First Look: H&R T48 FAL Rifles

Harrington & Richardson is launching a limited batch of reproduction H&R T48 FAL-pattern 7.62 NATO rifles.

In the 1950s, America was looking for a new service rifle to replace the M1 Garand. Specifically, they wanted one chambered for the new 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge that fed from box magazines. Trials were held to find the best option, and they saw the AR-10, the FN FAL and the M14 pitted against each other. In the end, of course, the M14 inexplicably won (that’s a whole other story), but the trials left behind the interesting legacy of the American FAL, officially designated as the T48.

Three companies were contracted to manufacture the T48 for the trials, and one of them was Harrington & Richardson. Now, with the Harrington & Richardson trademark owned by Palmetto State Armory, H&R T48 reproduction rifles are finally going to be available on the commercial market. That said, these aren’t entirely the makings of H&R/PSA, as the project is the result of a partnership with D.S. Arms. Featuring entirely American-made components and even the original serial number range (albeit prefixed by “HR”), the new T48 rifles are a unique chance to own a reproduction of a very cool piece of U.S. small arms history.

The H&R T48 rifles feature 21-inch chrome-lined barrels with a 1:10 twist and a flash hider. The forged steel receiver and all other metal components have a Parkerized finish, and the wood furniture is oil-finished Amish walnut. Each T48 will ship with one 20-round metric-pattern magazine, and that last detail is important if you know anything about FALs. There are two patterns of FAL magazines, metric and inch, and metric-pattern mags are much more common and affordable than their Commonwealth counterparts. Other details of the rifle include its adjustable sights, adjustable gas regulator and carry handle.

The H&R T48 will launch on Friday, May 29^th, at 4:30 PM EST, but they’ll likely sell out fast as this is a limited-run production.

For more information, visit palmettostatearmory.com.

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