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Posted: 12/9/2006 1:57:29 PM EDT
| I installed a dsa free float tube on my stg. What I did not know before I ordered it was that the top end is completely open. Now I also have a gas tube with the three inch gap which leaves the the gas piston and spring totally exposed (actually makes it look kind of evil). Am I going to get a face full of hot gas when I fire it? I will post pics if needed. |
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not sure what you mean...are you saying you have a SA58 with the short gas tube (exposed spring/piston) and the float tube has openings? if so, it shouldn't be a problem---the piston won't travel that far (about 4" or so) and the gas not used to cycle the bolt get vented off through the little holes in the sides of the tube. If you get a lot of blow-by, your piston head or gas tube may be a bit worn, but you'd see that on your standard handguards too. a pic would help |
Yes it has openings and yes I have the short gas tube. The handguard has no top at all you can see the gas tube and piston plain as day. When I look down the barrel I'm also starring down the gas tube. Basically the open end of the gas tube is pointing at my face with nothing to block any hot gases from searing my nose hairs and eye brows, it just doesn't sit right with me, don't get me wrong I really like the look but I just think to myself are they serious? On the other hand Ive never fired this rifle and I have no idea how much gas is going to vent. I'm really surprised no one else has the same set up, or maybe they did and now they can't use the Internet due to their lack of eye balls. I'm working on some pics |
| Not bad! Way more accurate than my AK (way more). At 300 yds with iron sights I could hit paper about 5 out of 10 shoots fired, not bad considering the trigger pull is real nasty, probably around 10-12lbs. My AK is lucky if hits paper once or twice with 15-20 rounds fired at that distance. I think the next mod is going to be a trigger job, seems simple enough and inexpensive. After that a scope mount and scope, this rifle proved to me that it definitely deserves one. The AK on the other hand, makes me laugh now when I think back to when I considered it. Overall Im very impressed and can't wait to get back to the range. Any suggestions on the scope and mount would be greatly appreciated. |
DSA railed dust cover and this: ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=7&f=23&t=398370  (it's currently sitting on my DCI/Imbel FAL) as for the trigger: FSE hammer/trigger/sear set (and/or) Falcon Arms Trigger Pull Reduction spring kit. Either one (or both) takes 15 minutes to install. The resulting crisp, smooth break is eleventy-billion times better than the factory trigger. (my pull went from 15 lbs to 4 1/4, and a very distinct break--feels like a RRA 2 stage) |
| The tube was fairly simple to install. I would recommend staying away from the provided instructions, they seem to make things confusing AND IT DOSENT HELP THAT IT IS WRITTEN IN ALL CAPS. As far as problems, there are none to report. The tube remained tight and cool to the touch. In fact, because it is so well ventilated it didn't even get remotely warm. What do you think? Do you think it looks OK? Give me some feedback |
Wait till summer and a rapid fire string of say 50 or 75 rounds. It WILL get toasty quick like. I'd suggest gloves if you plan to run it in the summer and fire any long strings. |
Rapid fire string? 50-75 rounds? You have mistaken me for a rich man.  I don't think I've even done that with the AK. When it comes to the FAL I'm going to savor every bullet, especially with ammo prices so high. 
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 Well, it isn't like I just dump it into the berm to hear the noise either. I did run a COF that involved shooting several steel targets at various ranges and used about 30 rounds before I ran out of time. The temps were pretty mild and that sucker was starting to feel pretty warm. When I fired off the remaining 40 rounds banging steel and bowling pins at 225 it got outright hot. I reload so I keep my cost down but certainly not low |
Well. Thats a tough question to answer. If you compare against surplus even at today's cost it would take forever. I can load a blasting round of .308 for around: Rem 150gr SP - $0.08 42gr H-4895 - $0.10 Remington Case - $0.08 (cost spread over 3 total shots for the FAL) Federal Primer - $0.02 That equals 28 cents per round. If I get lucky and score some good deals on pull down powder / brass / bullets I can shave that to about 18-20 cents. So in comparison to that I save very little or actually spend more. However my FAL hates the surplus I have tried thus far and groups better by one inch or more even with the blasting load above. It does however shoot certain preimum loads quite well, under 2" and it is there that I save a fortune. Given that my most expensive load with premium hunting/target bullets runs about 42 cents per round and the equivelent load from the factory runs 95 cents per round shipped, then I save 53 cents per round. That is VERY significant and over 500 rounds I have saved the cost of the press. The next 1000 will pay for most everything else. There is a caveat here though. It really isn't "savings". It is simply allowing me to make ammo that I could not afford to shoot otherwise. If money were the sole concern I would simply buy American Eagle .308 and be happy. My basic setup ran me about $375.00 and I reload .223 and .308 on it. Soon I will add .300 Whisper to that as well. That's just the basic equipment you will spend more to make it easier and less time consuming. It's best to look at from the angle of a sunk cost to make it affordable for you to shoot in volume, not as an amoritized cost over X number of rounds. ETA: The best part for me? I'm not running all over earth searching for a battle pack or two of whatever is being sold this month. If I want more...... I make more. |
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