Brass damaged photos FAL SA58

[Motega]

I mentioned on the last thread I had some brass deformation/damage and wanted to see what you folks thought. Maybe this is normal, but I never experienced this on any other handgun/rifle so I thought I better post while this rifle is only a few weeks old.

This is 1990's production DAG. It fed OK, unlike the Federal Gold which in 168 fed poorly and in 175 grains misfed about 50% of the time.

I am at the upper end of my #3 iron sights and my ACOG (TA11J308 desgined for .308) in trying to zero. I have about 5 clicks left on both. The Federal 168 shoots too low, I can;t raise the scope or irons high enough (at 100 yards!) to zero.


http://s497.photobucket.com/albums/rr337/motega_photos/chewed DAG brass/

 

[rcmodel]

The little dings in the sides of the cases are typical semi-auto stuff.
It comes from the ejecting case doing a double back flip from hitting the ejector and then hitting the ejection port and bouncing off.

The torn-off rims are another matter.
That comes from very hard or early extraction, due to either a rough chamber which makes extraction difficult, or over-gassing from improper adjustment of the gas regulator.

Your FAL clone has an adjustable gas piston setting.
You may have it set too high causing over-gassing and case rim damage.

To adjust properly:
1. Load 1 round, set the gas adjustment on 7 for less gas, and fire the round.
2. If the bolt does not lock onto the hold open, reset the gas adjustment to 6 for slightly more gas and repeat.
3. Continue until the bolt locks onto the hold open then stop.

Most rifles should function properly set on 4 or 5.

rc

 

[Motega]

check out some of the other issues-

http://s497.photobucket.com/albums/rr337/motega_photos/DSA issues/

Don't get me wrong, all this may be fine and dandy. I'm new to the FAL so don't know what to expect and I don't want to go running to the manufacturer if this is all generally expected or acceptable stuff.

I have semi auto rifles/pistols in .22, .45, .40, 9mm, .223 + a few oddball stuff and if you include friends/family I can't think of a single other weapon that's chewed brass up this bad. The .308 has the most bang of anything I have though so maybe that's not a fair comparison. But my .45 (1968 National Match) and .223 (Bushmaster AR) brass comes out looking exactly the same as the way I put it in.

 

[Robert]

Second link does not work, at least not for me.

FALs, while not as bad as the HK91, are hard on brass. The dents are normal, the flexed heads are a bit out of norm and I agree with RC, recheck you gas setting and maybe back it off some.

 

[Z-Michigan]

The torn-off rims are another matter.
That comes from very hard or early extraction, due to either a rough chamber which makes extraction difficult, or over-gassing from improper adjustment of the gas regulator.

Your FAL clone has an adjustable gas piston setting.
You may have it set too high causing over-gassing and case rim damage.

To adjust properly:
1. Load 1 round, set the gas adjustment on 7 for less gas, and fire the round.
2. If the bolt does not lock onto the hold open, reset the gas adjustment to 6 for slightly more gas and repeat.
3. Continue until the bolt locks onto the hold open then stop.

Most rifles should function properly set on 4 or 5.

+10000

No worries on the casewall dings. Some worries on the damaged case rims. I agree with comments above. My experience is that 18" FALs may need to be on setting 3 or 4, and 4 or 5 is about right with a standard 21" barrel. FYI, DAG tends to be some of the hottest .308 around, and may require a more open gas regulator setting than any other brand of ammo. I have several FALs and none of them do this to any ammo I use.

If adjusting the gas regulator doesn't end the case rim issue, call DSA. I can provide you names of individuals via PM if your first call (if any) doesn't get you far.

As Gus alluded to, an HK91 design mangles brass fiercely. My PTR91 would crease cases and sometimes banana them up to 10-20 degrees. Obviously not reloadable after that! Fortunately it worked great with steelcase.

 

[Wheeler44]

That ain't nuthin' you should see what a CETME does to brass and that ain't nuthin' to what a Ljungman will d to brass....

 

[Motega]

The guys over on the FAL board said this is totally normal as well. I own and have shot many semi-autos but never saw brass get chewed up like this. Live and learn... I'm glad it isn't anything more than a gas regulation issue (if it is an issue at all)... surplus .308 is berdan primed and not easily reloadable anyway, so I guess it is a 'problem' without a need for a solution.