Gas port fouling

[nemesisenforcer]

Is it safe to shoot cast boolits in FN FAL clone and M1 carbine or would the lead strip off and clog the gas ports? Sorry if this has been asked before. Thanks in advance

[nicholst55]

A frequently asked question. Several members have had notable success with cast in gas guns. Below are links to a couple of threads that may provide some info. There are numerous threads here about cast and the M1 Garand, M1A, SKS, AK, AR, but not too many on the FAL.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?3558-7-62x51-NATO-(-308-WCF)-in-the-Springfield-M1A

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?204832-FAL-and-cast

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?340185-What-alloy-are-you-using-in-your-M1-Carbine

[GhostHawk]

I have shot a fair amount of cast through my Yugo SKS with no real issues.

After a long range session I do strip down the gas tube and clean everything well. I have found some small lead shavings in front of the gas piston, but it never plugged or caused any problems.

Nothing regular routine maintenance would not take care of.

Try 50 rounds and see what you see.

I did poke a pipe cleaner through my gas port once as it looked like it had some gunk in it. But I did not see anything come out. Some fine lead powder perhaps on the pipe cleaner was all.

[Larry Gibson]

Have shot thousands of cast through M1/M2 carbines and maybe a thousand 311299s through Belgian FAL w/o any gas port fouling from alloy being stripped off.

[koehn,jim]

I got into casting 40 years ago making up cast loads for an M1 carbine, routine cleaning is all its ever needed. I prefer the 311410 with no gas check for it.

[nemesisenforcer]

Cool. I'll try some lead in my FAL and report back.

[Gtek]

I think the statement I have seen here numerous times may also apply/help, "Boolit fit is king".