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Posted: 2/2/2003 10:28:23 PM EDT
| I am thinking of getting a used fal, can't afford a new one right now. I found a "parts gun" for $459. Hesse reciever and german g1 parts, metric mag. Any thoughts on the hesse reciever? How did the german g1 differ. It also comes with the origional flash suppressor and bayonet mount, both not mounted of course, but good to have if the ban is lifted. How accurate are used fal's in general? I know that they are battle tested, but in your experience how often have they broke, jammed, etc.? Thanks 1moa. |
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Hesse? Run Forest, RUN! Look for an L1A1 from Century built on an Imbel receiver. Nothing wrong with Century so long as you inspect it first. Make sure the action works smoothly, that the bore and barrel are not corroded to hell and you should be fine. There were some problems with Century guns, but most who have them have no problem with them. You can go over to www.falfiles.com to get the skinny. Purists may not like them because they are usually an inch pattern gun built on a metric receiver, but they go bang, they are cheap, parts and mags are plentiful, and they are easy to work on... What more can you ask for? Buy a shotgun news, many places have them for around $389 plus shipping and transfer... will end up costing a hair less than the Hesse and you will have a better receiver. Also, don't let them talk you into building it yourself... YET! Eventually that bug might get you, but it will end up costing you a lot more. If you don't have the tools needed you will have to buy or borrow them or travel to a build party somewhere close to you. I'm currently going this route and by the time I'm done just buying the parts I'm going to have nearly $600 into it. Then I still have to drive four hours or so each way to attend one of these build gatherings, probably pop for a hotel, and spend six hours or so bead blasting it, refinishing it, assembling it and pray that it works. Anyway, start with an inexpensive Century gun, like the SARs, they ain't pretty but they work... See where the bug takes you from there! |
| Imbel? I'm new to fal's, but <http://www.michiganmilitia.com/oakland/articles/choose308.htm> says they are no good. But I have come to trust ar-15 posters more then just some random website. If you get a good parts gun from century arms how rugged are they? I'm not to concerned with looks, I just want something that goes bang everytime and "never" breaks. Thanks 1moa. |
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Imbel receivers are good. I don't what those guys are talking about. I would steer clear of a Hesse receiver. Yes, there are guys that have them and say they run fine. The only way I would recommend buying one it to shoot it first and have a knowledgable FAL shooter or gunsmith to fully check it out. Century's have a sizable following due to price. If you go with Century get one with an Imbel receiver. The things people change out on them to make them more reliable are the gas piston and the fire control parts. DSA, RPB, and Tapco make good one piece gas pistons that are much srronger than the Century two piece version. And FSE has good fire control parts. |
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Exactly as Hi-vel says, swap out the piston and the FCG and you are good to go. First Son Enterprises makes a good fire control group, much better than the shit Century puts in the gun at the time of build. Get on of their L1A1s built on a metric Imbel receiver... not totally authentic since you are putting inch pattern parts on a metric receiver, but it works fine. Also, when you replace the FCG, make sure you order the inch pattern group since your lower receiver will be inch pattern even though your upper receiver is metric pattern. There is a difference in the trigger groups. One last part that you will want to buy is a bolt hold open part from Tapco. For some reason Century built their guns using the British bolt hold open that had a portion of the part ground off and does not allow the bolt to hold open after the last round... like a $10 fix. Another option on the receiver if you plan on doing a build down the road is a Coonan from Federal Arms Corp, they run around $200 like the Imbel, but are made here and count as one of the compliance parts. For your first Fal, I say go Century with an Imbel receiver. |
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If a gun with a Hesse receiver works, they work as well as any other receiver. I wouldn't build and FAL using one because of horror stories I've read about others that have used a Hesse for a build. However, if the gun is already together and working it will be just fine. Unlike a lot of people that talk shit on the internet that have never owned, used or build with the product they are bashing, I actually own a Century built on a Hesse FAL-H receiver that has been perfect from the day I got it. So good that I bought a second Century FAL (this one came with a Century receiver, but its been perfect also). 1moa, fuck those guys, Imbel is the only FN licensed FAL receiver out there. They are outstanding. DSA runs a close second because although not FN licensed the purchased the original blueprints and machinery from Styer which was an FN licensed manufacturer. Go to the FAL files (L1A1.com) they actually know about these guns and will lead you in the right direction. |
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What makes DSA second is they are twice the price of an Imbel which just as good or better than the DSA. Yes, occasionally you hear of a problem with an Imbel home build and every now and then you hear of a problem with DSA including their brand new factory guns. Every manufacturer ocassionally has a problem child slip by. Keep in mind Imbel has produced thousands more receivers than DSA probably ever will considering that the FAL along with the other 30 caliber battle rifles are considered obsolete and the only real market is the US civilian market. |
| FalShootist, I couldn't agree more, especially about production "problems" etc. And if you put DSA second because of price, I certainly won't argue that either. As far as builds go, both products will at some point have problems, its the nature of manufacturing to tight tolerances. DSA is perhaps (again just my opinion) a little easier to deal with if there is a problem, but as you noted, for what they charge, customer service should be a given. Personally I like DSA and also like my Imbel stuff, the way the country and the rest of the world is going maybe I should have bought more Imbels, at any rate either route is a good one, and hopefully more and more people will start building/buying/shooting these fine rifles. Now who is buying up all the .308? My rifles are sooo hungry!!! |
There is really no reason to replace the bolt hold open. the protruding part is actually a pin, so you can drive the remains out of the BHO and replace it with a roll pin. File or grind to the appropriate length. This pin contacts the magazine follower when the mag is empty. Also the metric and inch BHOs differ in diameter. |
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Yes a lot of the pins were ground off,and many were just not put in. They are tapered so they (ground off ones much be punched out with a nail or drift pin)in one direction only. Then of course must be put in the same way. Then at aces,lowes ect you can buy a roll pin about 3/4 inch long ,just make sure only about 1/4 inch is sticking out to catch magizine last shot stop! about .9 cents is what I paid for mine. Bob 
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