Lee now has a FAL and wanted to share/gloat, that is all. 
Lee now has a FAL and wanted to share/gloat, that is all.
I saw mags on sale for those somewhere in the past couple days. Like under three bucks ea.
So, specs? "Inch" or "Metric"? From a kit or factory?
Shiny
I really, really wanted a FN years ago but was convinced to buy a M1A instead. I've had that thing for at least 10 years and I haven't pulled the trigger on that scumbum once... I've still got some surplus metric FAL mags, too...
Dr. Hess wrote: I saw mags on sale for those somewhere in the past couple days. Like under three bucks ea. So, specs? "Inch" or "Metric"? From a kit or factory?
What I thought I was buying was DSA's "carbine" 18" Voyager, but what I got, I think, is their SA58 Carbine. I don't think the Voyager has previsions for carry handle. So it's a "new" metric pattern, 18" barrel SA58.
From all that I've read I need to stick with DSA's or mil surplus mags. I found some new 20 round steel mags for ~$12, but researching them has convinced me to pass.
EastCoastMojo said: Shiny
I named her Vera, yes I'm that big of a nerd. 
stroker said: I really, really wanted a FN years ago but was convinced to buy a M1A instead. I've had that thing for at least 10 years and I haven't pulled the trigger on that scumbum once... I've still got some surplus metric FAL mags, too...
Oooo, talk to me about your mags, I'd be willing to help lighten your burden of mags with no where to use them. 
DSArms are metric unless you build an inch pattern rifle. I'm actually ordering a type 2 upper from them on Friday to put me at about 70% on my build.
I did however pick up a PTR GI-R G3 pattern rifle in the meantime. Beautiful competitor to the FAL.
Oh, also all DSArms FAL's have SA58 on them, the kicker is that the Voyagers have some surplus parts in them unlike the full blown SA58.
DSArms said: The Voyager rifles are built with New Barrel and receiver coupled with Original Military Surplus FAL kits that may show minor character. Please note: receiver type may vary Type 1 or Type 2, no choice or custom options offered on the Voyager series
I have a 21" Voyager currently, the one I am building will either be another 21" or a 16", but it will be a full DSA rifle(yay nearly $2k) Haven't decided on what front end I want to run yet, it'll probably be another 21" since I have the G3 now(18")
I'm also picking up an AR lower from DSArms for my wildcat .30 carbine build. I'm going to prove once and for all that 300 blackout is trash.
In reply to WOW Really Paul?:
The case that it came with says Voyager, but the SKU only says SA58. My confusion was that all of the Voyager specs, specifically state, "Type 1 None carry handle cut cast receiver." Mine's obviously cut for and has a carry handle, though I'm not sure how to tell if it's cast or forged.
I've played with ARs for a long time, but have wanted a battle rifle for just about as long.
Funny you mention the PTR, initially I had made up my mind that the PTR 91, specifically Atlantic Firearms' GI R with the picitinny rail, and paddle mag release was the battle rifle for me.
However, I've wanted a FAL for as long as I've known what they are, but didn't want pay for it. As usual I'm a little too late to the game to get good deals. Before pulling the trigger on a PTR purchase, I gave the Voyager line another long hard look, it's only a few bills more than the PTR, and is well liked by the vast majority of reviews, so we decided to get the Voyager instead. We decided on a price point we could live with, and based on past experience, were motivated to go ahead and buy before a potential run on them and related paraphernalia.
We had been waiting out Atlantic Firearms to get inventory back in stock, since their price on the Voyager is $300-400 cheaper than anyone else that showed them in stock. Atlantic's estimated in stock date came and went, nothing.
I continued to wait, as patiently as I could, hoping for an "item available" email from Atlantic every day.
Then one day last week I randomly checked AIM Surplus' website to see what they had in curio & relics, and checked for FALs while I was at it. They showed the 18" Voyager in stock. 
I called and verified, was told "yeah we've got a few." Not only did they have them in stock, but they were $150 cheaper than Atlantic's advertised price. Sold.
Looks like fun. I've been binging FBT TV and CarniK Con videos the last few days.
That looks like fun. I have to admit, though, that listening to gun guys talk must be like what non-car-folks hear when we really get into it, or what the general public hears when EMTs talk to the ER surgeons.
In reply to bigdaddylee82:
Yea, it's sometimes hard to tell that the voyager uses some surplus parts. They're still very nice rifles, and I am unaware of DSA making non-forged recievers.
I must admit, I'm really really loving the PTR GI-R though, it surprisingly doesn't kick you as hard as the FAL and it is a little simpler. I did buy my PTR through Atlantic, my voyager came direct from DSA so I never had to catch it "in stock" lol. Mine doesn't have the carry handle cutout, but they did tell me if they had an abundance of carry handle recievers they'd be used on voyagers.
In reply to WOW Really Paul?:
Voyager is supposed to have a cast receiver instead of forged. The SA58 still uses a forged receiver.
I never called DSA to check inventory or attempt to buy direct because their list price is so much higher than what their vendors list them for.
Where are you getting FAL mags? There's a few surplus on Gun Broker but the high cost and high shipping has dissuaded my purchase.
Any suggestions on ammo? I've got 150 rounds on their way to try out, mostly German mil. surplus, which I hope it likes since they're the cheapest non-reloads I can find.
How's your PTR on brass? I know a lot of folks complain about them marring up casings.
The FAL is where Airbus makes planes... :-)
Rocking one of these myself, in .308. Fuuuun to shoot.
In reply to bigdaddylee82:
I prefer the 147gr Federal 7.62 NATO stuff personally, .308 is really no different but in factory loads I've noticed the consistency is with the NATO spec stuff.
And yea, my PTR usually dents the sides of the case, along with that nifty fluting up on the neck(g3's have fluted chambers to prevent jammed cases)
That's timing, got home tonight, and had an email from Atlantic that the 21" Voyager is in stock now.
Ha, nice.
Sounds like you got a better deal though through AIM.
While tempting to just pick up another complete voyager, I think I'll stay the course with my full SA58 build.
In reply to WOW Really Paul?:
Yeah, I still got a better deal through AIM, but just a little bit better, Atlantic has lowered the price from when I set up the in stock notification. I was looking through Slick Guns, Atlantic was selling them for $999.95 back in March, should have been shopping back then.
Next on my buy list, is some kind of AK variant. Bang:buck, I think I'm going to get a Hungarian AMD 63 from Classic, it's homely looking, but is the cheapest thing I can find "new" with forged trunnions, is priced right, and some more traditional wood furniture or even Magpul would gussy it right up.
In reply to bigdaddylee82:
Just make sure you go with a milled reciever variant, other than that I don't know much about them.
Be careful on changing the furniture out on an AK. That is, the stock, pistol grip and front handguard count as 3 parts for 922 compliance. If your rifle has foreign made parts (and I think there is only 1 AK made entirely in the US), then changing out 3 parts for "traditional" foreign made parts could easily put you under the limit and technically illegal. Magpull parts wouldn't matter, as they are made in the US, as far as I know.
In reply to Dr. Hess:
Thanks, yes I too am aware of 922r, though there's no way anyone would ever know, or even check where the furniture came from.
I don't know what percent/how many pieces of the original AMD that Classic uses? I know it's a Hungarian receiver, but has a new US made compliant length barrel. The AMD has a shorter gas tube, and no provisions to hold the upper hand guard, so without some tinkering there's one less piece to worry about. Seeing how the lower "hand guard" is the original perforated metal, even if I were to swap it out with a surplus wood handgaurd, I'd be swapping one foreign part for another 1:1.
You're right though, it's good to be sure to dot your Ts and cross your Is.
Century and IO both have a US made rifle, but it's Century and IO, I'm not sure who beats who at poorest quality control, probably depends on the day of the week. "Legit" US made Kalashnikovs are allegedly being made by Kalashnikov-USA, they actually made national news last year, but so far as I know diddly squat has made it to market.
In reply to bigdaddylee82:
They're opening a factory here to basically show the executive & legislative branches a huge middle finger.
SGN, I mean Firearms News (name change) had an article recently on IO. They said that they closed the whole factory and moved it to a different state and started over, with quality now top priority. So, a new gun from them is supposed to be OK (good?) but an old one, they readily admitted (both SGN/FN and IO) was, E36 M3. I've looked at the Century AK's at Cabella's and they look OK. Dunno how they shoot.
In reply to Dr. Hess:
This is all hear-say from folks that know more than me, but the Century built ones allegedly shoot okay for a while. However, they used cast trunnions that don't hold up to much abuse, or you know, shooting.
This one allegedly broke after 35 rounds.
In reply to bigdaddylee82:
Yea, I'm not a big fan of Century.....even if the other options cost more, there is probably a reason. LoL
My current wish list is a new production STG44(5.56, .300blk, 7.62x39, or 7.92x33), but I'll probably end up getting a SVT40 & G43 before that. I love my historical battle rifles too much.
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