User Panel
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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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#2]
I am presuming that DSA’s barrels are good to go…
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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#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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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken |
[#4]
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This is...a clue - Pat_Rogers
I'm not adequately aluminumized for this thread. - gonzo_beyondo CO, MI, SC, OR - Please lobby your legislators to end discrimination against non-resident CCW permit holders |
[Last Edit: TxRabbitBane]
[#5]
Originally Posted By Gamma762: Yup. Changing barrels on a FAL is far from trivial however. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally 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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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#6]
Congrats.
SBR it and un-pin the flash suppressor. |
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[#7]
21 inch barrel as God intended.
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[Last Edit: Gamma762]
[#8]
Originally Posted By Jack19: 21 inch barrel as God intended. View Quote 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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This is...a clue - Pat_Rogers
I'm not adequately aluminumized for this thread. - gonzo_beyondo CO, MI, SC, OR - Please lobby your legislators to end discrimination against non-resident CCW permit holders |
[#9]
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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#10]
Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I thought (something close to) 18” was the correct config for a para… View Quote 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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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken |
[#11]
Originally 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. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally 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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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#12]
Doesn't DSA offer a 16"?
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Death to quislings.
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[#13]
Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I claim almost total ignorance. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Originally Posted By backbencher: Doesn't DSA offer a 16"? |
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[#14]
Congrats OP…
…but where’re the pics?? |
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[#15]
You will like the 18" barrel if you decide to do that.
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[#16]
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You're not the board darling you think you are.
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[#17]
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[#18]
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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#19]
Grenade launcher sight gas plug on a short handguard.... that's different.
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This is...a clue - Pat_Rogers
I'm not adequately aluminumized for this thread. - gonzo_beyondo CO, MI, SC, OR - Please lobby your legislators to end discrimination against non-resident CCW permit holders |
[#20]
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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[Last Edit: bigstick61]
[#21]
Originally Posted By Gamma762: Grenade launcher sight gas plug on a short handguard.... that's different. View Quote 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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The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion for equality made vain the hope for freedom.
-Lord Acton |
[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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Not fly enough to be halal....
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[#23]
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[#24]
Originally Posted By CJSCARH: What were the problems with the DSA Israeli barrels? Im about to send one with my Izzy kit to ARS. View Quote 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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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken |
[#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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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken |
[#26]
Originally 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. View Quote We shall see i guess bought this barrel about 4 or 5 years ago Thanks |
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[#28]
Mags have been floating around as of late. Look at the FAL Files Marketplace.
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"What is socialism? The most difficult and tortuous way to progress from capitalism to capitalism." -Stated at an intel conference, East Berlin, Oct. 1988
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken |
[#29]
I'm in the market for a Grenade sight gas plug, and have some regular plugs available...
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[#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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They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin, 1775 |
[#31]
Suppressors are getting approved in days…
Pin a .30 can to it. |
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[#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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a loaded gun won’t set you free, so they say…
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[#33]
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Death to quislings.
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