Sturmgewehr 58

FAL
A standard FAL made by FN
Type	Battle rifle
Place of origin	Belgium
Service history
In service	1954–present
Used by	90+ countries (See Users)
Wars	See Conflicts
Production history
Designer	Dieudonné Saive Ernest Vervier
Designed	1947–53
Manufacturer	Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal IMBEL
Produced	1953—present
No. built	2,000,000+
Variants	See Variants
Specifications (FAL 50)
Weight	FAL 50.00: 4.3 kg (9.48 lb) FAL 50.61: 3.90 kg (8.6 lb) FAL 50.62: 3.79 kg (8.4 lb) FAL 50.63: 3.77 kg (8.3 lb) FAL 50.41: 5.95 kg (13.1 lb)
Length	FAL 50.00 (fixed stock): 1,090 mm (43 in) FAL 50.61 (stock extended): 1,095 mm (43.1 in) FAL 50.61 (stock folded): 845 mm (33.3 in) FAL 50.62 (stock extended): 1,020 mm (40.2 in) FAL 50.62 (stock folded): 770 mm (30.3 in) FAL 50.63 (stock extended): 998 mm (39.3 in) FAL 50.63 (stock folded): 748 mm (29.4 in) FAL 50.41 (fixed stock): 1,125 mm (44.3 in)
Barrel length	FAL 50.00: 533 mm (21.0 in) FAL 50.61: 533 mm (21.0 in) FAL 50.62: 458 mm (18.0 in) FAL 50.63: 436 mm (17.2 in) FAL 50.41: 533 mm (21.0 in)
Cartridge	7.62 NATO .280 British
Action	Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Rate of fire	700 rounds/min (fully automatic), variable (semi-automatic)
Muzzle velocity	840 m/s (2,756 ft/s)
Effective firing range	200–600 m sight adjustments
Feed system	20- or 30-round detachable box magazine. 50-round drum magazines are also available.
Sights	Aperture rear sight, post front sight; sight radius:

Sturmgewehr 58
StG-58 with DSA Type I receiver
Type	Battle rifle
Place of origin	Belgium and Austria
Service history
In service	1958–1985
Used by	Austria
Production history
Designer	Dieudonné Saive
Designed	1956
Manufacturer	Fabrique Nationale de Herstal and Steyr-Daimler-Puch
Specifications
Weight	4.45 kg (9.81 lb) to 5.15 kg (11.35 lb)
Length	1,100 mm (43 in)
Barrel length	533 mm (21.0 in)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Muzzle velocity	823 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range	800 m (870 yd)
Feed system	20-round detachable magazine
Sights	Iron sights

700 rounds/min (fully automatic),

The FN FAL (French: Fusil Automatique Léger, English: Light Automatic Rifle), is a battle rifle designed by Belgian small arms designers Dieudonné Saive and Ernest Vervier and manufactured by Fabrique Nationale d'Herstal (FN Herstal).

During the Cold War the FAL was adopted by many countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), with the notable exception of the United States. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries. Because of its prevalence and widespread usage among the militaries of many NATO and first world countries during the Cold War it was given the title "The right arm of the Free World".

It is chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge (although originally designed for the .280 British intermediate cartridge). The British Commonwealth variant of the FN FAL was redesigned in British imperial units and was produced under licence as the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle.

In 1946, the first FAL prototype was completed. It was designed to fire the intermediate 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge developed and used by the forces of Nazi Germany during World War II (with the Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle). After testing this prototype in 1948, the British Army urged FN to build additional prototypes, including one in bullpup configuration, chambered for their new .280 British [7x43mm] caliber intermediate cartridge. After evaluating the single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return instead to their original, conventional design for future production.