Workbook

FAL MALFUNCTIONS

(updated 09-01-99)

In the years I've been building FAL rifles, I have come across two categories of malfunction that are usually

correctable, which I will classify as opening malfunctions and closing malfunctions. An opening malfunction

is when the bolt does not unlock, or travel rearward far enough after firing to lock open on an empty

magazine or to strip a new round. Closing malfunctions are those where a new round is stripped but does not

completely chamber, leaving the bolt unlocked. Proper parts selection and preparation can mitigate both.

RECEIVER PREPERATION

I recommend you take the following steps in preparing any receiver for assembly. While the vast majority of

guns built on Argentine, Brazilian, or DSA receivers will not malfunction, these modifications do not hurt

and are easier to perform before mounting a barrel.

1. Take a fine 12"+ mill file and true the receiver inside flats of the receiver. Just a few strokes will

show you where the high spots are. Take a few strokes until the bare metal shows for pretty much

the whole length. You can use a safe edge file, or carefully use one with teeth on the sides. Pay

particular attention to the right side where the ejector block aligns with the right receiver rail. This is

a spot where you can clearly see the sloppy fit of Entre'prise and Armscorp receivers.

2. Take a smaller file with edges, and run the file inside the channel where the two rails on the bolt

carrier ride. This is particularly important on Pacific Armament Corporation Imbels, or any other

Brazilian receiver with the Imbel gear logo on the right side. The lettering is stamped too deep,

which raises a small bump on the inside. A few strokes of the file will show any high spots. If you

can find a honing stone small enough, that will work too, but it is important that whatever tool you

select is long enough that the sides will remain parallel.

3. With a Cratex, 3M Scotchbrite, or very fine sanding rotary tool, break the edge of the

extractor relief cut. This is the flat part over where the barrel screw in. On the right side, there is a

radius cut. This gives the extractor room to cam over the rim of a cartridge (I know its technically a

rimless cartridge – but for lack of a better word . . .). The FAL is not a "positive feed" system, where

the round slides under the extractor from the magazine. Instead, the extractor must snap around the

rim on closing. Sometimes this radius cut is too small, which does not allow the extractor to move

up and right far enough to snap over the cartridge rim. Polish this area from the front as well, which

is not possible to do after the barrel is mounted. Using your receiver stub, compare the tiny relief cut

on the receiver just in front of the magazine well to that on your new receiver. Often the cut will not

be deep enough, or will not have the proper contour. There is supposed to be a definite step here. If

not, make the step with a jeweler's file or carbide burr. If all else fails, examine your ammunition for

excessively thick or wide rims, or too shallow an extractor groove.

4. Insure the base of the ejector block is not bent. Sometimes the area in front of the hole where the

bolt hold-open fits is bent slightly to the rear, which will cause the bolt hold-open to bind. This is

relatively soft and can easily be bent back. If you will be using an L1A1 bolt hold-open on a metric

or hybrid receiver, now would also be a good time to open the bolt hold open channel .001" either

with a drill bit of the exact size or apiece of sandpaper wrapped around a dowel. You could also

polish down the bolt hold-open or use a metric one with no ill effect,.

5. The front part of the slot where the peg on the cocking slide rides often has a burr or rough

machine mark . Using a small jeweler's file, clean up this area. It may cause the cocking slide to be

hard to open for the first ½ inch.