M14 Forum

hammer 1 · October 25th, 2011, 06:14 PM

does anyone own one, and what is the quality? would you recommend, or advise to steer clear. Thanks, comment and opinions greatly appreciated.

Stg1944 · October 25th, 2011, 06:37 PM

I had one for awhile. Short barreled version with the "x stock" I think it was called. Bought it from a buddy who had a few hundred rounds through it. I put another 200-300 rds of surplus through it. Went bang every time. No issues. Very robust rifle. But, it didn't fit me well and was very unpleasant to shoot. Sold it and got an M1a. Much happier.

Swamp Rat · October 25th, 2011, 06:42 PM

Shot a CAI G1. Would give my left nard for one if it handled and shot like the one I tried out.

SOCOM42 · October 25th, 2011, 06:59 PM

Had lots of problems with cai cast rcvrs. Mag wells were horrible.

They fitted a mag to them and no others would fit without machining. Had to mod the ejector blocks on some.

If anyone buys one, make sure it takes metric mags, inch pattern ones are impossible to find and 2x more than metric when available.

i have a fal built on an imbel with a stg58 kit, works great, going to take and cut the tube to 18" when i get some ambition

Maggotman · October 25th, 2011, 07:15 PM

DSA has built some excellent FALs over the years using surplus parts, notably Steyr. In the last few years the parts bins that were once full have become near empty...Now DSA has many of the same woes building FALs as SAI has with the M14/M1A. If your looking at a DSA factory rifle find an older one with made with surplus parts or better yet jump over to the falfiles forum and get yourself a complete rifle or parts kit from one of the many great members. The FAL is an excellent rifle...And easy to assemble with a little instruction.

Stay away from CAI and Enterprise unless quality is not on your list.

MM

Charlene32 · October 25th, 2011, 09:43 PM

the STG58 model is a pretty good deal. i paid about $1,100 for mine, new. i added the wood buttstock.

the other day i was shooting with a buddy who had a parts kit build FAL. the difference between his gun and my gun was night and day. mine was far nicer and way more accurate. his just felt junky.

+1 on DSA rifles. i am very happy with mine. i am currently feeding mine steel case Wolf ammo and it loves it!

elray · October 25th, 2011, 10:17 PM

i have owned 4 fals,2 of them were dsa fals.
i got rid of them all. i love the m1a so the fals were not
a good fit for me.
the 2 dsa fals i owned were top notch,and preformed flawlessly.

Old Sarge · October 25th, 2011, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggotman

DSA has built some excellent FALs over the years using surplus parts, notably Steyr. In the last few years the parts bins that were once full have become near empty...Now DSA has many of the same woes building FALs as SAI has with the M14/M1A. If your looking at a DSA factory rifle find an older one with made with surplus parts or better yet jump over to the falfiles forum and get yourself a complete rifle or parts kit from one of the many great members. The FAL is an excellent rifle...And easy to assemble with a little instruction.

Stay away from CAI and Enterprise unless quality is not on your list.

MM

This is what I've heard from several people too. Newly made parts aren't quite up to mil-spec standards, just like SA Inc. M1A's. It's normally best to find older rifles built with as many original military parts. However, sometimes military parts can be well worn and refinished.

If you're seriously looking to buy a DSA FAL, send me a PM.

Stg1944 · October 26th, 2011, 03:54 PM

During the brief time I had the DSA, I was following a forum (falfiles????). There seemed to be a few complaints about broken bolts around the extractor and some customer service gripes. A quick look indicates that site may have gone kaput however.

But like I said before, the one I had worked fine. It made a good plinker and I would have considered it a good SHTF rifle. Just didn't fit and my heart always wanted an M1a.

That being said, if I came across a deal on a DSA standard model, I'd get it to satisfy the "Battle Rifle of the Free World" thing.

If you get one, let us know how it works out for you.

hammer 1 · October 26th, 2011, 04:22 PM

Well, I recently had a customer ( Im a plumber), who had a basement gun bazaar. The old gentleman was on some hard times, and needed some pipe work done. I saw a DSA para kit, and wanting a para forever, we struck up a deal. Living in peoples socialist republic of new york, I have to have the evil folding stock fixed open. But its the look for me more than it having to fold. So Im looking at the 16.25 in barreled standard model. And im gonna put it together, you only live once.

alphabuck · October 26th, 2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammer 1

Well, I recently had a customer ( Im a plumber), who had a basement gun bazaar. The old gentleman was on some hard times, and needed some pipe work done. I saw a DSA para kit, and wanting a para forever, we struck up a deal. Living in peoples socialist republic of new york, I have to have the evil folding stock fixed open. But its the look for me more than it having to fold. So Im looking at the 16.25 in barreled standard model. And im gonna put it together, you only live once.

Make sure to put a pad of some sort on that stock, my buddy has one and every time I shoot it, it beats up my cheek. The 16" barrel FAL's sure are fun, and draw a crowd at the range!

Post Toastie · October 27th, 2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stg1944

During the brief time I had the DSA, I was following a forum (falfiles????). There seemed to be a few complaints about broken bolts around the extractor and some customer service gripes. A quick look indicates that site may have gone kaput however.

The FalFiles is still up and running at http://www.falfiles.com/forums/

alFALfa · November 29th, 2011, 06:30 PM

As far as factory-built FAL's go I think DSA is the best one out there.

My first DSA FAL was an early one made with new/unissued/unserialed Austrian STG replacement parts. Great gun but like a fool I sold it when I needed some cash and didn't realize the value of a gun made with real GI parts.

When they ran out of new parts they started making their own lowers, barrels, etc., but they also also built some with excellent matching Austrian parts kits (barrel, bolt, carrier, and lower receiver). My current FAL is a matching kit gun and is also great, only downside is it has the brazed-on muzzle brake that was installed before the AWB sunset.

Like others mentioned, Century and Entreprise don't have the best reputation out there.

USMC 711 · January 14th, 2012, 06:32 PM

DSA makes great drop forged receivers. One reciever I had seen was too thin in the magazine well shoulder area, and had a wavy appearance, even after being parked their QC control let it by - but that was remedied and a new one took its place. DSA makes great stuff overall. Their gun smith department is always backed up, but eventually they do deliver.

Join FAL FILES FORUM they discount some of their receivers, and do also offer an L.E.O. discount.

711

TREADMARKS · January 15th, 2012, 09:55 AM

Can't go wrong with one of their short gas systems on their OSW front ends. I installed one on my SAI SAR48 preban para about 12 years ago. All of DSA's parts that I have tried are top notch. I have had zero malfunctions in all the years since the build. The 13" bbl only shoots about 3.5" @ 100m (for me) with a red dot sight, but it is soft shooting and ultra reliable with the gas system adjusted properly. I currently have DSA's railed short gas handguard, para scope mount, lightweight alloy para lower and their para A2 rear sight, and fitted with an original US issue shortened SAW buttstock (lightweight with hinged wire shoulder support). Their 30 round mags work great on mine as well.

Currently my favorite go-to 308 carbine!