Fabrique Nationale’s F.A.L. – Fusil Automatique Leger or L.A.R. for Light Automatic Rifle – has been called “The Right Arm of The Free World.” It has been used at various points by over ninety countries. It’s popular everywhere, except in the states; you’ll see one every once in a while, but not very often. It’s kind of the Browning Hi-Power of rifles. I don’t have one – have shot them a good bit – but it’s on top of the list for future rifle purchases.
Credit for the FAL battle rifle’s design goes to Dieudonne Saive, who worked closely with Browning and actually finished the Hi-Power project, and Ernest Vervier, another prolific designer. The FAL is a “post-war” rifle – after WWII – and went into production in the mid 1950s. Think of it as the European protagonist to the Soviet’s AK 47. It has a short stroke gas system that’s tunable, and has been produced in a variety of barrels lengths, both short and heavy barrels, semi-auto and select fire, full auto versions. There are heavy “squad automatic weapon” FALs and lightweight versions for individual field use. Several counties produced FALs in “metric” and “inch” versions; some parts are interchangeable and some aren’t. If you want to get into a deep subject start studying the FAL. (The premier source for this subject and others is Collector Grade Publications’Gun Books Bookshelf #4 -- they have multiple volumes on the FAL.)
Due to the adjustable gas system design you can tune the rifle to the ammo you’re firing. And recoil is surprisingly light compared to other rifles of the same caliber. I’ve never fired one full auto, but have heard it’s difficult to control. Compared to the AR the FAL is heavy, but you have to keep in mind the FAL is a battle rifle; by definition, it’s good out to 800 yards. The AR is an assault rifle, designed for use out to 300 - although Colt tried to turn the AR assault rifle into a battle rifle with the H-Bar series.
True FALs were built almost like a custom rifle. Workers, who were truly craftsmen, had a variety of parts available, and would “fit” parts, swapping them out to match the particular rifle they were building. This meant when they left the factory they were right. It also means trying to build a FAL, or pick up a commercial model can take some time and effort to get it just right. Then there’s the whole 7.62 vs. .308 conundrum – again, FALs can be confusing.
If you’re thinking about wanting/needing a reliable semi-auto platform in .308 this should be on top of your list as well. Just remember, “Buyer beware.” Definitely check out the DSA models from Atlantic Firearms. As I mentioned above, the FAL is on the top of my rifle list.
Tiger McKee is director of Shootrite Firearms Academy, located in northern Alabama. He is the author of The Book of Two Guns, AR-15 Skills and Drills, featured on GunTalk’s DVD, “Fighting With The 1911 and has regular columns in Gun Digest and American Handgunner.
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