Hello: First off, thanks for the info. Now I need to locate a carry handle assembly.
Actually have no plans to visit California anytime soon and wouldn't likely take along the STG FAL anyway.
Had figured to remove the original grenade launcher - flash hider and install one of those long bird cage things. Then I began to think about a remotely possible use. Have no understanding of the configuration for the Austrian/NATO rifle mounted grenade launcher with related apparatus. Thought perhaps that it might be possible to launch tear gas canisters or maybe paint balls from the thing. Need to look into this further.
Had somebody strongly suggest getting rid of both the folding bipod and metal handguards. Thing is . . . this rifle was not acquired for casual plinking down at the range.
Since the intended use of this rifle is somewhat specialized, at least for the time being, the bi-pod with original forward metal grips shall remain. This is what I call a, "Driveway Gun". Wanted a reliable rifle that fired military standard heavy caliber round that was magazine fed and semi-auto. The Austrian STG 58 FAL with bi-pod was my first choice.
We have long driveways out front here with an open area. Should there be a social crisis that turns ugly. . . it's figured that motorized marauders may naturally roll up those direct pathways towards the house.
Need the ability to take out vehicles at a hundred or two feet distance and whittle the enemy down a bit. A well aimed magazine or two of .308 full metal jacket should do a decent job of wreaking havoc.
The idea is to keep the bandits as far away as possible from the house and hopefully cause the miscreants to retreat. That's my only real chance. Though we've got a couple of riot shotguns and other small arms on hand, I'm really not looking forward to the possibility of doing close up battle with multiple bad guys inside the house. In that situation . . . odds are that one or two persons inside the home would not survive an armed attack by numerous intruders.
It is my idea that a well positioned FAL rifle with bi-pod could be handled like a BAR squad weapon used from an elevated vantage point as cover to a specific area. Anyway . . . those the happy thoughts for today. Thanks again . .