Favorite FAL Variant

You just tell me when and where, E.L.

 

Will do. We have a baby coming end of March/1st of Feb., but other than that I don't have much planned. We will have to get together and plan something.

 

I had an Enterprise FN that I didn't shoot very often and I eventually traded it for something else. I bought a STG58 kit a while back at a gunshow for $100.00 and decided I would do a build for knock-around rifle. I found a type ll DSA receiver at Knob Creek for $400.00. I bought a Penguin stock and pistol grip, a trigger, hammer, and sear, a charging lever, a bolt carrier cover, and a magazine release from Gunthings.com for around $130.00 to fill the USA manufactured parts thing then bought head-spacing go and no-go gauges and the proper locking shoulder pin. A barrel-receiver wrench to put it all together and I carried it out to play with. I like it enough that I have now taken it back down and am in the final process of reparkerizing it to make it look as good as it shoots. When I get it put back together, I'll post a before and after picture.

 

SeaCowboy --
What was up with the Entreprise FAL? I saw they have various styles on their website pretty close to my price range, so I was thinking about getting one.

Thanks for the info --

 

Quigley pretty much nailed it, turned out that mine was a minor head-space problem and not being real familiar with the gas adjustment. I shot it few days and decided I just didn't like the rifle enough to turn down a trade for a Garand but I really like this STG58, I think mostly because by building it, I gained a familiarity and understanding of the rifle that I didn't have before.

 

That's some good info -- thank you Quigley and Seacowboy. It kind of reinforces the idea of getting work done on it after saving up...

 

I'll be glad to host one. I have the reviever wrenches, the head-space gauges, pin punches, Gun-plumber's Guide to FAl and L1A1 Home Gunsmithing, a sand-blasting cabinet, and a parkerizing tank, chemicals, and heater. I even figured out how to stuff 10 pounds of **** back into a five pound sack when I went to stuff that recoil spring back into the stock! (use a cleaning rod through the keeper as a guide).
I'll build another one soon; this is fun.

 

My first FAL is going to be pre-assembled and in working order; later on, I'll have to take y'all up on the FAL Build Party (hope you're not too far away:^)

That sounds like a great skill to acquire, plus, it goes together with being able to repair what you have and, thus, survive!

 

The starting point is to put in an order for a receiver because they always seem to be out of them and at least three months before they are going to make another run. DSA never seems to have receivers in stock nor does Enterprise. I'll post some links to some decent parts kits but they seem to be getting a little pricey.
Enterprise has the best deal on Imbel (Brazilian) parts kits starting at $149.00 http://www.entreprise.com/, they also make receivers. You can get a parts kit from these guys that has already been refinished for a bit more money. I just ordered another of their parts kits.
http://gunthings.com has all the tools, books, and U.S. compliant parts for a good price and these guys will go out of their way to answer questions and help you out. They also ship next day and it's free.
http://dsarms.com has what I believe to be the best receiver available but just as many people say the same about Enterprise and Enterprise runs around $100.00 cheaper.

 

Here are my two most recent builds, the lower one I just finished tonight and haven't fired it yet.
Still have to get another locking shoulder pin for it. It's an Imbel built on an Enterprise receiver.
The ST58 pic is one I had on file and not my personal one, mine looks better but I liked the absence of a background in this photo better.

 

OK, I do not know very much about FALs, so help educate me please. I have looked at them at shows and on line, but do not know the difference between Type 1 and Type 3 recievers.

Is it worth the extra money to get the excellent kit over the very good grade kit?

The only time that you would need to have the US compliant parts if for an imported surplus rifle, correct?

 

The compliant parts is a result of an ammendment to a bill passed in 89. You have to have 7 US manufactured parts on any imported rifle, even a build. The excellent parts kits were re-parkerized and look new. That justifies the costs. There is no significant difference in the over-all quality, just looks. The difference in Type l,ll, and lll are just cosmetic. The type l is the original configuration, the type ll was developed with a couple of lightening cuts and is sometimes advertise as a tiny bit stronger; personally, it wouldn't make any difference to me, just take first available. Yous can see the slight difference in appearance on DSArms.com or Enterprisearms.com but nothing functionally is different.

 

I have a question that those of you who have built FAL's may be able to help me with.

My first FAL was a Century L1A1 with the threads cut off of the barrel. The gun functions flawlessly. If you let the barrel cool between shots, it will shoot a very decent group. However, if you don't let it cool, it strings the shots higher as it heats up. Up to 6 or 8 inches above the cold point of impact at 100 yards.

Would a new barrel help this or is it a problem somewhere else? I really like the rifle and would be happy with groups in the 3 inch range. Can I fix it for a reasonable amount of money? I realize that it may be hard diagnose over the net, but I would like some opinions.

Thanks,

David

 

No, Quig, it has a scope on it.

D