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Posted: 3/16/2010 5:13:04 PM EDT
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Hi everyone I'm kind of new to the FALs & L1A1 guns. I have always liked them and looked at them but never thought I would own one. I bought one today and its a very clean rifle. I have a few questions on the gun. This is an L1A1 marked .308 Sporter from CAI. I know not a CAI but yes and it does run. This is both metric and inch.......I think. I do know it will take both mags and thats one of the big things that made me get it.
The questions I have is as follows. The gun came with a thumb hole stock. I wanted to know where can I get the parts to change that out? I would like to add later on a pistol grip and a new stock. I did find a place on the net called Enterprise Arms. They have kits of just the stock and grip that is US made. Tell me will this be r922 compliant? I'm not sure if I would have to change more things out if I bought these US made parts. If you know of other places that are better let me know. Enterprise Arms I dont have a problem with the stock thats on it as it feels good in my hands and in my shoulder but it may be something I like to change out later on. If I wanted to change out the stock and grip I guess tell me what all and how many US made parts I need. Does a flash hider count as one US made part? Also what do I have to do to add a bipod to the gun? The receiver is marked made by Imbel Brazil and assembled by CAI Canada. I dont know much about it and if this is a good thing or a bad thing. I know that CAI gets a lot of bad feed back but this is a gun that I know does run. I know I have to get use to the the gas adjustment with the ammo I shot in it. That is something I look forward to learning when I get a chance to go out and shoot. I know I can go over to FAL files and get a lot of the info and I may go over and ask the same questions but I was reading some things you guys have posted here and I like the layout of this site better and the knowledge base I the same to me. I will take all and any info you can give me on the rifle. Thanks everyone for the help and info. 
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ok...first the parts count....for 922r compliance with a flashhider you need 7 parts....below are some compliant parts suggestions....
gas piston mag follower mag floorplate hammer trigger sear charging handle furniture (3 parts) flash hider for usa furniture you have 2 options...cheap looking century plastic or ironwood designs wood furniture....expensive and takes a while to get but really nice.... pics help but i am guessing that you have an imbel receiver (good) with cuts to accept an inch dustcover, and charging handle.....the fact that you said it takes both mags tells me its cut for inch mags, a metric mag well cut will not take inch mags.... i would get some british plastic furniture.....plenty of it around and looks way better than century.....you could get a metric lower and that would solve a lot of your problems as well......inch furniture is specific to inch rifles.....the only thing that would fit metric guns is the handguards....post pics please.... |
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Ok so the stuff I was looking at on Enterprise Arms wont work then? How much is a set of wood stocks and grips from IronWood?
I will try and get some pics of the rifle up tomorrow. I will try to get good shots of the receiver as well. I really like this rifle and cant wait to shoot it. The stock is not bad and it feels good I guess it will just take some range time to get used to the way it feels. Thanks for the info. Keep it all coming anything on the L1A1 would be great. |
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How about this from DSA. I really like the stock and I need to see what the price is on it but is this something I could do and still be r922 safe?
Stock & Pistol grip If I do that tell me what else I would need to do to stay r922. Thanks |
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ironwood gets pretty pricey...probably around $300 or so by the time you figure it all up....plus it needs to be finished....a really nice set of surplus wood could run that much as well, maybe.....thats why the brit plastic is a good option....
hammer,trigger,sear....$85 mag floorplate (inch) $2 gas piston $25 usa made inch charging handle $55-$85 usa made inch flash hider $50 you may be able to make a metric mag follower fit an inch mag....maybe could save a few bucks and get another part....or just use metric mags and us followers/floorplates would get you 2 parts....or if dsa can get their usa made mags to work that would be 3 usa made parts...... if you are really adventurous you could get a usa made inch receiver and go that route.....you could sell the other receiver....maybe...kinda getting pretty expensive pretty quick.... www.gunpartsguy.com www.gunthings.com www.falfiles.com www.sarco.com www.entreprise.com www.dsa.com |
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some usa made wood to bid on....
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=160993383 |
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Thanks everyone for the info and great looking wood on that FAL. I really like the look and I can see why it would be expensieve to get a set.
I wanted to add one more thing. I like the AR style flash hider where can I find one for the L1A1 and what do I need to do to the barrel to have it put on it? |
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Tell me out these parts what would be the cheapiest and easiest to do
gas piston mag follower mag floorplate hammer trigger sear charging handle furniture (3 parts) flash hider I found new made US stock, grip and forends for 69-94 bucks. I want to add a flash hider to the gun so that would be four parts Im taking I need four more or is it three more? Im guessing the trigger, hammer and maybe sear would be the cheaper way to go. Thanks everyone for the info and any links to the best places to find these parts would be great as well. |
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if you dont have a flash hider now you only need 6 parts...if you have compliant furniture then thats 3 right there....for 3 more i would go with gas piston, mag floorplate and follower if you use metric mags...just floorplate if you use inch...havent seen an inch follower in a while......maybe a charging handle? if you could keep the inch trigger parts they are better than usa stuff...but that would also be an easy 3 parts...
you cant get a usa made f/h later for 7 parts.... |
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Tell me out these parts what would be the cheapiest and easiest to do gas piston mag follower mag floorplate hammer trigger sear charging handle furniture (3 parts) flash hider I found new made US stock, grip and forends for 69-94 bucks. I want to add a flash hider to the gun so that would be four parts Im taking I need four more or is it three more? Im guessing the trigger, hammer and maybe sear would be the cheaper way to go. Thanks everyone for the info and any links to the best places to find these parts would be great as well. Gas piston is easy-peasy, definitely the easiest in the list. Hammer/Trigger/Sear is pretty easy too, to be honest. It's a pretty simple trigger mechanism, and if you follow instructions widely available on the internet... in fact, if you pick them up, I'll help you put them in next time I'm out your way. (which I am once a month or so.) Pistol grip is easy, handguards are easy, buttstock is more difficult, but only because you need a special tool to do it right. Charging handle can be difficult, and if you've got an L1A1 then you've got the folding charging handle, which is cool. You should keep it. Here's a 922r calculator for a FAL: http://thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/BuildFalVerifyCompliance If it were me, (and it was, when I built my FAL) I'd get the following US made parts:: Buttstock Pistol Grip Handguards Hammer Trigger Sear Gas Piston That way you can use any mags you want without worrying where they were made. Should cost you less than 200 bucks or so all told. Then you can also use whatever muzzle device you want, and if it's US Made, hey that's cool too. |
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Tell me out these parts what would be the cheapiest and easiest to do gas piston mag follower mag floorplate hammer trigger sear charging handle furniture (3 parts) flash hider I found new made US stock, grip and forends for 69-94 bucks. I want to add a flash hider to the gun so that would be four parts Im taking I need four more or is it three more? Im guessing the trigger, hammer and maybe sear would be the cheaper way to go. Thanks everyone for the info and any links to the best places to find these parts would be great as well. Gas piston is easy-peasy, definitely the easiest in the list. Hammer/Trigger/Sear is pretty easy too, to be honest. It's a pretty simple trigger mechanism, and if you follow instructions widely available on the internet... in fact, if you pick them up, I'll help you put them in next time I'm out your way. (which I am once a month or so.) Pistol grip is easy, handguards are easy, buttstock is more difficult, but only because you need a special tool to do it right. Charging handle can be difficult, and if you've got an L1A1 then you've got the folding charging handle, which is cool. You should keep it. Here's a 922r calculator for a FAL: http://thegunwiki.com/Gunwiki/BuildFalVerifyCompliance If it were me, (and it was, when I built my FAL) I'd get the following US made parts:: Buttstock Pistol Grip Handguards Hammer Trigger Sear Gas Piston That way you can use any mags you want without worrying where they were made. Should cost you less than 200 bucks or so all told. Then you can also use whatever muzzle device you want, and if it's US Made, hey that's cool too. Thank you for the offer of help and when I get the funds to change it over Im sure I will be asking lol. The parts you listed I think is where I had my mind going and starting to look. I would really like to keep the charging handle as it is cool looking and one of the things I really like. Where is the best place to look for the parts? The forend on my L1A1 is round, is this US made? I wonder how many US made parts are on the gun and would it be stamped? I was looking online at gas pistons and the US made ones look just like original are they stamped? I bought this gun used and I could ask the original owner if and what was ever changed. I was told some of these parts could be used and not worried about to many of the changes not sure how correct this info is. Thanks everyone. |
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Thank you for the offer of help and when I get the funds to change it over Im sure I will be asking lol. The parts you listed I think is where I had my mind going and starting to look. I would really like to keep the charging handle as it is cool looking and one of the things I really like. Where is the best place to look for the parts? The forend on my L1A1 is round, is this US made? I wonder how many US made parts are on the gun and would it be stamped? I was looking online at gas pistons and the US made ones look just like original are they stamped? I bought this gun used and I could ask the original owner if and what was ever changed. I was told some of these parts could be used and not worried about to many of the changes not sure how correct this info is. Thanks everyone. Peeeeeeeeeersonally, I've had nothing but great experiences with Gun Parts Guy He's got A conversion lower kit and a set of US Made Handguards. But it looks like those handguards might be what you have...and if so, it's a good possibility they're US Made. Should be marked "made in USA" or similar somewhere. I know he did a run of us-made gas pistons too, I bought one, but I don't see them on there any more. eta: Here is a list of GPG's US-Made compliance parts. |
| the handguards look british to me......also try to post some pics of the lower....the one i had had an indian lower and some parts wont interchange....century marked their stuff with a "c"...very likely nothing on that rifle is usa made....that rifle was put together during the assault weapons ban..hence the no muzzle device, no pistol grip, no bayo lug..etc....the import ban came later...thats why you need usa made parts.... |
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the handguards look british to me......also try to post some pics of the lower....the one i had had an indian lower and some parts wont interchange....century marked their stuff with a "c"...very likely nothing on that rifle is usa made....that rifle was put together during the assault weapons ban..hence the no muzzle device, no pistol grip, no bayo lug..etc....the import ban came later...thats why you need usa made parts.... Ok thanks for the info. I have a questions as I found this on a web site. Tell me if this will make my gun 922r compliant. L1A1 Compliance Parts Set (5 parts) SKU: L1A1 Only a handfull of these compliance parts remaining. USA manufactured black polymer buttstock, recoil pad, pistol grip, hand gaurds, and hammer. NOW INCLUDES U.S. MANUFACTURED SEAR (not in picture). Counts as five 922r compliance parts. This is at a place called Bravo5 I have no clue who they are and if anyone does please chime in. I did find DSA had stocks and grips with forends but not sure if they will work on my L1A1. I think I can piece it together with the stock from a few different vendors and get a few other things to make it compliant. Im told I need only 6 parts as my barrel is already compliant. Is this true? Thanks everyone for the help and I already love this rifle and I have not shot it yet and it leads to now wanting to build one. |
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You'd still be one part short. But I doubt you'll beat that price anywhere. Buy that set, get a trigger, and then you're done.
See, in 922r, it's not "how many US parts are on your rifle?" it's "how many foreign parts are on your rifle." In that, you can't have more than 10. The calculator I linked earlier gives you the list of which parts the ATF cares about, and you can check which ones are foreign made. You should only need 6 at the moment, since you do not have a "muzzle device" at all, (so it can't be a foreign made part if it doesn't exist...) |
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You'd still be one part short. But I doubt you'll beat that price anywhere. Buy that set, get a trigger, and then you're done. See, in 922r, it's not "how many US parts are on your rifle?" it's "how many foreign parts are on your rifle." In that, you can't have more than 10. The calculator I linked earlier gives you the list of which parts the ATF cares about, and you can check which ones are foreign made. You should only need 6 at the moment, since you do not have a "muzzle device" at all, (so it can't be a foreign made part if it doesn't exist...) I got an email back from Century not sure what to make of it but they did say they didnt use more then ten foreign parts. I will post the email here and get everyones take on it. he parts that we install in our firearms vary from make and model , and are considered proprietary information. We comply with all federal firearms regulations and ensure that all of our firearms are in compliance with Title 18 Chapter 44 para 922 (r), Para 925 (d)(3) and 27 CFR para 479.39 (c). We take special care to ensure that no more than 10 foreign parts listed in para 478.39(c) are installed in any firearm that we make from imported parts. There are some under a misconception regarding the number of US parts required in a specific rifle. It is not the quantity of US parts that is restricted, but the number of imported parts that is restricted as outlined in par 478.39 (a) & (c). Century does not divulge the parts lists, as we know the guns leave our factory in total compliance. Also, it is not possible to be exact, because it is the number of parts, not the specific parts themselves...so that is not kept noted for the hundreds of thousands of rifles we sell. From my experience, the parts that are US have been receivers, triggers, hammers, pistol grips, stocks, sears...etc. But AGAIN, that does not mean we use the same formula for every rifle. Most US parts are signified with a "C". Also… A US replacement part is not always marked, but should be bright finished and is threaded into the carrier. It is secured with a small weld where the holes for the cross pin would be set. The original part is secured with a cross pin through the threads to attach it to the carrier and will have a blued finish on the face of the head. Examination of the part should show the origin. If it is original, it can be easily replaced. |
| the widows peak is good...i think you have the big mag cut for inch mags tho because you said it would take both types of mags...i knew century would not come clean on what parts are theirs...pretty typical from what i hear....i would assume none are and go from there...plus the rifle you have was made during the assult weapons ban....the sory they gave you is for rifles made during the import ban which still exists.....if you need the cheap century furniture to get your rifle up and running go for it...but i think you will be happier with original wood or plastic furniture...... |
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former owner here, maybe i an clear up a few things...
the gun IS an imported "ban" model... it IS an inch cut mag well and readily accepted and fed from both inch and metric mags(though i only had 1 inch mag, hey Olyarmsfan!  PS i have more mags including a 30 rounder if and when you're in the market)...
the reciever IS an imbel and IS cut with the "gull wing" or "widows peak" propper feed ramps(century got a few of them right  )...
as far as the special buttstock tool, olyarmsfan is good to go, it was included in the package with the gun/scope/sling/owners manual/ and my chicken sratched years old notes on where to find compliane parts not a lot out there for inh guns  (should i have ever gotten around to changing them out, but i fell in love with .308 ARs and out of love with FALs, and in the mean time i lost my job and have a Larue OBR on the way, lots of things had to go )...
i was under the impression(from some research and reading a LONG time ago, possibly prior to anyone really understanding the nueances of 922r) that the rifle had to contain the 6 US compliance parts(not 7 since their is no muzzle devie) when it left the century factury. i assumed that the fire control group(trigger, hammer, and sear) was us made but i could be totally wrong about that, and that the thumbhole buttstock was US made, and that their were two other random US parts thrown in... i could be totally wrong about all of this(other than knowing that 6 was the magic compliane parts number count on this gun)... i never saw any "US" stampings on any of the parts, but only really looked for them on the gas piston... egunthings used to have some of the US made pebble grain inch pattern stocks and pistol grips as well as fire control groups but no longer appear to have them, other than ironwood designs i don't currently know where to find US compliant inch pattern furniture... photobucket seems to be crapping all over itself, i can post some crappy pics from when i owned the gun when they get thier site running right again...  
ha, holly shit, a google search turned up a source... possibly... IM inbound... K. |
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and for your spanish listening pleasure i give you Que es el FAL...
my embedding foo is very weak... 
<object width="315" height="80"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ijigg.com/jiggPlayer.swf?songID=V24470DEPA0&Autoplay=0"><param name="scale" value="noscale" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ijigg.com/jiggPlayer.swf?Autoplay=0&songID=V24470DEPA0" width="315" height="80" scale="noscale" wmode="transparent"></embed></object> anyone speak enough spanish to translate the lyrics?.. K. |
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anyone speak enough spanish to translate the lyrics?.. K. I don't, but Google claims to: Spanish Lyrics:
Qué es el FAL ? Pregunto una vez Juan-Lindo Le contesto Gumercindo Con acento popular ! Compa Juan Este animal tira todo Si le agarra bien el modo Con usted va a charchalear ! El FAL ya desde la entrada Tiene la estampa de un gran fusil, Metralla de bello estillo, De 20 tiros su magazin, Si aprieto el gatillo ladra, Y a cuatro cuadras su alcance dá, Y a cinco cuadras completas Una avioneta se puede apear. Para empezar la tarea Va para afuera su magazin, Y ahora lo cajonero Que no se quede ni un proyectil, Machistas nunca seremos ! Pero tendremos que proceder Quitando el tornillo macho Del otro que hace de la mujer ! Quebramos el arma ahora, Llegó la horá de separar La laminita del cierre La masa viene saliendo ya Le tiramos la cubierta Y asi logramos de zopetón, Poner a un lado este asunto Y aparte el conjunto del cañon. Cuando el tapón de los gases Fuera de base lo pongo yo, La barilla y su consorte Que es el resorte, sacando voy Separo el piston de gases De su resorte matrimonial Y asi queda en puras piezas Esta belleza llamada FAL. Cuando en la parte de arriba Vemos escrita la letra «a», Eso ya te esta indicado, Que estás buscando un tiro normal… Pero si en el mismo sitio «GR» vemos con precisión, El arma está preparada Para granadas al por mayor Magic of Google::
What is the FAL? I ask after Juan Lindo I answer Gumercindo Popular accent! Juan Compa This throws the whole animal If you grab either mode Charchalear you will! The FAL and the entry It has the look of a big gun, Estill beautiful shrapnel, In his 20 shots magazin, If you pull the trigger barking, And four blocks gives scope, And full five blocks A plane can dismount. To begin the task Going to out your magazin, And now the drawer You do not run or a projectile We will never be macho! But we must proceed Removing the male screw The other that makes the woman! We beat the gun now Time to separate The slat closure The dough is coming out and He threw the roof And so we of zopetón, Set aside this issue And besides the whole barrel. When the gas cap I put it off base I The barilla and his consort What is the spring, drawing I Remove the gas piston In its spring double And so pure is in pieces This beauty called FAL. When the top We see writing the letter 'a'; That you already indicated, What are you looking for a normal shot ... But if on the same site "GR" see with precision, The gun is ready Wholesale grenade Probably not right but... *shrugs* |
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Hey Kar15 thanks for the link and I see its back in stock. I checked there a few weeks ago and they where out lol.
Also thanks for the great gun man and I cant wait to hit the range. Im going to go to my grandmothers one weekend and shoot I think I can find a place of over 100 yards to shoot. I have not broken the gun all the way down yet to check all the parts but from what I have been told by the guys at the FAL Files is if I take and replace the stock, grip and forend with US made parts Im good to go. I was also told to add one more US made part to be on the safe side and I found a place that has five US made parts for 64 bucks and when I can get the funds together Im going to get it. Thanks Kar for the help and if you find anymore info on it keep me posted. I like the wood sets from Ironwood but man the price .
I thought about asking a guy that I know that does a lot of wood working if he would make a stock and grip for me and see what he charges. That might be a place for him to help hold him in the slow market right now of remolding and building houses. |
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Mine started out like that back in 1993..... http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/willardri/IMG_0800.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v458/willardri/FAL2.jpg It's been through several iterations................... Looks good and I like the paint job. I hope to get the stock changed out someday and I have found a few places. I missed out on a set of US made stock, grip and forend for 30 bucks shipped. I hate being broke right now lol. |
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Here is pictures of the stock set. I just had the old butt pad off and looked at it and when I can get out to get the washer it will be changed over.
I also had the forend on the gun and it fit good took awhile to get it on and it looks ok and I just have to deal with it being US made. I may try to still get a wood worker to use these as a pattern and make a set. 
Well tell me what you think. I like the stock and the pistol grip feels good in my hand and the stock seems a lot smaller then whats on there now. The forends are nice but not as nice as the original but I can deal. I may need to add something for heat when shooting but not sure what and how. I guess some nomex gloves will do the trick. Tell me something the hole in the recoil pad what am I missing? This is a CAI made stock set. |
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Thgere's a plug that goes in the hole in the buttplate. I used truck bed liner on my CIA handguards, it helps to sand them a bit first. You can use foil backed insulation for the handguards. Is the plug something I have to have? This stock was never used has no holes for screws yet to be put on at the bottom of the receiver. Thanks for the tip on the forend that sounds like a plan. |
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You don't NEED the plug, but you should probably have it.
Shoot me an IM (So I don't forget, sorry) and if I have an extra I'll send it to you, gratis. I'll have to go through my stuff, but I think I do..... Also, it took a little fitting to get the buttstock on, for me. I had to drill the screw holes, too. In the end, though, I'm just happy to have the US parts for the Inch pattern. |
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You don't NEED the plug, but you should probably have it. Shoot me an IM (So I don't forget, sorry) and if I have an extra I'll send it to you, gratis. I'll have to go through my stuff, but I think I do..... Also, it took a little fitting to get the buttstock on, for me. I had to drill the screw holes, too. In the end, though, I'm just happy to have the US parts for the Inch pattern. Hey TimJ thank you I will send a pm over to you. That would be cool if you have an extra one. Im like you just happy to have the US made stock set for the inch lower as I thought it was going to be a bit harder to find. Im kind of shocked the stock sets are showing up here and there. The guy I got this set from went with wood so maybe it will make it easyer for us to find stock sets now that ironwood is doing the wood stock sets. I still like the classic look of the wood but I also like the classic look of the all black FAL. PM inbound. Thanks |
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pics of the completed project!.. K. HAHA Kar not yet but soon. I have to take the old stock off and then go and get the top hat looking washer. I might try to take the gun apart tomorrow and do this. I just have to find the time to do it. I almost like to take the whole gun apart and do a paint job on it of some kind but I will wait for another time. Pics to come I hope............ |
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i may end up spraying my brand new Larue OBR with OD alumahyde, and then going back and giving it vertical FDE tigerstripes  ...
$20 worth of paint on a $3000 rifle...
K. Now that sounds awesome. You will have to send pics of it when done or if you post on here link me to it. I like tigar stripe BDUs and some of the ARs I have seen and FALs. The CAI stock set is very dull the stock and pistol grip is not as bad as the forend. I think I may just be used to the British forend thats on it now and you can tell the Brit stuff is better made. I may later on get a forend from DSA or just replace two more parts to stay in 922r and put the brit one back on. Kar you got me thinking of paint again man  and I need to buy ammo lol..........ammo first paint next lol.
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That was a B.I.T.C.H to get off lol. The lower took me 10-15 min to get apart from the upper that was on there for good lol. The stock I about knocked myself out and my dad taking it off lol but we got it apart.
I think tomorrow im going to take the lower to lowes and look for the washer.......not sure what washer I need and what it is called? |
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You'll be seeing that plug any day now.....  Hey thank you that is awesome. Thanks again TimJ I just got back from Lowes and they had the brass pistol grip stud I need but didnt have a screw and they didnt really want to help me that much and told me I needed to go to a hard ware store lol. The guy wanted to argue that if its british you need metric I just got tired of it took the brass pg part I needed and left. On a brighter note there was a nice Challenger R/T in white and the onwer of it was pretty cool. |
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