FAL Failure to feed, need help

[walking arsenal]

Well I took it out and test fired it yesterday and got mixed results.

I think part of my problem may be the ammo I'm using.

I have a case of Indian ammo head stamped 1975.

I dont think it was stored very well.

The gun cycled just grand on a gas setting of 3 using american eagle .308 150 grn fmj.

The cases would eject forward away from the gun at about a 40 degree angle and go about 10 feet.

But if I put that Indian stuff in it and I couldn't get it to cycle at all even on 0.

Maybe I need a new gas rod or maybe it's because I cut the barrel down to 18 inches.

Maybe a combo of both.

Dunno.

It certainly cycled smoother than before and I think the polishing and rail widening helped a lot.

I dunno, a gas setting of 3 just seems high to me.

 

[iamkris]

I think you just answered your question.

Dump the Indian crap...or better yet, pull the bullets to reload.

 

[Ash]

Well, the 1970's Indian is okay, not great, but okay. It isn't the newer stuff that is terrible. But in any case, it is good the problem is determined.

Ash

 

[Vic303]

Don't worry about the Amer Eagle on #3...SA runs on 3 generally too--put SA on 4 and it will necessitate pogo-ing your FAL. With hot enough ammo though you can open the gas port up to 5-5 1/2 and run all day.

I'll second the idea of pulling all the indian ammo & reloading it proper.

If you still feel you need to have the gas system opened up a bit, contact Randy, aka Sledgehammer, on FALFiles. He's an outstanding FALSmith and all around good guy. He will fix you up.

 

[AndyC]

I don't like Indian ammo, period - seen too much crap, and if everything else but Indian ammo works fine in your rifle - well, don't use Indian

That said, shortening the barrel would typically involve drilling a slightly larger gas-port for reliability.

Yup, Randy is one of the best and a real gent.

 

[Bwana John]

Maybe I need a new gas rod or maybe it's because I cut the barrel down to 18 inches.

Mike the end of the gas piston, it should be ~0.430" ,if it is 0.004" smaller than this you might need a new gas piston.

Usually you open the gas port up a little when you chop a barrel. Use numbered drill bits to determine the current gas port diameter. Im not sure about Inch patterns but with the metric version it is easy to drill out the gas port larger, just go slow and dont go bigger than 0.120", no matter what.

The cases would eject forward away from the gun at about a 40 degree angle and go about 10 feet.

Did you find Giilliiee's post about adjusting ejection angles to clear the weapon without dinging the brass (or the rifle, I used to think brass "kisses" were cool)

When setting the gas for ultimate reliablity let the rifle hang loosly at your side, dont grip it firmly when firing (to mitagate the limp wrist effect). On a metric version close the gas one click at a time until the bolt stays open on a empty mag, then give it one more click closed. At the range its nice to open the gas a little, it cuts down on recoil and wear, but most rifles need another down click when fired in this manner to cycle relialiby. You can put a metric BHO in your inch rifle.

I had good luck with 70's Indian, the ammo boxes look like they had been sunk in the Ganges since 1974, but the ammo inside was good. I went thru quite a few ammo boxes of it fron J&G, and wish I bought more

 

[walking arsenal]

Clarify BHO?

 

[Bwana John]

Bolt Hold Open.

On Inch rifles the bolt does not stay open when the mag is empty.
You can enguage it manually, but it lacks a pin that the magazine follower lifts to hold the bolt open automaticly.

Metric BHO have the pin, and the ability to have the bolt stay open when the mag is empty.

 

[walking arsenal]

Ah.

Thought thats what you meant.

Yeah, I pounded a roll pin through mine so now it locks open automatically.

 

[KadicDeshi]

My Saiga regularly choked on Indian .308. Don't recall the date of manufacture. Had no issues with surplus Lake City when I could find it.

Barrett