Why is this here (in a FAL receiver)?

[kotengu]

I've been getting ready to add sand cuts to my Imbel (metric) FAL receiver, and through many people's generosity I've seen many pics of original L1A1 receivers lately. Something caught my eye, though - an extra "hole" in the L1A1 that does not appear in my Imbels. It looks familiar, like I may have seen it in another US made receiver (I've had a few pass through my hands), but I can't figure out what purpose it serves. It doesn't seem to be a through cut (from either side), and for that matter I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how they machined it in there.......

What is this, and what does it do???????

 

[wintermute76]

can't help you on that one, have you tried on Falfiles.com?

Been thinking of adding sand cuts on my STG build myself.

 

[kotengu]

Thought I'd post a follow-up - on the FAL Files we've decided it's either to help distribute stresses (ie: a crack stopper) or simply a cut to help in the manufacturing process, although that wouldn't explain why it's on some receivers and not on others.

As an aside - I finished the sand cuts in my Imbel today. Take a look!

 

[Jim K]

Sure it does not go through the left side of the receiver? It looks to me like a hole for a bolt hold-open.

Jim

 

[kotengu]

Sorry - I did find out it DOES go through, it's just covered by the cocking handle (hole is at the end of the CH slot). What's stranges is that it seems to be on the OEM receivers (L1A1, C1A1, FN, Izzy, Ishapore), but NOT the Imbel receivers. I'm not sure about the US made ones yet......

 

[wintermute76]

Looks good Kotengu.

I"ll look at the Coonan receiver I used on my STG, don't remember seeing anything like that tho.


Jim, the bolt hold open on the FAL comes up from the bottom of the action, in the pic , it'd be just in front of the ejector.

 

[Jim K]

Hi, wintermute76,

Yes, I know where the normal bolt hold-open is on the FAL, so I was only throwing out an idea. But the hole is exactly where the charging handle slot ends. It could be a stress distributor, but there should not be a lot of stress at that point, since the FAL charging handle does not reciprocate.

In discussing the FAL it is good to remember that it was a commercial military rifle, and FN had about as many options and versions as there were customers. That hole may have been to allow easier removal of the charging handle, for some option or other that was never used, or something that had to do with selective fire.

Jim