18" barrel for the reasons you mentioned. I havent seen a 20" barrel myself, 21" certainly.

If I bought based on what looks cool I'd get the 13" para elite.

My personal preference actually was for a standard stock model but was lucky to find any SA58 with an 18" barrel so I grabbed it.

I'm glad I have the folder now though, its easier to transport when I take it hog hunting.

This is it next to my 16" sig.

 

[lenardlex]

Congrats, I have 3 DSA SA58's myself. You are going to enjoy it.

Thanks gunaddict! Give me some optic advice for this beast.

I'm leaning toward a mid range variable scope (~1-4x or 5x).

 

[ullie]

I'm glad I have the folder now though, its easier to transport when I take it hog hunting.

...congratulations on your new FAL...DSA...primo !

...if you're looking for CQB capabilities aside from getting a reflex or holographic sight...your optic should be able to power down as close to 1 X as possible for those close in shots....an illuminated reticle is a big plus...especially when shooting with both eyes open...as you should be close in...and even further out to ranges of up to 200 yards or more with some magnification...

...the Fal...by nature of it's design...is not a precision "target" rifle...but a solid ~ 2 MOA performer with most ammunition...although you "may" be able to shoot close to 1 MOA with good match ammunition such as Federal Gold Medal Match 168 BTHP...in your case i believe rapid target aquistion is your primary goal...

...i would recomend a low power variable with an illuminated reticle...

...this one...

http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforces ... 24nxs.html

...i would go with the FC-2 reticle...especially for dangerous game at close range...my second choice would be the NP-1...this reticle will allow you to shoot "slightly" more accurately at range...and is still a "fast" retical since the perimiter bars will draw your eyes to it's center...

http://nightforceoptics.com/nightforces ... etail.html

...two things to consider for rapid target aquisition are eye relief and the diameter of the exit pupil...the greater the eye relief...and the larger the exit pupil...the less critical eye position and check weld become...at 1 X you can use this scope as a sort of "quasi" red dot sight...

...another excellent field grade scope is this one...not quite as durable as the Nightforce...but close...

http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-5x20-Mark-4- ... P3309.aspx

...the illuminated SPR would be a good choice for any application...

...if you feel you need more magnification i would go with either the Nightforce 2.5-10X32 with the FC-2 or NP-1 or the Leupold Leupold 2.5-8x36 Mark 4 MR/T 30mm Riflescope...although the TMR will not be as effective at shorter ranges as the SPR...

... magnified optics have entered the "horsepower race"...and it is a great misconception that greater magnification will yield better results...i personally believe that...especially when used in the field...you should use the lowest power setting that will adequately magnify your target to make a good shot...not only will you have a greater field of view and greater situational awareness....but you will greately reduce the potential for aiming error...

...my pennies worth...

 

[SkyPup]

Awesome!

The hogs are shivering with fright.... 8)

 

[lenardlex]

Thanks Ullie. I've been eyeing the leupold mark 4 mr/t 1.5-5.

It's looking like a 2-3 inch gun which I'm perfectly happy with.
The only thing I didnt like was the gritty 10 lb trigger which was easily fixed with a 15 dollar trigger spring kit.

 

[Flea]

Damn, that's cool. An FAL is on my list of "wants". I need to hit the lotto, so I can just buy all the guns I want. Then the Mrs. would be happy, 'cause she could buy what she wanted too. :lol:

 

[lenardlex]

Ullie-

What height mounts for the
http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-5x20-Mark-4- ... P3309.aspx

For the lowest cheek weld to clear the sights?
I like the qd mounts, especially larue but not sure larue has the right height mount for this.

Thanks in advance bud!

 

[Sarge1998]

I really hate this forum, now my impulse is to buy a FN FAL! The DS Arms site has so many to choose from, but a 18" Congo para seems like a starting point.

 

[Flea]

I really hate this forum, now my impulse is to buy a FN FAL! The DS Arms site has so many to choose from, but a 18" Congo para seems like a starting point.

I love this site, but my wife sure does hate it. :lol:

 

[ullie]

What height mounts for the
http://swfa.com/Leupold-15-5x20-Mark-4- ... P3309.aspx

For the lowest cheek weld to clear the sights?
I like the qd mounts, especially larue but not sure larue has the right height mount for this.

...the first thing you need to do is find the height of the top of the "rear sight housing" over the rail by measuring it...

...then you need to determine the diameter of the occular housing at it's *widest point*..."not" the diameter of the lens...one half of that measurement equals the radius...

...then you need to find out where the mount places the "centerline" of the scope...ie the height of the centerline over the rail in that particular mount..

......if you take the height of the "centerline of the scope" in that particular mount over the rail and subtract the radius of the occular bell housing...you will have the height of the occular bell housing over the rail...

...if this distance is "greater" than the height of the rear sight "over the rail"...you will be OK...make sense ?

...for example the Larue LT-104 will place the centerline of the scope ~1.5 inches over the rail...or 38.1mm...you need to get the scope's measurement from the manufacturer or measure it yourself...whatever scope you end up getting...and then you need to measure the height of the rear sight housing...depending on the mounts you intend to use...the specs should be available on the manufacturer's website or call them...you want to know "how high a particular mount will place the centerline above the rail"...and then do the math...

...this will assure that the occular housing clears the rear sight...keep in mind that *if* you do not mount the scope with the widest part of the occular housing over the rear sight...you can go with a slightly lower mount...for example...if you mount the scope more rearwards so that the tube is over the rear sight...giving you more clearance...this depends on the eye relief you need for the manner in which you position your head behind the scope / checkweld...ie...how far fowards or rearwards you normally mount the scope depending on you shooting form...

 

[lenardlex]

Dude!

I asked you hoping I could just skip all the math measurement part and get the perfect mount.

My lazy plan B was get the scope then go to my local gunstore with it and the gun and try a few different mounts.
:lol:

 

[ullie]

Dude!

I asked you hoping I could just skip all the math measurement part and get the perfect mount.

My lazy plan B was get the scope then go to my local gunstore with it and the gun and try a few different mounts.
:lol:

...Dude ?... :shock:

...ay carumba !... :roll:

...there's the easy way and the right way...

...and you might even learn something along the way... :wink:

..seriously...don't go cheap on the mounts...and gunshop usually means cheap... :roll:

...you do know that the heights of the rear sight housing on FALs are not all the same height...right ?

...i would go with a Larue SPR-S LT-158 30mm...

...or a Larue LT-104...i think you'll be fine with the LT-158 though...

..there...you got "spoon fed"...like a little baby - dude !...

...:mrgreen:

 

[lenardlex]

Hehehe. Got a good belly laugh.

You are right of course.

 

[PGT]

I started out looking at FAL's and ended up with a Saiga. I'd still like a Congo model. Some day.

 

[szuppo]

lol..

that's a great post ullie

 

[lenardlex]

Got it done.

This site was extraordinarily helpful in listing onepeice rail mount heights.
http://www.maxicon.com/guns/optics/one_ ... m#armalite
Unfortunately most quality onepeice mounts are geared to the rather high height requirements for the AR.
Went with a leupold mark 4 mr/t 1.5-5x illum ret. m2, Seems excellent so far.

I mounted it with a DNZ single mount given its good reviews and lower center height.
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?p ... ber=131724

Thanks for all that gave helpful advice!