Help with FAL Receiver ID

[rbernie]

I just picked up my first FAL - an early Century build (made in Canada, it says) that I surmise has an L1A1 parts kit on a South American metric lower. So far, I'm really diggin' this FAL thing - it's accurate, relatively soft shooting, and all that good stuff. Naturally, I have a few questions:

• The muzzle has a small slot in it on the bottom, cut at an angle - is this normal? What's it for?
• Is the barrel chrome-lined or standard carbon steel?
• Who makes alternative rear sights - the little flip up thingee on this rifle has the worlds smallest aperture and I'd prefer a rear aperture with a sun shield.

 

[redneckrepairs]

To me the pics of the original rifle appear to be a frankenfal . The flash suppressor and cocking handle at least appear to be inch . If the reciever is metric cut then its a mish mash , but hey that prob will not hurt how it shoots , fal's are pretty consistant and robust .

 

[Retro]

"rbernie I just picked up my first FAL - an early Century build (made in Canada, it says) that I surmise has an L1A1 parts kit on a South American metric lower. So far, I'm really diggin' this FAL thing - it's accurate, relatively soft shooting, and all that good stuff. Naturally, I have a few questions:
The muzzle has a small slot in it on the bottom, cut at an angle - is this normal? What's it for?
Is the barrel chrome-lined or standard carbon steel?
Who makes alternative rear sights - the little flip up thingee on this rifle has the worlds smallest aperture and I'd prefer a rear aperture with a sun shield. "

You have a Enfield lower receiver with flip-up rear sights. The barrel is neutered, meaning the threading was cut off for compliance. Check the feeding ramp, is it a "w" ramp, looks like a "w" which is reliable, or a early round ramp which has feeding problems. CAI is not extremely accurate but works, I get 6-8 inch groups at 100 yards.

 

[AndyC]

6-8 inches? Ouch

RBernie, try http://www.dsarms.com

 

[rbernie]

Feed ramp is a W, and it shoots like a house a'fire - no complaints at all. If it's an Enfield lower - is it still metric? The metric mags that came with it are a relatively tight fit but seem to work just fine....

 

[db_tanker]

rbernie,

The good thing about the inch pattern rifles is that they will accept either inch or metric mags.

the inch mags have a rather large lug spot-welded on the front of the mag, where the metrics have a die-cut dimple...both will fit into the inch pattern recess...but not into the metric recess.

My first "FAL" type rifle was a Century L1A1 built on a Lithgow parts kit. VERY nice shooter. CAI used an Imbel metric reciever but didn't make a single diffrence in how it ran... one of those I shouldn't have gotten rid of and now kicking myself for it :banghead:

 

[kfranz]

rbernie, many(most?) of those Made in Canada Century rifles were commonwealth kits built on Imbel inch cut receivers, although all that I've seen have been cut for metric mags.

 

[rbernie]

Will this sight bolt on to my lower without issue? Is there some difference betwen metric and inch lowers that make the sight dovetails different somehow?

http://www.dsarms.com/prodinfo.asp?number=110C

 

[Retro]

CAI FAL has metric pattern type III receiver mated to inch pattern enfield receiver, that is why your FAL accepts metric but not inch. A freak of nature, in a way.

 

[AndyC]

Rbernie, yes, it'll fit, but you may need a higher front-sight post to make up for having a higher rear-sight.

Metric front sights are measured in terms of dots (they put actual dots on the round horizontal plate to indicate which height it is):

No dot is 3.0mm tall
1-dot is 3.65mm tall
2-dot is 4.3mm tall
3-dot is 4.95mm tall
4-dot is 5.6mm tall

Inch front sights - dunno, I think they just screw up and down.

 

[Zen21Tao]

Congradulation on you FAL Black Wolf. I build my first IMBEL kit on a DSArms receiver last year. Make sure to come back and give us a range report when you have a chance to use it.

 

[Black Wolf]

Ok my fellow FALs. Here's some better photos I took today. I have learned that it is a IMBEL Gear Logo Upper on a STG kit. DSA sells the STG kit for $495! Wow! The TAPCO scope mount sells for $85 plus the 10 Mags at about $80. Here's my summary of the deal.

I paid $750 not incl. tax. They were asking $900! A build would cost me this:

STG Kit - $510 w/shipping ($495 at DSA)
TAPCO scope mount - $95 w/shipping
Compliance Parts - $100 (a total guess)
IMBEL receiver - ($400? - I heard that is about what they are going for).
10 Mags - $80 (costing about $8 - $15 each)
Total - Almost $1200
AND I GOT IT FOR $750!!! DEAL OR NO DEAL?

I'm going to the range today. A little chilly out - but so what.

 

[db_tanker]

MUCH better photo's...and you got a very good deal IMO.

Enjoy it!


And you might want to invest in a brass catcher.

D

 

[AndyC]

If it's an STG kit, you did extremely well - let us know how she shoots

 

[Black Wolf]

Well, was gonna' go to the range this weekend but it was closed due to weather.

However, I did make it to a gun show in Charlotte, NC and picked me up a receiver cover for $10. Much easier to clean the weapon with the "stock" receiver cover versus the TAPCO Pictanny rail mount. I figure since I don't have a scope for it yet, I might as well just take it off.