how cost effective an FAL can you build?

Buck Shott · January 03, 2003, 13:27

I was wondering what the cheapeast way to build a FAL would be? A have been reading posts and some people have mentioned 400$ dollar FAL builds. I have also done some pricing of parts and i dont think i could be one for less than $500.. let me know
Buck

Wadman · January 03, 2003, 13:56

Note: I already had tools from prior builds.

Entreprise metric receiver: $200 including transfer and shipping
Imbel kit: $100
FSE US parts: $60(H,T,S, P-grip)
Tapco cocking handle: $40

Total: $400

With a cheaper receiver and US parts you could shave another $50 off that price.

**kfranz** · January 03, 2003, 13:57

$88 compliance set from FAC,
$89 kit from TAPCO(if you buy two),
$129 Century receiver from Century(occasionally on monthly special)

Total, $306. Add $50 for transfer fees and shipping, and you're in for $356.

Alternately, w/a more "sure thing" receiver

$88 compliance set from FAC,
$89 kit from TAPCO
$200 Imbel/Coonan from FAC

Total, $377. Add the $50, and you're at $427.

No tool cost factored in, nor refinish, but it can be done on the cheap...

If you REALLY want to go cheap,

$89 kit
$19 Century HTS TAPCO
$30 Century furniture TAPCO
$129 Century receiver

$267, + shipping and transfers....

or, if'n you are super machinist, replace the receiver with a $19 casting and dremel away...

Wadman · January 03, 2003, 14:28

Quote:

Originally posted by kfranz
If you REALLY want to go cheap,

$19 Century HTS TAPCO
$30 Century furniture TAPCO
$129 Century receiver

$178, + shipping and transfers....

or, if'n you are super machinist, replace the receiver with a $19 casting and dremel away...

$178 is cheap alright! But isn't it missing a few essentials?

**kfranz** · January 03, 2003, 14:38

Quote:

Originally posted by Wadman

$178 is cheap alright! But isn't it missing a few essentials?

Yeah, I supose some of those little parts are important, aren't they...

Outlander · January 03, 2003, 18:38

The $ value has little to do with it. when are shoot the rifle you built with your own hands moneywill have nothing to do with it

Mad Dog 7.62 · January 03, 2003, 20:02

Remember though: "You gets what you's pays for" and "There is no free lunch". You can build it cheap, and you're more likely to have problems. Century receivers, and Century compliance parts are pretty much guarenteed to give you trouble. And some of the $89 kits are $89 for a reason too. Go with a decent reciever, a nice kit, and good quality comliance parts, and maybe a few "nice touches" like a good replica flash hider something....add refinishing....and you'll be much closer to $600 than $400. But, you'll have a nice, reliable rifle that you can enjoy and be proud to show somebody and tell them you built it yourself. It only costs a little more to go first class.
MD

NotQuiteSane · January 04, 2003, 14:16

Quote:

Originally posted by kfranz
or, if'n you are super machinist, replace the receiver with a $19 casting and dremel away...

Are castings considered a "US made part"?

NQS

ripndee · January 04, 2003, 14:32

I consider mine a US made part, it was cast in the US and machined in the US

Rip

NotQuiteSane · January 04, 2003, 15:53

Thats how I figured it. for $15, I might pickup one, just to try my hand at it.

If trhe 80% one doesn't require a mill, i'm defiently in.

oh, heck, i need an excuse to buy a mill anyhow

NQS

Mad Dog 7.62 · January 04, 2003, 16:08

Actually, if I understand the regs right, even if the casting is 80% foreign, as long as it is finished in the US and recieves it's identifying stamp and number here, it's a US made part. Kinda like so many other things full of foreign parts get marked "made in USA". Good luck with the castings guys, that is way, way beyond my skill level. The only mill I can operate is a mill bastard file!!!

LtRiker · January 04, 2003, 19:08

What exactly is left to do?

I have never seen an 80% FAL receiver......

NotQuiteSane · January 04, 2003, 21:05

Quote:

Originally posted by LtRiker
What exactly is left to do?

I have never seen an 80% FAL receiver......

Dunno. but I figure if it'd take no milling and cost plus dremel bits/drill bits came to under $100, it would be worth trying. if worse comes to worse, you can buy a finished reciver, and call it a learning experience.

NQS

Wadman · January 05, 2003, 02:37

As far as finishing an 80% receiver, I thought someone said that an FAL receiver is much more difficult than an AR receiver. Many more critical points than merely drilling holes on a template.

slimshady · January 05, 2003, 18:09

Lots of posts on these in the build it yourself boards, both here and places like Roderus (sp?) Basically, they are raw castings, no machine work at all done. You have to:
1: drill/ream/tap the gas tube nut hole.
2: drill/ream/tap the bbl hole. (timing of threads very difficult)
3: machine the slots for the cocking handle.
4: machine the internal slots for the bolt and dustcover.
5: drill/ream all the holes thru the sides.
6: fit and install ejector block.
7: machine recess for recoil shoulder dogleg.
8: drill/ream takedown screw hole.
9: and then you have to finish building the rifle as normal, possibly fitting the contact points of the casting as required!

At minimum you will need a mill, tho I suppose an ugly but functional weapon could be turned out with hand tools and a Dremel. The final problem is it needs heat treated, which may warp it and make all that nice machine work useless. That said, I bought one! And I don't have a mill, YET! If nothing else, it makes a nice cheap paperweight in the shop.

January 03, 2003, 13:27	#1
Buck Shott Registered FALaholic #: 3959 Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 65	how cost effective an FAL can you build? I was wondering what the cheapeast way to build a FAL would be? A have been reading posts and some people have mentioned 400$ dollar FAL builds. I have also done some pricing of parts and i dont think i could be one for less than $500.. let me know Buck

January 03, 2003, 13:57	#3
kfranz Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 101 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 3,630	$88 compliance set from FAC, $89 kit from TAPCO(if you buy two), $129 Century receiver from Century(occasionally on monthly special) Total, $306. Add $50 for transfer fees and shipping, and you're in for $356. Alternately, w/a more "sure thing" receiver $88 compliance set from FAC, $89 kit from TAPCO $200 Imbel/Coonan from FAC Total, $377. Add the $50, and you're at $427. No tool cost factored in, nor refinish, but it can be done on the cheap... If you REALLY want to go cheap, $89 kit $19 Century HTS TAPCO $30 Century furniture TAPCO $129 Century receiver $267, + shipping and transfers.... or, if'n you are super machinist, replace the receiver with a $19 casting and dremel away... Last edited by kfranz; January 03, 2003 at 14:40.

January 03, 2003, 18:38	#6
Outlander Registered FALaholic #: 7743 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Lake Worth Fl Posts: 250	The $ value has little to do with it. when are shoot the rifle you built with your own hands moneywill have nothing to do with it __________________ outlander

January 03, 2003, 20:02	#7
Mad Dog 7.62 Registered FALaholic #: 4815 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Idaho Posts: 3,183	Remember though: "You gets what you's pays for" and "There is no free lunch". You can build it cheap, and you're more likely to have problems. Century receivers, and Century compliance parts are pretty much guarenteed to give you trouble. And some of the $89 kits are $89 for a reason too. Go with a decent reciever, a nice kit, and good quality comliance parts, and maybe a few "nice touches" like a good replica flash hider something....add refinishing....and you'll be much closer to $600 than $400. But, you'll have a nice, reliable rifle that you can enjoy and be proud to show somebody and tell them you built it yourself. It only costs a little more to go first class. MD __________________ _____________________________ "We don't talk Yakkity Yak. We talk lead." Earl Swagger, Hot Springs

January 04, 2003, 15:53	#10
NotQuiteSane Registered FALaholic #: 8484 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Klamath falls, Jefferson Posts: 25	Thats how I figured it. for $15, I might pickup one, just to try my hand at it. If trhe 80% one doesn't require a mill, i'm defiently in. oh, heck, i need an excuse to buy a mill anyhow NQS __________________ Wear a gun to someone else's house, you're saying, 'I'll defend this home as if it were my own.' When your guests see you carry a weapon, you're telling them, 'I'll defend you as if you were my own family.' And anyone who objects levels the deadliest insult possible: 'I don't trust you unless you're rendered harmless'! L. Neil Smith, The Probability Broach Right the wrongs with the Bill of Rights Smith for Prez! As I see it -- my blog GPG key Geek code

January 03, 2003, 13:56	#2
Wadman Registered FALaholic #: 1095 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: North East Illinois Posts: 2,820	Note: I already had tools from prior builds. Entreprise metric receiver: $200 including transfer and shipping Imbel kit: $100 FSE US parts: $60(H,T,S, P-grip) Tapco cocking handle: $40 Total: $400 With a cheaper receiver and US parts you could shave another $50 off that price.

January 04, 2003, 14:32	#9
ripndee Registered FALaholic #: 6409 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 161	I consider mine a US made part, it was cast in the US and machined in the US Rip

January 04, 2003, 16:08	#11
Mad Dog 7.62 Registered FALaholic #: 4815 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Idaho Posts: 3,183	Actually, if I understand the regs right, even if the casting is 80% foreign, as long as it is finished in the US and recieves it's identifying stamp and number here, it's a US made part. Kinda like so many other things full of foreign parts get marked "made in USA". Good luck with the castings guys, that is way, way beyond my skill level. The only mill I can operate is a mill bastard file!!! __________________ _____________________________ "We don't talk Yakkity Yak. We talk lead." Earl Swagger, Hot Springs

January 04, 2003, 19:08	#12
LtRiker Registered FALaholic #: 8652 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Wichita Falls, TX Posts: 444	What exactly is left to do? I have never seen an 80% FAL receiver...... __________________ go shoot something

January 05, 2003, 02:37	#14
Wadman Registered FALaholic #: 1095 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: North East Illinois Posts: 2,820	As far as finishing an 80% receiver, I thought someone said that an FAL receiver is much more difficult than an AR receiver. Many more critical points than merely drilling holes on a template.

January 05, 2003, 18:09	#15
slimshady Registered FALaholic #: 8394 Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: central indiana Posts: 144	Lots of posts on these in the build it yourself boards, both here and places like Roderus (sp?) Basically, they are raw castings, no machine work at all done. You have to: 1: drill/ream/tap the gas tube nut hole. 2: drill/ream/tap the bbl hole. (timing of threads very difficult) 3: machine the slots for the cocking handle. 4: machine the internal slots for the bolt and dustcover. 5: drill/ream all the holes thru the sides. 6: fit and install ejector block. 7: machine recess for recoil shoulder dogleg. 8: drill/ream takedown screw hole. 9: and then you have to finish building the rifle as normal, possibly fitting the contact points of the casting as required! At minimum you will need a mill, tho I suppose an ugly but functional weapon could be turned out with hand tools and a Dremel. The final problem is it needs heat treated, which may warp it and make all that nice machine work useless. That said, I bought one! And I don't have a mill, YET! If nothing else, it makes a nice cheap paperweight in the shop.

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