Want a FAL-type rifle - what do I look for?

[Durandal]

Looking to add a FAL type rifle to round out the collection of evil assault weapons, but have no idea what to look for. I'm seeing IMBEL, CETME, L1A1, metric pattern, inch pattern and not having a clue at what I'm looking at. I know next to nothing about this rifle type. Can someone clue me in?
Not concerned about price, just want a good, dependable battle rifle.

[Tater]

The DSA STG58 is the best deal going... and it has been for a while.
http://www.dsarms.com/STG58-Austrian-FAL/products/9/

or if you're not worried about price take a look at their SA58 series...
www.dsarms.com

[w1cked]

I was going to make this same post today. I want to buy a FAL before another AWB kicks in. My friend is buying two AR-lowers. Can I do the same with FALs? I understand there are 'kits' out there, minus the uppers. Which is a better option? Thanks!!

[Tater]

As for the inch or metric thing... it depends what you are looking for or what "look" you are going for. Inch pattern rifles were built by the Comonwealth Countries (Great Britian, Canada, Austrailia, and, I think, New Zealand) while all the other Countries built the metric pattern FAL's. So the metric pattern rifles and magazines are much more common... and therefore less expensive. Also, Inch pattern rifles were semiautomatic only while the metric pattern rifles were usually fullauto capable.
Here is a list of the Countries that adopted the FAL...

[Tater]

I was going to make this same post today. I want to buy a FAL before another AWB kicks in. My friend is buying two AR-lowers. Can I do the same with FALs? I understand there are 'kits' out there, minus the uppers. Which is a better option? Thanks!!

You can't really build a FAL on the cheap anymore...
Your best bet is to buy a DSA STG58 as I said above or buy a quality homebuilt gun off the falfiles forums.
www.falfiles.com/forums/index.php

[MARDET]

+1 for everything the Tater has stated.
You can still build an FAL from a kit....not as cheap as before but still cheap compared to the amount of rifle your getting.
DSA, a good homebuilt from the FALfiles or parts kit and receiver on your own....all good just depends on what you want to do.

The Right Arm of the Free World

[RONNIE77]

I was going to say ask Tater, but he is already here.
+ to everything he says. He knows his shit.

I second the DSArms FAL's, they are the nicest I've seen.
I am going to purchase one before the end of this year.
I love MBR's

[Willie D]

I have yet to see an FAL receiver for sale anywhere for less than $300 and parts kits are now selling in the same range. You can probably get a used rifle for almost the same amount,

It's a shame; if we were allowed to buy surplus FALs they'd probably be selling for $200 due to the huge number of retired FALs out there currently.

[Booner]

I have a couple buddies with Ohio Rapid Fire FALs. They are very nice rifles, built on Imbel receivers if I remember correctly.