Hesse receiver?.....

1stSSPZ · April 27, 2004, 18:26

Those of you who have personal experience with a Hesse receivered FAL, I would appreciate your input. Found a nice looking STG58 hidden in the corner of a local gunshop they are willing to part with at a nice price (with some Port thrown in!). Heard that bent gas pistons are a common fault. Anything else I can look for? Thanks for all input. (By the way, I have a perfectly functioning CAI R1A1, can I get lucky twice?)

vmtz · April 27, 2004, 18:32

If it runs your good to go. Though, most would say run away, run away. Question? Why are they selling it so cheap?

Vince

Raminator · April 27, 2004, 18:39

I don't know much about anything Hesse, but I've always heard people say, Run away and don't look back.

jt325i · April 27, 2004, 18:42

If you're going to use a Hesse receiver don't bother refinishing your parts or using a high quality kit. It'll never be worth more than $350-400. Since this one has an STG kit it might be worth that much but don't go any higher as you can get a GOOD quality FAL for $500 or so.

Deltaten · April 27, 2004, 18:53

My much maligned, oft snigger'd at, bastard of a FAL, Hesse rcvr'd "Shorty" is my favorite rifle.
After welding up the mag beak shelf, welding and re-cutting the ramps, filing the feed ways, and about 10K rd...it really runs well!

As the Century "angry beaver special" that it started out as didn't work worth a plugged nickel, the rcvr was swapped onto the test-bed rifle. Figgered that IF it didn't work, I could just dremel the thing till it did; or just chuck it in the river! An R-1, $99 special from FAC; mucho file, grind and dremel time; lotsa TLC (yeah ri-i-i-ight!), and all's well.

Best of all...I never hafta worry about f%#@*^g it up. Can't sell it, wouldn't want to anyway.

I wouldn't run away from a Hesse...at the right price

Best,
Paul

Raminator · April 27, 2004, 18:59

Similar experience when I owned a MAK-90. Everybody said it was crap. What were they thinking? It was the best damned carbine I ever owned! Sad I had to get rid of it.

**kfranz** · April 28, 2004, 07:59

Try before you buy, if possible. Some work well, others don't. Mine was out of spec enough that it needed the mag catch extended and a larger than normal locking shoulder. Other than that, it was problem free(although I didn't do the build)

skfullgun · April 28, 2004, 20:03

I built two on Hesse's. The first one went O.K. The second was a PIA. No way of knowing until you shoot it. If the price was right I would still buy it.

1stSSPZ · April 29, 2004, 19:57

Thanks for the input all, I have decided to pass and keep an eye out for what may show up in the marketplace on this board.

April 27, 2004, 18:26	#1
1stSSPZ Registered FALaholic #: 13771 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 679	Hesse receiver?..... Those of you who have personal experience with a Hesse receivered FAL, I would appreciate your input. Found a nice looking STG58 hidden in the corner of a local gunshop they are willing to part with at a nice price (with some Port thrown in!). Heard that bent gas pistons are a common fault. Anything else I can look for? Thanks for all input. (By the way, I have a perfectly functioning CAI R1A1, can I get lucky twice?)

April 27, 2004, 18:39	#3
Raminator Registered FALaholic #: 14253 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Shoreline, WA Posts: 243	I don't know much about anything Hesse, but I've always heard people say, Run away and don't look back. __________________ -James D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.

April 27, 2004, 18:53	#5
Deltaten Registered FALaholic #: 124 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lancaster, PA USA Posts: 8,498	My much maligned, oft snigger'd at, bastard of a FAL, Hesse rcvr'd "Shorty" is my favorite rifle. After welding up the mag beak shelf, welding and re-cutting the ramps, filing the feed ways, and about 10K rd...it really runs well! As the Century "angry beaver special" that it started out as didn't work worth a plugged nickel, the rcvr was swapped onto the test-bed rifle. Figgered that IF it didn't work, I could just dremel the thing till it did; or just chuck it in the river! An R-1, $99 special from FAC; mucho file, grind and dremel time; lotsa TLC (yeah ri-i-i-ight!), and all's well. Best of all...I never hafta worry about f%#@*^g it up. Can't sell it, wouldn't want to anyway. I wouldn't run away from a Hesse...at the right price Best, Paul __________________ All or Nothing! Senator McCarthy was right! and as always......FYB!

April 27, 2004, 18:59	#6
Raminator Registered FALaholic #: 14253 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Shoreline, WA Posts: 243	Similar experience when I owned a MAK-90. Everybody said it was crap. What were they thinking? It was the best damned carbine I ever owned! Sad I had to get rid of it. __________________ -James D.I.L.L.I.G.A.F.

April 28, 2004, 20:03	#8
skfullgun Moderator FALaholic #: 3756 Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3,740	I built two on Hesse's. The first one went O.K. The second was a PIA. No way of knowing until you shoot it. If the price was right I would still buy it. __________________ I'd like to spit some Beechnut in that dude's eyes, and shoot him with my ole .45!

April 27, 2004, 18:32	#2
vmtz FALaholic #: 1125 Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Here right now Posts: 17,638	If it runs your good to go. Though, most would say run away, run away. Question? Why are they selling it so cheap? Vince

April 27, 2004, 18:42	#4
jt325i Registered FALaholic #: 5934 Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 695	If you're going to use a Hesse receiver don't bother refinishing your parts or using a high quality kit. It'll never be worth more than $350-400. Since this one has an STG kit it might be worth that much but don't go any higher as you can get a GOOD quality FAL for $500 or so.

April 28, 2004, 07:59	#7
kfranz Curio & Relic Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 101 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 3,627	Try before you buy, if possible. Some work well, others don't. Mine was out of spec enough that it needed the mag catch extended and a larger than normal locking shoulder. Other than that, it was problem free(although I didn't do the build)

April 29, 2004, 19:57	#9
1stSSPZ Registered FALaholic #: 13771 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lubbock Texas Posts: 679	Thanks for the input all, I have decided to pass and keep an eye out for what may show up in the marketplace on this board.

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