Getting Pushed Around by the FN FAL

by
posted on November 3, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
FNFALimage.jpg

After NATO adopted the .30-caliber T65 cartridge as the 7.62 x 51 mm, almost the entire world adopted a version of the Fusil Automatique Legere as designed by Dieudione Saive of Fabrique Nationale. When I say almost, I mean just about everyone besides the United States, which tested the T48 as made by Harrington & Richardson, but choose the M14 over any FAL variant.

While filming for an FN history segment for American Rifleman Television—you can't talk about FN without including the FAL—we had a chance to fire an early full-automatic and semi-automatic version with attributes of the German G1. Watch the video below. There's a reason these rifles were supposed to by fired in semi-automatic except in emergencies. This gun, a selective-fire battle rifle in 7.62, really pushes you around in full auto. American Rifleman contributor Ken Smith-Christmas fired the rifle for the camera. And if you think the FAL is a handful to keep on target in full auto, you should try the M14 some time.

Latest

375 Holland And Holland Cartridge Web 1
375 Holland And Holland Cartridge Web 1

Powerhouse Pedigree: The .375 H&H Mag. & Its Descendants

The cartridge family dynasty that began with the .375 H&H Mag. is still gaining momentum well over a century later.

Beretta Donates Unreleased Shotgun To Benefit Marine Raider Foundation

Beretta supported the fifth annual NorCal Marine Raider Foundation Fundraiser by donating a one-of-a-kind, unreleased commemorative shotgun for the event’s auction.

KelTec's Big Move To Wyoming

KelTec is the largest gunmaker in the state of Florida, but when the company looked to expand its manufacturing footprint, ultimately, the decision was made to create KelTec West, an entirely new production facility located in Rock Springs, Wyo.

New For 2025: Rossi RS22 Pistol

Rossi USA downsized its RS22 platform in 2025, creating a compact, large-format pistol variant of its popular RS22 semi-automatic rifle.

Handloads: A .32-20 Win. For Small-Game Hunting

The .32-20 Winchester Center Fire gained a fair following after it was introduced in 1882 in the Winchester Model 1873 rifle as a cartridge of modest power and good accuracy for small-game hunting and target shooting.

Rifleman Report: Heirloom Qualities

I’m thankful that we seldom witness the loss of an American Rifleman field editor, but, unfortunately for the entire shooting community, that occurred recently with the passing of combat handgun authority Wiley Clapp.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.