The GWOT: An 11-Inch FAL Shorty and The AMU

Fortier remembers back to 2006 when the Army Marksmanship Unit was testing DS Arms' Operations Specialist Weapon!

July 14, 2025 By David M. Fortier, Executive Editor

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Walking into the 2025 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, I came through the doorway and immediately found myself at the DS Arms booth. I had literally just stepped in the door when I noticed a FAL rifle out of the corner of my eye. Its wooden furniture had initially caught my attention, but it was the stripper clip guide on its top-cover which drew me to it. A closer examination revealed it to be a clone of the Harrington & Richardson T48 FAL rifle produced for the US Army’s post-World War II rifle trials. Produced under license from Fabrique Nationale, Harrington & Richardson of Worcester, Massachusetts produced a quantity of what was known as the “Rifle, Caliber .30, T48.” These US made FAL rifles were tested head to head with the T44 rifle to find a modern Atomic Age combat rifle for America’s soldiers.

FAL rifles on display rack at Shot Show — This flashback began when Fortier spied a T48 clone (top)at DS Arms’ booth at the 2025 SHOT Show. (Photo provided by author.)

The story of the T48 rifle is fairly well-known among history buffs and collectors, but I’m glad to see DS Arms’ clone leading to more shooters learning about how a US manufactured FAL rifle almost became standard issue with the US Army. While DS Arms is manufacturing this rifle as a historic “clone” for the Harrington & Richardson brand of Palmetto State Armory, DS Arms actually has their own history with both FALs and the US Army which is perhaps even more interesting than Harrington & Richardson’s in the 1950s.

Military soldier shooting early T48 rifle — An interesting piece of history is Harrington & Richardson produced a quantity of FAL rifles, dubbed the T48, for testing by the US Army in the 1950s.(Photo provided by author.)

I unexpectedly came face to face with a 7.62x51mm FAL rifle, seeing limited use with US troops during a visit to the US Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, way back in March of 2006. It was a bit of a surprise when I was handed a 7.62mm SA58 OSW, built by DS Arms of Lake Barrington, Illinois, while we were shooting on the range. I will readily admit this was no ordinary FAL infantry rifle though. At just 32.5 inches long with the stock extended the Operations Specialist Weapon was DSA’s most compact model. Measuring just 3.8 inches longer than an AKS-74U “Krinkov,” it was a very short and handy 7.62mm package. As it was intended to be a specialized tool it featured MIL-STD 1913 rails on the fore-end and top cover to allow mission specific accessories to be easily mounted. It was an eye-catching piece in 2006.

However, why would the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) be testing a short-barrel 7.62x51mm FAL variant when the US Army had chosen the T44, which became the M14, back in the 1950s? M14 rifles had served during the war in Vietnam, the Cold War, and had been dusted off to serve once again during the Global War on Terror (GWOT). Why not just use M14s? Well, this gets a bit complicated. You have to remember things were starting to boil over in Iraq and were heating up in Afghanistan during this time frame. The beginning of 2006 was marked by government creation talks, growing sectarian violence, and continuous attacks on coalition forces in Iraq. Sectarian violence expanded to a new level of intensity after al-Qaeda detonated a bomb in one of the holiest sites in Shi’a Islam, the al-Askari Mosque on 22 February 2006. This violence would grow throughout 2006 and lead to “the Surge” of US Army troops in Iraq in 2007.

US Soldier with M14 rifle — The traditional 7.62x51mm battle rifle for American troops was the M14, but by 2006 parts were in short supply. (Photo provided by the US Army)

Earlier in the war, there had been concerns by certain specialized units regarding terminal performance of the US Army’s standard issue 62-grain M855 ball load, especially after penetrating intermediate barriers. AK-armed insurgents often wore Chinese pattern chest pouches filled with steel 30-round 7.62x39mm magazines loaded with steel cased ammunition. There were concerns hits which had to penetrate through these magazines, or a car windshield, especially at distance, could reduce the terminal performance of M855 ball.

An earnest desire to give US troops a more effective cartridge led to the development of the 6.8x43mm Remington Special Purpose Cartridge by US Special Forces Master Sergeant Steve Holland and Chris Murray, who was an AMU gunsmith. Steve Holland is a legendary figure among US Special Forces who I highly respect. Their 6.8x43mm Remington SPC cartridge performed as intended and provided a noticeable step up in terminal performance and penetration through intermediate barriers at the distances typically encountered in urban combat. Field reports of its performance in combat were positive. However, it was not optimized for the longer ranges encountered in Afghanistan. In 2007, both the US SOCOM and USMC decided not to field 6.8x43mm Rem SPC weapons for a variety of reasons, including logistical and cost issues associated with adding an entirely new cartridge into the supply chain.

7.62x51 compared to 6.8 SPC and 5.56 cartridges — Although the 7.62x51mm NATO (L) offers certain advantages over the 6.8x43mm Remington SPC (center) and 5.56x45mm, it does so at the price of increased weight and recoil. (Photo provided by author.)

What was readily available in the supply chain though was 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition, which was fired in the M240 series of General Purpose Machine Gun and various sniper rifles. A carbine-sized 7.62x51mm platform could provide increased terminal performance, enhanced penetration and a greater effective range, but the question for certain units became, what 7.62x51mm rifle could be shortened into a handy carbine?

The M14 is many things, but it’s not short. It was designed as an infantry rifle, and it has the overall length of a 1940s infantry rifle. This is far from ideal when operating from vehicles and fighting in close quarters. Cutting one down into a drastically shortened carbine is possible, Ron Smith proved this many years ago with his M14K, but it’s not a simple undertaking. Plus, although the M14 was a good battle rifle when it was adopted in the 1950s, by 2006, it had certain crippling drawbacks. Chief among these was simply the lack of spare parts, a shortage of magazines, and most importantly qualified armorers which are required to maintain this design.

Soldier looking through optic mounted atop FAL — The OSW’s top cover sports a MIL-STD 1913 rail to allow a variety of optical sights, such as this EOTech, to be easily mounted. (Photo provided by author.)

The FAL is a very different animal compared to the M14, and it is much easier to reduce in overall length while maintaining its reliability. So, let’s take a closer look at the DS Arms model I handled at the AMU and how it was manufactured back in 2006. The foundation of this rifle is its receiver. Each OSW started life as a 19-pound solid forged billet of 4140 steel. When this was ejected from a CNC controlled milling machine, it had been transformed into a 2.25-pound upper receiver. DSA then mated an 11-inch double stress relieved and cryogenically treated 4140 carbon steel Badger barrel to it. The barrel featured broach cut rifling, was lapped by hand, and had an 11-degree target crown. Fitted to the muzzle was a simple yet effective A2-type flash suppressor. This both served to reduce the weapon’s muzzle flash and acts as a mount for a Brugger & Thomet sound suppressor.

Although the OSW utilized a shortened gas system, it was still the traditional FAL short-stroke piston system with an adjustable gas valve. By being adjustable, a properly trained rifleman could set the gas system to cycle reliably with a wide range of ammunition, compensate for an extremely dirty weapon, or the addition of a sound suppressor. Surrounding the barrel was an aluminum fore-end with MIL-STD 1913 rails at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. This allowed accessories, such as a vertical foregrip, white light or IR illuminator/laser to be easily mounted.

Sights on the example I handled consisted of a protected front post adjustable for elevation, and a simple “L”-shaped dual aperture rear sight, adjustable for windage via an A2 type knob. To facilitate mounting day/night optics, DSA replaced the standard sheet metal FAL top cover with one of their SA58 Para scope mount top covers. Machined from 6061 T6 aluminum alloy, this robust mount featured a MIL-STD 1913 rail along its top. The example I handled had an EOTech Holographic Weapons Sight mounted to it.

The barreled upper was mated to a lower receiver CNC machined from a solid billet of 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum alloy. A black synthetic pistol grip similar in profile to that mounted on a M249 SAW was fitted. Above this was a three-position selector (safe, semi and full auto). A side-folding stock was fitted with a 14.25-inch length of pull, which was overly long in my humble opinion. The weapon fed from standard FAL 20- and 30-round box magazines. Finish was an anodized hard coat on aluminum parts, and a Mil-Spec phosphate finish on steel parts. Overall weight of the rifle, without optic or suppressor, was a fairly beefy nine pounds. So, even though it’s short DSA’s OSW was still relatively heavy.

Short barrel FAL with side folding stock — DSA’s OSW is a very compact 7.62x51mm NATO carbine thanks to a stubby 11-inch barrel.(Photo provided by author.)

After examining the carbine, I was then given the chance to test fire it. Loading a round into the chamber I fired a few rounds just to get a feel for it. With the sound suppressor attached, the report was a muffled hiss. I did note some gas fumes being blown back out of the action towards me, due to the suppressor being mounted.

Handling the OSW, I noted the action operated smoothly, and the controls were easily manipulated. It had a somewhat heavy, single-stage trigger. Standard metric 20-round magazines inserted and ejected smoothly, and the bolt release operated easily. In the hands, the OSW felt and handled extremely well. With the suppressor removed and the stock folded to the side, it became very short. Unsnap the stock and you had a handy carbine. The downside though, is the length of pull was long, especially with body armor. In addition, the straight-line stock, originally intended for use with iron sights, was a bit low for a decent cheek weld with the EOTech.

Next, my AMU hosts asked if I’d like to put a few magazines into a pick-up truck. Naturally, this was a silly question, and I was quickly locking a magazine loaded with 175-grain M118LR into the OSW. Opportunities like this don’t come along every day, so I thumbed the OSW’s selector past semi to full auto. Leaning into it, I cut loose a short burst which pounded through the driver’s side door of a blue imported pick-up. After perforating the door, the heavy 175-grain MatchKing projectiles then proceeded on through an IPSC target, before exiting through the passenger side door.

Soldier holding FAL with folded stock showing fire controls — Controls are straight FAL and easy to manipulate. Note it takes a conscious decision to rotate the selector to the full auto position as seen here. (Photo provided by author.)

Impressed by the controllability of the short 7.62x51mm, I proceeded to run half the magazine through the cab in a long burst. This sent chunks of Japanese
pick-up truck flying. After changing mags, and goaded by my hosts, I fired a long burst into the bed of the truck, stitching a row of holes across the gas fill. When the bolt finally locked back and the fun came to an end I was grinning from ear to ear. It was apparent that even with the short barrel the 7.62x51mm OSW was capable against intermediate barriers.

Although I did not have the opportunity to properly review the OSW during my visit to the AMU, do not fear, I am not going to leave you wondering. I have also tested a semi-automatic DSA SA58 with an 11-inch barrel. So, to show the accuracy and exterior ballistics a short barrel FAL like this is capable I am including that test data here. I tested the piece off the bench at 100 yards with the aid of a 3.5x ELCAN optical sight. Loads from Black Hills Ammunition, Hornady, PMC, Radway Green, Remington and Sellier & Bellot, weighing from 147 to 175 grains were used during testing. Best accuracy was obtained using PMC’s 168-grain Match load, which averaged five shots into 1.5 inches at 100 yards. Right on PMC’s heels though was Sellier & Bellot’s 168-grain Match load which averaged 1.6 inches. Black Hills 175-grain Match load came in at two inches while surplus Radway Green 147-grain ball averaged a still acceptable 3.1 inches. So, accuracy was more than adequate for what this weapon was intended for.

US Soldier with M240 during GWOT — As the OSW fires the same ammunition as the M240, resupply is not an issue like it would be if it fired a non-standard caliber. (Photo provided by US Army)

Although accuracy was quite good, as expected there was a considerable drop in muzzle velocity due to the very short barrel. As an example, Black Hills Ammunition’s 175-grain Match load averaged 2,523 fps out of a standard 21-inch FAL but dropped to 2,180 fps from the OSW. Radway Green manufactured 147-grain ball averaged 2,419 fps from the OSW. Now, if I had tried a 130-, 120- or 110-grain load, velocity would have increased while recoil would have decreased.

The question I had, and I’m sure you are interested too, was, “Why was the Army Marksmanship Unit playing with DS Arms 11-inch FAL shorties?” Apparently, back in 2006 certain units had the need for a very compact and reliable 7.62x51mm NATO rifle. They wanted something with proven reliability, acceptable accuracy and which could be easily configured to meet their specific needs. Why 7.62x51mm? That should be obvious. The US Army Marksmanship Unit, thanks to the expertise of their weapons shop, had been able to test and provide feedback to DSA allowing them to refine the basic package. The OSW was refined and a small quantity was fielded in combat.

Accuracy data from DS Arms FAL — (Data provided by author.)

How they fared in service I cannot say, but it was certainly interesting to see a DS Arms American manufactured FAL in the hands of US troops. Is that the end of my story? Yes, for me it was just a flashback to a time 19 years ago. I wrote this article 19 years to the day from when I shot that OSW at Fort Benning. However, it’s not the end of the story for DS Arms’ OSW, it is still available in a slightly updated semi-automatic form with a 12-inch barrel. DS Arms also offers other 12- and 13-inch barreled FAL models along with 16-inch carbines. If the idea of a FAL intrigues you, visit DSArms.com for more information.

About the Author: David M. Fortier has been covering firearms, ammunition, and optics since 1998. He is a recipient of the Carl Zeiss Outdoor Writer of the Year award, and his writing has been recognized by the Civil Rights organization JPFO. In 2007, he covered the war in Iraq as an embedded journalist. If you have any thoughts or comments on this article, we’d love to hear them. Email us at FirearmsNews@OutdoorSG.com.