FAL Q & A or FAQ's

[kajuntriton]

OK guys, I know I am asked quite a few questions from time to time about the Fusil Automatique Léger "Light Automatic Rifle" or FAL and I do my honest best to answer them. Some I know, some I have to look up and some I have to go to much more knowledgeable sources, BUT I do have some GREAT sources!
AKajun. MYTFAL, and Nomad also are some great sources for this topic, as well as others here. I know I enjoy it because I am learning more everyday about the History, Origin, and different contract requirements to FN from various countries, I have only begun to scratch the surface of the Metric version and variants of riFAL's and even less of the Inch versions and variants!
So let it start here and see where it goes It should be fun!

 

[GIJeaux]

What bayonet??????

OK. I have the G1 variant FAL and I am curious if anybody knows what, if any, bayonet the Germans used with this model?

When I bought the gun it came with a Turk double ring bayonet. Looks more like an after thought than anything else. If the Germans had one I would like to find one to go with the rifle.

Thanks in advance for any help you guys can give me.
Al

 

[kd5hlx]

Caliber : 7,62mm NATO (7.62x51)
Action: Gas operated, tilting breechblock, select-fire or semi-auto only
Length: 1100 mm (990 / 736 mm for "Para" model)
Barrel length: 533 mm (431 mm for "Para" model)
Weight: 4.45 kg empty (3.77 kg empty for "Para" models)
Magazine capacity: 20 rounds (30 rounds for heavy barreled SAW versions)
Rate of fire: 650-700 rounds per minute
The FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Leger - Light Automatic Rifle) is one of the most famous and widespread military rifle designs of the XX century. Developed by the Belgian Fabrique Nationale company, it was used by some 70 or even more countries, and was manufactured in at least 10 countries. At the present time the service days of the most FAL rifles are gone, but it is still used in some parts of the world. The history of the FAL began circa 1946, when FN began to develop a new assault rifle, chambered for German 7.92x33mm Kurz intermediate cartridge. The design team was lead by Dieudonne Saive, who at the same time worked at the battle rifle, chambered for "old time" full-power rifle cartridges, which latter became the SAFN-49. It is not thus surprising that both rifles are mechanically quite similar. In the late 1940s Belgians joined the Britain and selected a British .280 (7x43mm) intermediate cartridge for further development. In 1950 both Belgian FAL prototype and British EM-2 bullpup assault rifles were tested by US Army. The FAL prototype greatly impressed the Americans, but the idea of the intermediate cartridge was at that moment incomprehensible for them, and USA insisted on adoption of their full-power T65 cartridge as a NATO standard in 1953-1954. Preparing for this adoption, FN redesigned their rifle for the newest T65 / 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition, and first 7.62mm FALs were ready in 1953. Belgium was not the the first country to adopt their own rifle in 1956. Probably the first one was a Canada, adopting their slightly modified version of FAL as C1 in 1955. Canadians set to produce C1 and heavy barreled C2 squad automatic rifles at their own Canadian Arsenal factory. Britain followed the suit and adopted the FAL in 1957 as an L1A1 SLR (Self-loading rifle), often issued with 4X SUIT optical scopes. Britain also produced their own rifles at the RSAF Enfield and BSA factories. Austria adopted the FAL in 1958 as a Stg.58 and manufactured their rifles at Steyr arms factory. Various versions of FAL were also adopted by the Brazil, Turkey, Australia, Israel, South Africa, West Germany and many other countries. The success of the FAL could be even greater if Belgians would sell the license to W.Germany, which really liked to produce the FAL as a G1 rifle, but Belgians rejected the request. Germany purchased the license for Spanish CETME rifle and as a result of this H&K G3 rifle became probably the most notable rival to FAL.
During the time, FAL was built in numerous versions, with different furniture, sights, barrel lengths etc. There are, however, four basic configurations of FAL rifle: FAL 50.00, or simply FAL, with fixed buttstock and standard barrel; FAL 50.63 or FAL "Para", with folding skeleton butt and short barrel; FAL 50.64 with folding skeleton butt of "Para" model and standard length barrel; and the FAL 50.41, also known as FAL Hbar or FALO - a heavy barreled model which was intended primary as a light support weapon. There are also two major patterns of FALs around the globe: "metric" and "inch" FALs. As the names implied, these were built in countries with metric or imperial (inch) measure systems. These patterns are slightly different in some dimensions, and magazines of metric and inch pattern sometimes could not be interchanged. Most "inch" pattern FALs were made in British Commonwealth countries (UK, Canada, Australia) and have had folding cocking handles and were mostly limited to semi-automatic fire only (except for Hbar versions like C2). Most "metric" pattern rifles had non-folding cocking handles and may or may not have select-fire capability, but as with other light select-fire weapons chambered for 7.62x51mm NATO round, the controllability of the full auto fire is disappointing and shots spread in burst is extremely wide. But, regardless of this, the FAL is one of the best so known "battle rifles", reliable, comfortable and accurate. It is somewhat sensitive to fine sand and dust but otherwise is a great weapon.
The only countries still producing the FAL rifles until the present time are the Brazil and, most surprisingly, the USA. Brazil adopted the FAL under the name LAR and manufactured it at the IMBEL facilities. The USA produced a small amount of FALs as the T-48 at H&R factory in early 1950s for Army trials, but at the present time a number of private US Companies is manufacturing various versions of FAL rifles using either surplus parts kits or newly manufactured parts. Most of these rifles are limited to semi-auto only and are available for civilian users. Probably most notable US manufacturer of FAL modifications is the DS Arms company, which produced its rifles under the name of DSA-58.
The FN FAL is a gas operated, selective fire or semi-automatic only, magazine fed rifle. It uses short piston stroke gas system with gas piston located above the barrel and having its own return spring. After the shot is fired, the gas piston makes a quick tap to the bolt carrier and then returns back, and the rest of the reloading cycle is commenced by the inertia of bolt group. The gas system is fitted with gas regulator so it could be easily adjusted for various environment conditions, or cut off completely so rifle grenades could be safely launched from the barrel. The locking system uses bolt carrier with separate bolt that locks the barrel by tipping its rear part into the recess in the receiver floor. The receivers initially were machined from the forged steel blocks, and in 1973 FN began to manufacture investment cast receivers to decrease production costs. Many manufactures, however, stuck to the machined receivers. The trigger housing with pistol grip is hinged to the receiver behind the magazine well and could be swung down to open action for maintenance and disassembly. The recoil spring is housed in the butt of the rifle in fixed butt configurations or in the receiver cover in folding butt configurations, so the folding butt versions require a slightly different bolt carrier, receiver cover and a recoils spring. The cocking handle is located at the left side of the receiver and does not move when gun is fired. It could be folding or non-folding, depending on the country of origin. The safety - fire selector switch is located at the trigger housing, above the triggerguard. It can have two (on semi-automatic) or three (on select-fire rifles) positions. The firing mechanism is hammer fired and use single sear for both semi-automatic or full automatic fire. Barrel is equipped with long flash hider which also serves as a rifle grenade launcher. Design of flash hider may differs slightly from country to country. The furniture of the FAL also can differ - it could be made from wood, plastic of various colors or metal (folding buttstocks, metallic handguards on some models). Some models, such as Austrian Stg.58 or Brazilian LAR were fitted with light bipods as a standard. Almost all heavy barrel versions also were fitted with bipods of various design. Sights usually are of hooded post front and adjustable diopter rear types, but can differ in details and markings. Almost all FAL rifles are equipped with sling swivels and most of rifles are fitted with bayonet lugs.

 

[kd5hlx]

Like the Colt single-action Army revolver, the Luger and M1911A1 auto pistols, and the Thompson and MP40 submachine guns, the FN FAL is both an esthetic and functional classic. But, an assault rifle, in the strictest sense, it is not. It could have been.
By the middle of WWII, the Germans became convinced that the individual soldier rarely engaged targets beyond 400 meters and that the ability of his weapon to deliver short bursts of full-automatic fire was a desirable characteristic. To these specific ends they designed a cartridge of reduced ballistic values, the 7.92mm Kurz (short) and the world's first true assault rifle (Sturmgewehr), the MP 43/44 (StG 44/45). Picking up on this concept after 1945, the rest of the world raced headlong down the path of intermediate cartridges and lightweight, selective-fire assault rifles. The most notable early example is, without doubt, the 7.62x39mm ComBloc cartridge chambered in the AK-47.
By 1950, the British, following this trend, had developed the .280/30 cartridge and chambered it in the British EM2 "bullpup" rifle and the Belgian FN rifle before that year's light-rifle trials staged in the United States. Forever the world's power freaks, the United States had taken the position that "there have been no changes in combat tactics which would justify a reduction of rifle caliber and power." Thus, the U.S. entry was the "full-power" T65 cartridge, which merely shortened the .30-06 case, a modification made possible by propellant improvements.
In 1953, American power politics prevailed and the modified T65 cartridge was finally adopted as standard by NATO and designated 7.62x51mm. This was done without any consideration being given to the desirability of selective-fire capability in a light rifle - a specification which absolutely necessitates the use of an intermediate-power cartridge.
Thus, by 1953, the British had adopted an American cartridge they didn't want and a Belgian rifle to shoot it that was their second choice. Amid this background of intrigue and controversy, the era of the FAL began.
Using D.J. Saive's breech mechanism, which closely resembles that of the Soviet Tokarev semiautomatic rifle, the original FN FAL (Fusil Automatique Legere: Rifle, Automatic, Light) prototype was chambered in the German 7.92mm Kurz. After its redesign to 7.62mm NATO, by Saive and Ernest Vervier, the FAL soon became one of the greatest success stories in the history of modern military small arms. It has at one time or another been adopted and used by more than 90 nations, including numerous Latin American countries, the British Commonwealth and Israel. It has been manufactured by Argentina, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Great Britain, India, Israel and South Africa.
The FAL is gas-operated and fires from the closed-bolt position in both the semi- and full-auto modes. It has an operator-adjustable gas regulator which works on the "exhaust" principle. Under ideal conditions the major portion of the gas is passed through the regulator and out into the air. This system helps to reduce recoil.
If the correct procedure is followed, adjustment of the gas regulator is simple. Start with the gas-regulator sleeve fully screwed up over the gas port. Then unscrew the sleeve - with either the adjusting tool or the head of a cartridge - one complete turn so that the gas port is completely exposed. If you are lucky enough to own an older FAL, the number "7" on the sleeve will be in line with the axis of the rifle. (Unfortunately, these numbers have been eliminated from the new LARS, apparently as a cost-saving device.) This is the fully-open position of the gas regulator and when a round is fired short recoil will result (the hold-open will fail to engage).
With an empty magazine fitted to the rifle, screw the gas-regulator sleeve forward one click at a time, and fire one round only after each adjustment by inserting the cartridge into the chamber through the ejection port. When the hold-open finally engages, verify by firing several more rounds single-shot. As a safety margin, screw the gas regulator forward by two additional clicks and the exhaust regulation is set.
While it sounds confusing, in practice it is not. The gas regulator offers firing with the lowest possible recoil combined with the ability to direct more gas into the system under adverse conditions or in case of fouling.
The FAL's operating sequence can be briefly described as follows. After the projectile passes the gas port in the top of the barrel, some of the gas is diverted into the gas cylinder where it expands and drives the short-stroke piston back, which in turn strikes the face of the bolt carrier. This carrier moves independently to the rear about a 1/4 inch, during which time the chamber pressure has dropped to a safe level.
After this free movement, the carrier's unlocking cam moves under the bolt lug and raises the rear portion of the bolt out of the locking recess in the bottom of the receiver. The bolt and its carrier now travel back, compressing the recoil spring. The extractor withdraws the fired case, holding it on the bolt face until it hits the fixed ejector and is propelled out of the rifle through the ejection port.
The recoil spring drives the carrier and bolt forward, stripping the top cartridge out of the magazine and driving it into the chamber. The bolt stops and the carrier continues forward a short distance until its locking cam rides over the bolt, forcing and holding the bolt down into the recess at the bottom of the receiver.
A total of six different FALs were used in SOF's test and evaluation of this legendary weapon. Three of the rifles were semiautomatic variants of the so-called LAR (Light Automatic Rifle - the nomenclature used overseas by FN for the FAL since the early '70s and by Steyr since it began to distribute the rifle in this country in 1977),, which is available through the Steyr-Daimier-Puch of America Corporation (Dept. SOF, 85 Metro Way, Secaucus, NJ 07094). They were a folding-stock, long-barreled (21 inches) paratroop model (No. FN 50-61); a standard, or "match," version with a rigid stock (No. FN 50-00); and the LAR heavy-barrel model with bipod (No. FN 50-41). Three older FALs were used for comparison: a semiautomatic "G" series (so called because of the "G" prefixing their serial numbers), one of 1,836 rifles imported from 1959 until January 1963, when they were reclassified by the BATF as exempt machine guns; a full-auto, folding-stock, short-barreled (18 inches) Belgian army paratroop model (No. FN 50-63) from the Congo; and a very early (serial No. 409) full-auto FAL without a flash suppressor.
Before we scrutinize each rifle individually, let us examine the ways in which the new LARs differ from the older FALS. We can start with a piece of ghoulish trivia. The FAL receivers are all marked "F.A.L. cal. 7.62," while the LARs are stamped ".308 MATCH." It seems that it is now illegal for any citizen of Belgium to own a rifle chambered for any military caliber, such as 7.62mm NATO. However, ".308" (Winchester) is, of course, a sporting cartridge and thus legal! The cancer of bureaucratic mentality is a worldwide infection.
The original FAL receivers were forged and milled with a projected lifespan of 80,000 rounds. Blake Stevens (personal communication) has observed one of these receivers which cracked in the locking-lug area after 60,000 rounds. Stevens has also seen a Canadian army FAL receiver (manufactured by flame cutting on a pantograph machine) which cracked after 40,000 rounds.
In an effort to lower production costs on a rifle which has never been cheap, the LAR receivers are investment-cast and mill-finished, with a hoped-for life of 40,000 rounds. The new investment-cast receivers are missing several of the lightening cuts that were milled into the older forged receivers - again, an attempt to lower production costs.
The trigger mechanism of the FAL is ingenious and well-designed and has been much copied. It incorporates both the usual sear which is attached to the trigger by a pin and an "automatic safety sear" which is in front of the hammer and must be depressed for the hammer to rotate.
The semiautomatic "G" series FALs imported in the early '60s contained a number of modifications, including elimination of this automatic safety sear, to render them incapable of full-auto fire. The BATF decided this was insufficient and demanded that the cut milled in the receiver to accept the safety sear be eliminated on all FALs imported to the United States. The 1,836 rifles imported prior to this judgment were declared exempt from this requirement.
In 1973 when FN went to an investment-cast receiver, the company forgot to omit the safety-sear recess in the receivers manufactured for U.S. delivery. As a result, Steyr sold more than 2,000 rifles (including SOF's test weapons) which were no different from the original "G" series FALs that BATF had reclassified as machine guns. BATF has agreed to exempt the LARs also, provided they have not been modified. All future LARs imported into the United States must conform to BATF requirements, i.e., the receiver recess for the automatic-safety sear will have to be omitted. The entire scenario is more than a little bizarre, as the full-auto mode is not especially useful in a light rifle chambered for the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.
The take-down lock lever has been moved from its former position, directly to the rear of the upper receiver where its motion was often impeded by the rear sling swivel on the paratroop models, to a more convenient location under the upper receiver on the LAR.
The absence of markings on the gas-regulator sleeve has already been noted. Sad to say, the front-sight markings have also been removed from the LAR, leaving no frame of reference other than several small dots. In addition, the "A" (Automatic) and "Gr" (Grenade) markings have been eliminated from the gas plug. However, the "A" side of the gas plug is still notched for identification. These economy measures are of small consequence, but irritating.
The trigger pulls on all three of the LARs were heavier, exhibited excessive drag, and were nowhere near as crisp in let-off as those of the earlier FALs. Unfortunately, there is little even the most competent of gunsmiths can do to permanently correct this in a FAL. An obsession for match-quality triggers in military service rifles is peculiarly American, however.
The fixed rear sight of the early paratroop FAL has been replaced by a two-position (150 and 250 meters) flip sight. The sight's protective ears have been enlarged as well.
The LAR's synthetic butt stock is a considerable improvement over the old wooden stocks. More impact-resistant than wood, it is capped by a substantial rubber pad which significantly reduces felt recoil.
All of the FAL/LARs had a baked-enamel exterior finish: the early FALs glossy black, the Congo FAL an odd two-tone gray and black, and the LARs matte black.
The tubular aluminum folding stock on the LAR "PARA" model has a newly added complexity. To open or close, the spring-loaded stock must be pressed downward as before, but now an additional spring-loaded catch must be simultaneously moved to the left - a difficult and confusing procedure, especially in combat. The folding stocks on the Galil and AK-74S are much easier to open or close quickly under stress.
The front lug of the FN FAL magazine locks up into the receiver when the magazine is properly inserted front end first. This front lug has been merely punched out of the sheet metal of the magazine body. A weak feature which has caused many a malfunction, this front lug should be inspected periodically. The Canadians solved this problem by installing a separate beefed-up front lug. Unhappily, while all other FAL magazines can be used in the Canadian FALS, their improved magazine can be used in no other. A 30-round British Bren Conversion (L4A2) magazine was employed during the tests. It worked well but is quite heavy.
The very early full-auto test FAL was notable by the absence of a flash suppressor. It was intended for use with IMR-type powders, which in general do not produce as much flash as the more common ball propellants. This rifle's unusual bayonet has two prongs attached to the hilt, which, together with the blade itself, serve as a flash suppressor.
Both the full-auto Congo paratroop FAL and the "PARA" LAR had combination flash-hider/grenade launchers. They were equipped with a tubular-handle, convex-bladed bayonet that is useless for anything except sticking people. Since this is not a bayonet's primary function in the field, it will promptly be discarded by the average grunt. The flash suppressor on the "G" series FAL and the "match" FAL was long and slender and not designed for grenade launching. It only further adds to the FAL's already almost-excessive length - a problem in heavy brush and house-clearing.
The LAR Heavy Barrel has its own flash suppressor which also aids in reducing muzzle climb, at the expense of increased side blast. As imported into the United States, in semiautomatic only, the LAR HB serves no discernible purpose. Complete with its bipod and chrome-lined heavy barrel, it weighs in at over 13 pounds. Far too heavy to fire effectively off-hand, its weight and bulk would be justified only if it were capable of firing in the full-auto mode.
The FAL/LAR is a comfortable rifle to shoot and it handles well. The adjustable gas system, placement of the gas cylinder above the barrel, and alignment of the stock with the barrel axis all reduce the tendency of the weapon to climb in rapid semiauto fire. Little difference in felt recoil was noted between the 18 and 21-inch barrels of the two folding stock paratroop models. Well-built, rugged, handsomely finished for a military rifle, and adequately reliable except under the most severe sand and dust conditions, the FAL/LAR's reputation is largely well deserved.
Although the rear sight tends to wobble and must often be shimmed (a piece of paper match will do nicely), and many will find the rear peep too close to the eye (four inches closer than the rear sight of the M1A/M14), the FAL is capable of splendid accuracy. I managed one three-shot group fired from the rigid-stocked LAR off the light bipod of 1/2-minute of angle (MOA) at 100 meters.
Two scopes were tested. The first was a 4x Hensoldt as used on the early West German army (Bundeswehr) FAL (G1). The G1 rifle, as used by the Austrians (StG 58) and Dutch, featured a stamped, sheet-metal handguard, a bipod and a removable flash-hider/grenade launcher. The other scope tested was the 4x unit currently marketed by Steyr for the LARs. Marked "FN," it is also probably manufactured by Hensoldt. Both scopes are mounted on the sheet-metal FAL receiver cover and both failed to hold zero miserably. Bench-rest groups fired with these scopes exhibited as much as 12 inches in vertical dispersion at 100 meters. This is unacceptable. The fault lies not in the optics, but in the use of the sheet-metal receiver cover as a mount. The thin FAL receiver cover simply bends and twists too much during the firing sequence. To date, only Jim Leatherwood has presented a satisfactory alternative - a rigid mount that completely replaces the original receiver cover (see "Leatherwood Scopes," SOF, May '82).
Firing an FAL in the full-auto mode - on those versions possessing this feature - is best restricted to only the most experienced operators in two to three-round bursts at extremely short distances. At ranges of 200 meters or more, employing an unsupported kneeling or sitting position, it can be anticipated that the second and third rounds in the burst will hit at least 10 meters above and to the right of the first shot. Full-auto fire offhand with an 8- to 10-pound rifle in caliber 7.62mm NATO is strictly an emergency procedure. In fact, many, if not most, of the nations which adopted the FAL have removed the selective-fire option entirely.
Alas, the twilight of the FAL is upon us. Amid the grumbling, breast-beating and teeth-gnashing of those who feel the infantry is inadequately armed with anything less than a 1,000-yard .30-caliber cartridge, most former FAL users are moving to the new generation of true assault rifles in 5.56mm NATO. The Israelis and South Africans (both with a continuity of battle experience) have gone to the Galil, the Austrians to the Steyr AUG, the Belgians themselves to their new FNC carbine, the Canadians to either the FNC, or, even more likely, the M16A2, and the British to their dusted-off "bullpup," while the Australians and West Germans are still scrambling. Although its death will be many years in coming, anyone who wants an FAL should buy a LAR now. The FN FAL, one of the 20th-century's grandest dogs of war, will be remembered fondly and mourned mightily by all those who used it in the flame and sweat of battle.
Originally published in the June 1982 edition of Soldier of Fortune magazin

 

[MyTFAL]

You are a cut and paste ARTIST!

 

[kd5hlx]

NO WAY! I typed that all by myself LOL. You dang right . Good info though got some more too.

 

[MyTFAL]

It was a good read I enjoyed it.

 

[kd5hlx]

one more
Another great source of information is the FAL Files web site: http://www.fnfal.com Check it out!
COLLECTIBILITY :
The best collectibility/investment value in a FAL is in
either in an original Belgian made FN/FAL (the earlier the
better), or a true L1A1 built in a Commonwealth country on an
original Commonwealth inch pattern receiver. (Such as the
Joe Poyer semi-auto Australian L1A1s that were imported in the
late 1980s.) In the eyes of serious collectors, parts guns--
no matter how nice they are--don't count. If it wasn't actually
BUILT in a Commonwealth arsenal on a Commonwealth receiver,
its just another parts gun. The only exception would be an L1A1
parts gun using a commonwealth parts set built on one of the scarce "Lithgow L1A1A"
receivers brought in by "Eden Imports", just before the 1989 ban. Less than 600 of
these receivers were imported. One of these receivers is currently worth more than $1,800,
regardless of the configuration in which it was assembled. (Just due to the scarcity of the receivers.)

Joe Poyer kindly e-mailed me the following details on his now
famous small group of Australian L1A1As:
"The deal was made directly with and the brand new rifles were shipped directly from the Small Arms Facility at Lithgow NSW between Sept 1987 and mid 1989 when the Federal ban on "assault rifles" went into effect. A total of 158 rifles were imported and serial numbers range from SAF83005 (which I kept) to SAF830166. S/N's 830039 and 830103 were never received and 830041 was not sold. The original asking price (Adv. in Guns & Ammo) was $1550.00 They can be identified by my address: 'Joe Poyer's Antique Firearms, 380 S. Tustin Avenue, Orange CA 92669' on the receiver. The stocks were Australian coachwood and were finished with a clear lacquer finish rather than the cresote treatment military stocks received."
From a practical standpoint, the profusion of parts guns and "Century" sporters generally function fine, have decent accuracy, and are relatively inexpensive. However, they can hardly be considered investment pieces. It is noteworthy that there is starting to be marginal collectibility in the pre-ban Argentine, Brazilian (Springfield Armory SAR-48s/4800s), STG-58s, and Israeli FALs. Rifles that were imported into the U.S. before the thumbhole stock and flash-hider restriction stupidity began are already considerably more valuable than the later emasculated rifles. Since the supply of the earlier style rifles is essentially frozen, this price spread is expected to increase in the future.
MAGAZINES:
Telling "inch" from "metric":
Metric magazines have a small front locking lug (1/4 inch wide) that is merely punched out of the body of the magazine. Metric magazines also have a slim floorplate that is NOT wider than the body of the magazine. In contrast, inch pattern (British Commonwealth) magazines have a relatively large and beefy (1/2 inch wide) front locking lug that is brazed onto the front of the magazine. They can also be distinguished by their floorplates, which are wider than the magazine body, and have a "button" release on the bottom.
Metric magazine are fairly hard to tell apart, since nearly all were made on Belgian (FN) made tooling. Most are painted in black enamel. Here are some distinguishing characteristics:
Original Belgian magazines have black enamel painted steel bodies and brightly blued followers. They are generally wrapped in clear plastic five packs. These are generally considered the most desirable metric magazines.
Some West German (G1) metric magazines were made of aluminum. There are a couple of follower design variations, and several generational differences in anodizing methods. Like most anodized gun parts, these magazines show wear very quickly. However, they are the lightest-weight FAL magazines available.
Argentine and Brazilian metric magazines look just like Belgian magazines, except that they have zinc phosphate coated followers.
Special note of clarification on Phosphate coatings and "Parkerizing:
"Parkerizing" is like "Xerox" or "Frigidaire"--it is a trade name. The process of phosphating metal is commonly called "Parkerizing" because the Parker family
designed and owns the patent (now Parker-Am-Chem). Zinc phosphate is a type of
phosphate that is usually gray. Manganese Phosphate is usually black. Both processes (as well as iron phosphate and others) can be purchased under the "Parkerizing" name or under or the brands like Keykote from Allied Kelite.
Austrian metric magazines are entirely zinc phosphate coated. They are currently available from D.S. Arms.
Most Israeli made magazines look just like Argentine of Brazilian magazines (black enamel painted bodies and gray followers) except that they have two Hebrew characters in an oval cartouche stamped in the side of the magazine, near the bottom. Some Israeli FN/FAL magazines are gray parkerized. Israeli magazines are generally found wrapped in brown waxed paper tied up in twine. They are packed either four or five to a bundle.
Inch pattern magazines are even more difficult to tell apart. When you buy unmarked inch magazines, they are probably either Australian or Canadian. Inch magazines stamped with part numbers, production years, and/or a "broad arrow" proof mark are generally British.
To clear up the perennial confusion on inch versus metric magazines: If your rifle is an *early* Century International ("CAI") Sporter, then it can accept only METRIC magazines, not inch pattern. The early Century Sporters were basically an inch pattern parts kit built on a metric receiver--not a C1A1 inch pattern receiver. The latest CAI receivers have an "inch" magazine cut and the cut for the side-folding cocking handle, as well as the grooves
for the legs on the rear of the dust-cover.
Austrian Stg-58 rifles accept metric magazines, only
Belgian FN rifles accept metric magazines, only
Israeli FN rifles accept metric magazines, only
Brazilian FN (SAR-48/SAR-4800) rifles accept metric magazines, only
Argentine FN (FM-LSR) rifles take metric magazines, only
Australian L1A1 rifles will accept inch OR metric magazines
British L1A1 rifles will accept inch OR metric magazines
Canadian C1A1 rifles will accept inch OR metric magazines
Indian ("RFI -Ishapore") 1A1 rifles will accept inch OR metric magazines
(Note the exception to the above listing is that even though the receivers for early production Century L1A1 Sporters are made in Canada, they were inch L1A1 kits built on METRIC receivers, and hence accept only metric magazines. The later CAI Sporters will accept either metric or inch magazines.)
The general rule is that inch pattern receivers can accept EITHER inch OR metric
magazines. However, when they are used in an inch gun, metric magazines do wobble a bit. This is because the front locking lug doesn't engage. They normally work fine, however.
PARTING UP A FN/FAL OR L1A1:
Putting together L1A1s from parts kits seems to have been the national sport fronm around 1993 to 2004. Sadly, the supply of parts kits has dried up. I see dozens of "parts" guns at major gun shows. Most were built using British inch pattern parts kits assembled on metric receivers. Most recently, Entreprise Arms inch receivers have become predominant. Metric parts kits were once relatively scarce, and British surplus inch pattern parts kits with Marnyl pebble grain plastic stock furniture were fairly common. In just the past couple of years, this situation has reversed! There are still a few metric kits on te market but the Inch kits have completely dried dried up. However, if you look around at gun shows you can still find British surplus L1A1 parts kits for under $400. (I should have bought 50 or more of them when there was a glut back in 1994, and they dipped down to $129 per kit! Oh well, 20/20 hindsight...) Entreprise Arms has made large numbers of receivers, most of them inch pattern.
Their phone # is (818) 962-8712. Note: There have been some complaints by gunsmiths about some batches of the Entreprise receivers not meeting dimensional specs, so beware.
The biggest supplier of metric receivers (and barreled metric receivers) in the U.S. is D.S. Arms. They are currently best known for their rifles made with Austrian military surplus STG-58 parts kits. Similar rifles are made by Arizona Response Systems. Both of these manufacturers do excellent work with these kits. One interesting note: Because these two makers include a specified number of U.S. made parts, they are not considered "imported" rifles per ATF rulings. Therefore they can legally assemble and sell them with traditional pistol-grip style stocks rather than with the bogus-looking thumbhole stocks.
Important caveat!!!: Unless you have access to the key U.S.-made parts, if you part up your own FAL, L1A1, or STG-58 on a new receiver using the original (pistol grip) stock, you might be considered in violation of some bureaucratic federal regulation. So be safe! If you have an STG-58, L1A1, or FAL kit, send it to DSA or ARS for assembly. Not only wil they do the headspacing correctly, but they will also use the U.S. made parts to keep you legal.
The phone # for D.S. Arms is (708) 223-4770. Or see: http://www.dsarms.com/ This firm is owned by Dave Selvaggio. I've done business with Dave for many years. He very reputable, his merchandise is top notch, and his prices are reasonable. The web address for Arizona Response Systems is http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/
Note: I have no financial interest in either of these firms. My recommendations are based solely on my satisfaction as a customer.
There are only two minor problems with building up a L1A1 (or C1 series) on a metric receiver. The first is that you have to notch the folding charging handle (to match the metric receiver configuration), or if you want to be crude, just grind the inside of it flat (like Century did on its early Sporters.). The second problem is that you will be limited to using only metric magazines. BTW, if you use a metric receiver and have any inch pattern magazines, they can be converted to metric configuration with a bit of judicious grinding to
the front locking lug. However, due to their current scarcity and higher price, (not to mention the fact that you would be ruining the eventual collectibility of original Commonwealth magazines), you are better off swapping your inch magazines at a gun show for metric magazines. You can generally swap them straight across or even at a 3 for 2 ratio, depending on how hungry a dealer is for inch magazines.
Barreling and headspacing are the only difficult tasks in parting up a FN/FAL or L1A1. Make sure the barreling and headspacing is done by someone who has worked with FALs before! It is tricky, since on L1A1s there are two different parts that need be included, and they come in a range of dimensions: breeching rings (a washer with an I.D. the same as your barrel thread's O.D.-this is used to get the front sight to "index" at the 12-o-clock position), and locking shoulders (the little oval shaped block that crosses the receiver). BTW, there is no equivalent to a breeching ring with a metric parts kit. On metric guns there are only locking shoulders. The metric guns have a longer shoulder, and the shoulder must be machined to set proper index.
If you are uncertain of your skills and/or don't have a full set of dimensional parts to choose from and the proper gauges, get qualified help!
One gunsmith that I can highly recommend is to T. Mark Graham of Arizona Response Systems. His web page at: http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/ You might also seek recommendations from D.S. Arms.
I also highly recommend Century Gun Works in Minden, Nevada. (Not to be confused with Century Arms!) See:www.CenturyGunWorks.net

Kevin Adams from New Zealand contributed the following on L1A1 headspacing:
The breeching washers Numbered 1 - 8 are used in the fitting of the
barrel to the receiver only, to ensure that the barrel is aligned
correctly when it is tightened up on the fixture (thus the front sight
isn't askew).
Regarding the "Shoulder, Locking" there are 60 different sizes in
four ranges : 1 - 15
1.1 - 15.1
1.2 - 15.2
1.3 - 15.3
The above sizes are also shown in some publications in this format:
Shoulder, Locking sizes 1 - 15
1/1 - 15/1
1/2 - 15/2
1/3 - 15/3
The correct fixture (workshop machine)for replacing the Shoulder,
Locking is:
The Fixture, Assembly Shoulder Locking Rifle 7.62 M.M. L1 A1 and
Automatic L2 A1 (4933-66-015-2852)
The gauging and the working out of the correct range to use is an in-depth
process, and should only be done by someone with experience
in this area. I also suggest that they use the correct locking shoulder
gauges: GAUGE, Plug Taper Cylindrical, Rifles 7.62 M.M. No 1 and GAUGE,
Plug Taper Cylindrical, Rifles 7.62 M.M. No 2.
The correct instructions for carrying out this procedure are contained
in the Australian Small Arms Factory (SAF), Technical Brochure Supplement.
Thanks for that info, Kevin!
In terms of spare "breakage" parts for an L1A1, it is currently far more cost effective to get a complete spare parts set (everything except the receiver), than to buy parts separately. In the late 1980s--before the brief glut of Commonwealth parts kits--I used to pay $150 just for a set of Maranyl L1A1 stock furniture. Nowadays, if you look enough, for around $300 you can buy a complete spare parts set! (Everything except the receiver.) Needless to say, the full parts set will leave you prepared for any eventual parts breakage, et cetera.
Even if you don't foresee the need for all those spares and just want to keep a few critical items such as a firing pin and stock furniture, you might be able to sell off all or part of the remaining parts from the set at a gun show, to recoup much of your investment.
TELESCOPIC SIGHTS AND MOUNTS:
The best scope mount for putting a traditional scope on a FAL or L1A1 is the A.R.M.S. scope mount. My personal favorite set-up is to use a Trijicon Trophy Point 4x and an A.R.M.S mount. This is like the best of both worlds. It has tritium gas lit reticle like a Trilux, but has optics that are better suited to "reach out and touch someone" work. The A.R.M.S. mount is a replacement top cover with a Weaver rail. (It takes standard Weaver style rings.) It is much more trim and compact than its competitors (such as the B-Square
monstrosity), and has excellent return to zero when it is taken on and off the rifle. A.R.M.S. even makes a version with a return spring guide for the paratrooper FAL.
The following on Trilux "SUIT" sights is courtesy of David Young of New Zealand:
With SUIT sights, the correct point of aim is dead center.
The ranges at each of the positions for the cam lever are as follows:
The lever should be set back for 300 yards, and forward for 600 yards.
The gun should be sighted for 300 yards. You can do this by shooting at
25 or 100 yards. The (short) instruction manual that came with these
sights has all the specifications for this.
On original unaltered SUIT sights, there is a small handle that you can rotate to expose the tritium. Unfortunately, most of the SUIT sights in the U.S. have had their tritium vials removed to meet some brainless N.R.C. radioactive material import restriction. The spot where the vial went is filled with a black plastic plug. You can "reanimate" a Trilux that is sans its tritium vial by using one of the battery powered red LED units made by MJS International. (They were formerly sold by Entreprise Arms, but they no longer stock them.) The earliest ones were too bright. The newer ones reportedly work much better. MJS sells them for $50 postpaid to U.S. addresses. Contact:
MJS, Intl.
Phone: (760) 591-1709
E-mail: msudic@flash.net

 

[kajuntriton]

It was a good read I enjoyed it.

+10 here! It was some great reading and very informative, especially the INCH version portions, I have not even started digging into the inch version rifles.
I probably won't for my one personal reason but I do enjoy learning the history and information about them!

THANKS! KD5

KT

 

[G_FAL]

The G1 never had a bayonet issued by the Germans.
The Turks made the cobbled up versions after the G1's were sold off to them.
There are BFAs , Grenade Launchers , as well as the flash hiders issued for them.
Tapco made some threaded adapters , and an AK74 type brake as well.

 

[GIJeaux]

The G1 never had a bayonet issued by the Germans.
The Turks made the cobbled up versions after the G1's were sold off to them.
There are BFAs , Grenade Launchers , as well as the flash hiders issued for them.
Tapco made some threaded adapters , and an AK74 type brake as well.

Thank you G_FAL. Problem solved. Now I can stop looking.

Al