DSA Rifle and FN FAL Assault Rifle

 FN FAL Assault Rifle Made Belgian

Although the sun has largely set on the 7.62x51 NATO round for general-issue battlerifles it will probably never completely fade away. Indeed, there are situations and environments where the range and power of the 7.62x51 is a distinct asset. When hard targets, motor vehicles, or barriers must be penetrated the 7.62x51 offers both plenty of power, as well as a wide variety of special-purpose loads. While currently relegated mainly to sniper rifles and GPMG’s, interest in 7.62x51 battle rifles has been rekindled in some quarters, due to reports of poor performance of the M855 5.56x45 round in Afghanistan. Reports back from the front indicate that multiple hits are necessary to service a target, as also reported by troops who fought in Somalia.

DSA RPDS RIFLE

So what’s the fix? Some call for the return of a 7.62x51-caliber battle rifle, whose 147-grain slug can be counted on to take the fight out of an opponent if he’s at 60 yards, or 600 yards. Whether modern FN FAL Rifle and DSA Rifle 7.62x51 NATO battle rifles will be procured for Special Operations remains to be seen. If it does happen though, one rifle that surely will be considered will be the indomitable FN FAL Rifle . No stranger to readers of SOF, the FN FAL Rifle is a highly regarded old warhorse that has seen combat around the world.


One company that has been hard at work bringing the old FN FAL Rifle up to date is DSA Rifle, Inc., of Barrington, Illinois. One of only two companies left in the world to manufacture brand new FN FAL Bullpup rifles, DSA, Inc. has gained a well-deserved reputation for building quality rifles. Their lineup is extensive and includes standard models, medium- and heavybarrel target rifles, and a variety of carbines. One of their models that has been stirring a lot of interest of late is their compact FAL shorty called the OSW (Offensive Suppression Weapon). Sporting an 11” barrel, it packs a lot of punch in a small package. Designed as an ultra-compact carbine speaking with .30 caliber authority, this model has been getting a lot of looks by a number of law-enforcement agencies. In addition, DSA FAL Rifle also offers a similar model with a 13” barrel and a permanently attached replica flash suppressor. This brings the length out to 16 1/4” for those who like the looks, but don’t want the regulatory hassle, of a SBR. Recently, SOF had a chance to evaluate both of these models.

DSA FAL RIFLE

DSA RIFLE

DSA Rifle, Inc. originally began manufacturing FAL rifles after making a large (40-ton) purchase from the Austrian MoD. Austria had adopted the FAL in 1958 as the StG58 (Sturmgewehr 58 or Assault Rifle 58), and it was subsequently produced by Steyr. A metricpattern rifle, it was modified slightly from the West German G-1. Well-liked by Austrian troops, it was standardissue until finally superseded by the Steyr 77 AUG. While officially replaced in Austrian service in 1977, the StG58 actually soldiered on until 1994 or 1995. The last units carrying them in the Austrian Army were the Jagdkampf, who are similar in concept to our Green Berets. Tasked with a behind-the-lines guerrilla role, they preferred the 7.62x51 NATO round over the 5.56x45 due to its ability to shoot through trucks and light-cover during ambushes. They also liked its ability to bumpoff AKM-armed troops at long range with relative impunity.

DSA Rifle purchase netted them not only all the StG58 parts Steyr had in inventory, but also all their machinery and the original blueprints and design drawings for the StG58. With the original FN-Herstal blueprints in-hand, along with Steyr’s tooling, DSA was able to start producing FAL rifles. However, rather than produce the rifle with 1950s’ manufacturing techniques, they replaced the laborious single-stage machining techniques with modern CNC technology to improve the quality of the rifle the efficiency of its manufacture. Yet even with the miracle of CNC-machining, the FN FAL Rifle is still a labor-intensive “Old World” design. As an example, each DSA FAL starts its life as a 19-pound solid forged billet of 4140 steel. When this billet comes out of the CNC-controlled milling machinery it’s a 1.45-pound upper receiver. That’s right: 17.55 pounds of tool steel ends up as scrap on the floor.

FN FAL Assault Rifle

FN FAL Rifle and FN FAL Bullpup

Once machined, the entire receiver is then heat-treated. This is also an improvement as original FAL receivers were induction-heat-treated only in specific areas. Heat-treating the entire receiver strengthens it as a whole. To their receivers, DSA mates Badger barrels, available in a variety of lengths and weights. No matter what length or weight you choose, all their barrels are double-stress-relieved, cryogenically treated, and have 11-degree target crowns. They feature broach-cut rifling, are lapped by hand, and available in either 4140 carbon steel or 416 stainless. Barrel twist is either 1-10” or 1-11” and most have an integrally machined muzzle brake. 

The barreled uppers are mated to lower receivers CNC-machined from a solid billet of 7075 T6 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy. The rest of the rifle is assembled using about 85% brand-new American-made parts. The few, about six, parts used that are not made in the U.S. are brandnew MilSpec Steyr/FN parts. Finish is an anodized hard-coat on aluminum parts, and a MilSpec phosphate finish on steel parts.

In the past I’ve tested a half-dozen different models from DSA Rifle. These have ranged from a .243 carbine set-up for three-gun matches to medium-weight target guns. All were well-made, reliable, and accurate. So I was interested in seeing how their shorties fared. Among the models offered, is their 11” OSW and a 13” model with replica flash suppressor. The 13” gun’s permanently attached replica flash suppressor brings its barrel length out to 16.25”. This model might be appealing to those individuals unable, or unwilling, to purchase a SBR.