Inch vs Metric FAL magazines

[icebones]

Never owned an FAL type rifle so I have no expirence with one. But I was looking for extra mags for my newest addition to my gun safe and found a good deal on mil surp metric and inch mags. So what is the diffrence between the two? Or can they be used interchangably? Thanks in advance

 

[RavenTai]

Is your FAL metric or inch?

An inch gun can take either inch or metric mags, a metric FAL can only take metric magazines.

 

[Z-Michigan]

An inch gun can take either inch or metric mags, a metric FAL can only take metric magazines.

Correct with two important notes:
1) Metric mags are somewhat loose in inch receivers, and you're better off getting inch mags if you have an L1A1.
2) Some of the "inch" guns are "inch" parts kits (L1A1, etc.) built on metric receivers, and if you have one of those your gun will only take metric mags. It all depends what the receiver is, regardless of the rest of the parts. You can tell by looking in the front of the magwell - is the little notch for the mag protrusion a small half-circle notch, or a larger and more squared off shelf? The former is metric, the latter "inch."

FWIW, while people routinely talk in terms of metric vs. inch, both guns have their parts made using inch measurements - the "metric" guns are original pattern from FN Herstal in Belgium, which was adopted by almost everyone outside the British commonwealth, and the "inch" pattern is the British L1A1 and the very similar guns made and used by Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. To complicate things further, South Africa was still part of the British commonwealth when the FAL was rolled out, but their R1A1 is basically a metric (FNH Belgium) pattern gun. AFAIK the only FAL made using actual metric measurements is the Israeli pattern.

 

[icebones]

Thanks, and I apoligize for neglecting to provide more info. The owners manual says it will take metric magazines and it only came with one from the factory. Does anyone make 30 round metric pattern magazines? I saw one a while back stuck into a DSA SA58 OSW but I would say it was inch pattern seeing as DSA is an American mfg

 

[Robert]

Do not use the 30 round mags. They do not work at all. At least the two I had, which were brand new. Stick to 20 rounders. 20 is enough. 30 round mags are not worth the extra weight nor the headache.

DSA rifles and mags are metric pattern.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Yes, skip the 30rd mags.

DSA's factory rifles are all metric pattern, as Gus noted. However, DSA has made some batches of "inch" type receivers from time to time, so it's possible you could find a gunsmith built L1A1 with a DSA "inch" receiver and everything would be legit. Just thought I should note that.

 

[icebones]

Many thanks my friends.

 

[DougW]

Hmmmmm........

My 30 rounders work great. I bought "used" from DSA. You can't leave them loaded though just sitting in the rack. But, I have an L1A1. Using the 30's in a metric requires modifying the front hook thingy.

 

[Mainsail]

You never mentioned the type of gun you needed magazines for. Is it for a FAL or RFB?

Anyway, AIM has some metric mags. I haven't heard anything good or bad about them.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Anyway, AIM has some metric mags. I haven't heard anything good or bad about them.

Why take a look here!

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=544112

 

[icebones]

Oh yes, Im a proud new owner of a RFB, havent shot it yet tho, and I saved up for a year. Hopefully I can make up my mind on what kind of optics to mount on it.

Will the 30 rounders even fit the rfb? It didnt even cross my mind.

 

[evan price]

You can take Inch mags and cut up the beak and they will fit metric receivers. But if you do that, God will kill a puppy. Inch mags are harder to find and expensive. Inch FAL owners will cry. Metric mags are common. Sell the Inch mags and buy a Metric if needed.

LOL!

Anyway, RFBs take Metric mags. Just because DSA or Kel-Tec is an American company has nothing to do with the FAL being metric or inch. And actually, most of the parts interchange anyway (within limits). DSA bought the Belgian FN prints iirc, and they build everything to Metric specs. Without getting into FAL minutiae there's really not enough different from a shooter's perspective to bother over, and since you are an RFB owner, all you need to know is METRIC MAGS for the RFB.

The 30-rd mags sound great in theory but heavy and are not always 100% reliable; the 20-rd mags are time tested and if you can get good surplus mags they will work. The DSA new mags are spotty at best unless they have resolved their production difficulties. If they have not, I would avoid the DSA new production US mags.

There was only one company that made plastic FAL mags (Thermold) and they are hard to find.
I bet if the RFB ever takes off, PMAG or somebody will make polymer mags for the FAL and it would be a US part, to boot. We can only hope.

 

[DougW]

Keep in mind that the 30 rounders are ment to be inverted and feed from the top of the BREN machinegun. The spring is a leaf type like the #1mkII or the #4mk1, so it might be a little slow to "lift" the rounds. Mine work fine though.