L1A1 question

[transformerguru]

I stumbled across a L1A1 today. I am thinking about going and getting it on Monday when I can cash a check, selling my pickup tomorrow. The questions I have is that it is a Century built L1A1 and it has a thumb hole stock on it. Where can I get a standard stock and pistol grip with out it costing me an arm and a leg and second what are some problems that I would have to look for on a Century built L1A1? Thanks ahead of time everyone.

 

[W.E.G.]

If it still is wearing the bung-hole stock, it probably has no US parts. Replacement of the stock will require installation of seven 922(r) compliance parts.

Moreover, if it still has the the bung-hole, its probably an inch-pattern lower receiver. Quality US-made inch-pattern buttstocks are unobtainium.

I wouldn't pay more than $450 for such a rifle.

 

[transformerguru]

ok if that is the case what 7 parts would be needed changing to be legal... I am guessing 5 more if I was to go with a tapco stock and pistol grip

 

[W.E.G.]

You won't be able to fit a metric TAPCO stock or grip on an inch-pattern receiver.

Per 27 CFR 178.39, these are the evil parts:

(1) Frames, receivers, receiver castings, forging or stampings
(2) Barrels
(3) Barrel extensions
(4) Mounting blocks (trunions)
(5) Muzzle attachments
(6) Bolts
(7) Bolt carriers
(8) Operating rods
(9) Gas pistons
(10) Trigger housings
(11) Triggers
(12) Hammers
(13) Sears
(14) Disconnectors
(15) Buttstocks
(16) Pistol grips
(17) Forearms, handguards
(18) Magazine bodies
(19) Magazine Followers
(20) Magazine Floorplates

 

[nalioth]

ok if that is the case what 7 parts would be needed changing to be legal.

Take your pick

 

[texfed]

Go to http://www.GunPartsGuy.com.
The link to their estore is
http://estore.websitepros.com/832529/StoreFront.bok

These guys are great and have everything you need. You Century rifle will have the 'knub' for the pistol grip removed ...they make a drop in part for a couple of bucks that get you back on the road with a pistol grip.

As far as compliance parts....they can set you up with enough small parts to get it done inexpensively. Just save the receipt, in case anyone asks.

By the way all L1A1's are inch pattern! You Century will take both inch and metric magazines!

 

[DougW]

The bung hole stock rifles usually have a clean mizzle with no threads, so you can drop to 6 of the required parts.

 

[AndyC]

By the way all L1A1's are inch pattern! You Century will take both inch and metric magazines!

True, but be careful - a lot of metric magazines won't lock tightly enough in place to feed reliably.

 

[Dollar Bill]

All the thumbhole stocked Century guns I have seen are built on a metric receiver so metric mags, which are cheaper anyway, should be what the rifle would take. Go over the FAL Files for all info on FALs. There are a lot of variations out there.

 

[JWarren]

I had a Century L1A1 that theoretically could use metric magazines. It never found one it would feed with.


-- John

 

[transformerguru]

so I am getting the feeling like I should shy away from a Century L1A1.... just for basic reliability issues

which is ok because another shop has a WARS 10/63 that caught my eye