WTD: CA SA58 VS KA FAL's review (& discussion??)

bullets

I dunno if we can actually request reviews here or not
but here it goes.......

Is there anyone here that has a CA SA58 FAL.
A review would be nice.

From Looking at pictures of it I cant help but get the feeling that
the finish and the build quality far outways the King Arms FAL's

I would like to know if this is true or not.
and a CA Vs KA review would be great.

I own a KA FAL and its lovely but there are a few minor finish issues.
The Handguard and Butt, the ABS is not so nice and could do with being better quality.

Ideally that handguard should be smooth with a satin finish and that feels
hard solid and cold. Possibly nylon fibre would be better than ABS.

The Butt should have a semi-rubberish-plastic feel to it almost like a semi solid plastic that is a flat Matt colour.

The top cover should be a matt flat black colour without any tinge of
green/olive to the black colour.

I can get the ball rolling by supplying pics of a KA Fal.




~B

o1s1n

I'd also like to see such a comparison myself. Have a hankering for an assault rifle and the CA SA58 FAL may be it.

I'm more or less going to replace all the parts you've mentioned. Should have the hand guard by the end of the week (Been waiting on the damn thing two weeks now).

After that the dust cover is to be replaced with a scope rail (Which I finally figured out how to do...has that nice matt black finish you're after too)

And finally the stock will be replaced. This'll be the hardest part as I'm going to have to try to cut a section out of a solid one to fit the battery.

I also want to put a proper back angled iron sight on the thing. Had to reverse the one on it to give it some elevation. But now it comes out over the receiver.

Edit: Nice little review here just in case you didn't see it
http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/reviewpost/showproduct.php/product/770/sort/1/cat/16/page/

padmundo

I quite like the star L1A1 SLR.... from pictures, it seems to have the better finish better than the KA and CA. However I don't like the L1A1's folding cocking handle and longer flash hider. I think it detracts from the original FAL's look.

I own a KA FAL (though mine is tactical carbine unfortunately). The KA has the closest look in shape to the pure FAL but the finish as you said has a greeny look The finish seems to be either powder coated or anodised aluminium but I ain't no expert, it's rough to touch not smooth. Actually the top cover rusts so it's not aluminium. The removeable gas plug, gas rod and piston is a nice touch. The stock is flimsy at best and snapped on mine in a skirmish but it was fixed with some wonder glue. None of the other levers or switches move and are ornamental. The take down lever being obviously stamped into the frame for decoration really took away from the gun I thought.

I've held the CA58 a heap of times but never fired one. The CA58 could do with being longer... I like the longer battle rifle look.It's finish is similar in feel to the KA but is grey. The nice touch is that the levers all work. The hold open device really locks back the action in the rear and is release by the lever next to the mag release. That is a nice touch. The take down lever is ornamental but nicely is a seperate piece of metal. The only gripe is the levers are a light grey colour. I don't like that. The stock plastic was noticeable sturdier. If you want to put sights on it though it comes with a top rail. For me it takes from the gun... I like the old school rugged looking gun.

o1s1n

Just an update on my little conversion...

New handguard came today. It's absolutely amazing the difference it makes. Lovely matt textured finish. About twice as thick as the original one. Which gives it a lovely solid feel with absolutely no creak. 'Proper' l1a1 look to it...It has me quite annoyed now at how shabby the original abs one was.

Wasn't an easy fit though. In actual fact, I still don't have it attached properly. The two sides fit together on the rifle fine. It's when you go to put the pin in that you begin to have problems. I wasn't given one with the set, so I attempted to use the King arms one. Bad idea. Ended up stripping the threads off one side of the hand guard. Not too much of a bid deal though, I should just be able to get a longer pin and put a nut on the end of it.

I'll stick up some pics when my camera comes back from Egypt on Tuesday.

bullets

Nice. Cant wait to see the pics. Am not sure if the hand guard
you would be compatible with the version of the KA FAL I got.

~B

o1s1n

I thought the hand guard on yours was a lot shorter, but looking again I don't think it is. I think it's just the flash hider and upper part of the barrel that were sized down.

Your hand guard is 2 mags long (and a bit) as is mine. Must try and get some exact measurements just to see.

ambro25

Nice little conversation you two are having and all, and I would be loathe to barge in and interrupt... but! I know for a fact there's a regular at HRTA who has a SA58 (Liamo? NakedDex? Young lad, fair hair, crew cut. I get confused with nicks and names - apologies ), as I got a lusting glance of it (the SA58 you pervs!) in the field some time before Xmas. It had a broken-ish stock at the time.

A review would be great, for sure, if only to make me drool some more and eventually "force me" to get some company for my lonely SIG 552

Yup, I hereby confess, the SA58 has been next on my list for a while now. Just loving the look of it, old school elegance + that "110%-fit-for-purpose" kind of appeal. I find it very similar to the SIG in a weird/strange way (that "brutish/don't-f*ck-with-me" kinda look... can't put it into words I'm afraid!)

o1s1n

Are you sure you're not getting confused with Padmundos King Arms Fal? He has the smaller tactical carbine version.

padmundo wrote: »

The stock is flimsy at best and snapped on mine in a skirmish but it was fixed with some wonder glue

ambro25

You got me in doubt now

I could swear blind the guy said it was a CA SA58 when we talked about it (not saying it's Padmundo or not - couldn't tell you ). I'll have to keep an eye out next weekend

padmundo

It probably is an SA58 because I haven't skirmished in several weeks due to my poxed ankle.

On another note... Guns Workshop is releasing a nice L1A1 with wood stock and all. They also say they have other FALs on the way.

http://www.gunsworkshop.net/

defenderdude

padmundo wrote: »

It probably is an SA58 because I haven't skirmished in several weeks due to my poxed ankle.

I was wondering where you've been hibernating for the last ages! Sorry to hear you have a problem ankle:eek::( Hope it gets better soon!

o1s1n

padmundo wrote: »

On another note... Guns Workshop is releasing a nice L1A1 with wood stock and all. They also say they have other FALs on the way.

http://www.gunsworkshop.net/

Wow that has a nice finish! Nice find.

Finally got a chance to take some pics of the new hand guard. You'll have to excuse the quality, I always seem to be taking pics at night in a dark room.

Notice the little lace at the top where the pin should be...yeah...I'll sort that out soon. Anyway, on with the pics.

Pic of the old stg.58 hand guard. Doesn't actually show up how plasticy it is. Don't be fooled.



New L1A1 one. Much bulkier. Textured matt finish.







And a comparison between the old and new. Tried to catch the light to show the textured finish versus the shiny crappy ABS.



I'll try to get some decent pictures later. They don't really show up how well it improves the look of the rifle. The original hand guard completely cheapens something which otherwise would look great.

Edit: managed a slightly less fuzzy pic.

tonyj_mc

hate to say it the more i see them the more i like them, feel like i should be cutting out my own tongue but just to annoy you KA have a heap of fals coming
http://www.kingarms.com/KA-FAL_series.asp

o1s1n

tonyj_mc wrote: »

hate to say it the more i see them the more i like them, feel like i should be cutting out my own tongue but just to annoy you KA have a heap of fals coming
http://www.kingarms.com/KA-FAL_series.asp

I really don't know what KA are up to. That image was posted up about a year ago now. Still no sign of their L1A1. In the meantime, Star announced and released a version of their own.

The collapsible stock in those photos is also out now. I wouldn't mind a carbine version with one. Nice short FAL goodness

padmundo

Jesus Oisín that is a nice job. Can I ask, where did you pick up the real handguard from?

o1s1n

padmundo wrote: »

Jesus Oisín that is a nice job. Can I ask, where did you pick up the real handguard from?

Ebay.co.uk I'd been typing L1A1 hand guard in every day for quite some time. One eventually came up!

o1s1n

King Arms L1A1 is now on preorder. Check out the vid, it has blowback. Was not expecting that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KoMRNMEl5t4

Some more close up pics. Bullets, you'll be pleased to know it has that little thing behind the trigger

http://www.airsoftcore.com/home/p2_articleid/299

iceage

o1s1n wrote: »

I really don't know what KA are up to. That image was posted up about a year ago now. Still no sign of their L1A1. In the meantime, Star announced and released a version of their own.

The collapsible stock in those photos is also out now. I wouldn't mind a carbine version with one. Nice short FAL goodness

I'd swear blind, mayby bullets can back me up here. The top left hand picture is of Irish troops. the kit all looks right, and the heads off in the background...I'd say some barracks in Dublin.:)

bullets

They look like Irish soldiers, It would not be the first time
they appeared on an airsoft related page/manual.
(CA AUG has Irish soldiers on the manual cover)

Wow. Looks nice, but comparing pics the Star looks nicer and more closely
replicated. Around the front of the handguard and around the pistol grip
looks a little off. 300UKP for the pre order. Not too bad.
Might save up for one! soon.

The Blow back is something I have Longed for on an SLR/FAL but
it does not look too impressive on the videos. If only it looked like
it did a full cycle rather than a small movement.
Dream come through if they made a gas blow back version!

[EDIT]Blowback looks a bit better
on this video:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=BQpmb140vtE

I'd like to get a Para version Fal also with foldable stock too.

Its nice that the KA has a full auto function (not historically accurate)
but may be useful in a skirmish.
The Star L1-A1 is semi only but from what I can see from this video
there is a way to make it go full auto. Although I dont know what the
bloke in the video is doing:
http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=EdfiXZtSD0U&feature=related
~B