As the relatively recent FAL owner myself, I’ve had the opportunity to run it through training pretty hard down in Florida. Here is my two cents regarding the FAL and my use of it.

Pros:
-ammunition availability
-modernization potential (although this is an old system by all accounts the aftermarket is fairly robust for modernization efforts. I.E new hand guards, pistol grips, ETC)
-the cartridge itself, as someone who carried a 240B in a professional capacity for several years I am fully aware of the capabilities that 7.62 x 51 NATO possess
-they’re just really cool. There is not a single range trip. I have gone to where I didn’t at least turn a few heads while shooting with this.
- solid reliability


Cons:

-the trigger, especially stock leaves a lot to be desired, but can be trained around and even sent back to DSA for a trigger job. This does make it better but understand this will not be the same kind of crisp trigger pull you would get out of a performance trigger or a nice AR trigger.
-suppression is relatively difficult to tune for. If not already configured for suppression from the factory and additional gas plug will have to be installed replacing the OEM gas plug, which may be more trouble than it’s worth some people.
-huge variation in magazine quality. Understand that if you decide to go with this platform, the quality of magazines will vary greatly between manufacturers. I’ve had the opportunity to try a few different magazines, including Israeli, SADF and luckily enough, one single Rhodesian metal mag along with DS arms all polymer 20 round magazines. All of which have had some pretty wide variance in quality and reliability. (the polymer mags seemed to have weaker feed lips and I am currently looking at 3-D printing new magazines, then embedding thin steel to reinforce the feed lips but that is an ongoing project)
-ammunition cost. Running a gun especially a 762 rifle of any variety is not cheap, especially with recent hikes in ammo prices even ball ammunition has become not impossible, but definitely more difficult to source in large quantities and for the same price as you were able to get it for before.
-accuracy when purchasing this rifle, you need to understand that Lyle capable and with a relatively solid barrel you are still gonna have to do some leg work with testing out various loads of ammunition to maximize accuracy. With FDI 149 grain 7.62 NATO I’m printing about 4MOA or just under at 100 yards. We are as with match ammunition I’ve had as low as 1.8 MOA.
-magazine capacity. Like the FAL guy has touched on various times over various videos 20 round magazines are by far the most common type of magazine you will find and although the number of us who may read this comment will ever be in a firefight with the FAL could be counted on a single hand understand that ammunition capacity matters. The side that has more ammunition and more guns will usually be the one that is victorious.
-cost for the actual unit. Although it is possible to find these rifles for cheaper than MSRP understand that they are still going to run you close or over 2K generally and if you are looking for a more accurate battle, rifle and cost is not a large hurdle. I would say save up another $1500 to buy a SCAR 17 instead.

Understand this is a sample size of one, but I am just passing along the information I have had with my personal experience :)
Cheers and hope you are doing well. That being said, phenomenal video as always

One of the coolest looking battle rifles ever made.

I have owned my FAL since the early 90's. I am so glad I purchased 20 magazines when they were $7.00 each :). I recently upgraded all the springs in the rifle and mags just to keep it fresh and ready. Beside it goes well with my Breitling chronograph🦓

I still see the Mexican national guard using Fals, ranging anywhere from the 21 inch fixed stock version all the way too the OSW

I'm surprised that he didn't mention one of the best qualities of the FAL is its ease of field stripping for maintenance and cleaning.  Once you have field stripped and cleaned an FAL, you will throw rocks at other designs in terms of ease of maintenance.  Breaks open like a double barrel shotgun, the bolt and carrier assembly drop right out.  It goes back together as easily as it comes apart also.

Because Cecil Rhodes would have wanted you to

Love my FAL!  Eats anything I feed it, easy to clean/ maintain, rugged, powerful, just great.

I recently bought one of the DSA 50.00 clones. I have put maybe only five mags total through it, took it through its paces out to 300 yards, and it's fantastic. One hell of a truly great rifle and an instant favorite.

I carried and used in anger as a British Paratrooper the FAL/SLR in Aden up country. Early model were issued to us, wooden butt and fore grip, in 1965 I thought this was the best rifle ever produced, rugged and a trusty friend in times of dire need 😀.

I have owned several L1A1s FN FAL metric versions, the Congo/Paratrooper FAL and several others. Loved those rifles. I also had about ten 30 rounds mags and all functioned perfectly.

Im dyin to get my hands one one. Everytime i get close the money slips thru my grubby little fingers. Love this channel and yur vids man. One of only 2 channels i have notifications on for. Keep em comin and stay golden

Hey Boertjie!!  good to see your latest video!! As always, awesome content and your Afrikaans is really coming on great!! Always makes me grin in pleasure, happy to see another generation keeping our heritage alive.
One of the best reasons "why 308??"  has not really been covered here. I shoot and reload anything from 223 to 50cal. I would give my left nut for a FN in a 6,5 Creed. That would be a spectacular build. However, my no1 reason for the 308 and why it is such a good platform for a truly all-purpose rifle and an "if i could only have one rifle because the demon-crats are in charge" scenario, is that the 30 cal is THE one caliber from everything from 223 to 308, that will reliably and accurately shoot ANY 30 cal projo. From the 90 and 100gr class , ALL the way up to the 230's.. a 10 twist barrel will shoot them ALL with mill-spec accuracy. Where the 7mil and down to 223 bore dia is HELL of a fussy for twist rate (spin stability), i have found over the years that the 308 is very forgiving, barrels last a LONG time and it will shoot any commercially available ammo. That right there is MONEY in the bank and if you reload, you can literally buy ANY 30 cal bullet and load it. It will work.  Your DSA T-Shirt is cool as hell. Regards from Cape Town

I put mine together back in 2001 when surplus kits were plentiful. I bought an Imbel kit ($250ish w/hand pick barrel) from Tapco and a new Imbel type 03 receiver ($189) from FAC. Tapco would have sales on scratch and dent metric surplus mags often with bird poop camo for $5 or less. Still have it and love to shoot it. For some reason mine never liked commercial .308 but no problems with any NATO stuff. BTW the Fal Files is a great resource and community for all things Fal.

They are fun.

Battle rifles have been my obsession lately. Have gotten two PTR s(18in and 8.3in) , Yugo M77,  and then two SA58s (21in and 16inch). The FAL's slick style is only matched by its reliability. The US choosing the m14 over it will always a historical pain point for me , especially considering the factors that led to it.

Another Great and Awesome reason to own the FAL is because of it's Nickname "The Right Arm of the Free World"!

Thank you for posting this video… always nice for us “FAL Guys” to have new videos about this great rifle. Back in the early 90s when I was a conscript in the 4th Battalion Military Police, the FAL was the main issue rifle for the Mexican Military; commonly found as the 50.00 with short flash hider and the 50.63 Para with non-folding charging handle. During the mid-90s it was gradually replaced by the G3 in all branches, and more recently, most of those 7.62 Nato guns were passed down to some Police branches as the Military switched to 5.56 guns, which I’m not sure is a smart move; as was seen during “GWOT” and now with the development of 277 Fury… I think we are just going full circle and coming back to the same point! Overall great video, I just want to point out, that in regards to North America, Mexico was a FAL user for decades and they are still to be seen down here every now and then. Also, when covering the early years of the FAL, you did not mention the “Israeli FAL”; Israel was one of the very first nations to adopt the FAL around 1955, even before widespread NATO adoption. And before the Congo Crisis, the Israelis used the FAL during the "Suez Crisis" in 1956 and then it also fought in the "Six Day War" in 1967 and the "Yom KIppur War" in 1973. In my humble opinion, very important to mention the Israeli FAL, perhaps it being the most distinctive looking version, with the strange wood and stamped metal handguard and also incorporating very unique features; like the "Sand Cuts" in the bolt carrier, the "Push-in Charging Handle" to serve as forward assist and the "Two-Winged" Safety-Selector Lever. Also relevant to mention that in that same neighborhood, the FAL also saw service during the "Lebanese Civil War" (1975 – 1990).
Finally, to this date, the FAL still remains the "Right Arm of the Free World"; as it has found its way to the hands of Ukrainian Troops defending from the Russian invasion.
Best regards from Mexico to all FAL Fans around the World… Federico

I’m a 60 year old retired US Army Infantryman (1983-2009) and my rifle collection is 90% battle rifles but buying an FAL has always been cost prohibitive until I found one in a pawn shop and restored it to its original glory, it was a post ban neutered Canadian L1A1 FAL but took Metric magazines and was just ugly as they come but at $700 (USD), I bought it immediately. It took around $300 to get all the original parts and it was back to battle ready status. So this was my first time with an FAL and I have an M1A similar to what I used in sniper school (M-21) and I fell in love with the FAL, it’s runs like a fine sewing machine, very smooth. Sure, I still love the M1A but I’m honored to be able to finally have an FAL. I’ll pass my rifles on to my children and nephews so they’ll be well taken care of in decades to come.

The Fal is a work of art.

I'm sold! I'm saving up. Give me a 2 or 3 months.