C.I.A. FAL Problems

[full metal]

Well, I went and picked up my C.I.A. FAL Rifle, at the pawn shop today. I could not wait to go try it out, so I headed to the Shooting Range, and I ran into some problems with the FAL Rifle. Every time I shot it the bolt would only open a half inch. I had to cock the bolt every time to extract the empty brass and load the next round. A friend at the range lend me one of his fal Mags and it did't help any. I took it apart and every thing looks all right. I evan moved the gas regulator nob all the way left then right and every click in between. any advise welcomed I really love it and I want to keep it.

 

[kcmarine]

Heeeeeeeeeeeere we go...

 

[Ash]

Did you clean the gas port? Check that out. Also, check out the gas piston, because these are often crappy two-piece models. Also, make sure the gas plug is inserted properly.

Ash

 

[Bwana John]

I would bet the action actually tried to extract the empty case but did not go far enough back, then jammed the empty case back in the chamber.

If this is the case the first thing you need to try is to turn the gas regulator all the way clockwise (when viewed from rear of rifle)to close off the gas port.

The empty case that is jammed back into the chamber is best removed with "The Pogo", hold onto the charging handle, and hit the buttstock on the ground while retracting the charging handle.
Its not cool to bash the charging handle on a bench or try to use you foot to open the action.

 

[full metal]

I closed off the Gas Port by turning the regulator all the way, and cleaned and checked the gas port. I took the whole rifle apart, and I could not figure out why it would not extract the round. oh yea! and the gas piston is one piece. my friend at the range had his FAL rifle and I used his gas piston and spring and it did the same thing. thanks for the Pogo Technique, I was putting the Bolt Handle on the bench Technique.

 

[W.E.G.]

 

[Ash]

Did you check the return spring in the stock? Probably NOT the problem, but worth checking out.

Ash

 

[Magnuumpwr]

Also, make sure the gas plug is inserted properly.

Ash

Have you checked this yet?

 

[Vaarok]

Is the rifle a carbine? Many FALs with shorter barrels need an enlarged gas port to compensate for the shorter pressure impulse.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I'd start by dialing in the gas port by the book, if you haven't already -- single load a round with an otherwise empty mag, with the gas port all the way open. Fire, and it shouldn't cycle. Take it down a notch and repeat, until it locks back on the empty mag. If you get all the way down to completely closed and it still isn't cycling properly you've got some other problem, but (as I've learned from personal experience), you have to run the basic drill, trying to dial in the gas system with a loaded magazine and such is just a recipe for frustration.

 

[chris in va]

My friend recently bought a $1400 FAL. Took it to the range, did the same exact thing you're describing. We still couldn't get it running right after $200 worth of ammo.

I don't know if he ever got that thing fixed.

 

[LongRangeInternational]

Make sure the "A" on the gas plug is facing up. I just had the same problem because I reinstalled the gas plug upside down.

 

[Bwana John]

If dialing the gas regulator closed (as shown in WEG's post) does not work, the next thing to check is the pin which holds the gas tube from unscrewing, is it there? It should be at the front, on the bottom of the gas tube. Check the gas tubes threads also, worn gas tubes can allow gas to leak out.

If the pin is there and the gas is turned all the way off the next thing to check is gas piston head diameter, it should be ~ 0.430".

If still not cycling try cleaning out recoil spring tube, if loaded with junk it can retard action. Get the buttstock tool to do this.

Id try different ammo also. Cleaning the chamber well couldnt hurt.

Try these things and see if you can get the thing to cycle.

PS-in my first post I said to screw the gas regulator all the way closed, this is not really correct:banghead:, do it as WEG shows, do not have gas regulator tight aganst gas block or it may break when expanding from the heat of shooting, just make sure the port is covered.

 

[rklessdriver]

I once took the gas tubes out of the reciver and the gas block on my FAL to clean them.

A few weeks later I went to the range and the FAL wouldn't function, even with the regulator completely closed off. Exact same problem as yours, it about half extracted the spent case.

After I went home (not able to fix the problemat the range) and took the rifle apart (field stripped) staring at everything a while I recolected the red "sealer" on the threads of my gas tubes when I took it completely apart a few weeks earlier. I took some tefelon tape sealed the gas tube threads up and went back to the range - it worked perfectly.
Will