Editing FN FAL (section)

== Variants ==
{{Original research section|date=October 2021}}
{{More citations needed section|date=November 2021}}

=== FN production variants ===
Depending on the variant and the country of adoption, the FAL was issued as either [[semi-automatic rifle|semi-automatic]] only or [[selective fire|select-fire]] (capable of both semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes).{{cn|date=November 2023}}

==== LAR 50.41 & 50.42 (FAL HBAR & FALO) ====
Also known as FALO as an abbreviation from the French ''Fusil Automatique Lourd'', it had a heavy barrel for sustained fire with a 30-round magazine as a [[squad automatic weapon]];
Known in Canada as the C2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon until it was phased out during the 1980s in favor of the [[FN Minimi|C9]], which has better accuracy and higher ammunition capacity than the C2. In the Australian Army, as the L2A1, it was their primary squad automatic weapon in the 1960s. However it was generally disliked and replaced by the F89 Minimi in the late 1980s. The L2A1 or 'heavy barrel' FAL was used by several Commonwealth nations and was found to frequently experience a failure to feed after firing two rounds from a full magazine when in automatic mode.
The 50.41 is fitted with a synthetic buttstock, while the 50.42's buttstock is made from wood.

==== FAL 50.61 (FAL Type 3 PARA) ====
{{stack|float=right|[[File:Un FN FAL version Para.jpg|thumb|FAL 50.61 variant.]]}}

Folding-stock, standard 533&nbsp;mm (21.0&nbsp;in) barrel length.

==== FAL 50.62 (FAL Type 3 Para 18) ====
[[File:FN FAL PARA Right Side.jpg|thumb|right|FAL Para]]
Folding-stock, shorter 457&nbsp;mm (18 inch) barrel, [[paratrooper]] version.

==== FAL 50.63 (FAL Type 2 Para 16) ====
Folding-stock, shorter 440&nbsp;mm (17.35 inch) barrel, paratrooper version, folding charging handle. This shorter version was requested by Belgian paratroopers. The upper receiver was not cut for a carry handle and the charging handle on the 50.63 was a folding model similar to the L1A1 rifle. The shorter length and folding stock allowed the rifle to fit through the doorway of their [[C-119 Flying Boxcar]] when worn horizontally across the chest with the stock folded.

==== FAL 50.64 (FAL Para 3) ====
Folding-stock, standard 533&nbsp;mm (21.0&nbsp;in) barrel length, '[[Hiduminium]]' aluminium alloy lower receiver made it lighter than the 50.61, which was heavier than 50.00.

==== Early prototypes ====
* The FN Universal Carbine (1947) was an early FAL prototype chambered for the [[7.92×33mm Kurz]] round. The 7.92mm Kurz round was used as a placeholder for the future mid-range cartridges being developed by Britain and the United States at the time.
* FAL .280 Experimental Automatic Carbine, Long Model (1951): A FAL variant chambered for the experimental [[.280 British]] (7×43mm) round. It was designed for a competition at [[Aberdeen Proving Ground]] in the US. Although the British [[bullpup]] design [[EM-2 rifle]] did well, American observers protested that the small-bore .280-caliber round lacked the power and range of a medium-bore .30-caliber round. British observers in return claimed the experimental American .30-caliber T65 round (7.62×51mm) was too powerful to control in automatic fire. Britain was forced to abandon the .280 round and adopt the American-designed .30-caliber T65 as the [[7.62×51mm NATO]] cartridge. The EM-2 could not be rechambered for the longer and more powerful cartridge and the Americans did not yet have a working service rifle of their own. Britain and Canada adopted the Belgian 7.62mm FN FAL instead as the L1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR).
* FAL .280 Experimental Automatic Carbine, Short Model (1951): A bullpup-frame version of the FAL chambered in .280 British designed to compete with the British EM-1 and EM-2 bullpup rifles. It also was demonstrated at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds tests, but was never put into full production.

=== Sturmgewehr 58 ===
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = ''Sturmgewehr'' 58
| image              = STG-58.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = StG-58 with DSA Type I receiver
| origin             = Belgium and Austria
| type               = [[Battle rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = Yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1958–1985
| used_by            = Austria<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2236|title=The StG58: Austria's Select Fire FAL|website=www.smallarmsreview.com|access-date=2019-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224001717/https://www.smallarmsreview.com/display.article.cfm?idarticles=2236|archive-date=2019-02-24|url-status=live}}</ref>
| wars               = <!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[Dieudonné Saive]]
| design_date        = 1956
| manufacturer       = [[Fabrique Nationale de Herstal]] and [[Steyr-Daimler-Puch]]
| unit_cost          = 
| production_date    = 
| number             = 
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = {{convert|4.45|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}} to {{convert|5.15|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}
| length             = {{convert|1100|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| part_length        = {{convert|533|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}
| height             = 
| width              = 
| diameter           = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[7.62×51mm NATO]]
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], tilting breechblock
| velocity           = {{convert|823|m/s|ft/s|abbr=on}}
| range              = {{convert|800|m|yd|abbr=on}}
| feed               = 20-round detachable [[Magazine (firearm)|magazine]]
| sights             = [[Iron sight]]s
}}

The '''''Sturmgewehr'' 58''' (''StG'' 58) is a [[selective fire]] battle rifle. The first 20,000 were manufactured by FN Herstal Belgium, but later the StG 58 was manufactured under licence by [[Steyr-Daimler-Puch]] (now [[Steyr Mannlicher]]), and was formerly the standard rifle of the [[Austrian Armed Forces|''Österreichisches Bundesheer'']] (Austrian Federal Army). It is essentially a user-customized version of the FAL and is still in use, mainly as a drill weapon, or for ceremonial purposes in the ''[[Gardebataillon]]'' (Guard Battalion) of the Austrian forces.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} It was selected in a 1958 competition, beating the Spanish [[CETME]] and American [[Armalite AR-10]].

Most StG 58s featured a folding bipod, and differ from the FAL by using a plastic [[stock (firearms)|stock]] rather than wood in order to reduce weight in the later production rifles (although some of the early FN-built production rifles did come with wooden stocks). The rifle can be distinguished from its Belgian and Argentine counterparts by its combination [[flash suppressor]] and [[grenade launcher]]. The foregrip was a two-part steel pressing.

Steyr-built StG 58s had a hammer forged barrel. Some StG 58s had modifications made to the fire mode selector so that the fully automatic option was removed, leaving the selector with only safe and single-shot positions. The StG 58 was replaced by the [[Steyr AUG]] (designated StG 77) in 1977, although the StG 58 served with many units as the primary service rifle through the mid-1980s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

=== Olin-Winchester FAL ===
A semi-automatic, twin-barrel variant chambered in the 5.56mm "Duplex" round during [[Project SALVO]]. This weapon was designed by Stefan Kenneth Janson who previously designed the [[EM-2 rifle]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

=== DSA SA58 FAL ===
American company DSA (David Selvaggio Arms) manufactures a copy of the FAL called the [[FAL DSA SA58]] FAL that is made with the same Steyr-Daimler-Puch production line equipment as the StG-58. It comes with a 406&nbsp;mm (16&nbsp;in), 457&nbsp;mm (18&nbsp;in) or 533&nbsp;mm (21&nbsp;in) barrel, an [[Hiduminium|aluminum-alloy]] lower receiver, and improved [[Glass-filled polymer|Glass-filled]] [[Nylon]] furniture. Civilian clients are limited only to semi-automatic configuration, but military and law enforcement clients can procure select-fire configuration that is capable of firing in full auto with [[cyclic rate]] of fire of around 650–750 rounds per minute. The SA58 FAL can use any metric-measurement FAL magazines, which come in 5, 10-, 20-, or 30-round capacities.

* The SA58 OSW (Operational Specialist Weapon) is an assault-carbine variant of the paratrooper model of the FAL. It has a side-folding Enhanced PARA polymer stock, shorter 279&nbsp;mm (11 inch) or 330&nbsp;mm (13 inch) barrel and an optional full-auto setting.
* The SA58 CTC (Compact Tactical Carbine) is a [[carbine]] variant of the paratrooper model of the FAL. It has a side-folding Enhanced PARA polymer stock, shorter 413&nbsp;mm (16.25 inch) barrel and an optional full-auto setting. Overall Length: 927&nbsp;mm (36.5 inches) Weight: 3.74&nbsp;kg (8.25&nbsp;lbs).
* The SA58 SPR (Special Purpose Rifle) is a semi-automatic only configured variant that was submitted for the U.S. Army SASS rifle trials. It features a 19-inch fluted barrel, 10-round magazine and an upgraded speed trigger.
* The SA58 DMR (''Designated Marksman Rifle)'' is a semi-automatic only variant that features a 16.25 inch fluted heavy barrel.
* The SA58 Pistol is a semi-automatic only variant that features an 8-inch barrel, intended for the U.S. civilian market.

Early versions of the DSA FAL included a 4140 billet upper receiver, machined from a 19-pound block of 4140 steel, and a lower receiver milled from a block of 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum.<ref name="GunsMagAug02">GunsMagazine.com, August 2002</ref> The barrels were provided by Badger and were double stress relieved, cryogenically treated, and had an 11 degree target crown. These barrels featured broach cut rifling, were lapped by hand, and made from 4140 carbon steel. Barrel twist was 1:11. Rifles produced during the [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]] from 1994 to 2004 included integrally machined muzzle brakes that served to reduce muzzle rise and recoil.<ref name="GunsMagAug02"/> Further more, these muzzle brakes added additional length to barrels to achieve the 16.5 inches that would otherwise have been considered [[short-barreled rifle]]s under the [[National Firearms Act]]. As such, DSA FAL barrels that were effectively ~14 inches, could be legally considered 16.5 inches due to the integral muzzle brakes. A prototype using Titanium exists as a concept.<ref>https://www.forgottenweapons.com/dsas-unique-titanium-fal-project/</ref>

=== SC-2010 Hi-Power Modular Weapon System===
A [[Peru|Peruvian]] derivative of the FAL designed by the Diseños Casanave Corporation in 2010. Like the FAL, it uses standard 20-round box magazines with the same 7.62×51mm caliber ammo.{{cn|date=January 2025}}