Comments on: FN FAL Semi-Automatic Rifle Review

By: Gene Barber

Gene Barber — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 07:58:14 +0000

you compare the FN-FAL to the Ruger SR556 but give no credit to the Ruger SR762?

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:22:51 +0000

Hi Nate,
I think the FN-FAL was changed to other rifles primarily to ensure that more rounds of ammo could be carried. This move to 5.56 mm was not resisted by most militaries because the FN-FAL is at the upper limit of what smaller soldiers could carry and use.
The FN-FAL uses a steel upper receiver because of the design and the forces generated by the tipping bolt design. The use of multi-lugged bolts like the AK series and the M16 allow a weight reduction through a lighter upper, as the bolt can lock into the back of the barrel or a closely positioned part. In Australian service there was a heavy-barrel variant of the FN-FAL with Bipod and Scope that was to function something like the American BAR. It was never popular and was replaced by either heavier belt-fed machine guns such as the M60 and FN MAG or the lighter Mini-MAG.

The most famous battle where Australian Forces used the FN-FAL was at Long Tan in Vietnam. The rifles were by all accounts very reliable, but the squad machine guns (M60’s) suffered from mechanical problems. I would suspect that this was related to the amount of rounds fired and the cleanliness of the M60’s. Check the entry in Wkipedia for Long Tan.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 27 Feb 2017 11:08:24 +0000

Hi Nate,
Not too bad a review. Some additional in-service information;
The variable gas-port adjuster was primarily to compensate for different ammunition. This didn’t necessarily imply different bullet weights. Different ammo used different powders for different ambient temperatures. Hence the need to adjust the gas system. Each country that made standard NATO ammo had specific climatic conditions to deal with. Australian and Norwegian powder selection had to be different as Australia has much higher ambient temperatures.

It was also necessary to adjust the gas system as components fouled, which again was a function of powder type.
Service rifles also allowed the gas plug to rotated 180 degrees to cut gas off to the system completely. This was necessary for firing rifle grenades with a special cartridge.
It also allowed for manual loading of the system.

On the range the rifles are known for stringing the shots vertically. This may be related to the pressure of rounds on the bottom of the bolt. The rifle used a tipping bolt in a bolt carrier. The engagement of the bolt base against the action can vary depending on the pressure of the magazine spring.