Oh boy I'm hopeless. Always wanted a FN-FAL but those that got shredded in the 1980's import bans made it kind of tough on a young gun nut with small children.
Now, 35 years later Coonan Arms is finally making acceptable uppers at a decent price although it's about a six month wait. I've gotten those in (ordered two...), rounded up Imbel parts kits and all parts to be within 922r (yeah I know....) compliance and have shipped all off to the #1 FAL builder in the U.S. and it should be coming back in 3-4 months. Can't wait to put some rounds down range even though it's not a cast Bullet shooter.
I certainly could have built it myself, but for one or two FAL's the tooling cost would be significant. These rifles headspace in kind of an oddball way and the measuring tools to calculate that are not to be found anywhere. You can order pin gauges from MSC that can be used and you could need a healthy supply of locking shoulders to boot and then there's the cost of blueing, parkerizing, whatever you want to call it. More cost efficient at my level to send it out to Mark at Arizona Response systems and have the whole thing done in one of his Metacol finishes. What you get back is a looks like new FAL, mine will be a metric FAL of course with carry handle and mounted bipod.
Interesting project for sure and I was just wondering if any cast boolit members were even interested in FAL's.
"FN-FAL" if you care, is reference to those rifles manufactured by FN and yes, John Browning did have a hand in the development of this fine old battle rifle. Otherwise it's just plain old FAL or for the inch-pattern rifle L1A1 I believe.
Gimme some feedback!
Art