styre + HSSE help

tk390 · October 18, 2011, 17:26

I have owned a FAL-variant for several years and have had zero problems. In fact it is my favorite gun to shoot. I purchased it from a friend who is a gunsmith for $450 , it was a kit gun he built and had no use for. I recently started looking into the gun to see what exactly I had. I found out I had a Styre kit on a HSSE upper (#3510). After looking into HSSE I became discouraged in the value of my gun based on the bad press that I have read. Due to economic reasons I have considered trying to sell my FAL and I am worried that the HSSE upper will hurt my ability to sell the gun. Can anyone shed some light on why HSSE has a bad reputation?

goosebrown · October 18, 2011, 19:03

I have a Hesse Receiver and like it but from reading here the results are all over the show. I bet if yours is working well, and you're happy, then don't sweat it. If you want to sell, you may well get more for the kit disassembled and the receiver separately. If you had no problems with your receiver you could likely get $100-200. (let me know if you want to sell it.) I think Steyr kits in good condition and matching numbers are $750-900.

You are going to do better than the $450 you bought it for so I wouldn't get down about it.

RG Coburn · October 18, 2011, 19:07

At $450,hesse or no,I would pop on it in a heartbeat.
Partial STG kits go for more than that,and guys will still buy those hesses.

tk390 · October 19, 2011, 18:48

thanks for your help. I talked with my friend who built the gun and he said that it took more finishing to make it work properly, more than the average Joe would want to put into a kit gun. But I have had no problems and have yet to find any specific issues about HSSE to know what to watch for. The only thing I read is that they are junk and they change there name several times. does anyone know what I should keep an eye out for?

crcksht · October 19, 2011, 19:05

From what I have heard Hesse is the worst dog out there for FAL receivers, YMMV. Most smiths won't touch them. Supposedly they have all kinds of dimensional problems, hence all the extra work it took to build. I would keep an close eye on the headspace if it were mine.

fnogger · October 19, 2011, 19:11

Get a new receiver, rebuild the FAL on it, collect some parts, and make the hesse receiver a dedicated 22 conversion ...

**BUFF** · October 19, 2011, 19:22

The problems with HESSE uppers is that the dimensions for many areas are sometimes off spec, and thus the correctly manufactured rifle parts won't fit and engage each other properly. Once the errors are corrected and the parts can fit properly, the assembled rifle should be fine in the future. It's not like the steel of the built rifle's upper somehow shifts and deforms over time. If your rifle now works, there is pretty much nothing about the receiver that will change with use, assuming in-spec ammunition. Getting to the point where everything fits and works together properly has been the rub. Your rifle is apparently way past that point.

Lots of us have great working rifles that were built on HESSE uppers.

FUUN063 · October 19, 2011, 19:23

Shoot it and enjoy. If you sell it, you may have to let the person shoot it as well to prove to them that it functions properly. But, that should be it.

Leland

**gobbler** · October 19, 2011, 20:29

I have 2 of them that I have very little money in & both shoot fine. They actually went together perfect, timed up right 1st time, not like DSA's ,where you have to take half your barrel off. Had the same luck with Century, built 2 of them with no problems. My suggestion is shoot it till it wears out & get you another!

gobbler

**J. Armstrong** · October 19, 2011, 20:31

Basically, yes, the Hesse receiver does hurt the resale value somewhat. As noted, the rifle is apperently running fine and there is no reason to think there will be future problems; tha said, Hesses still bring a bit less than, say , a DSA. However, it should still bring well in excess of $450.

Do not sell if at all possible to avoid. You WILL regret it !!! At $450 and running well, it is a gem of sorts, and a bargain you will be hard pressed to ever replace !!

tk390 · October 20, 2011, 12:56

Thanks for all the input. I think I will keep it. It is my favorite gun. But now I know what I have. I know who put it together an I know it was put together well. I wish there were more aftermarket stuff that I could afford tho.

crcksht · October 20, 2011, 13:22

Quote:

Originally posted by BUFF
[B....It's not like the steel of the built rifle's upper somehow shifts and deforms over time. If your rifle now works, there is pretty much nothing about the receiver that will change with use, assuming in-spec ammunition......[/B]

Considering the other problems with these receivers, one would also have to question the quality of the castings and the heat treatment used to produce them. Let's face it. These were CHEAP receivers. Insufficient heat treatment and/or a poor quality casting certainly could result in a deformed receiver over time, even after just one round fired. It only takes a few thousandths of an inch of stretch for headspace to go from safe to unsafe.

If headspace is fine and doesn't grow rapidly over time you are probably OK. I would monitor it closely if it were mine.

**gobbler** · October 20, 2011, 17:55

Quote:

Originally posted by tk390
Thanks for all the input. I think I will keep it. It is my favorite gun. But now I know what I have. I know who put it together an I know it was put together well. I wish there were more aftermarket stuff that I could afford tho.

You will be glad you kept it. My favorite shooter is a matched StG kit on an Argy. I tried to basically tried to give away at one time & due to some cosmetic problems it did not sell. Thank goodness no takers, it turned into my 1st building adventure.......damn thing shoots & looks like a dream.

gobbler

October 18, 2011, 17:26	#1
tk390 Registered FALaholic #: 64434 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: mo Posts: 29	styre + HSSE help I have owned a FAL-variant for several years and have had zero problems. In fact it is my favorite gun to shoot. I purchased it from a friend who is a gunsmith for $450 , it was a kit gun he built and had no use for. I recently started looking into the gun to see what exactly I had. I found out I had a Styre kit on a HSSE upper (#3510). After looking into HSSE I became discouraged in the value of my gun based on the bad press that I have read. Due to economic reasons I have considered trying to sell my FAL and I am worried that the HSSE upper will hurt my ability to sell the gun. Can anyone shed some light on why HSSE has a bad reputation?

October 19, 2011, 19:05	#5
crcksht Registered FALaholic #: 15315 Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Volunteer State Posts: 1,159	From what I have heard Hesse is the worst dog out there for FAL receivers, YMMV. Most smiths won't touch them. Supposedly they have all kinds of dimensional problems, hence all the extra work it took to build. I would keep an close eye on the headspace if it were mine. __________________ "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." -- George Washington "A militia, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves ... and include all men capable of bearing arms." "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms..." -- Richard Henry Lee - Senator, First Congress "I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people." (Elliott, Debates, 425-426) --George Mason

October 19, 2011, 19:22	#7
BUFF Old Fart Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 789 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 7,141	The problems with HESSE uppers is that the dimensions for many areas are sometimes off spec, and thus the correctly manufactured rifle parts won't fit and engage each other properly. Once the errors are corrected and the parts can fit properly, the assembled rifle should be fine in the future. It's not like the steel of the built rifle's upper somehow shifts and deforms over time. If your rifle now works, there is pretty much nothing about the receiver that will change with use, assuming in-spec ammunition. Getting to the point where everything fits and works together properly has been the rub. Your rifle is apparently way past that point. Lots of us have great working rifles that were built on HESSE uppers. __________________ BUFF

October 19, 2011, 20:31	#10
J. Armstrong Minister of Amusement Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 13629 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: SE Pa Posts: 8,503	Basically, yes, the Hesse receiver does hurt the resale value somewhat. As noted, the rifle is apperently running fine and there is no reason to think there will be future problems; tha said, Hesses still bring a bit less than, say , a DSA. However, it should still bring well in excess of $450. Do not sell if at all possible to avoid. You WILL regret it !!! At $450 and running well, it is a gem of sorts, and a bargain you will be hard pressed to ever replace !! __________________ "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools" Herbert Spenser "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Sigmund Freud

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October 18, 2011, 19:03	#2
goosebrown Registered FALaholic #: 55207 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Half Moon Bay, Ca. Posts: 370	I have a Hesse Receiver and like it but from reading here the results are all over the show. I bet if yours is working well, and you're happy, then don't sweat it. If you want to sell, you may well get more for the kit disassembled and the receiver separately. If you had no problems with your receiver you could likely get $100-200. (let me know if you want to sell it.) I think Steyr kits in good condition and matching numbers are $750-900. You are going to do better than the $450 you bought it for so I wouldn't get down about it.

October 18, 2011, 19:07	#3
RG Coburn Registered FALaholic #: 27406 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 10,890	At $450,hesse or no,I would pop on it in a heartbeat. Partial STG kits go for more than that,and guys will still buy those hesses.

October 19, 2011, 18:48	#4
tk390 Registered FALaholic #: 64434 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: mo Posts: 29	thanks for your help. I talked with my friend who built the gun and he said that it took more finishing to make it work properly, more than the average Joe would want to put into a kit gun. But I have had no problems and have yet to find any specific issues about HSSE to know what to watch for. The only thing I read is that they are junk and they change there name several times. does anyone know what I should keep an eye out for?

October 19, 2011, 19:11	#6
fnogger Registered FALaholic #: 51053 Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: places Posts: 777	Get a new receiver, rebuild the FAL on it, collect some parts, and make the hesse receiver a dedicated 22 conversion ...

October 19, 2011, 19:23	#8
FUUN063 Computer Illiterate Bronze Contributor FALaholic #: 35576 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Converse, Indiana Posts: 4,594	Shoot it and enjoy. If you sell it, you may have to let the person shoot it as well to prove to them that it functions properly. But, that should be it. Leland

October 19, 2011, 20:29	#9
gobbler Curio & Relic Silver Contributor FALaholic #: 44154 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 2,754	I have 2 of them that I have very little money in & both shoot fine. They actually went together perfect, timed up right 1st time, not like DSA's ,where you have to take half your barrel off. Had the same luck with Century, built 2 of them with no problems. My suggestion is shoot it till it wears out & get you another! gobbler

October 20, 2011, 12:56	#11
tk390 Registered FALaholic #: 64434 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: mo Posts: 29	Thanks for all the input. I think I will keep it. It is my favorite gun. But now I know what I have. I know who put it together an I know it was put together well. I wish there were more aftermarket stuff that I could afford tho.