Need L1A1 Help/info

[walking arsenal]

Once again i consult the great oracle of wisdom that is the High Road.

I just got hold of a rifle that i've wanted for years. It's an L1A1 sporter made by imbel and imported by CAI. It appears to be in good shape and has been fired little if ever.

Problem is that it came with no manual.

I need some info on it before i go and try to shoot the thing though.

I'm looking for anything relevent. History, cleaning procedures, ammo suggestions, tricks, anything. I know there is a trick to adjusting the gas system too, but cant find it.

I know nothing about the weapon and cant seem to find much in my brief searched here or anywhere else on the net.

Links to sources would be nice.

I'm also looking for a standard stock and pistol grip for it. I kinda hate the thumbhole stock.

Can anyone help?

 

[Barrelmaker]

Go here>>>>> http://www.falfiles.com/forums/index.php?s=

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

All your question will be answered at www.falfiles.com

 

[Tsonda]

Third that, get thee to the files. You can spend alot of time there. Good luck with rifle.

Regards,

James

 

[HankC]

manuals can be found here

http://www.biggerhammer.net/manuals/

 

[Mk VII]

'User Handbook for Rifle, 7.62mm. L1A1, and 0.22 inch Calibre, L12A1 Conversion Kit, 7.62mm Rifle' [Army Code 12258] covers this. Quite a lot of copies got sold off recently. Brian Dick has them for $15 http://www.bdlltd.com/misc_sale.htm
If you tip 'L1A1' into Fleabay you will see a number of parts come up.

 

[sdacbob]

Excellent rifle. You can use both "inch" and "metric" mags.

 

[walking arsenal]

Ok, I've been hearing a lot about the inch/metric biz. What exactly does that mean?

For instance, i see a lot of parts for the metric fals but not much for the L1A1. Also, some parts dont appear to be interchangable with the
L1A1 sporter, why is that? Is that because of the inch/metric specifically or is there somthing about the sporters thumbhole stock (which i want to change) that makes it incompatable with the standard pistol grip and buttstock for the FAL.

I really want to change the furniture after i test fire it. I'd like to go with the metal handguards, bipod, scope (considering stanag) plastic butt stock and pistol grip.

And it's mags are interchangable with metric/standard? Hows that work?

Tips on adjusting the gas regulator would be great too. I know how to do it with a BHO but not without, is there a difference?

Thanks for your help and patience gang.

WA

 

[Mk VII]

Commonwealth drawing office and machine shop practice at that time was to dimension things in inches, so the metric FN drawings were redrawn and toleranced in inches, and threads were to the Unified form that briefly became a British & North America industry standard before being abandoned for metrication in the '60s.
Since most US specimens will have a new lower frame to make them importable this introduces a new set of interchangeability problems, depending on where it was made.
It turned out that the inch rifles will accept metric FN magazines as well, but that was just fortuious

 

[walking arsenal]

Wacky.

So today i test fired the thing. It worked great, didnt even blow up in my face.

However, i still cant figure the gas system adjustment thing out. It fired fine with the regulator wide open and turned it up to eight. Didnt really seem to matter. The ammo i was using is remington 150 grn psp.

Shouldnt it not work with the regulator wide open?

 

[DougW]

The Remington ammo is probably lower powered than mil surp. My L1A1 (that I built, all Inch pattern) shoots SA on 5 and Radway Green and Argentine on 4. Haven't tried the Aussie yet. Remington factory will run on 8 on my rifle too.

The key on the regulator is positive function. Mine stays on 5 normally. Dropping to 1 or 2 and the recoil imoulse increases dramitically, and the cases are thrown a long way. It will stop positive ejection on the SA at 6. I have drilled out my gas block and barrel, BTW.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

The ammo i was using is remington 150 grn psp.

Yeah, I bet it was 150 grain psp. Here's an ammo suggestion, GO BUY YOUR OWN AMMO!!!

Seriously, you not telling me you bought this is up there with you answering "Oh, just some girl I know from school" that summer afternoon lo, these many years ago. Ass...

 

[Mk VII]

My one in the service would work fine with the regulator wide open.
If it stops persistantly (usually when dirty), turn the regulator two numbers lower. Repeat as necessary.

 

[walking arsenal]

Phantom

Your just bitter thats all.

Besides you werent using it, it was getting old and stale anyway and it probably wouldn't have been any good by the time you got home.


It's not like i wont replace it, eventually.