No self control. Bought a STG-58 - Questions

S

schlickenmeyer

New member
Well, I bought it from Federal, and was impressed. came apart easily, etc.. However, I am a bit confused by the inch/metric thing. Federal sez it's a metric, but the descriptions I can find make me think it's an inch (at least the lower). help.
 
Inch FALs have a folding cocking handle, flat fronted pistol grip, dust cover with a stripper clip guide (very cool), and some other stuff. It's entirely possible you got a bits and pieces gun.

The big question is, who made the receiver?
 
Oops. The receiver is an Imbel. It does have a folding carring handle, but a fixed big shiny cocking handle. My only complaint so far is no rear strap loop on the stock. can't wait to shoot it and see if it was assembled correctly..
 
STG-58 is a metric pattern FAL.

You are going to love that gun.
It takes much of the recoil out of a .308.
The gas system is adjustable. Start on 4. If the gun jams, move to 5. If the gun slams, move to 3.

You are going to ask, "Where did all that ammo go?"
 
As I'm sure you know by now, the Imbel is the best you could get, so congratulations.

Make sure you strip it down and clean it before you shoot it. Federal and Century often ship dirty guns.

Inspect the gas piston before you fire it for the first time and after each time you shoot it. US made, Hesse in particular, gas pistons will sometimes bend, making your weapon malfuntion.

Go to www.fnfal.com and download the FAL Operator's manual, in PDF format. It will answer quite a few questions about general operation.

I'd deviate from the manual's gas adjustment somewhat. Crank the gas sleeve all the way up to the gas block/front sight. Your regulator sleeve should be at the #1 position. Insert one round in the magazine, load and fire that one round. If the bolt is locked to the rear, rotate the sleeve one full number (not one full rotation!). Repeat until the bolt fails to lock to the rear. Now that you've found it's limit, go 1.5-2.0 clicks back (numerically lower) and that should be your typical operating setting. Mine runs between 4 and 5.

Of course, for the above to work, you're bolt hold open device needs to function properly.
 
Thanx! I took it apart and cleaned it. not bad at all. I think the hold open does not work on this gun. how to set the gas stop with out it? (downloaded the pdf file, can't open on the system i'm using.) Is it possible that the Imbel is a metric that takes inch mags? the mag sure looks like the description for an inch.
 
I don't believe that it is too hard to modify metric to take inch mags (or is it vice versa). Supposedly they aren't as tight in the mag well
 
It is possible to modify a metric receiver to accept inch pattern magazines, but why would you? Metric magazines are so less expensive, it would be a waste of time/money.

The magazine that arrived with the rifle has a brazed-on hook at the top front? If so, it is an inch style.

If the hook on the top front of the magazine was punched directly out of the magazine body, it's metric style.

Yes, Imbel did, and still does, make runs of inch style receivers. Federal Arms was selling these for a while.

To re-enable the hold open device, you can remove and replace the assembly ($12-$20) or you can try to replace the pin that was ground down. It's retention pin is the same as the magazine release's pivot pin and can be removed with a screwdriver from the left side of the receiver. It's a pretty easy operation, only needing a little fiddling to replace the pin.
 
Thanx! It is then an inch mag, which is cool, as I now understand, it will also use metric mags with little problem. I'll strip and look into the pin issue. now I just gotta spend on mags and ammo.. I've been looking for the hold open pin and the inch mags, but no good source found. anyone?

[This message has been edited by schlickenmeyer (edited August 28, 2000).]
 
Destructo said: "As I'm sure you know by now, the Imbel is the best you could get, so congratulations."

Dunno if I'd agree with that. I've got an Imbel receiver, and while it is certainly a fine receiver, there's some folks that prefer the DSArms receiver. And personally, I'd prefer to have an original Steyr receiver, but there's that pesky BATF to deal with...

Jared
 
The key operating clause there is, "can get". Maybe I should have said "can currently get new."

Northridge Int. (800)678-3939 might have a hold open device. They do have a pretty cool FAL web kit that holds 8 magazines for $35.

DSA should have some, too. They'll often advertise on their web site.

SARCO (908)647-3800 advertises the metric version for $15. It should fit and function properly in your rifle.
 
Are ALL IMBEL Recievers sold by Federal inch? I ordered and IMBEL from my local FFL today, I told him I wanted metric,as my parts kit will be metric. How do I tell if the IMBEL he orders is metric? If he gets an inch reciever and I have a metric parts kit I will be SOL, right?

Thanks
Later
Daren
 
Ok, near as I have been able to tell, Imbel makes at least one variety that takes Inch mags, it is however a Metric receiver, and accepts all normal metric parts. You should have no problems with your kit, and be able to use both mag styles. Looks like I accidentally got me a great item. You too. Congrats!!
 
m1911,

an IMBEL receiver is as close as you will get to an original Steyr receiver. With the exception of possibly an FMAP Argentinian receiver.


The IMBELS, and the Argies were built on an FN contract using FN machinery.

They are as close as you will get to an original FN FAL.

[This message has been edited by orsogato (edited August 29, 2000).]
 
The vast majority of Imbel receivers are metric (though there ARE metric Imbels that were designed to take inch magazines).

-Troy
 
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