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Posted: 9/28/2006 1:24:40 PM EDT
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I took out my DSArms Para Congo this morning for the first time. I was shooting Winchester white box and SA surplus. Not a good first trip to the range, however. I inserted the magazine and pulled the charge handle back. The bolt came forward and then stopped halfway since the round had failed to enter the chamber. So I pulled the handle back, cleared the round and let it slide forward again. Same exact thing. The round seemed to have gotten caught up on the feed ramp. After about three tries, I finally got the round into the chamber. I was able to fire about five rounds before it occurred once more. This was with the Winchester rounds. So I figured i'd try the SA surplus since i've heard nothing but good things. I loaded up the mag, inserted it, pulled the handle back and the exact same thing happened. The round would get hung up on the way from the mag to the chamber. This happened along with two instances where I fired a round and the bolt failed to eject the casing completely. The casings were jammed about 2/3 of the way in chamber. It took a great deal of manipulation on the charge handle to get the casing out but I finally managed to do so. Anyone have any ideas as to what could be the issue? I only have the one factory mag, so i'm hoping that that is the issue. The follower in the mag seems to tilt downward, but i've never owned a FAL so i'm not sure if it's normal. It's a brand new para congo with a factory DSA mag. Thanks. |
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Look at the openiong of the magwell where the rounds feed past on their way to be chambered. If there are burrs or sharp edges i might be scratching on the side of the case and slowing the bolt enough to stop the feeding. Is the bolt carrier is lubed enough and you have the gas open enough? |
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Something like this happened to me the other day. One of the two mags I had brought with me malfed on occasion. Finally figured out it was malfing when feeding from its left side. Put mags side-by-side, and sure enough the feed lip on one was insufficiently rounded, and snagged the side of the cartridge when feeding from that side. 30 seconds with a Dremel, and it was GTG. Borrow or buy another mag, and try that out. Compare the feed lips of the mags very closely. Could be anything causing your problem, but the mag is usually the first place to look |
I did notice that the rounds, once stripped from the mag, had some pretty noticable scratches from the magazine. And as far as the lube, I bought it about 2 months ago and figured the factory had lubed it sufficiently. I guess I was wrong |
That is exactly what happened to me. Buy another couple of mags and test them. If they prove OK, then compare them side-by-side to the one that's malfing, paying particular attention to the feed lips. Fix the malfing mag yourself, or return it to DSA for exchange. |
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Good suggestions above, also look at the feed ramp, polishing can help. Also the shelf of the receiver right above the inserted mag lip. Look at the underside thru the mag well, could be a burr or rough machine work, polish this with fine stone or sandpaper. does one side FTF than ther other, if so, that would be the one to concentrate on. Bill |
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Thanks for all the advice. I am in the process of ordering several new mags this week. One other thing I just noticed yesterday, though. I thought it would be ok to leave the FAL for a week without cleaning but I just returned home and observed that the chamber seems to be absolutely covered in surface rust. Naturally, I started to flip out. I was under the impression that SA surplus was non corrosive. Was I wrong in my assumption? Or is this something completely differant like maybe just residue from the casings of SA. |
No kidding. shogn, Is it low humidity where you stored it? I pulled the same stunt and while my barrel shows no rust the piston spring did. I put it away three weeks ago after about 200 rounds and the spring has some pretty rough spots now. Seems it's gotten a little damp here of late. I'd not freak. Clean it up good and oil it up for storage I doubt it has done you any real harm. If the rifle is brand new I think it might also be a little more sensitive to drag problems when feeding from less than perfect mags. When I first got mine the carrier and rails it rides on felt like they were dragging each other like very fine sand paper and I got several failures to feed in the first 300 rounds. Now after about 1000 rounds the parts at wear points are smooth like glass and with a drop or two of oil they slide like silk. These days it doesn't give me any difficulty like it did at first. I think they ought to do better than that at DSA, but just give it some time and it will break in and run like a raped ape. You do miss that forward assist in the early days though. 
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I keep all of my firearms in a locker like cabinet, which is in the basement of the house. The basement, however, is completely finished with carpet, etc. so I figured that it would be minimal amounts of humidity. And from what I can tell all of my other firearms are alright. After I discovered the nasty looking stuff in the chamber I went ahead and tried to scrub it and then placed it back in the cabinet. Since then, it hasn't accumulated any other rust looking stuff so i'm hoping it was just the ammo. Now I just need to get the mag issue sorted out. |
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