FAL, inch or metric?

semi-auto

How can you tell inch from metric on FAL's and their magazines?

SXSMAN

I've seen metric parts kits for sale recently,but they don't say what cal other than metric.I remember 308 on FALs,what size would it be that they have advertised in metric?Prices1.CETME parts kit 2002.G3/H&K parts kit 3003.L1A1 parts kit 230These prices any good?Anybody ever build one?

kimberkid

I've been thinking about building one also, metric mags are about 1/2 the price of inch and metric parts are more common. I had a "real" FN FAL years ago (sold it for $600), didn't really care for it, and still not crazy about the way the look ... but since they are a signifiant part of recent firearms history I'm feeling like I should have one ... so I figure if I can build it for $4-500 that would give me a through understanding and maybe a better appreication for them.

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GUN CONTROL: If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention!kimberkid@gunbroker.zzn.com

rick_reno

Metric:- As described: a small dimple is the small 'lug' on the front of the magazine which engages a corresponding recess in the front of the magazine well. - The floorplate is nearly always female: it is slightly narrower than the body, and fits under inward-facing retainersInch:- Has a large solid lug soldered to the front of the body. This lug is nearly full width, has a visible step, and is quite obviously a separate, attached piece.- The floorplate is nearly always male: it fits into outward-facing flanges on the body.Metric magazines will fit loosely into an Inch-cut magazine well. They may NOT feed reliably. Inch magazines will ONLY fit into Inch magazine wells: they will NOT fit into a Metric well unless you apply some serious force. It will damage the magazine.

boeboe

I've been thinking about building one as well, and don't know much about them but have been looking into them and starting to buy some parts. I'm no expert, but i believe there are more inch patterns available than just British, like the Austrailian and Indian (India being a British colony at one time).I just bought a couple of parts kits from Tapco, and boy, are they rough. It would take on heck of a lot of work to make them look good. As someone here said a few months ago, after building one, it's probably cheaper to buy one complete as you want it than to build one up.I'd initially thought about putting one together with the Williams Arms aluminum upper receiver and the DSA stainless heavy bull barrel. Yeh, Kimber, you know, wanting to build something that could compete with that SR25 Stoner of yours for a lot less money. I've since read some very bad things about the aluminum receivers on the DSA web site. Propoganda from a competitor??? So then I start thinking about the DSA stainless receiver with the stainelss bull barrel. For just those two items, talking close to a grand, and then there's the other parts to go with it. The Stoner's looking cheaper all the time.Now I have accumualted an assortment of FAL parts, here and there, including the two metric parts kits and an inch pattern US compliance set (which I bought very cheap) and some other nick-nacks. The US compliance set is the trigger, hammer, sear, gas rod, and charging handle. I can tell the parts kits I have are metric because they have the names "Manuel" and "Alberto" carved in the stocks. So one sure way to tell if the parts kit is inch or metric pattern is by the name carved in the stock. Okay, I'm half way joking. Actually, the parts kits I have are Argentinian. One recommendation I'd have to anyone buying a parts kit is to pay the extra money from a dealer you're familiar with and get a better grade kit. Replacing all the dented and dinged up parts from one of the lower priced kits will drive the price of your project way up. Not that I don't like Tapco, they have higher quality sets and some nice parts. But the lower grade sets are just accumulations of spare parts.Now, I know this guy who bought an FAL made from a parts kit using the American made receiver (I forget now if it's Century or Hesse) and he is only wanting $400.00 for it, which is quite a bit less than he paid. I think he bought it from SOG or JG Sales. One of those outfits. But it should be devalued some because the spot welded on muzzle brake flew off after six rounds and he couldn't find it. Other than that it works fine. So I'm thinking, go ahead and buy that, the DSA stainless bull barrel, and sell all this other FAL stuff I've accumulated to really trick it out. So then I'd have a $1,500 rifle built around a Century Arms or Hesse receiver. Now, if THAT ain't throwing good money after bad.....Of course, Kimber, I might use all this FAL stuff I've accumulated and trade it with some cash for that Stoner. That SR25's looking better ALL the time....Oh, another thing to watch out for is some of the recently remaunfactured FAL's they've been building up use an Inch receiver and a Metric parts kit. So, there are some cross dressers out there that might be harder to identify. [This message has been edited by boeboe (edited 02-06-2002).]