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rifles. As part of Hitler's Germany they soldiered
with the Mauser K98 rifles and rechambered Mannlichers. After the
Second World War there was an interim period during which they were
equipped with various American and English weapons, mostly M1 rifles
and .30 carbines. The FAL was adopted as the standard infantry rifle
to replace the hodgepodge of weapons then in service.
Designated the Sturmgewehr 58 (Assault Rifle 58) it was adopted in
1958 with only minor modifications differing it from the standard
Belgian rifles. Chambered for 7.62x51 NATO round, it served until
replaced by the Steyr AUG. Well-liked in Austrian service, it was
considered an "honest to God rifle" which was just as
capable of dealing out death and destruction at 600 meters as it was
at 200 meters.
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