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Posted: 4/15/2024 11:44:40 AM EDT
For years, I managed to not be a man among men, and didn’t own a FAL. I have recently remedied that situation.
A friend of a friend was downsizing, so I relieved him of a gear-logo para and a handful of Steyr mags. I have not yet had the chance to shoot the thing yet- I’ve just taken it apart and put it back together a few times. My only (small) gripe is that it’s a 13” barrel with a pinned and welded long flash hider. I am considering going to an 18” chrome lined barrel from DSA. |
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Posted: 11/17/2011 11:28:07 AM EDT
[#1]
Topic Moved
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Posted: 4/15/2024 12:03:24 PM EDT
[#2]
I am presuming that DSA’s barrels are good to go…
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Posted: 4/15/2024 3:10:27 PM EDT
[#3]
Congrats!
The only DSA barrels that I remember had problems were the Israeli copies. 18" for the FAL is just perfect, fixed stock or Para. |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 3:28:38 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: 18" for the FAL is just perfect, fixed stock or Para. Yup. Changing barrels on a FAL is far from trivial however. |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 3:54:18 PM EDT
[Last Edit: TxRabbitBane]
[#5]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Gamma762: Yup. Changing barrels on a FAL is far from trivial however. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Gamma762: Originally Posted By lew: 18" for the FAL is just perfect, fixed stock or Para. Yup. Changing barrels on a FAL is far from trivial however. Theoretically, I have an expert on call. An expert who is willing to work for alcohol. |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 4:14:10 PM EDT
[#6]
Congrats.
SBR it and un-pin the flash suppressor.  |
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ISR
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Posted: 4/15/2024 4:45:47 PM EDT
[#7]
21 inch barrel as God intended.
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Posted: 4/15/2024 5:22:40 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Gamma762]
[#8]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Jack19: 21 inch barrel as God intended. Not much performance loss and a noticeable improvement in handling with a Para/18 size vs 21. The FN Para length is 17something, 17 5/8 or something like that. The "Bush Rifle" configuration of a Para barrel with a fixed stock is a slick handling rifle. |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 6:43:09 PM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Jack19: 21 inch barrel as God intended. I thought (something close to) 18” was the correct config for a para… |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 7:22:39 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I thought (something close to) 18” was the correct config for a para… Paras had multiple barrel lengths. 17.3" was the most common, but a lot-especially earlier examples- were 21". Mine's a 21" but that's only because it's a Rhodesian-capture clone, and all the known examples had 21" barrels. |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 8:47:42 PM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: Paras had multiple barrel lengths. 17.3" was the most common, but a lot-especially earlier examples- were 21". Mine's a 21" but that's only because it's a Rhodesian-capture clone, and all the known examples had 21" barrels. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I thought (something close to) 18” was the correct config for a para… Paras had multiple barrel lengths. 17.3" was the most common, but a lot-especially earlier examples- were 21". Mine's a 21" but that's only because it's a Rhodesian-capture clone, and all the known examples had 21" barrels. I claim almost total ignorance. |
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Posted: 4/15/2024 9:45:05 PM EDT
[#12]
Doesn't DSA offer a 16"?
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Posted: 4/15/2024 10:34:08 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I claim almost total ignorance. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I claim almost total ignorance. Originally Posted By backbencher: Doesn't DSA offer a 16"? |
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ITA
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Posted: 4/16/2024 12:52:54 AM EDT
[#14]
Congrats OP…
…but where’re the pics?? 
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Posted: 4/16/2024 9:47:06 AM EDT
[#15]
You will like the 18" barrel if you decide to do that.
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Posted: 4/16/2024 10:10:04 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By backbencher: Doesn't DSA offer a 16"? |
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USA
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Posted: 4/16/2024 4:04:20 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TxRabbitBane: Theoretically, I have an expert on call. An expert who is willing to work for alcohol. Check your PM's |
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Posted: 4/16/2024 6:40:23 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Frens: Congrats OP… …but where’re the pics?? 
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Posted: 4/16/2024 7:27:19 PM EDT
[#19]
Grenade launcher sight gas plug on a short handguard.... that's different.
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Posted: 4/16/2024 7:37:07 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Gamma762: Grenade launcher sight gas plug on a short handguard.... that's different. Hey, it’s as-is the way I got it… |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 1:58:39 AM EDT
[Last Edit: bigstick61]
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Gamma762: Grenade launcher sight gas plug on a short handguard.... that's different. It's basically unusable on that gun. Entirely pointless. Never was a fan of the long flash suppressor on a shorter barrel, either. If needed to make length pinned and welded, might as well just go with something more conventional, like a longer barrel with a combo device pinned and welded to length or an outright 16" barrel. Definitely an odd configuration. A 17-18" barrel with combo device and full length gas system will definitely make for a better gun, IMO. Te gas plug will also be somewhat usable if the OP has practice grenades to launch. |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 7:44:36 AM EDT
[Last Edit: TxRabbitBane]
[#22]
No interest in launching grenades, but (as I said) I’d love to go to an 18” barrel. I suspect I can find a conventional gas plug. My jury is still out on the railed topcover.
I do want to shoot it as-is, though… for research purposes… |
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MI, USA
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Posted: 4/17/2024 10:34:07 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: Congrats! The only DSA barrels that I remember had problems were the Israeli copies. 18" for the FAL is just perfect, fixed stock or Para. What were the problems with the DSA Israeli barrels? Im about to send one with my Izzy kit to ARS. |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 3:23:35 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CJSCARH: What were the problems with the DSA Israeli barrels? Im about to send one with my Izzy kit to ARS. Mark at ARS will fill you in, but I believe undersized gas block journals on earlier barrels was an issue. I think recent production is fine, but Israeli stuff is outside my wheel house. |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 3:25:29 PM EDT
[#25]
OP: Those grenade sight gas plugs go for big bucks. I'd sell it, get a standard plug, and use the difference for ammo and mags.
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MI, USA
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Posted: 4/17/2024 3:34:37 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: Mark at ARS will fill you in, but I believe undersized gas block journals on earlier barrels was an issue. I think recent production is fine, but Israeli stuff is outside my wheel house. We shall see i guess bought this barrel about 4 or 5 years ago Thanks |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 3:37:16 PM EDT
[Last Edit: TxRabbitBane]
[#27]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: OP: Those grenade sight gas plugs go for big bucks. I'd sell it, get a standard plug, and use the difference for ammo and mags.  My current mag stash is 4 Steyr (Austrian) and 2 Israeli. That surplus FAL mags would become rare and expensive blows my mind. Add that to the long list of “oops” moments, right after “FAL parts kits will be cheap forever”, “cheap South African battle packs of .308 will always be out there”, and “7n6 will always be cheap and available”. |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 11:30:51 PM EDT
[#28]
Mags have been floating around as of late. Look at the FAL Files Marketplace.
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Posted: 4/17/2024 11:48:17 PM EDT
[#29]
I'm in the market for a Grenade sight gas plug, and have some regular plugs available...
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Posted: 4/18/2024 12:14:22 AM EDT
[#30]
Be very careful with that dingus that looks like a little crack pipe, and that joins the two recoil springs. If you bend it, the gun won’t cycle.
If the gun will be more than a range toy, get at least one spare. https://falconarms.com/product/para-spring-support/  Attached File |
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OH, USA
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Posted: 4/18/2024 12:38:13 AM EDT
[#31]
Suppressors are getting approved in days…
Pin a .30 can to it. |
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Posted: 4/19/2024 1:52:40 AM EDT
[#32]
That looks like a short gas system? So whole new front end if you want to swap to a para length- barrel, gas tube, gas block (unless you pull from the old one, and you would need to remove the pinned FH first). New longer piston, new handguards….
I would just SBR it personally…. |
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Posted: 4/19/2024 9:38:07 AM EDT
[#33]
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