Carried a variant in South Africa - the R1. It is a bit heavy, but you feel exceptionally armed. It will take targets out (hiding behind trees and brick walls). Keep it clean and it is just as reliable as an AK or M16 - don't clean it and you have trouble on your hands. If I had to have one shtf rifle, a FN Fal PARA moel would be it.
It will take down pretty much any sized animal (I know of 2 occasions where field rangers took down Elephant in South Africa).