Supercharged Gas System

[Lodogg2221]

I just got a Century FAL, Imbel rec. STG parts. Everything looks good, but after reading this site for a week, I ordered a new gas piston from DSA before the gun was here. New spring too. My problem is that it fires fine, but it throws the empties about 30 feet, sometimes less but some even have damage from hitting the edge of the reviever. I have done some checking, and the gas system is spotless. The gas setting does chaa\nge things a bit, but even with it all the way open, it still throws them about 20 ft. I have ordered new recoil springs (the ones in the buttstock). But I dont know if Im heading in the wrong direction. I thought this gun would get me into a first FAL cheap, but its looking grim. HELP!!!

[W.E.G.]

It is normal for a FAL to beat up shell casings. Often creases the case mouth. Brisk ejection is common too. Some folks dial-down the gas system for a variety of reasons. I prefer to give it a bit too much gas than a bit too little.

Sounds to me like your rifle is A-OK.

[EMDII]

Tune your gas sytem.

Gary also espouses the use of 10 lb BFHs to drive the magazines into place over a recalcitrant magazine catch!


Properly tuned, the brass should land 1m to 2m away, in a nice pile. No significant denting.

[Lodogg2221]

Any ideas on what to look for? Like I said I have new recoil spring on the way, the old ones just seem too easy to compress to habdle the recoil. My Glock is harder to chamber! Seems like a lot of people have the opposite problem i.e. no ejection, but I cant find anything on to hard. Any ideas on what else? I was thinking maybe the hammer spring, but it looks new and is very stiff.

[Snakeshot]

Lodogg,
Just a thought:
It is possible to have the gas regulator one entire turn too far on so that the gas escape hole is covered at any setting.
Can you see the hole get more or less partially covered as you adjust it?

[Lodogg2221]

Sorry EMDII, I missed the first line in your response. Dont know how. Anyway, how do I go about that? Is there more than just the gas adjustment screw?

[Lodogg2221]

I checked that first, but it seems normal. The hole is completly covered at "1", and uncovered at "7". I wish it was that easy!

[Bubba]

The new DSA piston may help. I bought a new Tapco piston and it increased my gas pressure/efficiency. I think that it is a hair larger in diameter than spec. If you have a Century piston, it is probably out of spec too.
To set your gas setting you start at the highest # and it shouldn't eject. You work down until you get to the number that does eject the casing and then I usually go one more click.
The brass always gets bent on my rifles and ejects a far throw.

[Lodogg2221]

I found a new, related problem. My recoil (return) spring has flats on the sides at the plunger. Per EMDIIs earlier post, I suppose its not safe to use these, so it will sit dissassembled till the new springs arrive. Maybe Ill get luckey and fix two problems at once! Oh, my plunger sticks out of thetube about 1/4". Not good I know. Anyone know sceps on diameter of the head of the plunger?

[Lodogg2221]

I meant specs. Anybody know where I can get a plunger cheap and quick?

[EMDII]

Sounds like you need to replace the recoil springs and piston return spring. Inspect the piston spring and verify it has no flattened coils. This can lead to a rather interesting failure, which may bind things up a bit.

I'm not where I can measure my return spring plunger, but neither of mine sticks forward out of the recoil shield on the TMH. Sounds as if your donor kit has seen a lot of service. Odd, considering the StG did so little.

Jen probably has plungers. You can also check w/ Larry Briggs (L/FN), Dave Lehrman, Brad at Gunthings, etc.

[Lodogg2221]

I just hope this is the last thing I have to fix. I gave it a GOOD twice over today after I found that. Everything else seems good to go. We'll see. Thanks for the info.