NFG with a can of worms question

2827 Views 14 Replies 12 Participants Last post by sgt ron, Jul 17, 2010

JiminTexas

Discussion Starter · Jun 28, 2010

Yep, I'm the NFG. I have lurked around your site here and I am impressed with the level of knowledge found here. I am going to buy an FAL, I just don't know when and which one. I do not feel like I am even remotely qualified to build one, so I will have get a store bought rifle. I am sure that each of you has a personal preference and that htis may well start a lot an argument, but here are my questions:

I have the money to buy a CAI from J&G but there is some negativity about the quality of the CAI brand. Would it be better to wait until I have enough to buy a better quality rifle? This may take a year or more and I'm a married man. My wife keeps wanting to blow it on bills.

I have gotten the impression that the CAI guns are either really good or a POS depending on the condition of the parts used to assemble them. Which am I more likely to get a good parts set in, a metric or inch FAL? Which is more likely to have a bunch of worn out crap installed? Is one newer or less likely to be badly worn than the other?

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jrs

· #2 · Jun 28, 2010

Hello & :welcome:

I have one of the CAI FAL .308 Sporter rifles several years, thousands of rounds through it and no problems.

Coils

· #3 · Jun 28, 2010

Hello & welcome

I hope someone can answer your questions with detail, I can't. But if you think your going to get a CIA know what to check and how to do it, if the seller won't let you do so, leave it and find another.

JiminTexas

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jun 28, 2010

I'm pretty much a babe in the woods when it comes to these rifles so about the only way that I know to check it is load it up, shoot it, count my fingers afterward. If there are 10 and the gun reloads and shoots again, it must be O.K. Other than that I don't have a clue as to what to check. Does anyone have a check list?

pirate56

· #5 · Jun 28, 2010

there are a lot of deals out there now on new guns, personally I would spend a little extra and get a dsa. it will be worth more in the long run. shop around on the net to look for the best price.

JiminTexas

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 29, 2010

Thanks for the advice. From my perspective it looks like the CAI from J&G is about the best offer out there. There are a whole pack of pirahnas at Gunbroker that want anywhere from $50 to $200 more for the same rifle that J&G offers. I guess that they figure that if they add a couple of $10 mags and run 300 or 400 rounds through it that they can up the price some. I really llike the dsa guns, but it is going to be awfully hard for me to find the additional $300 to $400 for the DSA. I'm still not committed to any one gun though.

j427x

· #7 · Jun 29, 2010

the DSA will certainly be the better rifle.

the CAI might be good enough though.in spite of all the horror stories CAI does turn out a few decent examples.

i would give J&G a call and see what their return policy was. J&G is usually pretty up front on those kind of things. just ask them if this expensive CIA rifle don't live up to what a FAL is supposed to be can i return it and get my $$ back or something else?

jimmy_stikx

· #8 · Jul 2, 2010

I'm not gonna lie, when I get around to building my FAL, I'll be going through the headache of "finish" machining a CAI FAL receiver. For $100 bucks out the door with a lower attached I couldn't pass it up. My barrel times well, too!

I'm cheap, and willing to work on a gun, even if it is "beyond" my skill, I will learn, or jerry rig, and it shall work. Been working with my CAI CETME so far.

Davesrb

· #9 · Jul 6, 2010

Go to the FalFiles and search on Century Fals. There are whole threads on what can (or usually is) wrong with them and how to fix them. Headspacing issues and barrel timing issues are the usual complaints as I recall.

Also, check out the Marketplace, you can get some great deals on FAL's right now.

BTW, I LIKE FAL's...

Davesrb

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twstdmchnst

· #10 · Jul 6, 2010

Have had my CAI for a couple months now and runs like a champ.

555th

· #11 · Jul 6, 2010

Davesrb said:
Go to the FalFiles and search on Century Fals. There are whole threads on what can (or usually is) wrong with them and how to fix them. Headspacing issues and barrel timing issues are the usual complaints as I recall.

Also, check out the Marketplace, you can get some great deals on FAL's right now.

BTW, I LIKE FAL's...

Davesrb

That is freakin awesome dude!!!!

Davesrb

· #12 · Jul 8, 2010

555th said:
That is freakin awesome dude!!!!

Thanks! I've been building and buying for a few years. I have 3 more to build, then I'm out of kits.

But it's ok, I've got 10 AK kits lined up to get started on next!!

Davesrb

CeeKay

· #13 · Jul 10, 2010

DSA STG-58. Best place to get a good FAL for a reasonable price... They may not be 100% new US manufacture or 100% authentic Steyr Austrian STG kits, but they're beautiful nonetheless. With the DSA scope mount top cover and a good pipe, it should make a very reliable and fun larger game hunting rifle, or even just a damn nice range queen... Can get a metric tonne of accessories and neat parts through DSA, and even a few other places; watch FAL Files' marketplace. FNFAL.com / The FAL Files

Mine came with black plastic handguards, which stay cooler than the steel handguards native to the STG. Also a sand-cut (inch pattern) bolt carrier, no numbers on bolt or carrier, numbered lower, new 21" US barrel, bipod, etc.

So it's a great first-step... If you order it through AIM, which still has a handful atm, iirc... they're 100 dollars off!!

DS Arms STG58 FAL .308 cal Rifle

DSA's are pretty.

- CK

Saigaist

· #14 · Jul 16, 2010

IMHO DSA is overpriced...I got a Century L1A1 FAL and it runs like a champ !!

I had a bent recoil spring tube and Century sent me out a new one within a few days.

I know people say Century is hit or miss but for the price they are definitly worth it IMO anyway.

I think a big thing is where you buy it from...Classic Arms is my main "go to" online spot for buying firearms, at the time they didn't have any (they do now) so I went with CenterFireSystems because they are my second "go to" spot. I got my FAL for IIRC $700 even AND free shipping :rockin: lol

I asked them about 20 questions over the phone about the FAL's they had in stock and and asked them to pick me one out and go over it with me...he might not of wanted to LOL but he did no problem and was cool about me asking all the questions.

They were also willing to take it back for a full refund or replace it when I called about the bent recoil spring tube, I nicely declined because even with the bent tube it shot very accurate and ran perfect.

Just my $.02 but I think a Century FAL is right there with DSA and Enterprise IMHO

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sgt ron

· #15 · Jul 17, 2010

please refrain from writing any thing positive/good about CAI rifles, if enough people read it it will drive the prices up on them. i have been able in the past and now to buy ( CHEAP) some really "bad" rifles because they had CAI on the side of them.:grumble:

thanks
ron

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