FAL Project Is Coming Together

The Imbel parts kit I picked up for my FN FAL project a while back wasn't horrible, but when I realized how much I was going to end up spending on this thing I decided that an upgrade made sense. I sold the Imbel Kit for a small loss and joined a terrific group buy on the FALfiles to get an excellent condition Austrian STG-58 kit, which arrived last week. The upgrade cost me less than a new barrel would have by itself, and the new kit is gorgeous. I told the organizer that I didn't care about the condition of the finish or furniture, since I'm planning on redoing/replacing it anyway, and that what mattered most to me was a nice shiny bore with crisp rifling and no pitting or dark spots. The man delivered. The new barrel is flawless, the internal parts show no signs of wear, and even the finish and furniture are pretty decent. My only two complaints were the crappy packing job (the flash-hider was poking through the side of the box, right underneath the "Fragile, handle with care" sticker... ) and the included magazine has a small dent in it. Neither issue is going to trouble me, though, since I got a top quality the kit for about $90 off DSA's usual price.

The New STG-58 Kit!

I've also upgraded my plans for the receiver. I'd initially planned on paying $285 for an Imbel Gear Logo at a local dealer, but I soon learned that these go for $175 plus transfer fee online. I heard a lot of good things about the Coonan receivers for a bit more, and thought about getting one of those, but in the end I couldn't pass up the DSA receiver. It's forged, not cast, so it's stronger, better quality, lighter than the Imbel, and available without the carrying handle slot. These normally go for $500 or so, but I ordered it on another group buy for $325, only a bit more than I'd originally planned on spending for the Imbel. The receiver should ship to my dealer soon and I'll have it in time for my birthday (Thanks, lilbabylea!)

I've got about half of the accessories and upgrade parts for it so far:
Penguin Premium Buttstock, DSA Stripper Clip Top Cover, Tapco T48 Handguards (also in the mail), Tapco SAW grip, which has a better feel to it than the one from the Penguin set, FSE Hammer, Trigger, Sear group (should be here soon), an old TAPCO AK/T48 style charging handle, and 10 New In Wrap FN 20 round mags.

Still on the shopping list is a DSA Lightweight Aluminum Lower Receiver, Replica T48 Alloy Triggerguard, VOW Para A2 Rear Sight, L1A1 style Selector, Sling, and also maybe an extended mag release. I'll be ordering all of that when my tax refund comes in.

Finally, I'll be shipping the kit, parts, and receiver off to Richard at Century Gun Works for shortening the barrel to 18", refinishing, assembly, and test-firing. This will come out of the wedding money, and if I time things right I'll have the finished rifle waiting for me when I get home from the honeymoon. The mid-June weather should be perfect for putting the rifle through its paces at the Massachusetts Rifle Association 200 yard range.

By the time the rifle is finished it'll have cost me as much as a brand new DSA SA-58 carbine, but it'll be comparable quality, built to exactly my specs, and have a bit more personality. It should look something like this image I photoshopped together:




Hopefully my next post on this will be the range report!