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Sangiovese wrote:I haven't heard that the FNARs were picky about what you feed 'em. I'll have to look into that.

As for being a beauty queen... I'm pretty neutral on the looks but this rifle will be a tool so I'm not too concerned about that. After I settle on a semi auto .308 I will have all the bases covered and will finally be able to shift over to "collecting" rather than filling my toolbox. Looks will come into play at that point

I didn't say all FNAR rifles are picky about ammo, I just said mine was. I have two friends who currently own, or have owned an FNAR as well. Those two are not quite as picky about ammo, but ammo quality does affect accuracy more with theirs than with mine.

AndyC wrote:I find that rifle distinctly unattractive, personally - it looks like a BAR onto which someone just slapped on a pistol-grip. Oh, well - pretty is as pretty does.

Visually, the FNAR is ugly as sin, but when people see the results on target it becomes quite attractive.

TAM now you're talking. Add in an EBR stock and you're really in business. Of course that isn't cheap!

I considered an M1A, but it seems like the FNAR is a little better value.

Besides, after I get a gun, it'll be the wife's turn and she has had her eye on the M1s lately, so I'm guessing that she will use her next turn to buy one. Why use my turn on one when she'll buy it for me? She will think it's hers... but I can live with that

SQLGeek wrote:TAM now you're talking. Add in an EBR stock and you're really in business. Of course that isn't cheap!

My son's:

^ 3-9 or 4-12?? He needs a 4-16X50 on that bad boy!

FN-FAL, or M1a. just my two cents.

MY OPINION:

M1A/M14 style rifle:

PROS:
History and legacy
availability of parts including countless EBR style stocks
cheaper and more available magazines
cleaning

Cons:
no pistol grip
magazine "seats" differently
you are never "finished" (loaded, match, etc barrel, "better" stocks, parts etc)


FN FNAR:
PROS:
Built off of a solid plan (browning BAR)
pistol grip and various in-box parts e.g. adjustable stock risers, can/tilt parts
magazine "seats" just like an AR-10 or 15
you'll have "top of the line" because you have a stock FNAR, in 16 or 20 in barrels, and no other upgrades needed/ produced
Accuracy* (note, this is SERIOUSLY my experiences, but a stock m1a is outshot by a FNAR in my opinion) I am willing to put my FNAR vs any stock m1a with same ammo, any day.
mounting and rail system
CONS:
price of magazines
cleaning and take-down
name recognition

RSJ wrote:^ 3-9 or 4-12?? He needs a 4-16X50 on that bad boy!

It's the 3-12x50 Hawk with the H425 reticle.

RSJ wrote:Accuracy* (note, this is SERIOUSLY my experiences, but a stock m1a is outshot by a FNAR in my opinion) I am willing to put my FNAR vs any stock m1a with same ammo, any day.

You'd be right about that, matching the standard M1A against the FNAR. The Loaded model (which is what's in my son's picture and what I also used to own) comes with a medium weight national match barrel along with some other upgrades (match trigger, etc.) and is noticeably more accurate than the standard barreled models. I don't think it would necessarily beat the FNAR with the standard weight barrel, but it is in the ballpark. I shot a number of .5" groups with my M1A using match ammo. But I also shot a bunch of 1.25" groups with it. But it would have to be a very high quality (read that "high priced") M1A/M14 indeed to compete with a heavy barreled FNAR.

TAM, can you share the specs (stock, scope, other parts, custom work, etc.) on your son's M1? It looks great!!

bagman45 wrote:TAM, can you share the specs (stock, scope, other parts, custom work, etc.) on your son's M1? It looks great!!

The action, barrel, and fire control group are all OEM for the "Loaded" model:

• Barrel: 22" premium air-gauged stainless steel, National Match medium weight, 1:11 twist
• Front Sight: 0.062" National Match military post
• Rear Sight: GI match grade non-hooded aperture, 0.052", adjustable .5 MOA/click windage and 1 MOA/click elevation
• Trigger: 2-stage military trigger, match tuned, 4.5-5.0 lb pull.

It's basically a standard M1A with a few upgraded parts.

In the photograph, the barreled action rides in a Sage Mod 0 EBR stock. The scope is a 3-12x50mm Horus Vision Hawk with the H425 reticle, mounted to an A.R.M.S. #18 M14/M1A Scope Mount.

More recently however, he has re-mounted the barreled action in the original synthetic M1A stock. The Sage EBR stock adds significant weight to the total package, making it less portable, and it does not add anything to the accuracy. If you have a FaceBook account, my son posted this video just yesterday of my daughter in law shooting his M1A at Elm Fork yesterday afternoon:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=493 ... ent_tagged

Some other things for you to consider:
The FAL is at its limits, upgrades are few and far between, the action was not originally designed for 7.62x51 NATO. It was adapted for it, and shooting .308 vs. 7.62x51 can over work some of the older ones.

The M1A is built around the NATO round from the start, If your one that likes to tinker it is the way to go. The military version issued to the troops was very accurate. I have seen surplus M1A's win several matches unmodified. There is also no confusion on the mags like the FAL.

All that being said, and being a 8yr Marine Corps vet, there is a vary special place in my heart for the M1A/M14. I still believe the FAL is the finest battle rifle ever made.

I am a bit late to the party on this thread but if I could have a do-over, I would get an AR-10 instead of the FNAR I have. I shoot my neighbor's DPMS and I find it as accurate as my FNAR. FNAR mags run about $60 from CDNN, so I don't have as many as I would like. As mentioned by several others, dis-assembly and re-assembly of the FNAR is fairly complex, especially compared to an AR, and this is my main source of dis-satisfaction. If you get too much stress on the guide rod on re-assembly, the FNAR becomes a very heavy single-shot rifle, whereas the AR is pretty foolproof. And getting the bolt out of the receiver and then back in, I don't even like to think about it. If you don't mind removing screws, punchng half a dozen pins and making sure the mag release spring stays in place, all the while using strong language, then the FNAR might be yoiur choice.