Disclaimer. I'm not a lawyer, I don't know if the California Department of Justice will rule that an FAL so modified is or is not legal. Make all modifications at your own risk.



The process for drilling the magazine release can be found here Webshooters. I did have to anneal the release with a blow torch before going at it with a #29 drill bit using a drill press. The bit and tap are sold as a set a Home Depot's tool section for less than $5. The #8-32 1/2 inch long set screw was also available at Home Depot too.



To disassemble the magazine release see the picture above. Screw #1 is removed from the bottom of the bolt release, remove the screw, the spring and the pin if it follows. Next remove the screw #2 which will allow you to pull the bolt release straight down. Now you can remove the magazine release #4 - watch the spring.



One close up view of the magazine release.



Another close up view of the magazine release.


To return the weapon back to normal just remove one screw and change out your hex screw magazine release for a normal one - or just remove the set screw completely from it's hole!



I went with an Israeli ergonomically contoured magazine release rather than the stock one as the Israeli has a loop that sticks out a bit making it easier to operate. They're $10 at DSA here: DSA Israeli Magazine Release







Two views of the required notch cut into the rear of the receiver.

The upper needs to have a square notch cut into it to allow the stripper clip dust cover to index. This was done with a steady hand and a carbon cutting blade in a dremel. Use lots of duct tape to protect the outside of the receiver in case the bit grabs the inside of the reciever and works a circle around to the outside - this happened once to me. I understand DSA will now do mill the reciever for you for a small fee. I just did it a bit at a time fitting the cover's lug into a notch I was carving - not for the weak at heart.



The T48/C1A1 Stripper clip top cover is $29.95 from DSA Stripper Clip Upper



Installed and ready to use with either five or ten round .308/7.62 NATO stripper clips which are $.35 and $1 each from DSA. Stripper Clips. The strippers just drop into the groove that sticks up just a little bit from the cover - see the picture just above. I use the five round strippers as they're easier to run your thumb down just five rounds rather than ten.



The modifications are nice in that with a screwdriver it takes about ten minutes (if you're REALLY slow) to return the weapon to normal operation. Using a hex screwdriver you can remove the hex screw in about half that time (if you're REALLY slow). The only difficult part of the operation is cutting the hard steel of the magazine release and milling the upper a tad.

If there's any interest I can take a picture of the inside of the receiver showing the modification needed to get the dust cover to index. Since getting my (active duty) Military Assualt Weapon's Permit I've returned the weapon to normal function. 90 days after my retirement date I have to once again cripple the thing back to California's Un-Constitutional compliance.



"Normal"

Quoted: Along the same line, anyone knows how to pin a mag release on M14 so that one can use a pistol grip stock ? TIA.

You'd be willing to give up the use of 20 round magazines for a pistol grip on a M1A? I suppose it could be done with a bit of WEC engineering.

Bump

Quoted: Paul, send me your illegal guns.

Done - ain't got none (that I know of) but I do have rifles and pistols in Washington, Illinois, and North Carolina ... I think that's all my stashes.

Quoted: Also has the CA DOJ prosecuted anyone yet?

Not that I know of and I believe that DSA is selling FAL's with a modified magazine release but haven't seen one myself.