re: #63 TedStriker

Still, the FAL (and its British inch-dimensioned and semi-auto-only variant, the L1A1) wasn’t referred to as “the right arm of the free world” for decades for nothing, since many of the nations outside of the Soviet bloc used it at some point (or still use it), with the notable exception of the US (who trialed it in the 50s, but ended up going with the M14 instead). It definitely made some interesting history at times, like this:

en.wikipedia.org

They “trialed” in the sense that they put a FAL prototype chambered in 7.62x51mm against a prototype M14 (T44) and another prototype (T25) in a series of trials that were designed to favor the T44, came away with all three rifles giving similar results, and then coming up with petty excuses for why the T44 was “better” and adopting it instead.