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Posted: 11/16/2008 2:34:57 PM EDT
Namely....... ME. 
After years of not being particularly interested in the FAL platform, I managed to handle my buddy's FAL last night, and now I have the bug. Great. Just what my CC needs. 
The thing is, I know next to nothing about the platform or how to build one, so I'm asking for dummy-level advice on one or two things: 1) What is a reputable place to purchase lower receivers? DSA? 2) Is there a particular manufacturer(s) to look for or avoid? 3) Just how difficult is it to build one of these? 4) Metric or English, or does it matter a damn? Thanks. 
Oh, I'd be looking at building a classical wood-furnitured version with the built-in bipod, and another in black furniture that would be a more "tactical" carbine version. Is this an early symptom of FAL disease?
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Uppers run in the $400 ballpark., good ones are Imbel and DSA. Kit's, about $300ish. Building one is a lot more intensive than an AR., you'll need to time the barrel to your rec., and install a correct locking shoulder for your build. Tools for this can sometime outwiegh teh cost of shipping the parts to a builder.
Most kits are metric, and you'll find more parts and mags for the metrics as well. |
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Quoted:
1) What is a reputable place to purchase lower receivers? DSA? DSA makes a fine receiver, but they do not get in a hurry about it. Century Arms is marketing a descent receiver now. Military Gun Supply had some for sale recently. I bougt F A L mags from them about 5 years ago. The transaction went smoothly. 2) Is there a particular manufacturer(s) to look for or avoid? The junk peddlers have all pretty much put themselves out of the business. DSA, Century Arms, and Entreprise are the only manufacturers still making FAL receivers that I am aware of. 3) Just how difficult is it to build one of these? Building one is best left to a smith that builds FALs. The cost of getting set up is just not practical now adays. If everything goes well, building an F A L is not difficult. I have built a dozen or so and only one has ever gone together with ease. The hold ups aren't usually major, but they can be trying for a home hobbiest to overcome. 4) Metric or English, or does it matter a damn? Metric is much more common and far easier to get parts for. Thanks.
Oh, I'd be looking at building a classical wood-furnitured version with the built-in bipod, ( wood handguards will not accommodate the bi pod.) and another in black furniture that would be a more "tactical" carbine version. Is this an early symptom of FAL disease? |
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Building is fun, but as stated above, it's a bit expensive to get started. The days of the cheap builds are over. Unless you already have the build tools, it's cheaper to buy one already built.
Another option is to buy the kit, a receiver and the necessary compliance parts and ship the whole package to a smith who does FALs. Check out the Equipment Exchange here on AR15.com or the MarketPlace over on The FALfiles.com. Good deals are always popping up. I think there is a guy here selling a wood furnitured Inch kit. The wood furniture was typically the Inch version. There are several folks making wood furniture for Metrics. The Metric kits are much more plentiful and mags are easier to get. That being said, it's possible to build an Inch kit using a Metric receiver. You'll be able to use Metric mags. |
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