Where to find an Imbel 16" barrel FAL?

[hartzpad]

Where can I find a 16" or 18" barrel FAL carbine other than paying $1000+ for a DSA? Atlantic Firearms has a 16" barrel Imbel carbine listed for $679 but it is out of stock, I want to find one of these, are they out there for sale? I want to get one and add a Tapco scope mount and mount an EOTECH on it.

I've had HK91's before and I currently have a DPMS AP4 16" barrel carbine, I want to add an FAL carbine to my .308 club without DSA prices. Thanks.

 

[beerslurpy]

Lol that would be one hell of a room clearer. Every time you pulled the trigger it would be like throwing a flashbang.

Would it be accurate though?

 

[Coronach]

Assuming it is well built, it will be plenty accurate. You'll have some increased flash and some loss of velocity (and a mildly less-flat trajectory), but accuracy should not suffer.

Mike

 

[hartzpad]

Assuming it is well built, it will be plenty accurate. You'll have some increased flash and some loss of velocity (and a mildly less-flat trajectory), but accuracy should not suffer.

Mike

I would even settle for an 18" barrel, I just don't want that monster of a 21" barrel. I like carbines not muskets.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I have a 16.25" barrel FAL clone (DSA SA58 Para carbine). It has the Belgian short flash hider on it. While it's not quite as accurate as my 18" barrel PTR-91, it is more than adequate for my purposes. It shoots 3-4" groups at 100 yards with milsurp ammo and iron sights. I suspect that it could do much better with quality ammo and better sights (my eyes aren't the best, so iron sights really handicap me). Muzzle blast and flash are actually quite tolerable -- a lot less than I expected from the short barrel. At least, they're tolerable from the point of view of the shooter. I don't know about those around me. From behind the gun, it seems quieter than my 18" PTR-91, which has a plain muzzle.

 

[NineseveN]

www.falfiles.com

That's yer souce for all things FAL. I would probably have one built by a smith (would be cheaper than DSA). Or, if you find one used and buy it, regardless of bbl length, I have a pretty new carbine barrel I could sell ya and you could have it put on. Depending on what area you are in specifically, you could probably find a FAL Files member with the tools to do it and they'd help you out.

Yeah, us FAL guys are like that.

I don't much like the 16"ers, but many, many people do. They don't generally sufer a large loss in accuracy with a shorter barrel.

 

[Atticus]

Why not just buy the cheaper FAL and have a gunsmith cut the barrel down?
If you go the kit route - you can have the barrel cut before the build. From what I've read, nearly everyone prefers the 18", both for reliability and velocity issues. I hade mine cut to 18" and touched it up with cold blue. It's a good length- shorter OAL than my AR15 or Rem 870 riot gun.

 

[Bwana John]

Beware of possible reliability issues with a 16 in barrel. The gas port usually need to be opened to compensate for the loss of time for gasses to work on the piston, and this creates a pressure/time curve the rifle wasent really designed around. Some may experance no problems, but I did with my 16.5 in barrel.

 

[Gewehr98]

My goodness!

It shoots 3-4" groups at 100 yards with milsurp ammo and iron sights.

I'd expect something better than Ruger Mini-14 accuracy out of something as substantial and expensive as an FN-FAL clone.

I like carbines not muskets.

I know that's hyperbole, but I'd have a hard time envisioning a musket variant FN-FAL with a 30"+ barrel.

Bwana John speak true about shortening gas guns from their original design lengths. As you're working back from the 21" issue barrel on the FN-FAL, you have to make up for the missing gas port pressure and duration somehow, just like other shortened gas guns.

 

[Father Knows Best]

I'd expect something better than Ruger Mini-14 accuracy out of something as substantial and expensive as an FN-FAL clone.

As I said, I suspect it will do much better. I've never really tried to shoot for groups. For casual shooting with cheap ammo and my bad eyes, however, I think 3-4" is pretty respectable.

 

[gm]

ohio rapid fire sells fals..check the website.I ordered a rifle and ended up with the carbine cause they were out at the time.They did a great job on it,I believe they put a dsa oversized piston in it,it hasnt failed yet.it is minus the break so it is...loud.

 

[hartzpad]

ohio rapid fire sells fals..check the website.I ordered a rifle and ended up with the carbine cause they were out at the time.They did a great job on it,I believe they put a dsa oversized piston in it,it hasnt failed yet.it is minus the break so it is...loud.

Thanks, checked the website and it says they are out, but I'll give them a call soon and see. It would give great piece of mind to get an FAL from ORF, w/ their quality builds and 1 year warranties.

 

[Bwana John]

It would give great piece of mind to get an FAL from ORF, w/ their quality builds and 1 year warranties.

ORF seems to be having some problems lately. From what people have been reporting about unfinished Galil builds, HK clone recievers that look like a 12 year old welded them with a coat hanger and a car battrie, and the FAL inch pattern cut cocking handle problems, Im staying away from ORF

 

[NineseveN]

Go to the FAL Files and find a builder there to cook you up a FAL, you'll be better off and much happier in then end, no doubt.