Favorite FAL Variant

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by Conagher, Aug 6, 2005.


  1. Halffast

    Halffast Wannabe Hack Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    You just tell me when and where, E.L.
     
  2. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Will do. We have a baby coming end of March/1st of Feb., but other than that I don't have much planned. We will have to get together and plan something.
     
  3. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I had an Enterprise FN that I didn't shoot very often and I eventually traded it for something else. I bought a STG58 kit a while back at a gunshow for $100.00 and decided I would do a build for knock-around rifle. I found a type ll DSA receiver at Knob Creek for $400.00. I bought a Penguin stock and pistol grip, a trigger, hammer, and sear, a charging lever, a bolt carrier cover, and a magazine release from Gunthings.com for around $130.00 to fill the USA manufactured parts thing then bought head-spacing go and no-go gauges and the proper locking shoulder pin. A barrel-receiver wrench to put it all together and I carried it out to play with. I like it enough that I have now taken it back down and am in the final process of reparkerizing it to make it look as good as it shoots. When I get it put back together, I'll post a before and after picture.
     
  4. NVBeav

    NVBeav Monkey+++

    SeaCowboy --
    What was up with the Entreprise FAL? I saw they have various styles on their website pretty close to my price range, so I was thinking about getting one.

    Thanks for the info --
     
  5. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    the Entreprise FAL either shoots or dont, gamble but if you can tweak it some it will run, the non runners just need a tiny bit of finish work to run.
     
  6. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    Quigley pretty much nailed it, turned out that mine was a minor head-space problem and not being real familiar with the gas adjustment. I shot it few days and decided I just didn't like the rifle enough to turn down a trade for a Garand but I really like this STG58, I think mostly because by building it, I gained a familiarity and understanding of the rifle that I didn't have before.
     
  7. NVBeav

    NVBeav Monkey+++

    That's some good info -- thank you Quigley and Seacowboy. It kind of reinforces the idea of getting work done on it after saving up...
     
  8. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    they are easy to work on, dont pay someone unless you think you cant do it.If you want i can help you through it on line here
     
  9. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    Are we headed for a FAL build party now?[dunno]
     
  10. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    I'll be glad to host one. I have the reviever wrenches, the head-space gauges, pin punches, Gun-plumber's Guide to FAl and L1A1 Home Gunsmithing, a sand-blasting cabinet, and a parkerizing tank, chemicals, and heater. I even figured out how to stuff 10 pounds of **** back into a five pound sack when I went to stuff that recoil spring back into the stock! (use a cleaning rod through the keeper as a guide).:sneaky:
    I'll build another one soon; this is fun.
     
  11. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    Sounds great to me, Yea Sea I have the tool for that, Tapco sells them and front sight tool too, they work graet.
     
  12. NVBeav

    NVBeav Monkey+++

    My first FAL is going to be pre-assembled and in working order; later on, I'll have to take y'all up on the FAL Build Party (hope you're not too far away:^)

    That sounds like a great skill to acquire, plus, it goes together with being able to repair what you have and, thus, survive!
     
  13. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    I'm thinking Mobile is a bit far off the beaten track for most. Sea, what say you take pix of every step of the way, and post 'em for the folks that can't get there? You've a pretty good jump on the project already, essentially completed, but since you are going to dissassemble it for parking anyway --. The rest of us have to get things together, starting with a good kit. Any suggestions on a starting point?
     
  14. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    The starting point is to put in an order for a receiver because they always seem to be out of them and at least three months before they are going to make another run. DSA never seems to have receivers in stock nor does Enterprise. I'll post some links to some decent parts kits but they seem to be getting a little pricey.
    Enterprise has the best deal on Imbel (Brazilian) parts kits starting at $149.00 http://www.entreprise.com/, they also make receivers. You can get a parts kit from these guys that has already been refinished for a bit more money. I just ordered another of their parts kits.
    http://gunthings.com has all the tools, books, and U.S. compliant parts for a good price and these guys will go out of their way to answer questions and help you out. They also ship next day and it's free.
    http://dsarms.com has what I believe to be the best receiver available but just as many people say the same about Enterprise and Enterprise runs around $100.00 cheaper.
     
  15. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    Here are my two most recent builds, the lower one I just finished tonight and haven't fired it yet.
    Still have to get another locking shoulder pin for it. It's an Imbel built on an Enterprise receiver.
    The ST58 pic is one I had on file and not my personal one, mine looks better but I liked the absence of a background in this photo better.
    stg58_2. DSCN0594.JPG
     
  16. gillman7

    gillman7 Monkey+++

    OK, I do not know very much about FALs, so help educate me please. I have looked at them at shows and on line, but do not know the difference between Type 1 and Type 3 recievers.

    Is it worth the extra money to get the excellent kit over the very good grade kit?

    The only time that you would need to have the US compliant parts if for an imported surplus rifle, correct?
     
  17. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    The compliant parts is a result of an ammendment to a bill passed in 89. You have to have 7 US manufactured parts on any imported rifle, even a build. The excellent parts kits were re-parkerized and look new. That justifies the costs. There is no significant difference in the over-all quality, just looks. The difference in Type l,ll, and lll are just cosmetic. The type l is the original configuration, the type ll was developed with a couple of lightening cuts and is sometimes advertise as a tiny bit stronger; personally, it wouldn't make any difference to me, just take first available. Yous can see the slight difference in appearance on DSArms.com or Enterprisearms.com but nothing functionally is different.
     
  18. Halffast

    Halffast Wannabe Hack Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I have a question that those of you who have built FAL's may be able to help me with.

    My first FAL was a Century L1A1 with the threads cut off of the barrel. The gun functions flawlessly. If you let the barrel cool between shots, it will shoot a very decent group. However, if you don't let it cool, it strings the shots higher as it heats up. Up to 6 or 8 inches above the cold point of impact at 100 yards.

    Would a new barrel help this or is it a problem somewhere else? I really like the rifle and would be happy with groups in the 3 inch range. Can I fix it for a reasonable amount of money? I realize that it may be hard diagnose over the net, but I would like some opinions.

    Thanks,

    David
     
  19. Quigley_Sharps

    Quigley_Sharps The Badministrator Administrator Founding Member

    open sights?
     
  20. Halffast

    Halffast Wannabe Hack Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    No, Quig, it has a scope on it.

    D
     
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7