My thoughts on the L1A1 Rifle

T

Turk

New member
Well I finally got the chance to shoot my Century L1A1 last week.

I'm familiar using the M-14 (Basic, AIT & 24th Infantry Div.) and M1A High power Service shooting. I also used the M-16 in combat in Vietnam and shot an SP1 for years so I have some background with military rifles.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE L1A1

Handling was excellent.
For a heavier rifle it pointed great. I personally like a pistol grip in a combat rifle. For precise shooting I like the M-14 stock style.

Functioning:
Once I got the gas value right (2?) there were no cycling problems.

Initially I used some Israeli ammo from the 70’s, which was a disaster. 7 dud rounds and one that popped and I ended up with a bullet stuck in the barrel. I returned home and knocked the bullet out and went back to the range with some Brit. ammo. The rifle worked great with the Brit.

Problem was feeding.
This was due to using metric magazines. The add in SGN stated this rifle was built with L1A1 parts on a metric receiver so I ordered additional metric magazines. WRONG the receiver takes inch magazines and came with one. Don’t let anyone tell you that metric can be used in an inch receiver. They fit but are loose and none of the 5, I have would give reliable functioning. I won’t bet my life on them.

Accuracy:
Without really trying I could keep a 4" group at 100 yards off hand. And I quite sure I could close it up shooting off of sandbags and using good reloads.

Safety:
Liked the size and position but I’m sure lefties don’t like it.

Recoil:
Seemed less to me than my M1A. I was able to take fast repeated shots with accuracy.

Appearance:
Looks like a military rifle not pretty but functional.

WHAT I DON’T LIKE ABOUT THE L1A1.

Rear sights. Pain in the butt to adjust wind age. Manual stated that an armourer should make adjustments? Also I don’t like the high narrow flip sight. The aperture also seemed large.

Front sight. Never did like a front sight you have to screw up and down (M-16, AK47, and SKS) the M-14 style makes adjustment more precise and user friendly

Gas system.
Why all the adjustment? My M1A & M-14 will function with lower power (target) loads and it has only two setting.

Magazine release. To me it seems very awkward.

Charge Handle: Why on the left side of the receiver? Can anyone tell me why this was done?

Bolt hold open last shot: I like the hold open opinion, which the L1A1 doesn’t have the metric FAL’s do.

With that all said what is my over all impression.

IT’S A KEEPER. I must admit there’s something (??) about this rifle I like. It just feels good to carry it handles and shoots great. For what I paid for the L1A1 $420.00 out the door I would recommend it over the AK types any day. But then again I never did like the AK’s

Flame Time: But if I was again going into ground combat I still take an M-16 over all comers.

You all have a good day.

Be vigilant and remember 9-11

Turk
 
There are rear sight assemblies that have two flip up leaves. First up is large hole, sort of a ghost rig; second up has small hole. First for very rapid acquisition of target and better in low light. Second for take your time serious eyeball dinging at longer range. I agree, the M1 sight system is wonderfull.

Adustable gas system can be generally ignored but can come in handy if you want to play with a wide selection of loads. It is flexible enough to enable you to use soft subsonic loads and butt kickin heavy bullet armor peircing or other specialty projectiles.

The hold open can be restored, takes a good tinkerer or smith to do it.

Charging handle is friendly to leftys. Does take a little getting used to tho.

I think the whole FAL type family are veeery good battle rifles. And I used to love and sleep with the M1 Garand. Became a convert to the FAL. Used issue M16 for social work and was singularly underwhelmed.

Sam
 
Advantage of left hand side charging handle is that you keep your right mitt on the pistol grip while the support hand charges the gun.
 
If you look at the little latch that you can manually push up to lock bolt back you can see where the little pin for the bolt hold open would go. I've heard about folks fixing them in all sorts of different ways, but I'm no smith, so I'm going to have somebody with a clue fix mine.

I agree with the rear sites. Personally I learned to shoot rifle with buckhorn sites, and then with the AR15 A2 style site. I much prefer the A2 with its 2 different peeps than the hard to adjust L1a1. But even with the regular iron sights I could quickly nail a 5 gallon bucket size rock at 300 yards easily yesterday.

There was a picture over on the FAL files where Double G gunsmithing attached what appears to be an A2 rear site to a FAL. Got me all excited! :D

I like the left hand CH better than I like the AR15 with its charging handle at the rear. But I still think the M1 and the AK with the handle right on the carrier is the most solid.
 
Oh yeah...as far as the bolt hold open (BHO) is concerned, you can just find an appropriately sized roll pin and press it onto the stud. Or you can go to www.gunthings.com and pick out a BHO that will work.

TNT armory makes an A2 Style rear sight that is windage adjustable and has the flip apeture. However, it's not elevation adjustable, and at this time is sized only for metric guns.

I'll bet the Double G model is the same.
 
Also, after you break that bad boy in, recheck the adjustment of your gas system. It is likely that you can crank it back a few notches and save wear and tear on the rifle.

I like the adjustable gas system. I also like the left-side charging handle. Heck, I just plain like the FAL.

Mike
 
I finally got a chance to shoot the L1A1 for accuracy.

I used Brit. surplus ammo and front and stock bagged off the bench. 1 inch groups shootting 3-5 rd. groups usally with a flyer (me). I was really impressed. This rifle was put together by Century and the bore looks really good I assume it is a surplus barrel.

But I have to again state I think the rear sight adjustement procudures really stink. But then again I never changed my 16 zero during my tour in RVN so does it matter??

Another reason I like the 5.56 NATO round is the control. With 15 fast aimed shots standing I was off balance after the 15th.

Even with its faults (my opinion) I sure do like this rifle.

Turk
 
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