Tag Archive for .308

FN FAL: “The Right Arm of the Free World”

/ December 3, 2012 / 5 comments

I have the most interesting friends. One fully embraces authentic older weapons. He has a very eclectic collection of rifles and pistols – every one with a story. I’ll talk about some of his guns from time to time, as they fascinate me. Recently, he has been building an authentic replica of a Fusil Automatique Léger (FAL) built by the Belgian armaments manufacturer, Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN). Fusil Automatique Léger translates to “Light Automatic Rifle”. The short name for this rifle is “FN FAL”.

I had to write this article to educate myself, as I did not know anything about a FN FAL. According to the front page of the FAL Files, it was originally designed to fire a 7.92mm Kurz cartridge, developed by the Germans in WWII.  Following the war, it was adapted to use a 7.62mmx51 (.308 Winchester) cartridge (as the .308 became the NATO standard.)  This classic post-war battle rifle was sold to the militaries in over 90 countries.

7.92×33mm Kurz Vs. 7.62 x 51 NATO (.308)

Watch this video from Discovery to see the FN FAL in action.  It covers the specs of the rifle and gives a quick history.

I will get a chance to use this rifle, and I am excited to try. Because we are in California, it will have “bullet button” to release the magazine, he is having the upper manufactured in the USA, and it will be set up for semi-automatic fire.  After watching that video I would never want to fire the FN FAL in full auto – what a waste of good ammo!  This thing is a beast!

The upper will arrive in the next month, and after that – I will get the opportunity to send some serious lead down range.  When I do – you will be the first know.

Category: Firearms, History, Military, Rifles / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’m Taking You on a Journey… Building a Custom Rifle

/ June 14, 2012 / 11 comments

To follow the entire series on my custom rifle build, click here.  (The most recent will at the top of the page.)

For the last year, I have been lucky enough to spend A LOT of time shooting a Remington 5R (.223), a couple of Accuracy Internationals (.308/.260) and my favorite – a custom Remington. (Click here and scroll down for details and a photo of the custom Remington.) I have loved every minute, and am hungry to learn more.  I am crazy enough to think I am going to try some long range tactical matches with my friends who have been teaching me about this great sport.  Now I find myself shopping less for heels and instead I have been trying to find the precision tactical rifle that calls my name. I thought it was going to be an Accuracy International with a .260 barrel, and we have found plenty for sale, used, with only a few rounds through the barrel.  Still – I could not quite “bite the bullet” (pun intended) and make the purchase.

The Accuracy Internationals are amazing weapons, accurate, rugged, beautiful, everything a shooter could want.  Still, because I am a girl (and I guess no matter how tough I am, I COULD be tougher) it is fairly heavy.  The weight really will only matter in a competition when I am lugging it from stage to stage, and also some competitions require some stages to shoot from a position other than prone.  So, we started talking about building a custom rifle where I could choose a stock with a more appropriate Length of Pull (LOP) and possibly knock some weight off with various choices.  I have two friends that give me advice, they are Don and Bill.  Bill did warn me that making the rifle too light could increase recoil – so we are trying to find a good balance.

I have already made a few decisions – and I will talk about some of them, a little at a time.  I am going to do more research and call a couple of expert gunsmiths and ask a bunch of questions as well.  Just the conversations with men so well known for building “art” in the form of precision tactical rifles will be worth talking about.

I would be interested in knowing if you have built a custom rifle – or any type of gun before.  What lessons did you learn and was it worth it when you were finished?

I have a lot to learn on this topic – and maybe you do to.  So, hope you’ll come along with me and we can learn together!

 

Category: Building a Custom Rifle Series, Education, Firearms, Rifles / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Have you been this excited about a .308?

/ August 4, 2011 / 10 comments

I am back after my vacation to God’s country – and by God’s country I mean a place where you can get legal moonshine (as well as homemade shine), sit in an American Legion and drink a beer with veteran’s of the Korean War, and where no one finds it odd when you show up at the range with a few long-range tactical rifles.  We had many adventures across Tennessee, Kentucky, and Indiana, and I cannot wait to tell you about some of them, but for now I will show you my favorite!

Category: Firearms / Tags: , , ,

Who Needs a Man?

/ July 20, 2011 / 2 comments

The power, the freedom, the smell of gun powder.  Are you as excited as I am?  I will get to shoot my first Accuracy International AE MKII .308 in just three days.  The anticipation is killing me!  Who needs a man when you can hold a weapon like this in your hands…

Category: Firearms / Tags: , ,