| Entréprise Arms
offers nine different FAL models, which they call STG58s. including the
Target, Match Target, Government, Scout, Carbine, Police. Police Target
and Standard. I tested the Government and Carbine versions. All 5TG58
models are semi-automatic only and chambered for .308.
Handling the STG58s made one thing quite clear: they're rough-duty
guns designed to take a whipping. The durability of the rifles is
unquestionable. They sport a mil-spec black oxide finish, plus black
synthetic stocks fitted with adjustable recoil pads. The pistol grips.
designed for legal specs. are also black synthetic. The rifle’s
receivers, produced by Entréprise on premises, are manufactured of
tough, heat-treated 4140 chrome moly steel.
The Carbine is fitted with a free-floating aluminum hand guard, as are many semi-auto match guns currently being manufactured. The hand guard is attached to the face of the receiver and protects the shooter's support hand without making contact with the barrel. Besides keeping the shooter from being exposed to a hot barrel, the free-floating aluminum tube improves accuracy by omitting any unwanted tension on the barrel.
The hand guard is about 21/4 inches in diameter and is a handful, adding extra weight to the piece—a feature some might welcome \wit h the potent .308. The slotted hand guard surface is smooth and probably could use some sort of checkering.
The hand guard on the Government model is somewhat smaller than that offered on the Carbine, and may present a little more comfort for those with smaller hands. The slotted aluminum tubing on the Government isn't quite as heavy a gauge as that on the Carbine, and though the rifle sports a longer barrel, overall weight is comparable. The fore-end on the Government is fitted with well-made folding bi-pod.
An intriguing feature on the Entréprise rifles is a variable gas regulator positioned at the end of the piston rod tube on the top of barrel. When the rifle is fired, the regulator admits only the sufficient amount of gas to ensure proper function of the action, ventilating excess gas outside. Gas pressure forces the bolt and bolt carrier to the rear against the recoil spring inside the buttstock. Tension on the recoil spring then returns the bolt and bolt carrier.picking up a new round and chambering it before locking the bolt.
The gas regulator can he quickly adjusted to suit various loads and environments. This is accomplished by first placing the gas plug in the "A" position. then tightening down the regulator against the gas block. then re-opening it to the "7" position. One round is then fired with an empty magazine inserted in the well. At this initial adjustment, the bolt will not stay open. The regulator is then adjusted as rounds are fired I until the bolt does stay open. This process can easily be repeated for varying types of ammo and outside temperatures to ensure consistent performance of the
rifle
.
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