I recently bought a FA91 G3 clone from a freind. The gun shoots great and i really enjoy shooting it but after research I found out that it seems to be total P.O.S. I was trying to find out some info on it I'm not sure if I can get a new reciever or is it a waste of time and money. Or is it just a few people have had issues?
did i screw up?
- Thread starter woodlandstalker
- Start date
The Internet is a great place to find positive and negative reviews of almost anything. However, regardless of whether the preponderance of those reviews are good or bad, the Internet is a terrible place to try to find a "representative" sample of reviews. Look up "self selection bias" for why you should never trust Internet polls or reviews.
I say shoot the rifle and then tell us what you think about your purchase. I know nothing about the gun in question so I have nothing to add there.
I say shoot the rifle and then tell us what you think about your purchase. I know nothing about the gun in question so I have nothing to add there.
The Federal Arms (FA-91) clones are generally garbage guns with poor fit/finish, mismatched, cobble-together parts guns that were truly (pun intended) hit and miss! 
They were really the first company to come up with an HK91/G3 style "Clone" after the import ban put the smack-down on HK, but like many clone companies that have come and gone since then...it was a case of good intentions followed by generally piss poor execution on nearly all levels (especially the @#$% cast aluminum receiver models).
Certainly, in its short-lived existence, the company did manage to produce enough rifles that there are some floating around that actually did achieve some degree of reliability and respectable, battle rifle accuracy (<3MOA). If you happen to have one of those rifles, and you are pleased with your sample which meets your expectations for function/reliability/accuracy, then I see no need to go off trying to "upgrade" or replace parts, especially major components like the receiver, etc. Before I'd spend a dime of my money or any time investing in an FA-91, I'd seriously look into selling off the FA and upgrading to a PTR-91 in one of many configurations that best suits your needs/wants (arguably, the PTR-91 rifles are the best of the best clone rifles from a company still around and advancing the platform to this day...I have built several rifles from their receivers and other PTR parts and they know what the hell they are doing...my MSG-90 clone is built from many PTR components.). Now, as with all things, JLD/PTR has had its own growing pains over the years and produced some rifles that had issues, but it has come a long way since some of its early efforts, especially with their more recent production rifles (the last several years at least) which are high quality, highly reliable, and in the right hands with proper ammo, very accurate rifles.
They were really the first company to come up with an HK91/G3 style "Clone" after the import ban put the smack-down on HK, but like many clone companies that have come and gone since then...it was a case of good intentions followed by generally piss poor execution on nearly all levels (especially the @#$% cast aluminum receiver models).Certainly, in its short-lived existence, the company did manage to produce enough rifles that there are some floating around that actually did achieve some degree of reliability and respectable, battle rifle accuracy (<3MOA). If you happen to have one of those rifles, and you are pleased with your sample which meets your expectations for function/reliability/accuracy, then I see no need to go off trying to "upgrade" or replace parts, especially major components like the receiver, etc. Before I'd spend a dime of my money or any time investing in an FA-91, I'd seriously look into selling off the FA and upgrading to a PTR-91 in one of many configurations that best suits your needs/wants (arguably, the PTR-91 rifles are the best of the best clone rifles from a company still around and advancing the platform to this day...I have built several rifles from their receivers and other PTR parts and they know what the hell they are doing...my MSG-90 clone is built from many PTR components.). Now, as with all things, JLD/PTR has had its own growing pains over the years and produced some rifles that had issues, but it has come a long way since some of its early efforts, especially with their more recent production rifles (the last several years at least) which are high quality, highly reliable, and in the right hands with proper ammo, very accurate rifles.
The best "research" you can do is continue to fire the weapon. As others said and you probably know the saying,"Opinions are like a$$h*le$, everyone has one." It all has to do with what your personal experience is and the functionalityof the weapon YOU experience when shooting. Prime example, I have a Linberta SA-08 12 ga that many people have trashed in the forums. Well 500 rounds later, not a single hicup. Everyone I let try it likes it. It is not a Benelli, but the 1st day I hit 47 of 50 clays, and I hadn't trap shot in 15 years. Thats my .02.
Yea, research told my brother that Benneli M2's outfitted for 3 gun by a certain gunsmith was the best thing in the world but the first day he had it out it was unreliable for the first few rounds and broke within its first 10. Sometimes research is helpful and other times you get to learn other folks uninformed opinions to go with your own. I can't say that I like G3's of any stripe, I dislike them all, but if yours is working well for you quit listening to people like me who don't even have one.
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