Caliber : 7,62mm NATO (7.62x51)
Action: Gas operated, tilting breechblock, select-fire or semi-auto
only
Length: 1100 mm (990 / 736 mm for "Para" model)
Barrel length: 533 mm (431 mm for "Para" model)
Weight: 4.45 kg empty (3.77 kg empty for "Para" models)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds (30 rounds for heavy barreled SAW
versions)
Rate of fire: 650-700 rounds per minute
The FN FAL is a gas operated, selective fire or semi-automatic
only, magazine fed rifle. It uses short piston stroke gas system
with gas piston located above the barrel and having its own return
spring. After the shot is fired, the gas piston makes a quick tap
to the bolt carrier and then returns back, and the rest of the
reloading cycle is commenced by the inertia of bolt group. The gas
system is fitted with gas regulator so it could be easily adjusted
for various environment conditions, or cut off completely so rifle
grenades could be safely launched from the barrel. The locking
system uses bolt carrier with separate bolt that locks the barrel
by tipping its rear part into the recess in the receiver floor. The
receivers initially were machined from the forged steel blocks, and
in 1973 FN began to manufacture investment cast receivers to
decrease production costs. Many manufactures, however, stuck to the
machined receivers. The trigger housing with pistol grip is hinged
to the receiver behind the magazine well and could be swung down to
open action for maintenance and disassembly. The recoil spring is
housed in the butt of the rifle in fixed butt configurations or in
the receiver cover in folding butt configurations, so the folding
butt versions require a slightly different bolt carrier, receiver
cover and a recoils spring. The cocking handle is located at the
left side of the receiver and does not move when gun is fired. It
could be folding or non-folding, depending on the country of
origin. The safety - fire selector switch is located at the trigger
housing, above the triggerguard. It can have two (on
semi-automatic) or three (on select-fire rifles) positions. The
firing mechanism is hammer fired and use single sear for both
semi-automatic or full automatic fire. Barrel is equipped with long
flash hider which also serves as a rifle grenade launcher. Design
of flash hider may differs slightly from country to country. The
furniture of the FAL also can differ - it could be made from wood,
plastic of various colors or metal (folding buttstocks, metallic
handguards on some models). Some models, such as Austrian Stg.58 or
Brazilian LAR were fitted with light bipods as a standard. Almost
all heavy barrel versions also were fitted with bipods of various
design. Sights usually are of hooded post front and adjustable
diopter rear types, but can differ in details and markings. Almost
all FAL rifles are equipped with sling swivels and most of rifles
are fitted with bayonet lugs.
http://www.ar15.com/content/FAL762.pdf
http://www.dsarms.com/subcats.cfm?Category=01&storeid=1
Should it be brought back to be used as a designated marksman
rifle? 
Anyone here was in the SAF during the period when they used the
SLR's if so how do you find the rifle?
http://66.253.213.147/JP%202-5-05/images/DSC02995.jpg
Any other cons other than the weight. I know 308. rounds ain't
light.