Hesse Fal -H

[WiFAL]

I'm curious about what became of Hesse FALs. Despite the horror stories posted here about Hesse receivers, I took the plunge and bought a FAL-H from CDNN. The rifle was represented to be in NRA excellent or like new condition.

The rifle I received was missing the front sight assembly, which was quickly replaced at no cost to me. The rifle is an STG. The charging handle is a little dinged up; the finish is worn on the high spots of the handguards. The stock and grip are bead blasted. Serial numbers don't match.

The insides are immaculate. The barrel looks new as does the gas piston. The gas valve turns by hand with firm clicks. The trigger has some take up but breaks clean with a trigger pull equivalent to a sporting rifle.

I had the chance this weekend to shoot the rifle for an extended period. Shot up 400 rounds of PMC, Radway and Chilean ammo. Only one fail to fire on the Chilean 76. Runs at 5.5 with PMC, 3.5 on milsurp. Never a failure to extract or eject. Works with magazines from three different sources. With front sight post turned all the way down and rear sight centered the rifle is dead on at 100 yds. Drilled the living daylights out of a 2" dot just resting the rifle against a step ladder. Hesse brake is loud but did not experience the cheek slap others have mentioned, nor did my shooting buddy. Recoil is light, easy to stay on target.

This rifle cost a little more than a Century but has none of the problems I've seen described here.

So why don't I read more about the FAL-H?

[EMDII]

I have a FALO-C from Hesse. Tickled pink. Re-finished and tuned by George Gouger!

They (hesse FAL-H) have a spotted past. Below some SN, many went to CAI for use in R1A1 conversions, StG conversions, Franken-FAL metr-inch conversions, you name it.

After about SN 3500, Robert apparently did ALL the machine work. He had furnished un-finished receivers to Vendors such as CAI who had little skill or desire to 'build' a gun. They assembled guns. Robert also has an attitude, and he's paid for his customer service woes. Still, I'd buy another, before I bought a CAI. Decent price, looks right, and he's really improved the products.

Now, if he'd only build a Kevlar TMH or receiver for the FAL!

[ May 09, 2001: Message edited by: EMDII ]

[troynm]

I have a Century FAL. Built with Hesse receiver and Austrian parts. No finish wear, looks almost new, works great. I am more than satisfied! :)

[alphabeta121]

Whats the deal w/ kevlar recievers. I saw an ad for a stripped AR lower made out of kevlar.
A) would it function properly and hold up well?
B) is it easy to maintain or would hoppe's eat it :)

alphabe

[EMDII]

kevlar- Probably OK for mouse guns. I'd want some test to destruction to determine suitability for FAL.

Aluminum would be fine, as long as the LS was in a steel insert, the receiver was made of T7xxx aircraft-grade aluminium (yes, ium), and it started life as a billet, CNC'd and EDM for all the cuts. The FAL required over 300 receiver machine dimensions, of which many had < 0.005 tolerance, and many were 3-dimensional tolerances. This is not for the faint-hearted.
;)

[derek huffman, azexarms]

The "long fiber" glass resin that Cavalry Arms is using for the CAV 15 lowers had me worried but I'm on my second case of Russian .223 with a drop-in auto sear and it runs like a sewing machine, no probs at all.

D.

[MuzBlast]

Derek,

Are the CAV15 lowers the same thing as the Hesse Kevlar lower?

:confused:

[58772239]

Ok, here goes with the ar's, i lovem, kevlar rocks, there is very little strain on the little black lower, the only potential problem area is at the rear where the stock, and recoil tube are attatched, possibility of breakage?, who knows, but tell me about this auto sear, i have seen them advertised in sgn, but they cannot be legal? :confused:

[Dirtfarmer]

Derek is a Class 2 manufacturer.

Goodwill,
-Dirtfarmer