Guys with FAL's

General Firearms Other Semi-Automatic Rifles
1

Those of you with higher round count FAL’s…what seems to go bad on them first. I decided to keep mine (DS arms standard) and am looking to pick up a few spare parts. Do the bolts go bad like they do on the AR’s?

Also, does anyone have any muzzle breaks that they recommend? And lastly…scopes with lower magnification…is an Acog my only option for durability?

My goal is to set this rifle up as an all rounder for close to medium range since I figure that if I have to leave my home for any reason in the future then that will be what I grab. I am thinking of swapping barrels to an 18 incher and hopefully lighten her up…but she will most likely get heavier.

Oh yeah, are there any mags out there such as the Pmags or is it basically just military mags? I already have around 70 of those but was not sure of the reliability.

Cam

2

Stick with military mags, try yours out and cull the bad ones.

Bolts don’t go bad like on an AR, since they are tiliting block and your lock up is on the locking shoulder. Pick up a couple spare firing pins and extractors and extractor springs, but I have yet to really see any of them take a serious dump.

Take a look at the thread in the optics section on 1-4x variable scopes, lots of good info there, although I do really like ACOG’s.

An 18" barrel is probably the perfect all around barrel length for a main battle rifle.

Good luck with your project and hope that helps.

ETA A whole spring kit isn’t a bad idea, you will tend to wear out the recoil springs over several thousands of rounds.

I think that the standard FN style short muzzle device does a fine job with flash suppression and as a brake. I dislike purpose built muzzle brakes intensely. The DSA short Austrian flash suppressor is a very nice flash suppressor and far less expensive than the excellent Vortex.

3

Thanks for the info. What makes you dislike the purpose built brakes? I have no experience with them other than hearing one during a match and wondering WTF is that!? I figure that in situations other than competition it can disorient others around you but that is just my assumption.

Cam

4

My 18" para from an Imbel kit.

And my factory full stock preban Imbel, ala Springfield Armory.

Neither pic is great but you get the general idea.

5

Purpose built muzzle brakes are obnoxiously loud, and typically have horrendous muzzle flash.

6

I’m with Templar muzzle brakes on a FAL suck, or perhaps blow, but either way they are no good as they serve no purpose whatsoever. There is not enough muzzle rise or recoil to warrant them.

Get a spring kit from someone like DSA as springs are the first thing you might need to maintain, although I have a couple of FALs that I have never replaced a spring on…YMMV Just start putting away ammo and try to wear it out!

There are no mags better than the Mil mags you already have.

As to optics I would STRONGLY recommend a low mag optic or a variable. While the ACOG would work great especially with the BDC, I can’t use an ACOG as you can’t adjust diopter and the reticule is always out of focus for me, the other thing is they are a little more difficult at closer ranges.

I use an IOR 1.1-4x26mm with has an illuminated (for low light and night) “CQB” reticule that has ACOG type BDC for ranging and holdovers. I have found the optic to be excellent and also put one on my most accurate AR. Obviously the scope has a little more weight when compared to a Micro Aimpoint but it greatly expands the FALs capability.

Here is a pic of the scope mounted on a DSA FAL using the LaRue SPR mount, in this case a stock riser is needed as the height of the mount is determined by the need for eye relief and for the ocular lens housing to clear the A2 rear sight on this particular rifle…

Here is the reticule showing the illumination and the BDC

There are many other scopes in this category: Schmidt & Bender 1.1-4x20 , Leupold 1.5-5x20, Burris, Ellis, IOR…

With a QD (LaRue) mount, I can switch out the IOR for the A2 irons, or quickly attach an EOTech on the LaRue QD mount…

Cameron

Ps. Here is a video that shows why a brake is unnecessary… especially considering that this FAL is much lighter in the front end than a standard.

7

Extractor plungers break much more easily than extractors.

Firing pins break.

Gas regulator knobs break

Bolt hold-opens break

Gas plugs break

Hammers break

Rear sight screws break

At least that’s what I’ve actually broken.

Front sight screws for L1A1’s like to disappear if you don’t use Loctite.

The little silver detent-balls in the rear sight assembly like to disappear when disassembled.

Extactor springs can fly amazing distances.

Gas tubes like to erode and leak.

Cocking handle knobs can break if you refuse to learn the WECSOG pogo.

Replacement springs are popular for the FAL.
I’ve never broken a spring on a FAL, although I have found broken trigger return springs in crusty L1A1 kits.
Replacement recoil springs tend to be too stiff, and they fugk up your cycling.

Instead of buying every spring, buy two or three extractor springs.

Spare kits are nice too.
But unless you have extra room in your gunsafe, extra kits can sometimes cause problems in the marital abode.

8

Springs need replaced (though I’ve never seen one break, they wear out) and that probably takes care of most of your problems.

A spare bolt/firing pin is probably a must.

The only things I’ve broken on my heaviest use FAL are the firing pin and gas regulator.

9

Hey Cameron,

First off…nice name. Ha.

Is that an AR stock you have on that FAL? How is the fit with it? I like that better than the folding para stock and would be very interested in putting one on!

Cam

10

That is a DS Arms part for their OSW line…

LINK

B

11

Thanks for that link. Will that fit on the standard rifle receiver or only the para?

12

Another good, relatively inexpensive optic, is the Leupold European-30 1.25-4x20mm with the German #4 reticle.

http://www.opticsplanet.net/leupold-euro-30-125-4x20mm-riflescope.html

13

It will only fit a para configured rifle.

However you can convert a standard rifle to a para configuration.