Chopping the barrel on my FAL and POI

goon · April 02, 2006, 01:34

I am planning to have the barrel on my FAL cut to 18". I have almost all of my windage used up already to zero it and I am worried that if I cut the barrel I may need windage that I don't have to get it shooting to point of aim again. I was wondering if anyone else has done this and what the change looked like when you did. Is this something that I can deal with myself (I have limited time and not a whole lot of ability but I did drill the gas port out a little on it) or would I be better off to just send it off to DSA to get this done?
Thank you.

brownknees · April 02, 2006, 04:27

First the disclaimer. I've never chopped a FAL barrel. Although I've done work on other Bbl's.
However I'll bet money that the poi will definately change. The combination of change in velocity & the different vibration charecteristics of the new length will absolutely effect the vibrations in the barrel at the moment of bullet exit. Also I'd think the changes to the gas system will have an effect also. I don't think there is any way of exactly predicting the direction, or amount, of the change, other than firing it.
Maybe the change will be towards the centerline, removing windage, but thats a crap shoot.
Maybe some kind WECSOG'er will tweak the Bbl for you if you post?
It sounds to me like the Bbl is a hair out of time to TDC.
Just a thought.

3doghouse · April 02, 2006, 10:14

It sounds like you may have a barrel timing issue, especially if you had to drill the port on a full length barrel.

I think you may want to send it to one of the many capable smiths here on the files.

http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...threadid=95027

**bykerhd** · April 02, 2006, 10:23

Unless your rifle is new and under warranty, I would send it to one of the gunsmiths on the board for a cut, crown & rethread. If they remove the barrel for the work, the timing issue can be dealt with at the same time. You would want to make them aware that timing may be an issue so it can be corrected.
You'll find several listing services in the Marketplace Forum. Usually quite reasonable for this type of work. Probably much less than DSA would be as DSA is geared more towards producing new guns than repair work.

Is the rear sight way left or right looking from the rear ?
Right would be undertimed and left would be overtimed.

fire for effect · April 02, 2006, 12:32

Yes, you have a timing issue with your barrel. shortening your barrel may or may not have any effect on your point of impact. Most notably, in elevation , not windage.

goon · April 02, 2006, 13:50

The rear sight is just about all the way to the right. I do have just a little bit left but I am not sure that I want to tempt fate. I did have to send it back to have it retimed when I first got it because it was out of zero the other way.

**bykerhd** · April 02, 2006, 14:34

Is this a new rifle under warranty then goon ? DSA I take it ?
They should re-time it under warranty if that is the case, I would get a quote before having them cut & rethread the barrel and compare that to some of the prices from other gunsmiths around here before having it done. You want to remember shipping charges when you look at that too. If the manufacturer will pick up the freight to & from that might tip the scale towards having them do the work. Kind of discouraging they didn't get the timing right the second time. They are a lot better equipped than most of us are and yet we usually seem to get it right.

goon · April 06, 2006, 12:49

It's not a DSA. It is an ORF. I was thinking about having DSA do shortening and fix the zero issue if needed as well as adding a couple other tweeks.

**bykerhd** · April 06, 2006, 13:18

Do some shopping around. You'll likely get a less expensive, faster turnaround out of one of the gunsmiths around here for the same work. It is what they do as opposed to a manufacturer that builds and assembles rifles for sale and probably doesn't do that much for custom work on customer's guns.
Could be wrong. My .02.

**W.E.G.** · April 06, 2006, 14:55

I think it would be worth your while to check the timing yourself before
you invest a lot of time and money in a barrel that might have issues.

A couple rods are a small investment.

Use the two-rods technique to test timing.

goon · April 14, 2006, 00:24

Can anyone reccommend a falsmith in NW PA or possibly just across the Ohio border who could do this for me?

April 02, 2006, 01:34	#1
goon Registered FALaholic #: 9673 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 256	Chopping the barrel on my FAL and POI I am planning to have the barrel on my FAL cut to 18". I have almost all of my windage used up already to zero it and I am worried that if I cut the barrel I may need windage that I don't have to get it shooting to point of aim again. I was wondering if anyone else has done this and what the change looked like when you did. Is this something that I can deal with myself (I have limited time and not a whole lot of ability but I did drill the gas port out a little on it) or would I be better off to just send it off to DSA to get this done? Thank you.

April 02, 2006, 10:14	#3
3doghouse Registered FALaholic #: 5240 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Augusta, GA USA Posts: 714	It sounds like you may have a barrel timing issue, especially if you had to drill the port on a full length barrel. I think you may want to send it to one of the many capable smiths here on the files. http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showt...threadid=95027 __________________ :fal:

April 02, 2006, 12:32	#5
fire for effect Registered Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 14188 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Sioux City Iowa Posts: 1,919	Yes, you have a timing issue with your barrel. shortening your barrel may or may not have any effect on your point of impact. Most notably, in elevation , not windage. __________________ You cannot qualify war in harsher terms than I will. War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it; and those who brought war into our country deserve all the curses and maledictions a people can pour out. W.T. Sherman, Major General Commanding Headquarters, Army of Tennessee September, 1864

April 06, 2006, 14:55	#10
W.E.G. Administrator Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 1211 Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Virginia Posts: 31,056	I think it would be worth your while to check the timing yourself before you invest a lot of time and money in a barrel that might have issues. A couple rods are a small investment. Use the two-rods technique to test timing. __________________ . . . Ask me about the Mason-Dixon FAL Collectors Association.

April 14, 2006, 00:24	#11
goon Registered FALaholic #: 9673 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 256	Can anyone reccommend a falsmith in NW PA or possibly just across the Ohio border who could do this for me? Last edited by goon; April 19, 2006 at 12:55.

April 02, 2006, 04:27	#2
brownknees Registered FALaholic #: 14917 Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: mid atlantic Posts: 12,015	First the disclaimer. I've never chopped a FAL barrel. Although I've done work on other Bbl's. However I'll bet money that the poi will definately change. The combination of change in velocity & the different vibration charecteristics of the new length will absolutely effect the vibrations in the barrel at the moment of bullet exit. Also I'd think the changes to the gas system will have an effect also. I don't think there is any way of exactly predicting the direction, or amount, of the change, other than firing it. Maybe the change will be towards the centerline, removing windage, but thats a crap shoot. Maybe some kind WECSOG'er will tweak the Bbl for you if you post? It sounds to me like the Bbl is a hair out of time to TDC. Just a thought.

April 02, 2006, 10:23	#4
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	Unless your rifle is new and under warranty, I would send it to one of the gunsmiths on the board for a cut, crown & rethread. If they remove the barrel for the work, the timing issue can be dealt with at the same time. You would want to make them aware that timing may be an issue so it can be corrected. You'll find several listing services in the Marketplace Forum. Usually quite reasonable for this type of work. Probably much less than DSA would be as DSA is geared more towards producing new guns than repair work. Is the rear sight way left or right looking from the rear ? Right would be undertimed and left would be overtimed.

April 02, 2006, 13:50	#6
goon Registered FALaholic #: 9673 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 256	The rear sight is just about all the way to the right. I do have just a little bit left but I am not sure that I want to tempt fate. I did have to send it back to have it retimed when I first got it because it was out of zero the other way.

April 02, 2006, 14:34	#7
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	Is this a new rifle under warranty then goon ? DSA I take it ? They should re-time it under warranty if that is the case, I would get a quote before having them cut & rethread the barrel and compare that to some of the prices from other gunsmiths around here before having it done. You want to remember shipping charges when you look at that too. If the manufacturer will pick up the freight to & from that might tip the scale towards having them do the work. Kind of discouraging they didn't get the timing right the second time. They are a lot better equipped than most of us are and yet we usually seem to get it right.

April 06, 2006, 12:49	#8
goon Registered FALaholic #: 9673 Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 256	It's not a DSA. It is an ORF. I was thinking about having DSA do shortening and fix the zero issue if needed as well as adding a couple other tweeks.

April 06, 2006, 13:18	#9
bykerhd Dinosaur Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 2798 Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Burlington Vermont area Posts: 13,262	Do some shopping around. You'll likely get a less expensive, faster turnaround out of one of the gunsmiths around here for the same work. It is what they do as opposed to a manufacturer that builds and assembles rifles for sale and probably doesn't do that much for custom work on customer's guns. Could be wrong. My .02.

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