FAL Trouble

[traevin]

I want to start off by saying that this is my first FAL, so my knowledge of the weapon is pretty spotty at best. I'm hoping that someone on the board can help me resolve this issue before I'm forced to send the gun back to the manufacturer, so thank you very much for any help in advance.

I recently purchased a new DSA SA58 Medium Contour Rifle with the Duracoat Realtree camo finish from the company as a special order and ten brand new 20 rd. mags from CDNN. I estimate I've shot the gun between 300-500 rds. so far.

The problem is, I'm experiencing continuous FTF breakdowns with each and every one of the magazines, including the camo mag that came with the new gun. After putting maybe 40-100 rounds through each mag tested, the problem has measurably decreased, but not satisfactorily so. Honestly, I've never had a gun that jammed so much, especially not one that costs 2K+. I keep telling myself it's the magazines but maybe I'm giving the gun maker too much credit. To describe the failure in layman's terms (since I'm still trying to pick up the lingo), the bolt isn't placing the fresh round in the chamber. Sometimes it only goes about halfway in, with most of the round still visible; other times the bolt almost closes, but not enough to allow the gun to fire. I tried changing the gas settings from five to setting one or two but that didn't make a noticeable difference either, plus I keep the gun as clean as possible, so I'm stumped.

My question is, do new FAL mags typically require an extensive break-in (100+ rds.) before their actual reliability can be fully realized?

Or does the gun simply require a 500 rd. or more break-in period to achieve anything resembling functionality? At this point, it's extremely rare to shoot more than 15 rds through any of the ten mags without a slew of FTFs.

Or does it sound to you like there's something mechanically wrong with the gun itself?

Before I call DSA, would you guys mind suggesting some things I could try to get the gun running more smoothly? Any help would be tremendously appreciated.

JD

[Hebrew Battle Rifle]

traevin:
Welcome to the FALFILES. With only a few exceptions, the folks on this board are outstanding individuals. Just for the record, I am not one of them.

It seems that alot of the recent SA58s are having the failures that you described. If it were my rifle, I would return it to DSA and let them get it worked out. The most probable cause of the failure is a rough edge on the feed rails in the upper receiver. If it were a home built rifle I would suggest that you take some fine sand paper and smooth the rail edges. Since it is a new DSA with a custom finish, you would be better served to return it. For $2000, that rifle should as smooth as a fine eurotrash watch.

It is possible that the magazines are causing the problem. If that is the case, then it isn't a mag problem, but a recoil spring or recoil tube problem.

In either case, send it back.

Just FYI, unless your state has regulations against it, you can send the rifle back to DSA directly and they can ship it back to you directly without having to go through an FFL dealer.

I am sure others will be along and fill in any gaps that I may have left.

Be cool;
HBR

by the way, what ammo are you shooting?

[2barearms]

Where do you have the gas setting at. The Ammo/gas setting
could be the problem. Stick with one kind of ammo till you get
it worked. I always start with gas regulator closed. Then work
backwards to get the correct ejection/bolt hold open.

[fastprofessor]

I second HBR's comments. It is a new DSA under warranty. Call them up and send it back to have them fix it right. They might give you some BS about break-in period but you should be well beyond that if you've shot 500 rounds though it.

[ggiilliiee]

traevin ...dont waste your money sending it back to the same idiots that sent you the DANGEROUS rifle ....the pros ....lol on the site dont get it .....just assembly rats .....nothing more .....the rifle is unsafe in that condition .....to you and folks standing next to you ....dsa will tell you to just shoot it till it breaks in or fucks up your face .......not real proffessional in my book .a bunch of girly boys ...he he and a .lawsuit waiting to happen ...imo ....email me if yo need help or just ask raspeguy ...he understands how a rifle should function....smiths on the board DONT .....can help you get rid of the brass strikes youll have on the reciever after you get it running correctly .....simple ejector fix ....dont beat up your investment ........

[SHARPSHOOTER]

ignore ggiilliiee he is at best a borderline troll and does not give good advise.

[ce]

That's simply not true, Sharpshooter, gggiiillliiieee has a profound understanding of the FAL, and his innovations on ejectors are brilliant.

I don't subscribe to some of his positions, but he knows how to get a rifle running. DSA obviously doesn't.

I would rasp on that piece of shit myself if it were mine, but I still have to recommend returning it to Dilbert in Illinois and let him check it with his rectal thermometer, and whatever series of guages they use in the lab at DSA before sending out rifles to customers.

After they return it as much, much, better than new, and it still doesn't work, maybe ggiillliiiee can chuck a piece of scotch brite in a drill and polish that too tight chamber out to where it will accept ammunition.

Breaking in period, STFU, DSA.

[SHARPSHOOTER]

ce i can not believe that monkeying with something that FN decided works fine is having a great understanding and being innovative. I have never had a reciever that was in spec have an ejector problem. The brass kisses as a normal thing and do not bother me. So I will have to pass on his being a great Fal Luminary. As for the DSA rifle it has an awesome waranty and if it is not right send it back and they will make it right. I have never been disappointed in thier product where they did not make it right. And that only happend one time.

[SHARPSHOOTER]

Oh before I forget this is the same person that stated that FSE M3 HTS sets will just go off with no help from the operator. Gunplumber settled that one however. So again I believe that this says volumes about his expertise.

[Cozmacozmy]

Just guessing here, but is it possible that the gas port is plugged???

[Walmart_special]

Check your ammo... Supplus or commercial? Win308 or NATO? NATO spec is a tiny bit longer. Supplus is generally NATO and commercial Win308. I think Win308 "GO" chamber (headspace) is 1.630, NATO at 1.632. If the headspace is set for Win308 you'll have problem with NATO rounds (bolt won't close all the way).

Does the round FTF can later be inserted by hand into the chamber?

Put one round in the mag, insert, charge and shoot. Does round eject and bolt lock back? If not, adjust gas regulator until it does - If it does, then your gas system is probably ok. If not, after full gas pressure, then send it back to DSA.

Is the FTF round stuck in an angle or stright? If angle, you may have problem with your feed ramp, magazine. Stright, could be bad round, tight chamber, wrong headspace.

This just stuff I'll check... Good luck...

[chico80x]

I had a problem like that on my FAL and it turns out that it was the feed ramp on the chamber that didn't have enough chamfer to feed reliably. Another problem that you could be having is a weak return spring or too much build up of that Dura-Coat finish. That stuff is pretty thick and it could be slowing down your bolt enough to cause these jams. In any case take the bolt out and make sure it's lubricated with a good Teflon lubricant like Rem Oil and test it out to see what happens. If not, send it back to DSA and let them deal with it.

[ggiilliiee]

THANKS CE.......DONT GET YOUR SELF IN TROUBLE OVER ME ...like gun gummer and dsa ...crapshooter just doesnt get it either ......oh well hes law enforcement ...obviously he knows more than a machinist thats been making parts for nukes and tanks, mri scanning heads medical equipment and all the shit that keeps his lights on ......he couldnt get the job at wal mart and had to go for the next lower intelligence level position....crapshooter if you believe gun gummer makes the best ,,,,,,if i were you ....invest in some GOOD body armor ..if your intelligence matches your shooting skills as a policeman (ive shot with many) youll need it .....

[ggiilliiee]

hey kid shooter ...forgot to ad your comment on fn ...i called the fn distributer in s carolina and asked them if gungummer really was fn"s favorite fan ....like he states at the bottom of his web page ......funny the man in charge there said SPECIFICALLY...mark graham has absolutely NOTHING to do with the fn people (ABSOLUTELY)....only in his tiny little oxide coated mind ......would you like to see the return letter ??? daddy always told me, hang with idiots and youll turn into one, did you used to hang with macnamara when they thought the ar"s were working fine???.....check the post where imbel rails DONT hang over the mag lips ....you might just learn something ......wont hold my breath....