Century Arms L1A1 WARNING - Page 2

withergyld · February 13, 2002, 20:10

I moved my question to gunsmithing

Thanks Derek

withergyld · February 16, 2002, 12:59

I just got back from the range

I fed my CIA L1A1 180 rnds of milsurp and 25 reloads. I had no problems with the milsurp. My reloads are 110gr sp. The first roun would go into the top corner of the reciever. I think this is due to the oal being shorter. Next batch I make I will seat the bullet out farther. Also when I would insert a mag of reloads the first round would pop out of the mag ala Derek Jeters excitable FAL. This could have also been the cause of the miss feeds, As long as I would check to make sure the first rnd stayed in the mag it worked awesome.
Once I got her sited in all was good The front site is all the way down and I am barely hiting right on at 100 yrds. I don't like the apeture on the rear site, it is quite large and makes it hard to get the same exact site picture every time. I was able to get a 3 shot group at 100 yrds that was all the same height and 1.5" left to right. This was with the Iron Sites. I need to order a Tapco scope mount and see if I can get a smaller group

All in all I think it was money well spent
BTW gas is set at 4

fry · February 25, 2002, 00:15

MY FIRST FAL... WAS/IS A CAI L1A1 SPORTER ON AN IMBEL RECEIVER. IT IS VERY ACCURATE. I WOULD ALSO NOTE AFTER COMPARING THE IMPORTED BY CAI IMBEL RECEIVER TO A GEAR LOGO... THEY ARE DEAD NUTS THE SAME! MY GUN SURE LOOKS A LOT LIKE AN STG58! THATS WHAT THE DEALER WROTE ON THE RECEIPT. I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH IT.

Ichabod · February 25, 2002, 01:10

I must be another lucky one.picked-up a century l1a1 sporter on an Imbel receiver,inch patern.no problems here,but I cleaned real well first.Only complaint is the "butthole"stock that comes on them,and already have a replacement on the way rrm DSA.

RocketmanVT · February 25, 2002, 02:24

As a 5-year veteran employee of Century Arms, may I say:
Great Gawd A-Mighty!
Thanks, y'all whut done so, for your positive feedback about Century's FALs and L1A1s. I know Century has sent out some bad stuff in the past, as well as I know they've sent out some righteous shooters - hopefully, a lot more of the latter than the former. Much of the problem stems from the fact that a very small number of the guys 'n' gals there just flat-out have no business working for the company (and if you're reading this, Gary B., you know that to be true.) These clowns and twits can, and HAVE, screw(ed) up the simplest of jobs - like cleaning the barrels BEFORE installation on the upper receiver...Century, like the vast majority of companies, operates on a volume basis: The more we can get out, the lower we can keep the prices. Inevitably, some dolts will take this philosophy to an extreme, and skimp on doing their assigned job properly - all in the name of numbers at the end of their day. Usually, we catch the f***-up before it even goes to test-fire...But, sometimes not...
Believe it or not, CAI/CIA DOES care about quality - we're talkin' FIREARMS here, fer cryin' out loud, not squirt-guns! But bear in mind, when we get a shipment of foreign semi-auto rifles, they have to be completely torn down to satisfy that annoying little group we know as BATF. The parts, in various degrees of re-usability, are gathered up to be re-assembled into a legal configuration - inevitably, some parts that should've been tossed will find their way into a rifle, later causing the end-user any number of problems and outrage.
I don't seek to excuse - merely explain, and perhaps temper the anger of you fine gents and ladies who have encountered malfunctioning (and ugly!

)rifles. I sincerely hope that any screw-ups you've come across are easily remedied, be it Century's replacing a part or parts, or taking the gun back; no company can long afford to produce crap and expect to stay in business (unless it's a government...

)

Okie-dokie, my soap-box is beginning to cave in; time to read more stuff here. BTW, I no longer work for CIA - I've moved to Arizona, to be with the woman of my dreams. So, please accept this post for what it is - and keep the lead a-flyin'!!!

Rocketman

BUFF · February 25, 2002, 11:03

Rocketman:

I have two Century rifles, a CETME and an R1A1.

Both are excellent examples of factory built kit guns at the entry level price. Both were made with good used parts, both fuction reliably and without fail, and both were tremendous bargains. My R1A1 is a metric IMBEL with an Australian kit, and it was about the best $425 I ever spent. I have nicer FALs, but none were the same value the Century rifles were.

I would guess numerous good rifles go to happy owners who say nothing, while those who have problems are, understandably, more likely to say something.

Is my DSA STG a nicer rifle? Yes, but it cost nearly twice as much.

shootist · February 25, 2002, 13:53

Both of my century L1A1s were a great buy including the one built on a Hesse receiver.

mphelps · February 25, 2002, 18:13

YIKES! What a relief! I just came in here to see what the skinny was on CA's L1A1s and am sooooooo glad I did. I am looking for my first FAL and saw one of these......things and wanted to get "the word" on em before I did anything. Thanks guys.

RobCo · September 02, 2016, 06:35

Hello, I'm new to the forum but not firearms. I'm glad I found this post and I was wondering about the quality of the Century Arms FALs. And seems that the quality of them is inconsistent so I'm not sure if taking a chance at getting one for a low price is worth it. And even if it is bad...that could be remedied.

Of course being in NJ just makes it more of a pain since FN FALs are banned by name but you can have any of the other variants

Or maybe it would be better just to a get a kit and receiver and build it myself.

thanks

**gunplumber** · September 02, 2016, 09:02

CAI Imported IMBEL/Argy = good receiver, restorable
CAI manufactured receivers = crap.
Nothing has changed since 2002.

ftierson · September 02, 2016, 12:06

Wow...

Talk about a blast from the past...

Forrest

Brian in MN · September 03, 2016, 15:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunplumber

Nothing has changed since 2002.

Except that now there is a lot more of that Century crap out there and Century has some real competition in that market segment from the good people over at IO.

southernilfarm · May 18, 2018, 20:06

Howdy folks,

New guy here. I'm primarily a Garand and other WWII guy, but find the FAL interesting.

About 18 years ago I purchased a CIA L1A1 without any research and found it would not feed. Life was busy with kids and work, so it has occupied a slot of shame in the gun safe until recently when I pulled it out and discovered it still won't feed. I did have a gun enthusiast buddy eyeball the rifle and try to make it work. Long story short, it won't. We've tried different ammo and several different magazines without any improvement.

The serial number is below 100 on the CIA receiver. I did call CIA a few years ago and described my problem with the folks there. They were no help.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

**308/223shooter** · May 18, 2018, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by southernilfarm

Howdy folks,

New guy here. I'm primarily a Garand and other WWII guy, but find the FAL interesting.

About 18 years ago I purchased a CIA L1A1 without any research and found it would not feed. Life was busy with kids and work, so it has occupied a slot of shame in the gun safe until recently when I pulled it out and discovered it still won't feed. I did have a gun enthusiast buddy eyeball the rifle and try to make it work. Long story short, it won't. We've tried different ammo and several different magazines without any improvement.

The serial number is below 100 on the CIA receiver. I did call CIA a few years ago and described my problem with the folks there. They were no help.

Ideas?

Thanks,
Mike

Depending on who made the receiver, the problem could be a easy fix, or a costly one. Could you post some pics of the receiver? Both sides, the top without the dust cover, and the bottom.

**MAINER** · May 19, 2018, 11:09

^^Yes^^ Helps to know what we're dealing with. CAI receivers had "issues", Imbels generally did not.

I have a CAI from the same era, but luckily blundered into one on an Imbel so most problems were fairly easy.

Two cautions, the headspace on mine was way off, suggest you check yours. Second, check your Gas Piston, CAI used a two-piece Piston of their own that has a tendency to break and should be replaced before it does.

Some info you may find useful;
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108077

**gunplumber** · May 19, 2018, 12:29

Is there a prefix? A serial number below 100 may be C 0100 and an Argy. An excellent receiver. Just like I posted 2 years ago in this thread.

**OLDMANPBK** · May 19, 2018, 12:37

I have #49. A rare collectors item.

Erik the Red · June 05, 2018, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDMANPBK

I have #49. A rare collectors item.

That's the only type of Century Upper I've dealt with that fully sucked. The feed ramps were cut way low which send the projectiles into the chamber face, instead of the chamber. There's ways around it, but its not pretty.

I believe these uppers were ones Century made using the old DCI Uppers, but re-cut them for Inch mags and fully screwed up the feed ramps.

Even though these uppers suck, you can build off of them. Any FAL will function if you spend enough time on it. Only exception is the Williams Uppers (unsafe).

-Erik

February 13, 2002, 20:10	#51
withergyld Registered FALaholic #: 5509 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 955	I moved my question to gunsmithing Thanks Derek __________________ My Yugo SKS page has moved to yugosks.net Please update your bookmarks

February 16, 2002, 12:59	#52
withergyld Registered FALaholic #: 5509 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Nampa, ID Posts: 955	I just got back from the range I fed my CIA L1A1 180 rnds of milsurp and 25 reloads. I had no problems with the milsurp. My reloads are 110gr sp. The first roun would go into the top corner of the reciever. I think this is due to the oal being shorter. Next batch I make I will seat the bullet out farther. Also when I would insert a mag of reloads the first round would pop out of the mag ala Derek Jeters excitable FAL. This could have also been the cause of the miss feeds, As long as I would check to make sure the first rnd stayed in the mag it worked awesome. Once I got her sited in all was good The front site is all the way down and I am barely hiting right on at 100 yrds. I don't like the apeture on the rear site, it is quite large and makes it hard to get the same exact site picture every time. I was able to get a 3 shot group at 100 yrds that was all the same height and 1.5" left to right. This was with the Iron Sites. I need to order a Tapco scope mount and see if I can get a smaller group All in all I think it was money well spent BTW gas is set at 4 __________________ My Yugo SKS page has moved to yugosks.net Please update your bookmarks

February 25, 2002, 00:15	#53
fry Registered FALaholic #: 5498 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: SW WA Posts: 3,605	MY FIRST FAL... WAS/IS A CAI L1A1 SPORTER ON AN IMBEL RECEIVER. IT IS VERY ACCURATE. I WOULD ALSO NOTE AFTER COMPARING THE IMPORTED BY CAI IMBEL RECEIVER TO A GEAR LOGO... THEY ARE DEAD NUTS THE SAME! MY GUN SURE LOOKS A LOT LIKE AN STG58! THATS WHAT THE DEALER WROTE ON THE RECEIPT. I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED WITH IT. __________________ The sea stalks the unwary and relentlessly pursues the careless ... ....o_o_o_o ./\| ,[_____], \|¯l¯¯L-O\|\|\|\|\|O_ ()_)¯()_)¯¯¯ )_)

February 25, 2002, 02:24	#55
RocketmanVT Registered FALaholic #: 3006 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Arizona City, AZ 85223 Posts: 87	As a 5-year veteran employee of Century Arms, may I say: Great Gawd A-Mighty! Thanks, y'all whut done so, for your positive feedback about Century's FALs and L1A1s. I know Century has sent out some bad stuff in the past, as well as I know they've sent out some righteous shooters - hopefully, a lot more of the latter than the former. Much of the problem stems from the fact that a very small number of the guys 'n' gals there just flat-out have no business working for the company (and if you're reading this, Gary B., you know that to be true.) These clowns and twits can, and HAVE, screw(ed) up the simplest of jobs - like cleaning the barrels BEFORE installation on the upper receiver...Century, like the vast majority of companies, operates on a volume basis: The more we can get out, the lower we can keep the prices. Inevitably, some dolts will take this philosophy to an extreme, and skimp on doing their assigned job properly - all in the name of numbers at the end of their day. Usually, we catch the f***-up before it even goes to test-fire...But, sometimes not... Believe it or not, CAI/CIA DOES care about quality - we're talkin' FIREARMS here, fer cryin' out loud, not squirt-guns! But bear in mind, when we get a shipment of foreign semi-auto rifles, they have to be completely torn down to satisfy that annoying little group we know as BATF. The parts, in various degrees of re-usability, are gathered up to be re-assembled into a legal configuration - inevitably, some parts that should've been tossed will find their way into a rifle, later causing the end-user any number of problems and outrage. I don't seek to excuse - merely explain, and perhaps temper the anger of you fine gents and ladies who have encountered malfunctioning (and ugly! )rifles. I sincerely hope that any screw-ups you've come across are easily remedied, be it Century's replacing a part or parts, or taking the gun back; no company can long afford to produce crap and expect to stay in business (unless it's a government... ) Okie-dokie, my soap-box is beginning to cave in; time to read more stuff here. BTW, I no longer work for CIA - I've moved to Arizona, to be with the woman of my dreams. So, please accept this post for what it is - and keep the lead a-flyin'!!! Rocketman __________________ The condition upon which God hath given liberty to man is eternal vigilance, which condition if he break, servitude is at once the consequence of his crime and the punishment of his guilt. (John Philpot Curran, 1750-1817)

February 25, 2002, 11:03	#56
BUFF Registered FALaholic #: 789 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 8,103	Rocketman: I have two Century rifles, a CETME and an R1A1. Both are excellent examples of factory built kit guns at the entry level price. Both were made with good used parts, both fuction reliably and without fail, and both were tremendous bargains. My R1A1 is a metric IMBEL with an Australian kit, and it was about the best $425 I ever spent. I have nicer FALs, but none were the same value the Century rifles were. I would guess numerous good rifles go to happy owners who say nothing, while those who have problems are, understandably, more likely to say something. Is my DSA STG a nicer rifle? Yes, but it cost nearly twice as much. __________________ BUFF

February 25, 2002, 01:10	#54
Ichabod Registered FALaholic #: 5630 Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: reading,Pa Posts: 108	I must be another lucky one.picked-up a century l1a1 sporter on an Imbel receiver,inch patern.no problems here,but I cleaned real well first.Only complaint is the "butthole"stock that comes on them,and already have a replacement on the way rrm DSA.

February 25, 2002, 13:53	#57
shootist Registered FALaholic #: 4686 Join Date: Nov 2001 Posts: 527	Both of my century L1A1s were a great buy including the one built on a Hesse receiver.

February 25, 2002, 18:13	#58
mphelps Registered FALaholic #: 5684 Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 1	YIKES! What a relief! I just came in here to see what the skinny was on CA's L1A1s and am sooooooo glad I did. I am looking for my first FAL and saw one of these......things and wanted to get "the word" on em before I did anything. Thanks guys.

September 02, 2016, 06:35	#59
RobCo Registered FALaholic #: 78343 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Scotch Plains, NJ Posts: 3	Hello, I'm new to the forum but not firearms. I'm glad I found this post and I was wondering about the quality of the Century Arms FALs. And seems that the quality of them is inconsistent so I'm not sure if taking a chance at getting one for a low price is worth it. And even if it is bad...that could be remedied. Of course being in NJ just makes it more of a pain since FN FALs are banned by name but you can have any of the other variants Or maybe it would be better just to a get a kit and receiver and build it myself. thanks

September 02, 2016, 09:02	#60
gunplumber Arrogant Bastard Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 96 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 24,567	CAI Imported IMBEL/Argy = good receiver, restorable CAI manufactured receivers = crap. Nothing has changed since 2002. __________________ T. Mark Graham, Master Gunsmith Arizona Response Systems, LLC

September 02, 2016, 12:06	#61
ftierson Registered FALaholic #: 13827 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Colorado Springs, CO Posts: 15,360	Wow... Talk about a blast from the past... Forrest

May 18, 2018, 20:06	#63
southernilfarm Registered FALaholic #: 80677 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Carlyle IL Posts: 1	Howdy folks, New guy here. I'm primarily a Garand and other WWII guy, but find the FAL interesting. About 18 years ago I purchased a CIA L1A1 without any research and found it would not feed. Life was busy with kids and work, so it has occupied a slot of shame in the gun safe until recently when I pulled it out and discovered it still won't feed. I did have a gun enthusiast buddy eyeball the rifle and try to make it work. Long story short, it won't. We've tried different ammo and several different magazines without any improvement. The serial number is below 100 on the CIA receiver. I did call CIA a few years ago and described my problem with the folks there. They were no help. Ideas? Thanks, Mike

May 19, 2018, 11:09	#65
MAINER Old Salt Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 18465 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 9,544	^^Yes^^ Helps to know what we're dealing with. CAI receivers had "issues", Imbels generally did not. I have a CAI from the same era, but luckily blundered into one on an Imbel so most problems were fairly easy. Two cautions, the headspace on mine was way off, suggest you check yours. Second, check your Gas Piston, CAI used a two-piece Piston of their own that has a tendency to break and should be replaced before it does. Some info you may find useful; http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=108077 __________________ Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.

May 19, 2018, 12:29	#66
gunplumber Arrogant Bastard Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 96 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 24,567	Is there a prefix? A serial number below 100 may be C 0100 and an Argy. An excellent receiver. Just like I posted 2 years ago in this thread. __________________ T. Mark Graham, Master Gunsmith Arizona Response Systems, LLC

May 19, 2018, 12:37	#67
OLDMANPBK Veteran Member Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 69978 Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,111	I have #49. A rare collectors item. __________________ "The truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. " -Winston Churchill- "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" -Patrick Henry- Inside every progressive is a totalitarian screaming to get out.

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