Cutting down L1A1 barrel, problem?

[walking arsenal]

I have a full length L1A1 that i would like to cut the barrel down on. I would like to cut it or get it cut down to 16", is that possible? What are the ramifications of such a mod?

I think this would make the rifle much more handy.

 

[AndyC]

Something like this?

Yes, it's pretty straightforward, although you'll lose about 500 fps. The muzzleblast is going to be awesome

Find a FAL-friendly smith to do it for you - look in the forums on falfiles.com

 

[walking arsenal]

It's not going to affect the gas system at all will it?

 

[P95Carry]

Measuring mine, the gas take-off port is at about 11.5" and so you'd have a good 4" ahead of that remaining. I would not expect any issues, other than just perhaps having to open the setting one more notch due to the shortened duration of back pressure.

 

[MisterPX]

If you have the full length gas system and lopp off down to 16", you'll probably need the gas port opened up. Best way is to leave it stock, shoot it, then open the port one size at a time until the rifle runs mint.

 

[usp_fan]

There's a good and very old thread over on falfiles.com about gas port size and barrel length. You shouldn't have problems and opening up the port is easy if you have to. Shortening the barrel yourself is easy, but not for the faint of heart. If you have a machinist do it, you can have him put whatever threads you want on the end. I had a 1/2x28rh thread put on mine and used a phantom flashhider on mine. If you do this remember to bore out the .224 cal muzzle device to at least .310.

Good luck,

--usp_fan

 

[walking arsenal]

got a link to that fal files thread?

 

[DougW]

I cut my homebuilt L1A1 barrel to 18" during the time of the Slime Bill, as I did not want to weld anything to the barrel to make the threads "legal". I had to drill out the gas hole a little to make the rifle 100% functional. Now, I would really love to have the 18" barrel threaded again and add a Phantom flash hider. May get around to doing it next year.

 

[AndyC]

Try here for one

 

[usp_fan]

I don't have the link, but I believe Gary Jeter was the author. The Thread must have been 4 years ago. It is actually very easy. Pick your cutting tool, make sure your barrel is secured perpendicular to the blade, and cut away. Square up your barrel with a file and use a case neck reaming tool to clean out the inside of the muzzle. If you want to crown it, Gary recommended using a carriage bolt chucked into a drill and valve grinding compound. Slime it up, and spin away rocking the bolt head around to make sure the compound keeps cutting. When it looks right, Stop. Now understand that if you feel comfortable disassembling your barrel from your receiver, a machinist would likely do this on his lathe for a reasonable fee and you could have him turn threads at the same time. Some machinists might have a chuck large enough to run your barrel through from the back with the receiver attached and do the work w/o disassembly.

Here's some pics:







Whatever you decide, good luck.

--usp_fan