I Love My FAL EXCEPT That *&%^% Mag Spring

JiminTexas · November 18, 2010, 19:10

To me thr FAL is a marvel of engeneering excellence, with one exception. That )(*&^$# magazine spring and it's attachment to the magazine follower. The next time I accidently bend the end of it that attaches to the follower, I'll just order a new one. After a good hour and a half of putzing with it, using pliers, hammer, vise and a lot of cursing, I finally got it to fit correctly, but I'm convinced that it is not a known science, it black magic. Hmmm... maybe I just shoud have called Christine Odone.l

nwobhm · November 18, 2010, 19:18

I have taken many a FAL magazine apart. Never had a problem. You may have a bad follower.

jeffrey · November 18, 2010, 19:29

Probably screwed it up by leaving it loaded.

lew · November 18, 2010, 20:57

I'm thinking it's user error.

Psychomonkey · November 19, 2010, 00:12

Quote:

Originally posted by jeffrey
Probably screwed it up by leaving it loaded.

Just sharing my 2 cents about dangers of leaving mags loaded. In my opinion that whole deal about it being bad to leave a mag loaded is not the big deal that some make it out to be. Springs wear out from cycling, and the feed lips aren't so weak they will weaken all that quickly. I guess if you left mags loaded for a long long time it might have an effect. But I think most of us actually would fire and empty those mags from time to time.

John

JiminTexas · November 19, 2010, 18:12

Quote:

Originally posted by lew
I'm thinking it's user error.

Yes it was user error. The error was that I accidentally bent the loop in the end of the spring that attaches to one end of the follower. Dropping a drill press on it can really screw up a magazine spring. What I was pissing and moaning about was that the bend in the end of the spring (the loop) is absolutely critical and it takes quite a while to get it right once you have screwed it up.

jeffrey · November 19, 2010, 20:27

Quote:

Originally posted by Psychomonkey

Just sharing my 2 cents about dangers of leaving mags loaded. In my opinion that whole deal about it being bad to leave a mag loaded is not the big deal that some make it out to be. Springs wear out from cycling, and the feed lips aren't so weak they will weaken all that quickly. I guess if you left mags loaded for a long long time it might have an effect. But I think most of us actually would fire and empty those mags from time to time.

John

Aw John, you fell for it. That topic has been passionately argued both ways here. FWIW, I agree with you. I keep a lot of mags loaded...1911, Glock and FAL. Not much good empty.

Super B · November 19, 2010, 23:03

And the mag spring won't work upside down. It only goes in one way.

Deltaten · November 20, 2010, 07:24

B's right!

Iff'n ya put it in upside down, all yer ammo will run to the bottom and the boolits will spin the opposite direction

gunnut1 · November 20, 2010, 14:14

Ever think about just bending the tabs on the follower and installing the spring then bending the tabs back?
Works great!

**gunplumber** · November 20, 2010, 15:04

Quote:

Originally posted by gunnut1
Ever think about just bending the tabs on the follower and installing the spring then bending the tabs back?
Works great!

yes - a couple times. Then it snaps off.

I think the FAL spring is great - much better design than the M14 and HK G3, where the sharper bends invite stress fractures. I like the Inch pattern follower spring better than the metric. I also like the way the G3 spring attaches to the follower and floorplate, even if it uses a weaker square. Not sure how important a sub-plate is to the mag floorplate.

There really is a technique to it. Or at least, I've found one particular way that seems to work much easier than any other, and as I find myself doing mag springs by the case, I'm interested in the most ergonomic, time efficient way.

I find sliding the large end in first, then pulling the 2nd coil to the right and forward, lets me snap it over the tab easily.

**moses** · November 20, 2010, 18:35

Actually there are two types of metric mag springs, the later version the ends are identical and either end of the spring will fit on the follower.

Me thinks you shouldn't hate the spring but hate the guy who dropped a drill press on the spring!!!
Pretty sure any rifles mag spring would fair just as badly if said drill press fell on one. hehehehehehe

Dolvio · November 21, 2010, 07:00

Quote:

Originally posted by JiminTexas

Yes it was user error. The error was that I accidentally bent the loop in the end of the spring that attaches to one end of the follower. Dropping a drill press on it can really screw up a magazine spring. What I was pissing and moaning about was that the bend in the end of the spring (the loop) is absolutely critical and it takes quite a while to get it right once you have screwed it up.

Were you a Marine by any chance?

Reminds me of that joke: Leave a marine private in a locked room with 2 ball bearings. When you return one will be pregnant and the other broken.

JiminTexas · November 21, 2010, 15:54

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dolvio
[B]

Were you a Marine by any chance?

No, I was in the military.

JiminTexas · November 21, 2010, 15:59

Quote:

Originally posted by moses
Actually there are two types of metric mag springs, the later version the ends are identical and either end of the spring will fit on the follower.

Me thinks you shouldn't hate the spring but hate the guy who dropped a drill press on the spring!!!
Pretty sure any rifles mag spring would fair just as badly if said drill press fell on one. hehehehehehe

Probably true, but it would be a whole lot easier to get back into a usable shape if the bend radii and lengths wen't so critical/

Dolvio · November 21, 2010, 21:08

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JiminTexas
[B]

Quote:

Originally posted by Dolvio

Were you a Marine by any chance?

No, I was in the military.

We can't all be perfect.

**gunplumber** · November 22, 2010, 08:05

funny story. Girl-child was in AF JROTC. Mentioned her E8 Cadre was a big Obama supporter. I replied that I didn't understand how anyone in the military could support Obamsa. "Yeah, Dad, but its the AirForce - its not like the real military . .. . "

**Cava3r4** · November 23, 2010, 09:10

Quote:

funny story. Girl-child was in AF JROTC. Mentioned her E8 Cadre was a big Obama supporter. I replied that I didn't understand how anyone in the military could support Obamsa. "Yeah, Dad, but its the AirForce - its not like the real military . .. . "

good daughter you got there! Her daddy brought her up right!

Bob

November 18, 2010, 19:10	#1
JiminTexas Registered FALaholic #: 55593 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 169	*I Love My FAL EXCEPT That &%^% Mag Spring** To me thr FAL is a marvel of engeneering excellence, with one exception. That )(*&^$# magazine spring and it's attachment to the magazine follower. The next time I accidently bend the end of it that attaches to the follower, I'll just order a new one. After a good hour and a half of putzing with it, using pliers, hammer, vise and a lot of cursing, I finally got it to fit correctly, but I'm convinced that it is not a known science, it black magic. Hmmm... maybe I just shoud have called Christine Odone.l

November 19, 2010, 23:03	#8
Super B Registered FALaholic #: 404 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tallahassee, FL,, USA Posts: 1,630	And the mag spring won't work upside down. It only goes in one way. __________________ 'The true Soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' -G. K. Chesterton

November 20, 2010, 07:24	#9
Deltaten Registered FALaholic #: 124 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Lancaster, PA USA Posts: 8,498	B's right! Iff'n ya put it in upside down, all yer ammo will run to the bottom and the boolits will spin the opposite direction __________________ All or Nothing! Senator McCarthy was right! and as always......FYB!

November 20, 2010, 14:14	#10
gunnut1 Moderator Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 1877 Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: The great Republic of Texas USA!!!!! Posts: 10,427	Ever think about just bending the tabs on the follower and installing the spring then bending the tabs back? Works great! __________________ Texas, it's a state of mind!!!! The human race is not the pinnacle of evolution. We are but one evolutionary out come.

November 20, 2010, 18:35	#12
moses One of the original 400 Contributor FALaholic #: 392 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: charlotte nc usa Posts: 5,469	Actually there are two types of metric mag springs, the later version the ends are identical and either end of the spring will fit on the follower. Me thinks you shouldn't hate the spring but hate the guy who dropped a drill press on the spring!!! Pretty sure any rifles mag spring would fair just as badly if said drill press fell on one. hehehehehehe __________________ . Military rifle steel plate match schedule for 2013, March 9th, May 26th(Sunday), Sept. 14th & Nov. 9th AKA "8.47"

November 18, 2010, 19:18	#2
nwobhm ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ FALaholic #: 9580 Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: USA Posts: 5,920	I have taken many a FAL magazine apart. Never had a problem. You may have a bad follower.

November 18, 2010, 19:29	#3
jeffrey Registered FALaholic #: 2073 Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Illinois Posts: 1,642	Probably screwed it up by leaving it loaded.

November 18, 2010, 20:57	#4
lew Registered FALaholic #: 16727 Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: somewhere Posts: 5,759	I'm thinking it's user error.

November 21, 2010, 15:54	#14
JiminTexas Registered FALaholic #: 55593 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 169	[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dolvio [B] Were you a Marine by any chance? No, I was in the military.

November 22, 2010, 08:05	#17
gunplumber Arrogant Bastard Gold Contributor FALaholic #: 96 Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Surprise, AZ Posts: 15,758	funny story. Girl-child was in AF JROTC. Mentioned her E8 Cadre was a big Obama supporter. I replied that I didn't understand how anyone in the military could support Obamsa. "Yeah, Dad, but its the AirForce - its not like the real military . .. . " __________________ T. Mark Graham Master Gunsmith Arizona Response Systems, LLC

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