FAL problems (Ohio Rapid Fire)

[No4Mk1*]

I have an ORF G1 FAL which I ordered in Feb and received in April. I am happy with the build time. I have not yet worked all the bugs out of the rifle though.

Problems:
1. FSE trigger group allowed the hammer to chase the bolt forward occasionally causing the rifle to double. I fixed this problem by putting a DSA fire control group in my rifle ($60). The contacting surfaces of the DSA group are larger and the problem has been solved. Can someone tell me how to contact First Son Enterprises so that I can get them to replace these parts (I want to sell them).

2. The gas piston was apparently too tight in the gas tube which caused the gas tube threads to strip as the gas tube traveled rearward during firing. ORF sent a replacement gas tube and I cleaned the inside of the tube and sanded the gas piston until they slid freely together. No more problems so far.

3. The trigger is Awful. I can unload the rifle, put the muzzle down, hang a 2.5 pound weight on the charging handle and lift the rifle by the trigger without the hammer falling. All of my other rifles are no where near this difficult to pull the trigger. I replaced the trigger return spring, but no improvement was gained. Any advice would be appreciated. Especially a reduced power trigger return spring. (I think that would be better than cutting the spring.)

4. The rear sight wobbles. I hear this is common with the FAL and my rifle is actualy just as accurate as my other rifles, so I guess the sight settles into the same place after every shot.

5. The rifle is only 95% reliable. It frequently jams on the first or last two rounds in a magazine. It seems to favor alloy magazines as it has not jammed with the aluminum mags yet, but Steyr and FN mags produce occasional jams. (Portugese surplus from Aim & gas setting does not affect these jams as it can jam when allowing a locked open bolt to close.

Other than these problems, the rifle is fine.

If I had it to do over I would have bought a DSA rifle because between this rifle and my M1A, I am tired of working on "new" rifles trying to get them to be reliable. The M1A is working 100% now, but it took a lot.

Thanks for any suggestions and I hope this helps someone.

 

[Nightcrawler]

I've found my allow mags to be unreliable, actually.

What kind of jams are you getting? If it's a failure to feed, it might be a simple fix. Many steel FAL mags (the Austrians in particular) have very sharp feed lips that drag on the brass, causing failures to feed. The magazines break in over time, usually. I haven't had any trouble with the mags I bought from CDNN (except for when I let the insides of one get too dirty).

As for the trigger, I'm unsure. Replacing trigger parts on a FAL isn't difficult, but you've already done this. The FAL doesn't have a typical 2-stage trigger, but it shouldn't be as horribly heavy as you describe. I'd go over to the FAL Files and post your problem there; there are a lot of FAL smiths there.

As for the rear sight, usually you can tighten (or locktite) down the screws to keep the sight in place. If it still wobbles, you might want to consider replacing it; remember, your rifle is made from suprlus parts that might be older than you are.

 

[No4Mk1*]

The jams are failure to feed with the round halfway out of the magazine. Interestingly the bolt is always on top of the cartridge that failed to feed. With the bolt locked back I can slowly release it and see that it does hit the back of the cartridge, at least at first. All of my steel mags are well used but feedlips look ok and springs feel strong. If I never get the steel mags to work maybe we can swap mags, steel for alloy.
As far as the sight, it is not the entire sight, only the sliding aperture. The sight base and screws are solid.

 

[drnls]

You should contact ORF with your problems, I hear their customer service is great to work with. Being this is a battle type rifle - were you expecting it to have a 2.5 lb trigger?

 

[iamkris]

#1: That's awful about the trigger group...definitely try to get justly compensated...by FSE or ORF

#2: Also awful...I haver heard that ORF was a quality outfit....sounds like this was "the one that got away" from their quality inspector

#3: Trigger -- I installed a Falcon Enterprises trigger pull reduction kit...includes the hammer spring, trigger return and detent spring. It has definitely made the trigger pull weight lower but is still mushy. Also have had 1 failure to fire with Port surplus since I put it in...suspect this is because of the reduced hammer velocity. Not sure if I'm sold on this kit yet.

#4: Rear sights on FALs wobble. You can carefully squeeze them using a vice and a set of calipers and/or feeler guages...the technique is on falfiles.com

#5: How many rounds do you have through the rifle...this may just be a breaking in period. Also, you may want to try a DSA mag refub kit with new mag springs.

 

[Badger Arms]

I went through pains getting my Frankenstein FAL to work. In the end, I wish I hadn't started but rather had sold it and used the money towards a DSA gun. DSA's are made better than the FN version IMNTBHO.

 

[shoobe01]

Is it possible the drive spring (recoil spring) is weak or gunked up? The bad reliability might just be not enough spring force to run forward.

A LOT of the surplus rebuilds have very dirty springs. Pull it apart and try it (take off the stock, the spring comes out with the stock screw).

 

[No4Mk1*]

"Being this is a battle type rifle - were you expecting it to have a 2.5 lb trigger?"

No, but I have fired a M14, M1, AK, AR-15, Mosin-Nagant, K98, MAS 36, and a No. 4 Enfield and ALL of these rifles have much better triggers than my FAL.

Regarding the drive spring, I have not investigated that possibility. I guess that would make sense since my problem seems to be with bolt closing only.

As far as break in, I only have a few hundred rounds thru the rifle and the action is still pretty tight compared to other semiautomatic military rifles I have used, so maybe with time metal will be worn in the appropriate places to allow smoother functioning.

 

[yankytrash]

If I bought a new car and it constantly stalled, doors wouldn't open, and it only ran on Mobil gasoline from a station in north Anchorage, Alaska, I'd tell'm to get a tow truck, pick it up from my driveway with the payment book in the glovebox, and make dang sure they know that they can go get bent.

'Course, to each his own.

 

[Kodiak AK]

What is wrong with Mobil in Northern Anchorage?



Call OFR they will take care of you if you let them .

 

[Treylis]

What is wrong with Mobil in Northern Anchorage?

I think he just picked it randomly because it's pretty distant from Virginia--might as well have said "only runs on gasoline from a station in Novosibirsk, Russia" or the like.

 

[yankytrash]

How was I supposed to know a gas jocky from Kodiak was going to read that?

 

[C.R.Sam]

The jams are failure to feed with the round halfway out of the magazine. Interestingly the bolt is always on top of the cartridge that failed to feed.

I'd look for magazine problems.
Mag not latching high enough from worn mag or miscut action.
Mag springs
Mag lips
etc.

Sam

 

[armoredman]

Contact ORF - I have heard nothing but good about thier customer service.

 

[Kodiak AK]

No Sweat YT . I just thought maybe you knew something I didn't for when I go over and fill the rental up .

 

[Dollar Bill]

First Son Enterprises (FSE) products are manufactured by Harold Shinn out of Atlanta, GA The last email address I had for him was [email protected] He has a good reputation for standing behind his product and will replace any defective HTS sets.

Sorry you are having trouble with your FAL. I have 2 that are accurate and trouble free. A rifle of that type should be near 100% reliable if well maintained and with good ammo and good magazines.

 

[BrokenArrow]

Love is blind?

Isn't that kinda like saying your gal is short, fat, ugly, and stupid, but other than that, she's fine.

 

[No4Mk1*]

BrokenArrow: Yes, but in the case of the rifle, there is hope to fix her by spending a little time examining her and easily replacing any parts that are unacceptable. I'd advise not trying that with the girl.

And yes I will have ORF send me any needed parts in the future, but I do not like the Idea of putting my rifle in a box and giving it to UPS to care for, so unless it really needs professional help I'll do it myself.

 

[goon]

If you just got it in February, send it back and ORF will fix it free of charge.
They fixed the sights on mine and it is now perfect.