DSA58 FAL Question

[Justinx121]

Hey everyone, I just picked up an SA58 earlier today. It came with one DSA polymer mag, not the old style that apparently had lots of problems though. I took it to the range today, fired about 80rds through it, and the gun is super smooth. I would say 100 percent reliability except for one thing that happened with the mag. It only happened once, but when I had about 5rds in the mag with the bolt in lock open, I grabbed the charging handle and let go, and the bolt goes right over the cartridge. I didn't realize it until it clicked when pulling the trigger. I tried it again by hand and the same thing (I'm not riding the bolt forward btw). This happened after already firing 50 rds or so with bolt locked back after last round and hitting lever release to re-chamber. So I locked the bolt back again and hit the lever release and it chambers the round no problem like before. Not sure why it did that, but that could be a real issue. Other than trying to do it by hand, reliability feeding from the polymer mag was great.

 

[Robert]

It could just need breaking in, or have some burred edge that prevented it from fully lifting those few times. Make sure the mag is fully seated as well. I have two of their old 30 BREN gun mags and I have to push the mag up to get it to feed right. I don't use them much...or ever.

Maybe take it apart and make sure there is no grease, gunk, or burrs keeping it from cycling. I know, it's brand new and there shouldn't be, but you never know...

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I wouldn't change anything until you try one or two quality steel magazines.

Have you fiddled with the gas adjustment yet?

Todd.

 

[Chuck R.]

I wouldn't change anything until you try one or two quality steel magazines.

Have you fiddled with the gas adjustment yet?

Todd.

This would be my 1st check, then increase the gas a notch. You may be on the "edge" of reliability and an occasional lower pressure round just can't cycle it.

 

[HankC]

Keep your dremel away this time! DSA mags have issues, surplus mags are better.

 

[HankC]

when I had about 5rds in the mag with the bolt in lock open, I grabbed the charging handle and let go, and the bolt goes right over the cartridge.

When you only have 5 rounds loaded in mag, the mag spring does not have a lot of compression and may not push the round fully to the top, a little binding may prevent the top round base fully risen. In shooting, the recoil rocks the mag and rounds that helps overcome minor binding. See those guys in the movies knock the mags on the helmets before inserting the mags! Since you have plastics mag, a little dry lube helps. Don't use grease or oil that may attract sand/dirt. DSA had issues with their mags, some folks switched back to military surplus mags and solved the problem, could be just need wear in. Since you only had issue when a mag at low round count when first loaded, likely just minor binding and spring tension issue. May just need wear in, dry lube and knocking when load helps. Happy shooting!

 

[Conelrad]

Plastic magazines----nah. Maybe Bakelite for an AK, but I digress.

Get a few steel surplus 20's. Israeli, Austrian, Belgian. Avoid DSA steel mags.

You rifle will thank you.

Conelrad

 

[MachIVshooter]

Avoid DSA steel mags.

You rifle will thank you.

Conelrad

I've had good luck with the DSA 30 rounders in my DSA para carbine, but they do turn my RFB into a jammomatic.

 

[Hookeye]

Am ignorant of the FAL.
Guy has Belgian and a DSA both unfired for sale.
One would be a shooter, the other an investment obviously.
But i have no idea what mags are needed.

 

[Conelrad]

Belgian (if authentic) is better than DSA. And much more expensive as you noted.

Lots of DSA's work just fine.

FALs come in two basic flavors: Metric and inch pattern.

The UK and dependents used the inch guns, the rest of the world the metric. The styles are slightly different, easy to tell apart.

Inch and metric mags are not generally interchangeable, tho I've seen some clever machinework done on FALs.

Avoid steel cased ammo, too many kabooms in FALs.

Conelrad

 

[Hookeye]

The belgian was purchased pre AWB for 900 from importer " Gunsouth " IIRC.

He bought 3 and sold two. Last one for 4500 this past yr. He never shot em.

 

[AlexanderA]

I have a DSA FAL. The rifle is fine, but the DSA magazines are not. Avoid those, and the knockoff Korean magazines, and stick with Austrian or Belgian surplus magazines.

 

[czhen]

They are metric and inch pattern mags, I do believe some works well in all type of FAL rifles others not.
Try to find some used German / Belgian made.

 

[Conelrad]

The Germans didn't make FAL mags for their G1's, they bought them from FN in Belgium.

Conelrad

 

[czhen]

Thank you for the correction.