Did I done Blowed Up my FAL?

J

Jamie Young

New member
I've been having trouble with my FAL and I'm not sure if its the gun or the ammo. I had a blow up a few weeks ago (Mag blew out and case split) but I didn't notice any damage to the gun. I use to keep my Gas setting between 4 and 5 with Chilean ammo, South African ammo and Federal Match ammo. Last time I went to the range I had it between 3 and 4 and today I had to keep in on 3. If I don't go that low the cases stick in the chamber all the time. I can't see how the gas system can be damaged from a blow up like mine?

Do you have any idea what it could be? I cleaned the hell out of the gun 2 times and I even took a bore light to see if anything was damaged.

I've got about 700rds threw my FAL but I don't think this is a Break in kind of thing.
 
The gun barely throws out the brass too. I pull the trigger and get a pile about 2 feet away from me. 2 Months ago the gun threw brass in peoples faces 2 tables down:confused:
 
Think maybe a chunk of crud was deposited in the gas system? I'd give the gas block and piston a very thorough cleaning and try it again, assuming you haven't already.

You might also want to inspect the gas piston for straightness.

Those are the only things that come to my mind. Keep us posted.
 
RickD-
I know and I'm going to punch out the guys that sold it to me. This actually happened about 3 months ago and I threw out all the ammo. I'm sticking with Battle Packs from now on. I'll pull out the piston tomorrow morning and check it out. Thats actually something I didn't think about. Maybe too hot of a load bent it? Good suggestion:)
 
Sounds like its all ammo...

But...

As a caution... Take it to a good gunsmith that has delt with FAL types before. Have it checked out, disassembled the gase system, detailed stripped, cleaned, and reassembled by the pro.

.308 is a big round. It can generate a great deal of force... Enough to explode your FAL like it had a grenade inside.
Might cost you 50 bucks, but then again it could save you a whole lot more.

That ammo?
Use a bullet puller on it - remove the powder. Fire out the primers out of another .308 weapon to make sure they are dead.
Take the bullets and give them to a handloader or someone... or keep the bullets and cases and make keychains out of them to sell on E-bay or something.

The powder - call it MAGIC POWDER and let Boy Scouts toss bits into the campfire.
 
I saw the shell that "blew up" in his FAL.. It didnt look nice at all. It is the first shell I have ever seen that split at the case head.

SodaPop,

If you bring that shell to the show, I will take a picture of it with my camera so you can post the image.
 
Turk I know for sure I pulled the trigger once and got a pleeeeeeepoooooffffffffff and a big cloud of white smoke in my face. Also a little bit of brass. I don't think it was a slam fire.

The mag still works:)
 
The Gun is Clean as a Whistle!! And the Piston IS NOT bent.

Can a blow up affect Head Space? Or does improper Head Space make blow ups more likely? I already know the Chilean stuff is crap but the South African is pretty accurate. And the Federal Match ammo stove piped on me.
 
Possible gas leak.
Where the gas tube goes into the gas block (under the front sight) there is a very small drift pin that goes crossways to the gun and keeps the gas tube from unscrewing. Gas pressure will not blow this pin out.....but it can just up and fall out on it's own. Specially if it is a kit gun and the pin didn't fit all that tight to start with. If this pin falls all the way out or even enough to vent out one side of the gas block.....there will be insufficient gas to operate the action even with the dial down to very low number. Have to remove the handguards to see the pin. If yours is missing or hangin out to one side...probably your answer. Any pin that is a fairly snug fit in the holes will do. Don't go much oversize or the piston won't come out the front when you want it to without removing the pin. If a little long...peen both ends a tad and it wont come out again. Rare but it does happen.

Been there and it gave me fits till I saw the empty hole.

Sam
 
Soda,

For a Slam fire all you have to do is pull the trigger once. Whats happening is the round is firing out of battery (before the bolt is locked). I had this happen to me on a M-1 Carbine years ago and it may of been caused by a high primer. Blew the operating rod handle off and blew the mag. out and a couple of burrs on the receiver rail. Big cloud of smoke I took some brass in the face (Thank God for shooting glasses) felt like someone hit me with sledge hammer along side face.

I'm picking up my Century L1A1 today and have Brit. ammo to shoot. I'll be watching this thread is the gas system real senitive on the FAL?

Does anyone know if the L1A1 has a free floating firing pin?

Turk
 
Is the Firing Pin on the SKS considered Free Floating?

C.R. Sam I'll tear the gun apart and check that out in a few minutes and get back to ya.

Yankytrash-What Year does the Head Stamp say on your ammo? If its 75 GET RID OF IT! Over at FNFal.com many many many many many many people have said that ammo is dangerous. AND I AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!

Pariah- I'll double check that to make sure. I need to dig up a good flash light and see if somethings blocking it.

I might take it to my Gunsmith tomorrow to check Head Space.

Turk- I thought Firing Out of Battery, and Slam fires, were different causes with the same effect. Guess I learned something new today;)
 
My Baby is just a little sick right now. I always go threw stuff like this.

C.R. Sam I just took the gun apart and the Pin you were talking about looks tight and I don't see any gas leak marks. Every time I take this gun apart to clean it, its barely dirty:D I just have to get this sticking case straightened out.

Pariah- I can't see anything blocking the hole but then again I can't see straight threw. What else can I do?

I think its been narrowed down to...

1) Scrub the gun out more
2) I need a Head Space Gauge.
3) I'll try Hirtenburger ammo to rule out the ammo end of this. But that Match ammo had problems.
 
I GOT A MAJOR QUESTION TO ASK!!!!!!

My FAL worked perfecty between 4 and 5 and then it got recalled by DSA because of some ATF regulations. The first time I took it to the range since then, I fired about 50rds, then had the blow up. Then I had stuck cases the last two times I went. I just noticed when I put the hand guard back that...

When I set the gas adjustment on a number going Counter-clockwise, I can still keep turning it until it comes around again. It looks like the gas adjustment is NOT the same when I do a full turn. I thought it just spun around and around. I wonder if the numbers were screwed up since I got it back from the factory. I guess I'll get the head space checked, but if thats ok, I'll take it to the range and try and calibrate the gas adjustment. I should be completely closed on 1 and completely open on 7. When I first looked at the Gas Adjustment 1 was NOT completely closed :rolleyes:

What do you guys think?:rolleyes:
 
The gas adjustment collar ("nut") can screw many revolutions CCW (looking forward). The numbers generally mean something when it is just back from being all the way tightened.

Perhaps they didn't screw it on all the way after they reassembled it?

-z
 
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