FAL is failing to eject... Help Please

[goon]

I am getting these screwy jams with my Ohio Rapid Fire FAL. It is turning the empty around in the breech but not kicking it out. The end result is that it tries to chamber another round from the magazine, but the empty round is still stuck in there too, only completely backwards.
Just to give you all the info, I first noticed this a couple months ago shooting with my girlfriend. I thought that it might have been something she was doing since she was a new shooter. Then I noticed it last week when I was shooting it again for the first time in months. It is still under the original 1 year warranty from ORF but I already had it back once to have the barrel aligned. I don't want to send it back again so if I can fix it for a few bucks I might try that first.
Can someone please help me out?
I really am about ready to give up on the FAL and just stick with my M-39.

BTW- it is doing this with Portugese Fnm 7.62mm NATO, as well as my handloads in Lake City and Winchester cases. It does whether the gas is completely maxed out or adjusted so that the gun will just function so I don't think it is a gas problem, but I don't really know for sure.
Thanks.

 

[TooTech]

Get thee over to www.FALFiles.com

These guys know FALs!

 

[JohnKSa]

When was the last time you cleaned your gas tube and piston?

 

[Jim K]

Really dumb question, but have you checked the ejector?

Jim

 

[nemesis]

I really am about ready to give up on the FAL and just stick with my M-39.

No offense intended but they makes as much sense as trading in your car because the engine is running rough. The objective is to identify the problem and deal with it.

Check the ejector block and take a good look at the extractor. Make sure its clean and functioning properly. Also, see if a combination of ejector and top cover are collaborating on the problem.

I really don't like the traditional FAL top cover and the L1A1 cover seems the worst example of the type. My preference is the completely open/stripper clip guide C1A1 cover. You won't even get dented brass with that one.

By the way, if you are running your gas port wide open and, if your gas system is clean, you must be getting one merciless whack in the shoulder when the rat bottoms out.

 

[Trebor]

This will sound stupid, but try a different mag. I had the same problem and after playing with the gas system, etc, trying to run the problem down, it turns out that I was consistently shooting a bad mag. The mag didn't lock into the well correctly and would cause failures to feed and failures to eject. Once I tossed that mag, all is well.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

JohnKSa is likely onto something there. Check your gas piston, the tube, and ports. You might double-check your gas settings, not that you haven't already by about a dozen times. My Stg58 likes about 4.5. Also, a little lube goes a long way on the piston. Mine likes to be nearly dry.

I ran across a link on Derby FALS the other day that I'd overlooked previously that may help too.

http://www.derbyfals.com/wecsog.htm

There's a tip on an extractor tool and how to keep the brass kisses down.

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[goon]

First off, just let me say "The High Road is Back Up! Yes!" (Shaking my fist)

Second, I played around with it a little. I changed the extractor spring and still had FTEs. I changed the extractor, took the gas up to four, and the gun went through about 70 rounds with no failures at all. I had it so warm that I had to lay the handguards on the sandbag because I couldn't hold them and it still kept firing. Hopefully, I fixed it. Gotta put some more ammo through it but I think I have it beat.
I was hoping to God that it wasn't the gas system because I am really a little shaky on diagnosing problems like that and it is getting to the point that I don't have endless amounts of money to put into it to make it work.
I don't think it is the gas system though because I could definitely feel the difference in recoil when I had all the gas coming back to work the action. That gun bucked pretty hard, at least for a 10 pound rifle.

As for just sticking with simpler guns, it still makes sense to me. Given the choice, I still prefer older vehicles to newer ones because I can work on the older vehicles myself.
They are simpler, and I understand how they work.
Same goes with simpler guns. I am learning the value of simple guns like the Mosin Nagants and the AK.

Still though, the FAL is getting a second wind. I have had problems with it before. When I first got it, there was a rough place in the slide where the charging handle runs that caused it to stick there. No problem, got the files out and fixed it. Then the sights wouldn't move far enough to zero, so I sent it back and they retimed the barrel at ORF. Now this. This rifle has only had about 500 rounds through it and it has already needed more work than any other gun I have ever bought. It is the only one that I have ever had this much patience with. I really want it to work out for me but I am willing to cut my losses if it is a losing fight.

 

[Sylvilagus Aquaticus]

Glad you're having better results today, goon. If it ever misbehaves again, just pack it up and ship it to Tio Conejo and I'll make sure you don't have a FAL problem anymore

Regards,
Rabbit.

 

[goon]

The one good thing about it is that ORF does stand behind their guns. I got an email from them yesterday about the problems. They told me that small parts swaps will not void the warranty, which is good news to me since I had already done that. It is still under warranty until the end of November, so any more trouble and back it goes.

I would not, however, have a problem sending it to Tio Conejo if there were generous monetary compensation involved.