Israeli FAL Charging Handle

[Robert]

I am looking to convert my FAL to the Israeli charging system to give me the ability to use forward assist should the need arise. The need for it came up in a match, my bullets were seated a tic too far out and forward assist would have made chambering simple. My question is this, does the Israeli charging handle reciprocate with the bolt? Has this been an issue for any Israeli FAL shooters?

 

[akolleth]

Fal charging handles do not reciprocate with the carrier, including the Israeli ones.

On Israeli charging handles the forward assist function is part of the knob on the charging handle. You push in on the knob forcing a lug down onto a groove in the carrier. That alows you to manually push forward the charging handle and thusly the carrier. The knob and the lug that engages the carrier are spring loaded. So as soon as you let go of the knob the lug resets out.

Here is a pic I borrowed that shows the special carrier, plus the special charging handle. Note the groove cut into the rail of the carrier to allow for the FA function. The lug that engages the carrier is not visable in this pic, but it is right under the knob on the handle.



And a gratuitous pic of an Israeli LB clone I used to own

 

[Robert]

Out standing! That was what I was hoping to hear.