Originally designed to use an intermediate cartridge. The FN FAL was adopted by over 90 countries. It has been used in conflicts from the mid-1950s to today. However, it was plagued by politics and bureaucracy. Despite not being able to realize its full potential, FN FAL was still a highly successful military rifle, probably second only to the Kalashnikov in terms of proliferation. The widespread adoption of the FAL led to the rise in battle rifles that were chambered in full power cartridges. These rifles would be prominent in all conflict zones around the globe, from the 50s through the 80s. The FN FAL is no longer in mainline military service. However, it is still highly valued by combatants and firearms lovers around the world for its rugged reliability, good ergonomics, and raw sex appeal. G-Series FN FLAL. The Post War Dream. It was not surprising that the Germans had created a winning design with the StG 44 in the aftermath of WWII. It was the first practical implementation of the assault rifle concept and served as an inspiration for both the East, and the West for their next infantry weapon. The USSR’s intermediate caliber was the AK. But what many forget is that the FN FAL was also produced in the same 8mm Kurz round as the StG 44, which would go on to become the father of all intermediate cartridges. If this was the case, the FN FAL would likely have been adopted chambered with.280 British. This would have resulted in a rifle that handled similar to an AK, with more controllable full auto fire, larger magazines, and lighter ammo. Politics and American stubbornness caused the FN FAL not to become an assault rifle but a battle rifle. This accidentally started a weapon trend that would dominate small arms proliferation until the 1980s. Photo:Forgotten Weapons. FAL Development. The development of the FAL started in Belgium at FN Herstal. Dieudonne Saive was John Browning’s old protege and was responsible for the success of the Hi-Power. Although development began immediately after WWII in 1946, the design was not completed until 1951. It was not officially adopted by any military until 1955 when the Canadians adopted it under the C1 designation. This was due to NATO standardization. Similar to the STANAG concept for standardized magazines, ammunition and magazines that was introduced in 1980s, NATO tried to standardize all member countries on the same weapon platform. It didn’t go as planned for them. The United States demanded that the standard NATO cartridge maintain its ballistic capabilities of.30-06. This forced NATO to adopt 7.62x51mm. This demand led to the FAL being redesigned into the battle rifle we know today. It is chambered for full-power 7.62 NATO rounds. The assumption was that the United States would adopt the FN FAL as their standard Infantry rifle. However, America decided to adopt the M14. Early Canadian C1 FAL variants were tested in Swedish trials. Photo: Wikipedia. To NATO’s dismay, standardization efforts resulted only in widespread adoption of the FAL chambered to a cartridge they didn’t originally intend, several FAL variations with different-specced parts, and NATO’s largest military member deciding not to use the rifle at all. The FN FAL, NATO’s primary machinegun round, was the only standard that survived this effort. It was loved by many of its users, and saw combat in almost every corner of the world. The FAL was the first widely-used battle rifle. It also served as a conceptual inspiration for many other successful rifle platforms, such as the CETME Model 58 and H&K G3, as well as the FN SCAR -H.British L1A1 FAL. Photo: WikipediaFN FAL design principlesThe FN FAL uses a short stroke gas piston that was inspired by the Soviet SVT-40. It was a reliable system that was copied by the Germans in WWII with their G43 rifles. Later, the Soviets used it to create the SKS. It is a reliable and sturdy system, especially when used correctly by a trained user. The FAL’s gas can be tuned to the ammunition, weapon, and environment. It is very reliable and easy to shoot. The regulator can be adjusted to allow the rifle to run reliably in cold conditions with weak ammo or a dirty rifle. It can also adjust to feel less recoil when using hotter ammo with a clean gun. The FN FAL was adopted by most countries as a semi-automatic rifle. However, some countries also chose to add a second LMG-configuration FAL with select-fire to their arsenal. The rifle’s select fire capabilities would have been retained if it had been adopted in its original.280 British form. Later variants may include folding stocks. FALs can have bipods, carry handles and extended mags depending on where they were adopted. There are two types of FAL–metric or inch. Metric-pattern guns can be traced back to the original Belgian-made FN models. Inch-patterns come from the British L1A1SLR variant that would be used throughout Commonwealth countries like Australia and India. The magazines that are interchangeable between these two types of magazines are not interchangeable. This is why it is important to be aware of the differences when you shop for a FAL. Rock Island Auction Company. All around the GlobeFrom the Mau Mau Uprising, to the current conflict, from the professional armies in the United Kingdom to guerrilla troops and mercenaries. The FN FAL has seen action. It was designed to work reliably in the frozen tundra of Soviet Union. It also performed admirably in the wet jungles and deserts of Vietnam and the arid African bush. It seems to only have a problem in sandy environments. Despite its reliability issues in the desert, the FN FAL is still being used in conflicts in Syria, Libya, and Yemen. Photo: Wikipedia. The FN FAL was prominently featured in the Vietnam War, Vietnam Revolution, Rhodesian Bush War, and Falklands War. The FAL was adopted by more than 90 countries. It has also been used by several non-state actors. It is also used by guerilla groups and civilian shooters. YPG fighter equipped with FAL with scope. Photo from WikipediaOwning a FAL Today For Americans who want to own an FN FLAL, there are two main paths you can take depending on your interests. There are many FAL variants on the secondhand market for those who love military history and accurate clones. These range from original Belgian examples to Commonwealth SLRs. Unfortunately, there have been no FALs imported in a while and those looking for interesting rifles from overseas can only buy one from DS Arms, America’s top FAL manufacturer. DSA FALs are available in many flavors, from traditional to modern tactical, and everything in between. This is the best place to begin if you are looking for a FAL to use in shooting. Photo by DS Arms. The history of the FN FLAL is a complicated one. Its fingers are involved in everything, from post-WWII geopolitics and Cold War proxy conflicts. The development of the FN FAL also highlights some of the diplomatic difficulties that NATO faced in its early days. Although the FAL was not intended to exist, it became a popular and widely used military rifle. It was also the first to use the 7.62x51mm ammunition. This led to the development of NATO’s small arms, which was then renamed 5.56 by the Americans. The FN FAL is almost as iconic as Kalashnikov. It has become a symbol of freedom, democracy, and anti-communism. The FAL continues to serve its purpose in the hands and hands of soldiers, police and guerillas. It is almost as iconic as the Kalashnikov. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be found in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets
