I knew I shouldn't have visted this board now I have the urge to build an FAL, after seeing how affordable they are. If I go ahead and order a parts kit, then get an FFL buddy to order the reciever, is the assembly as simple as reversing a field strip, or does it involve machinist work to get everything functioning properly? As the FAL was selective fire, is there anything special involved in making the gun semi only?

building an FAL is relatively easy. once you get the receiver stub off of it then it's almost all gravy. there are a few things that you will either need to buy or borrow, such as:
reciever wrench
1 1/8 end wrench
pin guages
308 headspace guages
a really good vice
a really stable bench(or a fat guy , which is what i use)
pin punches
brass drift for really stuck on parts
mill file

fellow builders , have i left any thing out?

P.S. the reciever you get will only be able to be semi auto as it will not be auto sear cut. you can still bump fire it though if you want. you may also want to get a dial caliper .i knew i would forget something.

Don't forget the 6 needed U.S. made parts to make it legal. Also the time to get a reciever. I know guys who have waited at least a month for one of the coonan U.S. made ones. My friends will have more money tied up building one than if they went out and just bought one. Plus all the time. If you have a friend with an FFL get one already built from SOG or FAC or place like that. You can get one for under $400

Just my 2 cents.

don,
i wish i had not gotten into building them .not only do you have alot tied up in tools but when you go to sell the homebuilt gun ,you can only get what the cheapest ones are going for. ask me how i know. it was ,however fun to build them and it felt great to know that i could do it.

You will also need some one with a lathe to machine the shoulder of the barrel so that it will hand tighten to 12 degrees out of top dead center as per the instructions by FN. Go with either an Embel or DSA receiver. Get the best condition STG 58 (Austrian) kit that you can afford.

that is what i use the mill file for . i have also seen it done with a grinding wheel that is just big enough to go over the threads of the barrel. i have no experience with any of the american recievers but the imbels that i have used have timed almost perfect every time. i only had to remove a minute amount from the shoulder and then was able to turn the barrel into the reciever. (alot of force applied)

Paul go to FnFal.com and read thru the posts and archives . You can find out way more than you need to know .

It is a snap to put together . I did mine at home with a 1 1/16 open end wrench honed out a bit (the flats on the barrel were metric) , a padded vise , and a headspace guage.

Basically , you have to get the barrel timed to TDC when it's tourqued tight , then you adjust headspace by using different sized locking shoulders if needed . The locking shoulder is more or less a hardened pin driven thru the receiver. Mine headspaced nicely with the original locking shoulder .

Unfortunately , I think the affordable STG58 (austrian) parts have dried up . A guy should have bought all the kits his mastercard would hold a few years back ........

PS. also check out www.gunthings.com . Lots of parts and they have a template to make your own FAL reciever wrench .

[ 03-27-2003, 18:52: Message edited by: sdgunslinger ]