Building an FAL From Parts kit

richbug

May 04, 2003 19:36

Is there anything I would need to know about building an FAL from a parts kit and an Imbel Upper reciever. I have a friend with the action wrench and he is willing to parkerise it for me... any thing else I would need? Anyone recomend a good muzzlebrake for one? Help would be appreciated.

thanks,

rich

Why does everyone feel the need to burn that much powder?

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  mark christian

  May 04, 2003 19:51

  Rich, this can be done at home but I suggest sending it out to an experienced gunsmith. The IMBEL receiver is a good one and I don't feel the need tonite to go into all of the pluses and minuses of the countless FAL type receivers on the market. You have an IMBEL on hand right now and it will work. At the minimum you'll need to have the barrel correctly head spaced and that will require the availability of a new breeching washer and locking shoulder. There are LOTS of locking shoulder sizes...do you have any on hand at this point? Be sure that the front sight is properly aligned as well. There are a couple of videos available that deal with building up these rifles from kits. While I have never actually seen one, they could be a source of useful information. The Smith brand muzzel brakes seem to have a wide following.
  
  Mark T. Christian

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  gunnut505

  May 04, 2003 19:51

  Check out tapco.com for the "building a FAL from a pile of out-of-spec parts" video series; then go get a dremel, a drill press, a small milling machine, some valium, and get on with it.
  
  If you know it all; you must have been listening.WEAR EAR PROTECTION!

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  richbug

  May 04, 2003 20:35

  Thanks gunnut, I like basket case guns... MC I don't have a reciever yet, The friend has an FFL and has built one for himself. Apparently he can get them for under $200 if he buys 3 or more. I was thinking of a G1 type parts kit because they seem so inexpensive for what you get. I have been told that in the construction of the gun one must use 6 US made components, correct? I figured with all the noise you all are making over the CETME's I could certainly build a rifle better if using non-century parts. I do have headspace gauges for .308, dremel, drill press, milling machine and lathe...
  
  Thanks
  rich
  
  Why does everyone feel the need to burn that much powder?

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  duster68

  May 05, 2003 15:29

  I'll wade into this discussion. I've had two FALs built for me during the last nine months, both on Imbel receivers. One was built on a DSA parts kit, the other TAPCO. Both were G1s. The former came parkarized. I had the barrel on the TAPCO kit shortened to 16.5 inches. I had an Entreprise "zero-climb" brake installed and it works great. I highly recommend it. Both kits were built by investmentgradefirearms.com. If you decide to have a professional put it together for you, give him a call. He was reasonable and easy to work with.
  
  Have Fun,
  
  T

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  dennisw

  May 07, 2003 21:06

  Here are two links that might be helpful but at least interesting.
  www.wecsog.org/ - www.fnfal.com/
  I was going yo build mine this winter but didn't get to it, maybe
  next winter.
  dennisw

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  p3skyking

  May 07, 2003 23:05

  This is not a daunting task at all. A nice assortment of locking shoulders comes in very handy. I have built about 5 STG's and 1 Israeli. The Israeli was the hardest, the STG's fell together. The video's have some utility, but I never saw one until AFTER building them. The Imbel receivers are good as I've had one running for almost 10 years with nary a problem.
  As long as you have a barrel vise and action wrench, about the only major tool you need is a Dremel. My kits had the barrel still installed in the stub of the receiver. There is a place you can cut the stub to relieve it and having your new receiver on hand to show you helps locate the exact point.
  Good luck!

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