FAL on a snowy day

[Storm]

Today I had hoped to head to the outdoor range to do a little rifle shooting, but as my luck would have it it's a rare wet and snowy day in Georgia. So, I decided to spend the day at home with a rifle that doesn't get near enough attention. That rifle is a CAI FAL R1 A1.

I picked the gun up three years ago "new" for $400 and have only shot it a couple of times to check function. It's a "unibrow" but it works. I knew nothing about choosing an FAL when I bought it. It's an Australian inch lower with a metric receiver. I guess if I had to have a "FrankenFal" (not exactly the top of the FAL heap) I'd rather it be a metric receiver considering all of my mags are metric. The only major change on it has been going with a T48 forearm stock which seems to me to potentially provide for better barrel cooling (or not) and offers a very positive grip.

This rifle is pretty roughly finished compared to some of the FAL's that I've seen like the DSA, but that's fine by me as I will never feel the need to baby it. It's a lot of rifle. Maybe next week it'll spin some lead. There's just something about this rifle...a truly classic battlerifle.

Now that I think about it, I have a CETME that's also begging for some attention.

 

[husker]

its one tough looken om-bray. makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up just looking at it. hope old Frankenstein shoots good for ya! omaha= 5 inches snow friday night

 

[Storm]

Thanks. It was an impulse buy that I have not regretted. It's brute of a rifle. I saw some film of Aussies carrying them in Vietnam and I truly felt for them. It's one of those battlerifles that was used in battle in semi-auto configurations, so it's no compromise.

Anyone here shoot 7.62 NATO full auto from an FAL? What was it like?

 

[auberg]

I've got one very much like yours. I bought mine about 6 months ago though, not new, but I figure the previous owner worked out any bugs. I took it to the range right away and ran about 3 mags through it without problems. I'm swapping out the furniture on mine with all wood that I'm refinishing. Once I get it finished, I'll post some pics.

Have fun with it.

 

[Frankl03]

This is my baby!

Its a STG58 on a DSA receiver. Its a great shooter.

Have fun at the range! Hope yours shoots well!

 

[4thPointOfContact]

Hey, same as mine, almost.
I picked up one of the FrankenFAL's a few years back and have had good luck with it.

I changed out the standard rear sight for a Canadian one, it's a folding disk shaped sight graduated from 100-400 metres. I also put on a Canadian top cover which will accept stripper clips and switched back to a last-round BHO which is just a screwdriver away.

My lower is modified just a little bit so that I can use my trigger finger to release the magazine, but I'm divided between doing that and going back to the L1A1 left hand release. Maybe if I could find a 'Big Ring' magazine release it will be easier to make up my mind.

The only shortcomings I can really think of on the FAL is the stock, folding sight. I keep worrying that it'll be in the down position just when needed most. I'd almost consider welding it in the up position . Now, if I can just remember where I saw that hood for the rear sight to keep the sun out, I'll be much happier.


Storm, I like that T48 forend, I might just pick one up for mine.

 

[Storm]

Storm, I like that T48 forend, I might just pick one up for mine.

That forend is made by TAPCO. It's a good solid peice of furniture. I'm often tempted to put the original CAI forened back on, but it's so flimsy. The T48 really does offer a great grip.

I really did enjoy my time with the FAL yesterday even if I couldn't shoot it. It;s funny how much we can enjoy our rifles even when we aren't shooting them. I had once researched this rifle but had failed to write down what I had found out, so I had to go back to the FAL Files to figure it out. FALs can be confusing. IDing the inch lower as Aussie was easy, but the receiver was a bit confusing. Overall it's clearly metric but has some inch features like the front part of the folding charging handle slide missing (ground away, I assume) and indents present for the top cover, and sand cuts. I just wish that I could use a metric buttstock.

Still, a very pleasant afternoon was had re-aquainting myself with an old friend.