Irish Army re-issuing FALs to sniper teams

[Francisp]

The irish army does peace keeping, but they aren't exactly a combat force unlike the British.

On an aside note, the Accuracy International was set up by a British Civilian olympian. Maybe that will teach the British that civilian sport shooting has relevancy to national defence.....nope, probably not.

[Tengu Joker]

They have Fal's they don't have scars. They don't have much money.

Just comparing old to new JamesOC ...

[Gabe Suarez]

Actually it is a fine choice. The FAL makes much more sense than the SCAR. They have plenty of magazines, and parts, and probably all manner of armorer support. All which they would have to re-acquire for the SCAR. And to what end really? The FAL, properly scoped and with good ammunition, can hit to 800 yards with no issues at all...even for civilian guerrillas. I have two such rifles and they are each 1.5 MOA guns.

[Tengu Joker]

Actually it is a fine choice. The FAL makes much more sense than the SCAR. They have plenty of magazines, and parts, and probably all manner of armorer support. All which they would have to re-acquire for the SCAR. And to what end really? The FAL, properly scoped and with good ammunition, can hit to 800 yards with no issues at all...even for civilian guerrillas. I have two such rifles and they are each 1.5 MOA guns.

This, besides this gets a weapon I really like back in the limelight. And why spend more money investing in a new platform with a adjustable piston gas system when you can modernize the adjustable gas piston system you already have . . .

[snolden]

Makes me all warm and tingly inside to hear this news. I have spent the last five years working with my FALs to get to the 800 yard distance. I too am curious how they set them up, it was a large part of the last 5 years for my efforts

[Gabe Suarez]

I have spent the last five years working with my FALs to get to the 800 yard distance. I too am curious how they set them up, it was a large part of the last 5 years for my efforts

Shortcut: Use expensive Federal Gold Match Ammo and a high magnification MilDot scope (Leupold is minimum). Oh...and the Vltor handguard.

[Dale Hunter]

The sad part ia most of these FAL's will have worn out parts and barrels and will still be pressed into service like our old M-14's.

Now, if they hand select them or overhaul them with new barrels and such (and add Vltor handguards, decent scope) they can have a decent spotter rifle. Time will tell.....

[irishmike]

Out of curiousity, what makes the vltor handgaurd necessary vs a free floated DSA handgaurd? Is it just for mounting a bipod? I would like to replace my current one and am exploring my options. The vltor looks very versitale, I just don't have plans for mounting much up there besides a bipod. Thanks in advance for any replies.

[P.D.]

The sad part ia most of these FAL's will have worn out parts and barrels and will still be pressed into service like our old M-14's.

.....

Dale, as someone who went into the Army in 1967 and trained with M14s until just before leaving for Vietnam I'm here to tell you that the large majority of the M14s the army had and mothballed shortly after that had spent more time in unit arms rooms and parade grounds than they ever did putting rounds down range - square or 2-way. More time was spend carrying a rifle than shooting it - even in Basic Training. The same would hold true for the IDF (Irish Defence Force) L1A1s.

Old and worn out are not necessarily synonomous.

[Dale Hunter]

Correct, they weren't shot much. But how much time did you spend cleaning them and getting them white glove inspection ready? Horror stories of recruits putting chamber brushes in drills to scrub the chamber clean for a DI jump to mind.

Over cleaning, over disassembly/reassembly, over-inspecting (by armorers too) of rifles wears them out more than shooting them. That and the M14 wasn't a stellar accurate rifle to begin with. The national match versions get the hype, but a standard M14 was speced to be (with ammo variances) a 4MOA rig. A standard M16 (and M4) is speced to be no more than a 3MOA before being pulled.

However the MT community and nostalgic generals cling to them.