FN-FAL Flash Hider/Brake Swap....

[Rubber_Duck]

I just recently picked up an FAL, consisting of a British L1A1 kit built on a metric Imbel reciever. I don't care for the flash hider/grenade launcher that came on it and would like to replace it with an L1A1 flash hider.

The flash hider it currently has is this one (at least, it looks just like this one): http://www.dsarms.com/Austrian-STG58-Flashider-Used---002S/productinfo/002S/

I would like to replace it with this: http://www.buymilsurp.com/flash-hider-with-bayonet-lug-british-l1a1-rifles-p-3259.html

Anybody know if this is possible? Thanks in advance.

 

[wayne in boca]

Metric barrels like your Imbel are threaded 9/16-24 LH,while L1A1 barrels are threaded 9/16-24 RH,so no go.

 

[Bwana John]

People have had good luck rethreading by using a RH die over the LH threads.

The real problem is the "keyway" slot that needs to be machined in for the Inch version you want.

There are LH threaded lookalikes without the keyway available.

I think Moses and Gunplumber at the FAL Files are selling LH threaded non-keyed Inch lookalikes.

But the Metric Short Combo Devise IS the most cool!

 

[Robert]

Ok I am a bit fuzzy... Is it the receiver that is the metric and the barrel and the rest of the rifle that is inch? If the barrel is an inch pattern L1A1 then I should think that the L1A1 flash hider would fit. But if it has a STG58 style hider then your barrel is most likely a metric barrel. Nothing like a good ol' franken-FAL...

 

[Rubber_Duck]

The rifle appears to be inch pattern but the upper receiver is metric, if that makes any sense, though I'm not sure as I'm new to FALs.

 

[Robert]

It does make sense. So sounds like they are right, your barrel is metric which means you will have to have it re threaded to accept the inch pattern threads. My first FAL was a Century built kit. Got me hooked on FAL rifles and I have since moved on to a MUCH better built kit rifle. I'd love to get me a DSA one day.