first build: updated 9MAY - range report

[FALna45]

just put the LS in my first build last night:
good condition non-pod cut imbel donor kit; plain muzzle @ 16.5"
DC type I
FSE H,T,S & folding c-handle
WBB PG
i used moses' LS gauge rod (or is it staff?). B/BC (w/o extractor) closed on my forster GO with 2 thumbs on the .266 step. would not close on NO GO.
so i got a .266 vandenberg LS from brownell's that i measured at .2655
banged her in there and checked against the gauges again.
takes just a bit more to close on the go now, will not close on no-go.
seems ok?
just for comparison of the 'feel' i did the HS check procedure on my SA58 as above. well, the bolt will not close on the no go but SWALLOWS the go. that's got me wondering a bit.
also, on the build, when in battery there is a gap (maybe between 1/32 & 1/16"?) between the front of the BC and the receiver, but i thought i'd read this is ok if you're headspaced right.
does it sound like i'm ok to go to the range?
hope i didn't leave out any relevant info...
TIA guys!

[BD]

I would shoot it!

[SLR-5000]

Just tie it to a tree with a long string attached to the trigger and pull:rofl: :wink:

[jim1of6]

The range has got to be open by now. Sounds like you're good to go.

[cliffy109]

All is well. After the first 100 or so rounds, you'll probably have enough set-back so that it closes quicky on the go. The gap you see is a design "feature" of the DC receivers. Its normal. Shoulder that thing confidently and squeeze that trigger!

[Pluribus]

The gap you described on the DC is built in and normal for that receiver. Look to the left of the chamber on the receiver and you'll see a raised pad that the BC stop's on. It sound's like you're ready to go.:shades:

Oop's, cliffy beat me to the key's!

[FALna45]

thanks for the reassurances gents!
i researched building so much on this board before starting this thing that it kind of fell together and gave me an uneasy feeling.
range time will have to be tomorrow morning. i'll report back!
thanks again!!

[cliffy109]

Originally posted by FALna45
it kind of fell together

That's the way its suposed to go. I'm betting you have a perfectly reliable and safe rifle from shot number one. Let's see a picture of it!

[fal fiend]

well.u shot it yet ??

[FALna45]

no no haven't shot it yet. round 10 tomorrow morning!
did get a few pics tho. bear in mind it needs refinish. have STG HGs on it now as i've not yet finished redoing the izzy lb hg wood i seem to be making worse:cry:
but ya know i like it alot with the smooth & minimal HG. in fact further to that streamlined end i put the imbel gas plug back in where i had replaced it with an STG plug.
here's with the wood hg
http://cnr-ffl.us/FAL/shortywood.jpg
here's with the STG HG
http://cnr-ffl.us/FAL/shorty5.jpg
here posed it with my SA58 with the lower receivers aligned so you can see the length difference in barrel & butt.
http://cnr-ffl.us/FAL/shortyVdsa5.jpg
this spring, the SA58 sports a great new (to me) long SA buttstock from the ce collection, and the STG pod which is never on when i shoot it. decisisions on configurations abound!
Sheridan you readin this? Why Choose an FAL?
hee hee

[cliffy109]

Nice little carbine man! I'd stay away from the 30 rounder until you figure out how the gun runs. I've seen several that had issues and you want to minimize hassles when ringing out a new gun.

[P806]

Excellent looking FALs you have there.
:fal:

[FALna45]

thanks for the kind replies. the 30 rounder was just for show but has been flawless in my SA58.
so i took shorty out to island lake range this morning.
single round in a mag as i dialed in the gas setting.
it cycled well/ BHO positive w/ regulator nut 3 clicks from closed.
no FTF FTE FTX at all during this session.
i have not yet enlarged the gas port.
after about 10 single shots i decided to go 2rounds/mag.
(cut it in half....and DOUBLE IT!)
first was cool. held open on empty mag.
next 2round/mag doubled. ugh
i took off the lower and with my left thumb on the hammer pulled the trigger and held it back while resetting the hammer which did enage. scratched my head & tried to decide if i should try it again. didn't really know how else to check & the DNR range has strict rules against rapid-fire!!
it was at this point the guy next to me took his first shot with his muzzleloader. i was expecting the roar and belch of smoke but instead i heard what sounded like a tennis ball shot out of a pvc tube. PHOOOOMP! i looked over and about 3 feet from the bench was a BIG SMOLDERING LUMP OF POWDER?! well, if he can do that, i can shoot double-taps!!
next 2round/mag was cool. next 2round/mag doubled. ugh. cased it and moved on to sighting in the red dot on the ultimak mount i just got for the mini (http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108222). it's pretty cool.
i'm off to search the subject, but all opinions are welcomed.
the HTS is FSE from FAC marked M3. all springs are from the imbel kit.

[cliffy109]

First thing I would check is your trigger plunger. If the plunger is too long or is impacting something behind it, the trigger is barely tripping the sear and allowing doubles. Yes, it happened to me on a build that had a large burr on the back of the trigger return plunger.

[FALna45]

thanks cliffy i found a thread searching where you discussed it.

[FALna45]

i think i may have the culprit cornered. it appears as tho the recess at the rear of the FSE trigger (on left in pic) may not be deep enough to allow the plunger to seat properly, hence the extra rearward displacement of said plunger.
http://cnr-ffl.us/FAL/shortytrig1.jpg
i put an imbel trigger in the FSE's place (after taking these pics) and it positions the plunger just how the lower on the right (all imbel) is.
http://cnr-ffl.us/FAL/shortytrig2.jpg
seems like all i would need to do is deepen the recess for the plunger tip a bit.
or should i try to get a replacement from FSE? or am i missing something else??

[cliffy109]

I'd probably start by hogging out the area in the PG where the back of the plunger is contacting or by shortening the plunger itself. Always start on the cheapest part first.

[FALna45]

i too subscribe to the cheapest part first thing but if it is the trigger's fault, i'd hate to leave an out of spec fire control part floating around even tho i'll probably never get rid of or forget about it. hmm

[tac-40]

Has anybody thought about the differences between the Izzy plunger and the standard metric? IIRC, the Izzy plunger doesn't have the "nose" on it that the metric plunger does but is a rounded point. Wouldn't it work if FALna45 ground off the "nose" to conform with the Izzy pattern? This would shorten the plunger and bring it farther forward. By the pictures, it looks as if he has room to work with.

[ce]

I couldn't take my eyes off that smooth, svelte butt.
Thanks for the memories.

I'd grind on the rear of the plunger to remove any interference, maybe just round it off a bit. First try another plunger to see if that is the problem.

I had a double troubler yesterday that was due to a short nosed sear, I swapped it out and all is well.

[FALna45]

well i haven't modified the FSE trigger yet but i'm sure that was the problem. put a DSA piston in the shorty to keep my count up and replaced the trigger with an imbel. put about 150 rounds thru yesterday with no doubles. again not a single FTAnything. opened the gas port to .109 and got 3 more clicks open on the regulator.
i was getting about 5" groups at 100 yards. i'd like to see what someone good w/ irons (i'm not) would get. pretty happy now. just gotta figure out what to use to deepen that plunger recess and get to refinishing!