Would You Actually Trade Your M14 For An FAL?

Neither could I but I just did what I was told.:rolleyes: Replacing the FN gas block (from somewhat hazy memory) seems to be about the same as the AR family. I could never understand why broken gas blocks couldn't simply be machined at 2nd line to accept replaceable fore sight guards which were already in the supply system. Same as why we had wood furniture when most of the world had already gone to composites. I guess it was just very hard to change people's minds who'd grown up with wood furniture.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the FAL and would dearly love to own one but, if a C7 costs the CAF (ballpark) $1.5-$2k, I wonder how much a new FAL would cost. Humping around a basic load of 5.56 vs 7.62 would make anyone want the C7.

Anyone remember the L1A2 grenade launcher? I never fired one but inserting a special blank round, turning the gas block 180 deg, placing the butt on the ground, inserting a (I think) 36 grenade, pulling the pin and firing seems to be a heck of a lot harder and more dangerous than opening an under slung M203PI, inserting a round and firing. :) I heard war stories about people firing the old grenade launcher from the shoulder. Maybe an urban myth but, wow that must have hurt! Same as I heard somewhere of someone firing the 60 mm mortar with the base plate on their thigh.

I do hope these are just war stories told over a beer and not something that actually happened
 
I'd trade ONE of my M305s for an FN-FAL...except that I just happen tp have a nice L1A1 tricked out with C1A1 parts so it looks just like the first centerfire rifle I ever shot back in army csdets, and lugged around Ipperwash and CFB Calgary for a good many summers nd weekends in my youth.

The nostalgia is strong but I'd have to admit the FN was a bit of a pig to carry and shoot. But the strength and confidence it inspired was worth it. I think it's an apples vs. Oranges to compare the two guns...but if the FN was NR, and there were as many parts and accessories available for it and there were experts as ready as Barney and 45ACP to help us get and keep them running...but that would be a very fine situation...
 
lakeside said:
Neither could I but I just did what I was told.:rolleyes: Replacing the FN gas block (from somewhat hazy memory) seems to be about the same as the AR family. I could never understand why broken gas blocks couldn't simply be machined at 2nd line to accept replaceable fore sight guards which were already in the supply system. Same as why we had wood furniture when most of the world had already gone to composites. I guess it was just very hard to change people's minds who'd grown up with wood furniture.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the FAL and would dearly love to own one but, if a C7 costs the CAF (ballpark) $1.5-$2k, I wonder how much a new FAL would cost. Humping around a basic load of 5.56 vs 7.62 would make anyone want the C7.

Anyone remember the L1A2 grenade launcher? I never fired one but inserting a special blank round, turning the gas block 180 deg, placing the butt on the ground, inserting a (I think) 36 grenade, pulling the pin and firing seems to be a heck of a lot harder and more dangerous than opening an under slung M203PI, inserting a round and firing. :) I heard war stories about people firing the old grenade launcher from the shoulder. Maybe an urban myth but, wow that must have hurt! Same as I heard somewhere of someone firing the 60 mm mortar with the base plate on their thigh.

I do hope these are just war stories told over a beer and not something that actually happened
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We did a grenade launcher intro shoot in battle school once and I never seen it again, even in the Battalion. From what I experienced the grenade tail tended to fall off in flight a lot of the time so we were only able to launch screening smoke due to safety issues. No one was able to hit much with them. Firing the 60 mm from the thigh even without increment charges would wreck your day.
 
I never saw the grenade launcher used during my service.
We were told that it was not on to call the 60 a "Knee Mortar" as that was a certain bet to get a broken knee.:eek:
 
In a freaking heartbeat!! I've shot both but of course have way more time w/ the FN so that certainly colours my preference. I would not throw a M14 if I was gifted one BUT offer me a C1 I could take to the range or (be still my beating heart!) into the field looking for something suitable to put in the freezer .....
 
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