FAL Questions
Hi.
I just bought a Century FAL last week. $429 from Wholesale Guns and ammo. The use of US parts has made the original pistol grip configuration possible again, and I don't believe they are currently offering the post-ban Thumbhole model anymore.
I'm new to FAL's as well, but have read up on them for awhile.
L1A1's are "inch pattern" guns from G.B. and also might refer to N.Z., Aussie, and the Canadian C1, or parts kits from them. They are made to Inch/Imperial specifications, and are mostly identical to all other FAL's, and mny of the parts will interchange with metric guns, although some things differ like threading of barrels is different than the metric standards, and details like handgaurd and stock shapes, lack of an integrated bipod, the sights, and a folding handle on the cocking lever.
The StG58's are Austrian FAL parts made to the metric specifications. They have bipods, a handgaurd that accomodates the folded bipod, a non-folding cocking handle, etc.
They are popular perhaps because they more closely follow the "Continental" metric pattern established by FN in Belgium?
Inch receivers also use slightly differnt magazines than the metric guns, the inch mag has a welded solid steel lug on the front edge, and the metric lug is just a stamped dimple. Inch guns will lock and function with the Metric mags, but not vice-versa. Metric mags have been more common, and cheaper in the past, perhaps making the metric pattern guns more popular as well. Inch mags are often deemed slightly more durable than metric, but the difference is probably negligable. Currently inch magazines seem to be as common as the metric, and sell for the same prices.
I'm not sure if either inch or metric is really better, mainly it seems to be the affections shown to the particular variant the shooter/collector loves the most, just like many other firearms.
The Century guns are a mix of parts, Mainly inch parts on a Metric receiver, with some minor modifications to threading etc. to make them fit. There have been problems, but usually center around the quality of assembly, not the parts themselves. But their reputation overall is adequate, and a good value for the price paid.
I think the biggest compaint I see about Centry guns seems to be bent gas pistons. DS Arms and others have US parts kits of various comninations, either for repairs or making a pistol-grip legal rifle.
Centruy has also re-assembled Inch guns on Inch recievers, and Metric guns on Metric recievers. Many of the recievers were manufactured by Imbel of Brazil, who has a FN-spec factory and process to produce them. Other than Pre-Ban FAL's, the Imbel reciever seems to be the "gold standard" right now. Other manufacturers such as Hesse and Enterprise make US produced recievers.
There has been an influx of inexpensive $100-$200 parts kits that have continued to come into the US. Since they lack receivers, or have cut receivers, they are not a firearm and can be sold mail-order. This has sprung a huge industry from the home gunsmith, the gustom medium-production gunsmith, to the large importers like Century, of people building these rifles in a bewildering number of variations, and combinations.
Check out the FAL Files board for more (than you could ever think to ask!) info.
http://www.l1a1.com/cgi-bin/forums/ultimatebb.cgi
Andrew
