Folding versus fixed stock on DSA Arms FAL?

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I have a folding stock DSA Para and a fixed stock kit build FAL, and I personally don't have any issues with bad cheek weld on the folder. Feels a little different, but no big deal.
 
I have an SA58 Medium Contour and a Para with a full length upper, both DSAs. IMO, the fixed stock does feel more substantial in cheek weld feel due to more material and larger comb radius curve the cheek is resting against as compared to the relatively small amount of stock the top tube of the folder offers. No problem with getting a good sight picture with either.

Only problem I've had with the sight picture of any of my FALs is one with a stock with a high comb on an R1 parts FAL (Imbel upper) built by a dealer. A Penguin fixed that.
 
I’ve had my DSA SA58 in both configurations. For me, the fixed stock gives a better cheek-weld, but the Para-FAL really isn’t bad. Of the folders I’ve tried it’s probably the best one and is rock solid.

I added a Trijicon TriPower to mine, so I also added one of the ITC check rests. It also works pretty well and is comfortable. It has adjustable comb height, so I went with an “in-between” height for both irons and my TriPower.

Just do it! You know you want a Para-FAL, everybody does!:D

Chuck
 
OK, here is another question:

I am looking at the SA58 Para Tactical Carbine:
http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=SA58TACP&storeid=1&image=sa58mwtpa.gif

and the SA58 Para Standard Carbine:
http://www.dsarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=SA58CP&storeid=1&image=sa58carbpar.gif

The Standard Carbine would appear to have a longer site radius than the Tactical carbine, and I also like that more of the barrel is covered by the handguards with the Standard model.

Are there any advantages of the shorter handguards of the Tactical?

Is the fluted barrel of the Tactical an advantage?

The Tactical also has a shortened gas system. Are there any isssues with that?
 
THe short gas system is more reliable than the long in a carbine, more dwell time in the barrel for gas before venting out the barrel. Short handguards go with the short gas system ;) Fluting will take some weight off the barrel.
 
The Tactical also has a shortened gas system. Are there any isssues with that?
Click to expand...

Mine's the tactical with the short gas system and I've had no problems with it.

A lot of the rest of your questions, to me, are sort of personal preference. The fluted barrel is a little lighter, but my para, with rails on it, is heavy as all get out anyway (well, compared to an M4, anyway). Sight radius doesn't hurt, but mine shoots minute of man out to 400 meters, which is okay for me. Etc.
 
My carbine (16.25" barrel STG58C) has the normal length gas system, and I have no issues with it. I run the regulator on a setting of "5", meaning it still has plenty of room to be turned up if I ever feel the need to do so. I would stick with the normal length gas system just for the commonality of parts.

I also took off the bipod and metal handguards, and replaced them with fiberglass. That took a lot of weight off the front end:

STG_2.jpg
 
I am not sure I understand how the short gas system would be more reliable, can you elaborate
Click to expand...
Presure curve and dwell time.
The more time the bullet has in front of the gas port, more gas at lower pressures can be used to tap off and work the action.
The action was designed to use a certin amount of gas pressure, for a certian lenght of time.
By changing the barrel lenght and the size of the oriface this ratio is changed radically.


While a para FAL is more convenient for unassing from a armored vechicle, the fixed humpback stock is much more comfortable for me to shoot.

I got to shoot a select fire para FAL last weekend, in semo-auto the folder did not make much differance, but on FA the para was harder to control.
 
I prefer fixed stocks, personally. I'm left handed and the folder folds the wrong way for my taste.

As for the short vs. long gas system, the long gas on a short barrel can work, it just requires some tweaking and it can vary from gun to gun. Bwana John's carbine operates fine with the gas port the same size as mine, but mine won't cycle a magazine. Mine isn't a factory gun, it's a rebarrel. If you have problems with a DSA factory gun you can send it back.

I personally don't like the way the short gas system looks. Too much like an AR-15, and like being able to use standard handguards (I have non-bipod-cut Penguin on mine).
 
Actually I have a couple of FALs, they all have long gas systems, and they are all shortened to para lenght (~17 3/8).
FN has found a .109" oriface works best at this lenght barrel and a long gas system, and I have found they all needed to be opened up to this diameter.

Resist opening up the gas port too much, too soon, it might be somthing else like forgetting to put in the pin that holds the gas tube captive, or a worn out gas block, too much grease in the recoil spring tube, bolt carrier rubbing on dust cover.......
 
I don't think it's my gas block or bolt carrier assy. The last time I shot my rifle before the carbine conversion was August of 2005. We burned about four hundred rounds through it in the back woods of central Tennessee without so much as a hiccup. The next time I fired it was with the new barrel on it. The barrel and the stripped lower are the only new parts, so the problems got to be in there somewhere.

I'll inspect the gas tube pin when I get home. I'm *hoping* that it's just the gas port that needs a bit of widening. Otherwise I'm stumped, and I spent hundreds of dollars to turn my big heavy rock-solid-reliable rifle into a light, handy, non-functional carbine.

:banghead:

EDIT: My bad. It's FALna45 that has a 16.25" carbine that runs with the gas port the same size as mine. :eek:
 
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Opening up the gas port is very easy.:cool:

Get a set of numbered drill bits from 31-40.
Get a 1/4" brass rod to protect the bore.
Start small, use lots of cutting fluid.
Use the correct speed for drilling steel.
If you break off a bit and it does not stick into the barrel, go to the range and shoot it out.:what:
Do NOT go bigger than .120" with a 16" barrel, if you have to somthing else is wrong.:uhoh:

I go strait to 7/64" (.109) for my para lenght (17.375") barrels.

If you can get reamers the correct size that is much better.

I test at the range with a couple of different loads, and try to have the action work well with the lightest load when the gas adjustment ring is at "3".

Have you checked the recoil spring tube? Sometimes heavy grease will cause the action to be really slugish. Did you use the same gas block? After they wear out the gas tube needs to be soldered in
 
The gas block came with the badger barrel and is new. The lower receiver is new, too. I bought a stripped alloy lower and had ARS install my old lower components into it.

I found a good FAL smith in my area. I don't have the tools to do this myself. Well, maybe. Will a black & decker hand drill work on a rifle barrel? :scrutiny:

I'll feel better letting someone with more experience in 'smithing work on it than I. He told me that he'll get it running or he won't charge me anything, so that's about as fair as I could hope for. :cool:
 
On the original subject of stocks, I find the full stock a little more comfortable in terms of cheek weld. In particular if shooting prone when my face is more firmly against the gun. However, the Para stock is much more comfortable in this regard than any other standard folder I have used (such as AK stocks). We do now offer a folding stock assembly that features the SOPMOD buttstock from the AR. For ideal cheek weld in a folder that is probably your best bet, but it is not a true FAL Para type stock. It would be a matter of taste really as to whether you like the look. I would also say that the short gas system is a matter of preference as well, as I have had no reliability issues using a full length gas system with a carbine length gun.

John
 
We have a DSA rep on board?

Sweet. I have an idea.

You guys now make a lower receiver and gas block that's compatible with M16 type folding sights. Not a bad idea.

Problem is, the factory stocks are designed for using iron sights which are low-mounted right over the barrel. When using high-mounted sights, you have a chin-weld at best, but not much of a cheek weld.

Simple solution? Make a straight-line metric buttstock where the top of the stock is level with the top of the receiver, ala the M16. I'd be useless on a standard FAL as it'd preclude use of the irons, but on rifles with high mounted sights or optics it'd be great.

Just a thought.
 
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