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Posted: 4/15/2024 11:44:40 AM EDT
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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. |
Not fly enough to be halal....
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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 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
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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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. |
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
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
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Originally Posted By Gamma762: Yup. Changing barrels on a FAL is far from trivial however. 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. |
Not fly enough to be halal....
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Originally 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. |
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
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
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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. |
"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
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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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. 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. |
Not fly enough to be halal....
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Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I claim almost total ignorance. Originally Posted By TxRabbitBane: I claim almost total ignorance. Originally Posted By backbencher: Doesn't DSA offer a 16"? |
| Grenade launcher sight gas plug on a short handguard.... that's different. |
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
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
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Originally 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. |
The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion for equality made vain the hope for freedom.
-Lord Acton
-Lord Acton
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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… |
Not fly enough to be halal....
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Originally 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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Originally 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. |
"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
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
| 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. |
"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
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
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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. We shall see i guess bought this barrel about 4 or 5 years ago Thanks |
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Originally 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”. |
Not fly enough to be halal....
| Mags have been floating around as of late. Look at the FAL Files Marketplace. |
"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
"Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods." -H.L. Mencken
|
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
They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin, 1775
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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…. |
a loaded gun won’t set you free, so they say…
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https://www.ar15.com/forums/general/Another-KABOOM-This-time-it-s-a-FAL-/5-2720266/ @Lou_Daks |
Death to quislings.
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Originally Posted By backbencher: Doesn't DSA offer a 16"? IF you ever shoot without hearing protection, believe it or not, the 2 inch difference between a 18 and a 16 makes a HUGE difference in sound. Because I do have to shoot occasionally without ear protection I have divested myself entirely of 16 inch .308s. It is seriously a huge difference. |
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Congratulations, Man!! I've been window shopping for a FAL quite awile now. Just want a standard 21" Metric shooter. $1500 for a DSA is alot of money and I don't know enough about the rifle to pick a parts kit and also finding a reputable builder with time to assemble. FALfiles has been educating me though.. Regardless, very Jealous, friend. Have some fun with it! |
Robert Muldoon Survived.
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Originally Posted By campower: Congratulations, Man!! I've been window shopping for a FAL quite awile now. Just want a standard 21" Metric shooter. $1500 for a DSA is alot of money and I don't know enough about the rifle to pick a parts kit and also finding a reputable builder with time to assemble. FALfiles has been educating me though.. Regardless, very Jealous, friend. Have some fun with it! I picked up a mostly Steyr parts kit for $400 and change and will probably get a DSA Type 1 for it. A guy who used to be a major FAL 'smith during the heydays of FAL parts kits will help me assemble it once I get a receiver. Shouldn't cost me more than $900 to finish. Sometimes deals can be had and the FAL Files is a good place to try to find someone local to help with the build. |
The finest opportunity ever given to the world was thrown away because the passion for equality made vain the hope for freedom.
-Lord Acton
-Lord Acton
|
My FAL is a heavy (or mid, but definitely not light) barrel, 21" DSA Para FAL. It does have the LMT receiver. That barrel and lower combination is kind of wonky, but it is undeniable that carrying this thing around has a certain 'let's f' some stuff up' quality and weightiness that might be lost going to a shorter barrel. This thing is never going to be compact or light, so I think I might as well keep the long barrel every time I almost order an 18" barrel or send it out to be cut down. |
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