Armory Sponsor
Posted: 11/19/2009 12:22:43 PM EDT
|
Greetings,
I have been offered a SAR 48 for a good price (Imbel receiver, Israeli parts). It does not have a heavy barrel on it like some of the ones I have seen. Any pitfalls I should know about them? I guess as it has Israeli parts they take Metric magazines. I recall Springfield offering them for sale a very long time ago (80s?) The one in question was made in 1986. Thanks, Cheese |
| I dont have a lot of serious technical info –––––––– but i remember when Springfield rolled those out ( i had a subscription to SOF as a teenager) ––- i would love to have one of those for 80's nostalgia purposes ––- as well ––- i would think that would be a real nice addition to a FAL fan's weapons closet ––––- that article got me interested in the platformr |
|
I have to go physically examine the beast, but I think I am wrong about the Israeli parts.
I think it is all Imbel. I called the factory (Springfield, that is- my Portuguese leaves a lot to be desired  ). They told me the rig was made in May of 1986.
I too remember the FAL from back in the eighties. The old Soldier of Fortune magazine- LOL. I recall reading that magazine and actually getting good information about what those bastards (the Soviets) were doing in Afghanistan. I also remember having no $$ in the eighties to buy things like FN/FALs, or transferable Full Autos either. 
|
|
Thanks for the feedback. I got a good price and I am pleased with my purchase.
The rifle is all Imbel, with a baked enamel finish on the parts that were overstamped by Springfield. It has a synthetic stock and foreend. This is my first FAL, and it is a neat rig. I like the ease in which you can disassemble the rifle for cleaning. The rifle was dirty when I bought it- the bore is chrome lined and it cleaned up easily. I am still removing carbon from the areas around the front sight. I really like the ease of cleaning the piston mechanism and that you can get to all the "nooks and crannies" around the breech area of the barrel. I had to scrape out some vintage '80s goo. The beast is pretty heavy (9 pounds at least), but it is very well balanced. The selector (safety) switch is stiff to operate, but that is a minor complaint. The rear sight leaves something to be desired. Sight picture is fine, but there is some slop in the sliding mechanism. You need a screw driver to adjust windage and a special tool to control elevation in the front sight. FN certainly didn't spare the machining time when it came to the design of the bolt and bolt carrier (terminology?). The bolt has a good number of complex cuts in it. Ditto the carrier. I can see that some clearance cuts were made on the sides of the bolt. Is this what was modified to improve function when it came to the British experience in the Sudan? Murky memory here, but I recall reading that they had a problem with sand. It appears you could (armorer) remove a pin (bolt?) in the upper receiver that functions as the locking surface for the tilting bolt to compensate for wear (or to get it to headspace/lock correctly in the first place). The rifle came with a buffer inside of it. I don't recall the name of it. It is piece of gray plastic and it keeps the bolt from kissing the rear of the receiver. Can anyone recommend a good "FAL" book? I am ignorant about FAL terminology and history. People recommend FAL Files, but they seem to have a lot of server/access problems. I expect to shoot it soon! |
|
Do not remove the locking shoulder, as you have guessed. After cleaning the gas system (tube/piston), leave it dry- no oil. You can ditch the buffer, FALs don't need them.
There is a big FAL book, author by the name of Blake Stevens IIRC. I found the AZ Response Systems book on building FALs to be very effective for learning about my FAL. You get the terminology and instructions on how to fix almost any issues it might develop, and it is inexpensive. |
|
Howdy Windustsearch,
I will source the AZ Response Systems book. It sounds like what I need to educate myself. I think Blake Stevens wrote a book about the Browning High Power that I have. I guess that makes sense, as IIRC the designer of the FAL (Saive?) was involved in both projects. I will take care not to oil the piston. I need to find a tool to adjust the front sight and the gas system (if neccessary). Is it a combo tool? Thanks, Cheese |
|
Quoted:
Howdy Windustsearch, I will source the AZ Response Systems book. It sounds like what I need to educate myself. I think Blake Stevens wrote a book about the Browning High Power that I have. I guess that makes sense, as IIRC the designer of the FAL (Saive?) was involved in both projects. I will take care not to oil the piston. I need to find a tool to adjust the front sight and the gas system (if neccessary). Is it a combo tool? Thanks, Cheese It is a combo tool and you should be able to find it at Gunthings or DSA, or maybe Gunpartsguy. Another useful tool is the butt stock removal tool, which doubles as a pistol grip removal tool. This allows you to easily remove the butt stock and clean out the recoil spring tube or replace the spring if need be. If you plan on checking the head space you'll need the gauges and an extractor removal tool for the two piece extractor. |
.
|
FALs really typically eject brass in a manner that causes the cases to whip around, bouncing the neck off the receiver right behind the ejection port (you probably already have a brass colored smudge there on your rifle). This will usually dent the neck of the case, but other than that the brass should be fine and lots of people reload for FALs. Your FAL will eat just about any factory .308 or 7.62 you can find.
Though this affliction is normal and most people don't fuss with it, there is a way to change the angle of the ejector and eliminate the case whipping. The only place to find the instructions is over at Falfiles I think. |
|
Yes, there are brass colored spots on the receiver. I guess all auto-loaders make short work of brass.
I suppose reloading will be the only fiscally realistic means to keep my .308s fed in the future. If I ever get a time machine I will have to read the dealer brochure carefully. I will need to know what the load limits of the machine are. Surplus ammo is heavy stuff... 
Thanks again, Cheese |
|
The big book The FAL Rifle by Stevens is a Collector Grade brand publication and for all intents and purposes THE FAL encyclopedia. It will run about $100 and worth every penny I think. The ARS I think comprises more of a TM type publication. I have found both to be helpful.
You can use the tip of a round to adjust the front sights, I use Kentucky windage after zeroing mine @ 25/200. |
Armory Sponsor