Author Topic: FAL fever (Read 10411 times)

FMJ · « **on:** December 17, 2014, 04:28:37 am »

I have it.

That's all.

Seriously, I bought my second one before my first one was even built.

My 2nd is going to be basically an FN 50.62 imitation.

It's a mutt of a gun. The barrel is a real Steyr 58 barrel that someone cut down and rethreaded at 18". And this part is attached to an IMBEL Type 3 receiver. The gas system is Argentine, so it's in very good condition. I still need to get the whole lower half. I'll do it when I have money again. Those things aren't cheap over at DS Arms.

And here is my first FAL.

It's an IMBEL built on a DSA Type 1. Let's just call it an M964 || 50.00.

Basically back in October I decided I wanted an FAL, specifically a PARA. So I bought that first FAL as a whole kit with the intention of sending it to someone to refinish and chop the IMBEL barrel to 18. Then two weeks after buying that one, I saw that upper I just posted for sale on FALfiles. I decided to just buy it and have two. Over the top? Yeah. But you guys remember when all I dreamed of was being able to have any rifle.

Only thing I don't like about FALs is the expensive-ass ammuniton.

WeTheArmed.com

Kaso · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2014, 07:30:41 am »

Quote from: FMJ on December 17, 2014, 04:28:37 am

...But you guys remember when all I dreamed of was being able to have any rifle.

I like to remember fondly, that time when FMJ was one of the board's most active posters...

Kaso

Kaso · « **Reply #2 on:** December 17, 2014, 07:32:41 am »

Per the FAL, I wanted one for years until I found out their LOP. That, and the fact that FAL stocks really can't be cut down too much.

Kaso

Grant · « **Reply #3 on:** December 17, 2014, 08:27:42 am »

No but they're damn cool

I keep sortof wanting one again. I loved mine when I had it.

Congrats FMJ

Glad to see you're able to be getting the stuff you want, and managing in "that state" you have to live in.

ksuguy · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2014, 08:37:49 am »

I had a dozen kits at one point, got crazy buying them back in 2001/2002. Still have a few to put together.

Deer Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2014, 01:55:20 pm »

Loved my FAL.

STG58 from DSA. Ran like 5w20 through a duck an was accurate enough for any practical shooting distance that I could think of.

Pictures from way back in time, from the year 2010... One hot day in June, Texas 3 gun.

FMJ · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2014, 03:50:12 pm »

Quote from: Kaso on December 17, 2014, 07:30:41 am

I like to remember fondly, that time when FMJ was one of the board's most active posters...

Kaso

What can I say? I got more than 5 but less than 50.

I don't post much on gun forums as a whole. I practically interact with y'all over FB (and I like that medium). Most of my forum activity is centered around buying and selling stuff, mostly buying.

But I was feeling nostalgic, so I posted this.

Seriously, I can't wait until my PARA build is done.

DH, why did you have to sell that thing!?!?!

Deer Hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** December 17, 2014, 07:08:30 pm »

Quote from: FMJ on December 17, 2014, 03:50:12 pm

DH, why did you have to sell that thing!?!?!

It didn't do anything that my ARs couldn't do, and I was able to sell it PLUS the ammo (all 1.8k rounds of SA surplus) for a hefty chunk.

But if I had just waited a month longer I could have sold it for 4x the price thanks to the panic buying.

Oh well.

The FAL went to buy my '98 Tacoma 4x4 that replaced my Tahoe.

As for rare-ish/unique EBRs, I still have my Calvary Arms lightweight AR build.

Grant · « **Reply #8 on:** December 17, 2014, 10:08:26 pm »

Quote from: Deer Hunter on December 17, 2014, 07:08:30 pm

It didn't do anything that my ARs couldn't do, and I was able to sell it PLUS the ammo (all 1.8k rounds of SA surplus) for a hefty chunk.

But if I had just waited a month longer I could have sold it for 4x the price thanks to the panic buying. Oh well.

The FAL went to buy my '98 Tacoma 4x4 that replaced my Tahoe.

As for rare-ish/unique EBRs, I still have my Calvary Arms lightweight AR build.

Why I sold my stash of .308 surplus. Got a buck a round for (well let's say a LOT) my entire stash I had for my FAL.

I dunno.....I am on FB....I still like forums......I'm kinda an old fogey too

FMJ · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2014, 02:15:40 pm »

I do hate how expensive .308 is. This is my first .308.

Deer Hunter · « **Reply #10 on:** December 24, 2014, 10:31:54 am »

It's not really THAT bad, and there's a lot of serbian new production soft points that aren't really that expensive for good SP bullets. If I had a .308, I'd be stocking up on those.

fnfnc64 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 13, 2015, 10:45:24 pm »

The very first thing I did when comerade klintons EBR ban failed in 2004 was to go order an SA58 para congo from DSA (its the one on the bottom). It was right at the top of my gotta have it list. I love the thing! The FAL is just cool! Even after all these years the design still looks like it could have been drawn up last week. And they run like Swiss.....er Belgian watches. I wont ever part with mine. Looks like you are off to a good start with yours FMJ

Penguin · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2015, 09:05:55 pm »

Wait did some one mention the FAL?

Don't worry you aren't the only one to suffer from this.

So by the way does any one know if DSA is still making an L1A1 receiver? Last time I looked on there web site I didn't see it listed but I would like to get one. I guess I am silly like that always on the look out for another L1A1.

fnfnc64 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 16, 2015, 12:25:21 am »

That's a good looking rifle Penguin!

This is a you tube video I was watching the other day (still need to finish it) comparing the .308 AR and the FAL. Tire iron is a genuine nice guy and knows his stuff. Worth watching!

Penguin · « **Reply #14 on:** January 16, 2015, 01:34:44 pm »

That is a good one. I had seen it before. It tempted my to go buy an AR. I don't think I need another 308 battle rifle though. I suspect I would still like the FAL better anyways even if the AR may be slightly better these days.

Atlas8193 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2015, 05:42:40 am »

Anyone know of a place that sells surplus metric mags that are worthy dang? I have new production ones that hang up occasionally.

FMJ · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2015, 03:27:19 pm »

Quote

Even after all these years the design still looks like it could have been drawn up last week.

I actually disagree with that bit. I think it's a really funky design. I think its funny/interesting how the HTS all have their own spring and plunger. But don't get me wrong I like it, I really do. I do think the locking shoulder and falling bolt deal is kind of weird. But that's what I like about these rifles.

This really is the original black rifle disease.

FMJ · « **Reply #17 on:** February 08, 2015, 03:39:53 pm »

Oh and it's time for more FAL fever!

Sadly that original kit StG58 isn't mine.
I started this thread showcasing my new then IMBEL "50.00", and now my "50.63" if you will is finally complete.

I opted for this FN FS2000 flash hider over the Belgian combo device it came with.* FNFNC64, you'll probably get a kick out of this.

**This is a mutt of a PARA carbine. The barrel is a 1963 StG58 tube that was cut down to 18" and re-threaded. Due to the way it was rethreaded, the Belgian combo device it came with didn't time correctly like it should with the notch at six o'clock. The previous owner had it at 12 o'clock, but I didn't feel like like getting a washer and doing all that stuff. I traded the Belgian combo for this, and it fit properly with the threading and timed correctly just by putting some torque on it. Also, it's a bit different.

I originally gathered the parts for this build last year. DSA threw a wrench in the gears and it's no surprise I already didn't like them as a business. When I ordered the PARA kit, they didn't mention on their website that all of that stuff was out of stock (turns out they've been selling PARAs SA-58s to South Africa's game wardens which is kind of cool). But nothing was mentioned on their site. For a month there was nothing but radio silence until I called them up myself. I ended up canceling the order and buying the same kit from a private seller. The parts finally got here this past Friday.

I was going to go and try test firing today since now it's ready to rock with safe headspace and all of that, but the weather is kind of s___ty.

This mutt of a gun has an Austrian barrel, and Argentine gas system, IMBEL made Type 3 receiver, a scrubbed Rhodesian Army marked bolt, and either African or South American internals. And it's awesome.

Fortunately the DSA stock doesn't suck, the parts seem ok. It's just their online business and customer service that sucks.

This is immediately one of the coolest guns I've got.

FMJ · « **Reply #18 on:** February 08, 2015, 03:45:07 pm »

Quote from: Penguin on January 15, 2015, 09:05:55 pm

So by the way does any one know if DSA is still making an L1A1 receiver? Last time I looked on there web site I didn't see it listed but I would like to get one. I guess I am silly like that always on the look out for another L1A1.

I've seen L1A1 receivers listed on the DSA website. Whether they're available is a whole nother story though. Maybe your best bet today is to start with a Coonan L1A1 receiver.

Also, Do you have both an L1A1 and an Australian SLR?

Atlas8193 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2015, 10:11:34 pm »

I have a DSA para-FAL. I really like it.

Penguin · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2015, 06:27:10 pm »

Quote from: FMJ on February 08, 2015, 03:45:07 pm

I've seen L1A1 receivers listed on the DSA website. Whether they're available is a whole nother story though. Maybe your best bet today is to start with a Coonan L1A1 receiver.

Also, Do you have both an L1A1 and an Australian SLR?

Thanks for the tip. That would work I just could use an L1A1 receiver. I'm not to picky about who made it as long as it is good quality.

I have a Brit L1A1 and two Australian ones. I would love to add a C1 to the collection but...
I don't see that happening. I have only ever seen one here in the states.

seanp · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2015, 06:53:22 pm »

Quote from: Penguin on February 12, 2015, 06:27:10 pm

I would love to add a C1 to the collection but...
I don't see that happening. I have only ever seen one here in the states.

Supposedly you can get ex OPP ones. Like I posted in another thread, all the original C1A1's were destroyed. I read somewhere that the OPP released about 1000 of them for sale. So they might be hard to find, but not impossible.

As a kind of aside story: Back in the day, me and a buddy bought a crate of Ruger Mini-14's from a police supplier. They were turn ins from the OPP, which was replacing them with AR's. They were nice little guns, in spite of the poor reputation the Mini-14 had at the time. They had an AR type flash hider on them and we made decent money back on them.

But the kicker is that the bottom of the crate was filled with Ruger factory 20 rd mags.

At the time, Ruger would not sell 20 rd mags to civilians in Canada.

And we had dozens of them. Dozens. All pinned out to five rounds, mind you, as per the law, but dozens of them. And we sold them all at fifty bucks a pop. In two days.

So, the point I guess is that sometimes there is a bonanza. Sometimes things that seem impossible, just happen.

fnfnc64 · « **Reply #22 on:** February 12, 2015, 07:00:02 pm »

Quote from: FMJ on February 08, 2015, 03:39:53 pm

Oh and it's time for more FAL fever!

Sadly that original kit StG58 isn't mine.
I started this thread showcasing my new then IMBEL "50.00", and now my "50.63" if you will is finally complete.

**This is a mutt of a PARA carbine. The barrel is a 1963 StG58 tube that was cut down to 18" and re-threaded. Due to the way it was rethreaded, the Belgian combo device it came with didn't time correctly like it should with the notch at six o'clock. The previous owner had it at 12 o'clock, but I didn't feel like like getting a washer and doing all that stuff. I traded the Belgian combo for this, and it fit properly with the threading and timed correctly just by putting some torque on it. Also, it's a bit different.

I originally gathered the parts for this build last year. DSA threw a wrench in the gears and it's no surprise I already didn't like them as a business. When I ordered the PARA kit, they didn't mention on their website that all of that stuff was out of stock (turns out they've been selling PARAs SA-58s to South Africa's game wardens which is kind of cool). But nothing was mentioned on their site. For a month there was nothing but radio silence until I called them up myself. I ended up canceling the order and buying the same kit from a private seller. The parts finally got here this past Friday.

I was going to go and try test firing today since now it's ready to rock with safe headspace and all of that, but the weather is kind of s___ty.

This mutt of a gun has an Austrian barrel, and Argentine gas system, IMBEL made Type 3 receiver, a scrubbed Rhodesian Army marked bolt, and either African or South American internals. And it's awesome.

Fortunately the DSA stock doesn't suck, the parts seem ok. It's just their online business and customer service that sucks.

This is immediately one of the coolest guns I've got.

What does it take to do that legally in the PRC, or have you somehow escaped that lovely state and made it to (somewhat) Free America?

FMJ · « **Reply #23 on:** February 12, 2015, 09:56:49 pm »

I can do one of two things. Either I put this kydex wrap around the pistol grip so that it cannot be used (and get ride of any muzzle device that isn't a brake) OR I can put this stupid piece of sheetmetal around the mag release so that the gun is no longer considered to be an assault weapon since you now need a tool to remove your "fixed" mag. That's what I did.

fnfnc64 · « **Reply #24 on:** February 13, 2015, 12:55:09 pm »

Quote from: FMJ on February 12, 2015, 09:56:49 pm

I can do one of two things. Either I put this kydex wrap around the pistol grip so that it cannot be used (and get ride of any muzzle device that isn't a brake) OR I can put this stupid piece of sheetmetal around the mag release so that the gun is no longer considered to be an assault weapon since you now need a tool to remove your "fixed" mag. That's what I did.

That is kinda what I wondered after I saw the pic. Like a bullet button on an AR I guess? How long does it take to get a magazine out now?