NEW FAL GUY.....

[agentofwrath]

Hello all!

I am new to the forum and have been lurking a bit. I am amazed at all the great info out there.

I have a question. I have dropped the hammer on buying a Century Arms L1A1 sporter with the goofy thumb hole stock. It's got the old SUIT sight, 6 inch magazines, a Milstd 1913 top cover, a cheap PRC rubberized scope, buttstock removal tool, USA made buttstock and pistol and a case for $500.

I think it's a good deal. The receiver does'nt have the coveted IMBEL stampings on it. What says the jury is this a good deal?

The flash hider has been cut off. How easy/hard would it be to intall an L1A1 flash hider on it? Would I have to have the end of the barrel threaded by a smith? Thanks in advance!

JOEL

[nightschneider]

Welcome aboard!

It sounds like you got a very good deal....with all the extras listed, I would say you only paid about 300-350 for the gun (depending on condition of SUIT).

You will need to rethread the barrel in order to put any attachments securely on there...most smiths are capable.

can't wait to see what the next one will be....:devil:

[larphred]

Welcome as well. You might want to take a look further down the page for "gunsmithing and do it yourself", but I realize you are new here and learning the ropes will take a little time.
Re: threading your barrel. You can probably do it yourself if you are so inclined. You can buy the die and pilot (or borrow or rent them on the board here). The only potential problem to look for is that if the barrel has been cut significantly, the taper of the barrel will result in the outside diameter getting larger as more barrel is cut. The result of the larger O.D. is that it will be very difficult to use the die to cut the threads.

[brownknees]

The receiver does'nt have the coveted IMBEL stampings on it.
However it may still be an Imbel reciever, just not stamped with the "Gear Logo".
If you look inside the magazine well on the right hand (deeper) side there is probably a date stamped in there. A lot of Century guns were made on Imbel recievers made for Century without the gear wheel.
The date will give an indication of what reciever you have.:biggrin:

[wheat]

Welcome
Sounds like one way or another, you got a good deal. If that rifle cycles and hits paper at 100, who cares which receiver it is. Sure one is more valuable, but may not have any benefit when it comes to accuaracy or dependability.Load up, go to the range and have fun.
See Ya, Wheat

[cbr954fz1]

welcome aboard!! nice to meet another newbee to the site. your right this is agreat place for info and help. sounds like you got a good deal, let us know how it goes at the range.

[agentofwrath]

Thanks for the welcomes. I guess CA was'nt too discriminating when they cut the L1A1 brakes off. I really want to get it back to L1A1 configuration, but CA also cut off the popsicle stick on the front of the grip, so that might necesitate a new lower?

[dominus]

Welcome neighbor! You got a good deal if the rifle runs. Century is the gun lottery company. You pay the money, and hope for a winner. I have a Cent. Fal and it's great, I've heard of plenty that suck. Good Luck with it. I'd get a smith to rethread the barrel. You want it str8 and the crown clean. I'm not that confident in my threading skills.

[English Mike]

Originally posted by agentofwrath
.....CA also cut off the popsicle stick on the front of the grip, so that might necesitate a new lower?

That's just part of the trigger guard, so if they cut it you'll need a fresh one.
Seeing as you'll need a pistol grip, then this might be worth considering:

http://estore.websitepros.com/832529/Detail.bok?no=169

[agentofwrath]

I got in my hot little hands. Looks like a BSA lower, still trying to determine the provenance of the receiver.

Here's a dumb question, more that likely it's a metricr receiver? Will metric and inch mags work in there?

Finally can anybody recommend someone here that can thread the barrel and attach the L1a1 flash hider? Should I go with the three of five cut version? THANKS!

[MAINER]

"Here's a dumb question, more that likely it's a metricr receiver? Will metric and inch mags work in there?"

Metric mags sometimes work in inch receivers. Inch mags will not fit in metric receivers due to the large lugon the front.

"Finally can anybody recommend someone here that can thread the barrel and attach the L1a1 flash hider? Should I go with the three of five cut version? THANKS!"

You might contact Files member "Moses". If he can't do it, maybe he will steer you to someone.

The 3slot/5slot flashhiders are just a matter of personal preference. The 3 slot is the latter version, less prone to breakage and probably easier to make.

[agentofwrath]

Thanks again!

[gear-head]

Just so you know what can be done with a Century "butthole"

Here's where mine started:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/510158549_52e9fbf398_o.jpg

Here she is after rehabilitation:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2231/1718896831_ec04510425_b.jpg

[agentofwrath]

AWESOME!!

How did you get the flash hider on? Also how did you get your pistol grip on? I'm trying to find solutions.

THANKS!

[gear-head]

I had Arizona Response Systems put the flashhider on.

To do the conversion, I needed to replace the lower with another stripped lower, rebuild and re-park. You'll find that CAI ground off the pistol grip stud when they installed the thumbhole stock. So I found it easier just to re-build a fresh lower.

Furniture is IronWood, US parts are FSE and Tapco.