My new FAL! WOOHOO! (Thanks Red)

[Onslaught]

OK, I'm gonna TRY and actually include some content here, in an attempt to mask my schoolboy-like excitement over the SWEEEET G1 I just received from RedLg155 today...

First off, the seller... What a nice guy to deal with. I couldn't have asked for a more honest, polite, easy to deal with, understanding, quick to respond guy.

I didn't realize it until he pointed it out, but I sold him a revolver a couple years ago. I guess it goes to show what goes around comes around... I always try to be honest, fair, etc... and he did the same to me, and then some.

Next, the packaging
I have never SEEN so much care. A 4x6 sheet of bubble wrap was taped around the entire rifle. There must have been 2 weeks' worth of newspaper surrounding it in the MASSIVE box that was lined with styrofoam. Each individual magazine and the flash supressor was gift-wrapped in newspaper, and placed 3 each in zip-lock bags! A complete list of box contents(also in a zip-lock bag) his personal info, etc. was all there.

Now to the rifle... Red told me that it needed refinishing, so I expected some finish wear. What I got was a rifle with mismatched finish colors, but VERY minimum wear. 3 of the 4 20-rnd mags look BRAND new... The 4th 20 and the 5rnd'er were in good shape, just a bit used...

I couldn't be happier.

NOW to the "advise" part. The "G1" has a bipod, and handguards with bipod cuts. I want a wide, round handguard with a more "AR" feel, that I can use my Harris bipod with. Where can I get such a handguard?

The only unsure thing is the "US parts count". I don't know how many US parts are in there, so I don't know if I NEED to use a US handguard, or if I'm OK with an import of some sort.

I'll be running ammo through her Saturday, rain or shine, to see if she shoots as well as she looks.

Thanks again RED!

 

[Redlg155]

Thanks for the kind words!

It's been a pleasure dealing with you in both the previous and the current transactions. Good to see she went to a good home!

Good Shooting
Red

 

[Keith]

You need a total of seven US parts on a FAL. The receiver is one of those parts so if it's US made, you're ahead.

If you got a flash supressor with it, that is a no-no. Leave it off or get somebody to tack weld a sleeve inside to make it legal - silly isn't it?

You need to examine the rifle (or contact the builder) to find out if you are in compliance. A lot of US parts aren't marked so you just have to know they are there and record that information some place.

If you're not in compliance, the furniture DOES count. So if you're swapping out the forearm anyway you might want to just swap out for matching US made butt, grip and forearm to knock out 3 parts at once.

Here is a link to the specific parts which count: http://www.fnfal.com/falfiles/usaparts.html

The G1's are notorious for having gas leak problems, so if the rifle doesn't function well this is likely the reason. Don't panic! There's a very easy fix. The gas hole in the G1 is just too small. It was enlarged in later versions to operate the action in a more robust manner. You can do this at home in about ten minutes but I won't get into here unless you have a problem. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...

I really like my GI and I'm sure you will too. They are a pleasure to shoot and they are designed to break down so easily that anyone can maintain and repair them no problems.

Keith

 

[Feanaro]

Nice looking rifle.... errr, well. Maybe not that nice looking... umm, well actually. Anyways, I hope you're happy with your ugly duckling.

 

[Onslaught]

Anyways, I hope you're happy with your ugly duckling.

Oh come on now... I live right next door to Alabamee, and I haven't seen a big shining crop of DSA's at the range!

Most of the FAL's around here are Century FrankenFals built using Grade III parts, and BEGGING for a trip to ARS.

This thing has almost NO finish wear... the parts just aren't all the same color of black.

You wanna see UGLY? Just wait until I get around to sending her off to www.nouglyguns.com ... THEN you'll see ugly!



here's my 5 minute photoshop rendition of the future "Onslaught FAL"...

 

[*8*]

Glad to see another FALholic on board. Say, is that a steel charging knob on your G1?

You might want to head down to the FALFiles forum and post a pic of your new rifle.


*8*

 

[JShirley]

Not bad at all.
Got my G1 'bout a month ago. It's been sand-blasted and refinished with Gunkote, and I have a US-made folding charging handle.
Already ordered a sling and 10 mags from TAPCO, and will order mag carriers next.
Then...ACOG, maybe?

 

[Onslaught]

It's been sand-blasted and refinished with Gunkote, and I have a US-made folding charging handle.

Who did your finish? I'm still looking for a decent finish at a good price. $125 for Norrell finish is "it" so far, but for that, I have to disassemble it myself, and the finish is only for the external parts. For just $75 more, I can send it to Arizona Response Systems and they'll disassemble it for me, and coat all the parts.

Also, was that an FSE charging handle? Where did you get it? I keep hearing about the US made FSE fCH, but I can't actually find one online to purchase. I like the look a lot.

Thanks again for the kind words.

 

[Open Carry]

Don't send your Century stuff to ARS. Look
here.

 

[JShirley]

Onslaught,

My G1 was put together by a friend of mine who enjoys working on FALs. (I believe it was his third.) I requested he add the handle, but I don't remember the co. I'll get back to you on info shortly.

John

 

[kotengu]

I'm the guy who did John's FAL (5th, by the way - it's a sick obsession). I got the folding charging handle from Dan at Volunteer Ordnance Works (VOW ) - I don't recall for sure whether it's one of his or an FSE he had laying around, but I believe it was one he made. It's all steel and had a parkerized finish before I Gunkoted it.

Dan also did the blast and park for me. I'd done a few in the past, but in between losing access to my blasting cabinet and being fresh out of park juice I just let Dan do it - his park is the darkest I've seen.

Over the fresh park I put the Gunkote - you get a much nicer finish if you use an airbrush - I learned the hard way (on my first) that the spray cans you can buy from Brownell's aren't worth a crap. It's really not hard to do, but be warned it takes a good size oven to cure (not to mention a very understanding wife to put up with the fumes!). I've used many different spray-on finishes and Gunkote is the one I'm most impressed with by far - In applying the detail lettering I vigorously rubbed it with a turpentine soaked rag and the Gunkote couldn't be touched........

 

[JShirley]

Thanks, Matt.

I was down in the arms room today, helping the unit armorer. I broke down my G1, and showed him how close one can get to the chamber (AND no damn star chamber!). He was most impressed, and envious.

John

 

[Nightcrawler]

Welcome to the brotherhood of the FAL. I've been in love with mine ever since I got my DSA STG58A last year.

Shoots like falling in love...

 

[Feanaro]

It's in good condition, aye. No miss matching parts, good finish and all. But it's a... well, it's a FAL.

 

[Midnight]

FYI, those handguards look like Tapco US synthetic handguards, so you would need to replace them with a US part.

Great looking G1. Sometimes I think the mismatched colors look neat. Ever seen a R1 kit? Various colors of camo paint all over it. Very cool!

 

[Onslaught]

I ordered Penguin stuff to replace what it has, so I'm still covered on the US parts part. Thanks...

I have seen photos of an R1 on FALFiles. I won't be trying to copy the look, but I will be doing something along those lines once I've settled on forend (free float handguard from DSA or keep the Penguin) and barrel. That way, I won't have to worry about "finish".