.308 HDR ideas??

[Bidah]

Ok, not trying to start a war here... so here goes.

I have had my FAL for a number of years. It is reliable, goes bang every time, etc... What I have found is that I cannot reliably keep the rifle under 4moa using surplus ammo. Heck, even my reloads at times don't do that, and it isn't the ammo. Other people can do it with my rifle, so I know it is me. I have a hard time getting and keeping a proper cheek weld (and in the same spot), and in using the sling I believe that I don't always have the same pressure on the barrel.

So, I need to figure out a better way to fix the problem, or I am thinking about moving to an AR10 or something similar. I would prefer that it be a Rock River LAR 8 as it will take FAL magazines, but it isn't out yet. The reason for this thinking is that I do very well with the AR platform.

I have also thought about just getting a 6.8SPC/6.5Grendel upper for my current AR lower and using that instead. Of course, then ammo and supply become an issue..

Sometimes choices suck.. :) Thoughts and ideas??

[MdlMkr 7.62]

I suggest changing your rear sight to something with a smaller aperture. DSA makes a para rear sight base for the metric FAL. I made a run of similar ones for the L1A1 height earlier this year. The smaller aperture of the AR 15 peep sight helps alot, You might also try a different buttstock.

Here's the link to the DSA sight

http://www.dsarms.com/prodinfo.asp?number=DSA110

7.62

[Arizona Highlander]

I'm about a million miles from being a nationally-ranked rifleman, but here's some ideas:

If cheekweld is a problem, which buttstock are you using? The STG is a straight-line design (like an AR-15) and works beautifully with a scope, but I found it extremely tough to use the rifle's iron sights. The "humpback" buttstock is (usually) way better for iron sight shooting.

Using a shooting sling can be troublesome with the FAL, since pressure on the sling can change point of impact significantly. Unless you want to go with a full-float FAL handguard (expensive) you may be stuck with this. I like FALs, but I think a Garand (or an M1A - if you can find one that works reliably :( ) is much better suited for this kind of deliberate shooting.

Standard rear sights on FALs are ok but not great - going to an upgraded rear sight (as MdlMkr 7.62 suggests) might help, too. Depends on how sharp your eyes are.

I've got zero experience with the AR-10, so I can't help there.

Getting a 6.8SPC or 6.5 Grendel *might* be an interesting path to take. For me, the only thing that would scare me (as you note) is ammo availability.

[SwampFox320]

WOOP! Garand! Haha... my bad yo, had to.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

A .308 M1 or an M1A would be a better choice for precision work but the FAL can be improved upon. I'd also recommend taking a course like Appleseed to improve your technique.

7.62

[Bidah]

Well all good ideas, and here is some more information.

It is an Imbel, and it has the humpback stock on it. I had thought about getting flatter stock on it, but I did not think about then having problems with the rear sight.

I used to shoot a Garand in HP matches, and then moved to the AR. I am not by any means a whiz bang shot, but I do ok when I get a chance to go. With my standard AR I can pull 1moa or less groups no problem.

7.62.. I have worked with this rifle for years, and I got it for one reason (besides I like them), and that is power. I took the rifle to an Appleseed, which is where I started to figure out that I have some serious issues. Nothing like spending 2 days and 400 rounds to consistently make 'unqualified', which qualifies me for permanent latrine duty according to them. Not even a cook.. I can shoot Rifleman with the AR, but that isn't the point, I want to do it with the rifle that I have chosen that has power.

I know that sling pressure is part of the problem since the groups wander. I also notice that my head is more tilted forward, so I am almost looking out the top of my eye (unless my eye is on the sight and my cheek is just below the sight). On the AR, my sight plane is nearly flat.. The sling and the sight issues are what I believe to be the bulk of the issues.

I guess when it comes down to it this is more of a rant/frustration post doesn't it.

Thanks guys.

-Bidah

[TISVOTUS]

Personally I am not a big fan of the AR-10 Platform;

With the DI system working very well in the 5.56mm cartridge, the .308/7.62 simply has too much pressure and fowling being deposited into the action for me to trust it beyond a few magazines being fired through it in a "vital" situation.


I recommend trying a good solid rail-mount for your FAL, and sticking a good holo-sight like a Trijicon or EOTech on there; for people with less-than-stellar vision this will improve your groupings considerably.

The FAL is plenty accurate and far more reliable than an AR-10. Also, the AR-10 has very expensive magazines and most of the time they are not nearly as reliable or abundant as the FAL Mags out there.

[Ryder]

Also I'd like to add that Magpul now makes a Precision Rifle Stock (PRS) for the FAL. Fully adjustable length of pull and cheek weld height.

http://www.magpul.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=70_88_114&products_id=251

Follow link to magpuls website with the PRS.

[MdlMkr 7.62]

Personally I am not a big fan of the AR-10 Platform;

With the DI system working very well in the 5.56mm cartridge, the .308/7.62 simply has too much pressure and fowling being deposited into the action for me to trust it beyond a few magazines being fired through it in a "vital" situation.

The FAL is plenty accurate and far more reliable than an AR-10. Also, the AR-10 has very expensive magazines and most of the time they are not nearly as reliable or abundant as the FAL Mags out there.


I agree. I feel if you upgrade your sights it will improve your accuracy with your FAL. Falcon arms used to sell a trigger upgrade kit too.

7.62

[Bidah]

Thank you guys for the wonderful information and comments.

7.62, it already has the TPR kit in it from Falcon. I highly believe in the kit as it does make a bit of difference. I also added the DSA safety (looks like the L1A1 safety) to it since I hated the original Imbel one.

Ryder, I will look into the stock.

TISVOTUS, I have thought about putting scope of some sort on it, but in my mind it would take away the BDC aspect of the irons.

I think that by changing the stock, or fixing it in some way, and possibly adding a hooded rear sight I can alleviate some of it. I wish for a way to test a stock before buying it. There are not a lot of choices anyway since the recoil tube is in the stock.

I have also been discussing/thinking about additionally having a stock of the 77gr loads on hand for my AR (not a DCM match, but close) since it can shoot those really good. Outside of hard barrier penetration (which is why I have the FAL in the first place), I would have no problem out to 500 with that load on soft targets.

Or I am back to the 6.5/6.8 upper for my AR and some very expensive ammo.

I will figure it out. Y'all have come up with some great ideas, and got me to thinking. I have enough years into this FAL, and I really do like it. I guess I just need to tailor it a bit more to really "fit" me. I know how painful it is. I heard a buddy cuss and swear at his M1A for several years, he almost sold it twice. I had him bring it over finally to my range. I figured out that he was no greasing it enough or in the right spots. Once I got him on the right track he loves it now. :)

-Bidah

[Bidah]

In looking at that Magpul stock, I got to thinking. With that stock you would be farther back than you should be for using the irons, but it would be great for a scope mount. With that, I thought that if I put a piece of mouse pad where my cheek should be it would raise my cheek some and give me a reference point to keep my cheek in the same place each time (reference point).

Hmm... now where is my old mouse pad.. :)

-Bidah

[Kyrottimus]

Stick with the FAL. Plenty of peripheral accessories that will allow you to customize it perfectly to your needs.

Personally I stick with iron sights and find my FALs are plenty accurate that way.

Cheek weld is fine for me, but it varies from one person to another.

DSArms.com, Gunpartsguy.com, etc are all good sources of gear for your FAL.