Choosing the right parts for an accurate build

tarnsposed · February 11, 2005, 19:35

On the advice of some of you, I ordered a STG58K kit a few days ago. Now I'm faced with gathering the rest of the parts to finish the build and comply with the laws. I figure since it will take me a while to buy all the parts I might as well make sure I get the best I can afford and build the best rifle I can. I did a search in the Gunsmithing section of the forums on accuracy but it didn't turn up much. I know which parts affect accuracy on guns in general (barrel, reciever, chamber, and trigger), but as I've never built a FAL, I could use some help.

If you guys would give me some advice on what parts you feel most affect accuracy, what specific brand/type parts would have the most affect, and when the effect is so marginal as not to warrant the extra $, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've heard that two different recievers are preferable IMBEL, and DSA I. DSA I looks like it goes above and beyond the others, but you all would know better than me, what do you think?

The barrel is a given I think. I'd like to pick up a match, heavy, stainless steel barrel from someone, but don't know who makes the best for FALS. Any thoughts? What other parts would I most benefit from replacing? Who do you reccomend using? Thanks for your help.

gunsmith_tony · February 11, 2005, 20:11

What kind of accuracy are we talking about here?

hickman · February 11, 2005, 20:15

If you are looking for accuracy from your FAL, I have heard excellent things about Ed Vandenberg here on the 'Files, he would be able to give you the info you seek, I am but a mere novice in the land of FAL (no slight intended to any other board smiths). You can also look in the Eureka thread that EMDII has stickied, there was a series of threads on accuracy there as well... hope this helps a bit.
http://www.falfiles.com/forums/searc...rder=ascending

*edited to add link to accuracy posts*

tarnsposed · February 11, 2005, 20:42

gunsmith_tony:
I'd like to get as much as accuracy as possible, at least 1 MOA. Though I've been told several times that better than 1 MOA is too much to expect from a FAL, so I would settle for what I get.

hickman:
Thanks for the links, that will prove very useful!

gunsmith_tony · February 11, 2005, 21:12

DSA receiver with no carry handle cut. Type-1, 2, or 3, doesn't really matter.
Chrome-moly bull barrel with match chaimber.
Near minimum headspace.
DSA hooded rear apperature.
Ed Vanden Berg free-float handguard assembly.

DSA also offers a heavy barrel front end as an assembly as well with their own free-float tube. Personally, I prefer Ed's.

tarnsposed · February 12, 2005, 09:25

Quote:

Originally posted by gunsmith_tony
DSA receiver with no carry handle cut. Type-1, 2, or 3, doesn't really matter.
Chrome-moly bull barrel with match chaimber.
Near minimum headspace.
DSA hooded rear apperature.
Ed Vanden Berg free-float handguard assembly.

DSA also offers a heavy barrel front end as an assembly as well with their own free-float tube. Personally, I prefer Ed's.

Thanks for the information gunsmith_tony. I'm curious about something though. Why do you advocate the chrome-moly barrel as opposed to the stainless steel one? Most of what I have read indicates that stainless steel lasts longer and is more accurate, and is usually used for for most competition level guns.

Also, isn't there supposed to be a significant difference in the DSA recievers? Do you not believe that the type I will have a beneficial affect on accuracy over the type II and III?

Do you have the link for Ed Vanden Berg's website? Thanks for all your help.

gunsmith_tony · February 12, 2005, 14:47

Either barrel would be a good choice. I usually recommend c/m because it can be parked to match the rest of the parts.
True...there are sugnificant differences between the three receiver types, but not in terms of potential accuracy. The presence of the carry handle cut may not make much of a difference either, but it would seem a more stable platform without it.

Ed's web site

**W.E.G.** · February 12, 2005, 14:48

Quote:

Originally posted by tarnsposed
Do you have the link for Ed Vanden Berg's website? Thanks for all your help.

Ed's website is http://www.vandenbergcustom.com

Ed free-floats the barrel by turning the shoulder to accept a large breeching nut, that also serves as the point of attachment for the handguard.
See http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...threadid=78851

mtang45 · February 12, 2005, 14:52

As far as I know there is no significant difference between type 1, 2 and 3 receivers, other than the lightening cuts machined into them. The type 1 has the most metal removed and the type 3 the least. I don't think there is anything in these machine cuts that would effect accuracy one way or another.

You may want to try shooting that StG barrel before you sink a ton of cash in a match barrel. The StG's are known for better than average barrel quality and who knows, you may already have a shooter.

gunsmith_tony · February 12, 2005, 15:16

Good point. You may already have a 1-moa rifle and just don't know it yet.

tarnsposed · February 12, 2005, 18:52

Thanks for your help everyone, you've helped immensely. Two more questions for the time being. Does the DSA upper reciever ship with all the rest of the neccessary parts to complete the STG kit? For FALs is the upper reciever treated like the firearm requiring me to have it shipped to an FFL?

gunsmith_tony · February 12, 2005, 19:32

If you order a receiver, then thats all you get...a stripped receiver. And yes, it will have to be ordered by, and shipped to an FFL.

February 11, 2005, 19:35	#1
tarnsposed Registered FALaholic #: 16870 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 7	Choosing the right parts for an accurate build On the advice of some of you, I ordered a STG58K kit a few days ago. Now I'm faced with gathering the rest of the parts to finish the build and comply with the laws. I figure since it will take me a while to buy all the parts I might as well make sure I get the best I can afford and build the best rifle I can. I did a search in the Gunsmithing section of the forums on accuracy but it didn't turn up much. I know which parts affect accuracy on guns in general (barrel, reciever, chamber, and trigger), but as I've never built a FAL, I could use some help. If you guys would give me some advice on what parts you feel most affect accuracy, what specific brand/type parts would have the most affect, and when the effect is so marginal as not to warrant the extra $, I'd greatly appreciate it. I've heard that two different recievers are preferable IMBEL, and DSA I. DSA I looks like it goes above and beyond the others, but you all would know better than me, what do you think? The barrel is a given I think. I'd like to pick up a match, heavy, stainless steel barrel from someone, but don't know who makes the best for FALS. Any thoughts? What other parts would I most benefit from replacing? Who do you reccomend using? Thanks for your help.

February 11, 2005, 20:15	#3
hickman Registered FALaholic #: 13704 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Louisiana Posts: 97	If you are looking for accuracy from your FAL, I have heard excellent things about Ed Vandenberg here on the 'Files, he would be able to give you the info you seek, I am but a mere novice in the land of FAL (no slight intended to any other board smiths). You can also look in the Eureka thread that EMDII has stickied, there was a series of threads on accuracy there as well... hope this helps a bit. http://www.falfiles.com/forums/searc...rder=ascending edited to add link to accuracy posts __________________ When they kick at your front door How you gonna come? With your hands on your head Or on the trigger of your gun?

February 12, 2005, 14:52	#9
mtang45 Registered FALaholic #: 13104 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 1,317	As far as I know there is no significant difference between type 1, 2 and 3 receivers, other than the lightening cuts machined into them. The type 1 has the most metal removed and the type 3 the least. I don't think there is anything in these machine cuts that would effect accuracy one way or another. You may want to try shooting that StG barrel before you sink a ton of cash in a match barrel. The StG's are known for better than average barrel quality and who knows, you may already have a shooter. __________________ "[L]et us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us re-consecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain." -Dwight D. Eisenhower It is worth remembering these timeless words John Stuart Mill: "War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse." Lex et Libertas — Semper Vigilo, Paratus, et Fidelis!

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February 11, 2005, 20:11	#2
gunsmith_tony Registered FALaholic #: 6564 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,521	What kind of accuracy are we talking about here?

February 11, 2005, 20:42	#4
tarnsposed Registered FALaholic #: 16870 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 7	gunsmith_tony: I'd like to get as much as accuracy as possible, at least 1 MOA. Though I've been told several times that better than 1 MOA is too much to expect from a FAL, so I would settle for what I get. hickman: Thanks for the links, that will prove very useful!

February 11, 2005, 21:12	#5
gunsmith_tony Registered FALaholic #: 6564 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,521	DSA receiver with no carry handle cut. Type-1, 2, or 3, doesn't really matter. Chrome-moly bull barrel with match chaimber. Near minimum headspace. DSA hooded rear apperature. Ed Vanden Berg free-float handguard assembly. DSA also offers a heavy barrel front end as an assembly as well with their own free-float tube. Personally, I prefer Ed's.

February 12, 2005, 14:47	#7
gunsmith_tony Registered FALaholic #: 6564 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,521	Either barrel would be a good choice. I usually recommend c/m because it can be parked to match the rest of the parts. True...there are sugnificant differences between the three receiver types, but not in terms of potential accuracy. The presence of the carry handle cut may not make much of a difference either, but it would seem a more stable platform without it. Ed's web site

February 12, 2005, 15:16	#10
gunsmith_tony Registered FALaholic #: 6564 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,521	Good point. You may already have a 1-moa rifle and just don't know it yet.

February 12, 2005, 18:52	#11
tarnsposed Registered FALaholic #: 16870 Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Pensacola, FL Posts: 7	Thanks for your help everyone, you've helped immensely. Two more questions for the time being. Does the DSA upper reciever ship with all the rest of the neccessary parts to complete the STG kit? For FALs is the upper reciever treated like the firearm requiring me to have it shipped to an FFL?

February 12, 2005, 19:32	#12
gunsmith_tony Registered FALaholic #: 6564 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,521	If you order a receiver, then thats all you get...a stripped receiver. And yes, it will have to be ordered by, and shipped to an FFL.