Long before the gun ban scare began I picked up a Century R1A1 FAL type rifle. At the time I was able to pick it up for next to nothing. My experience up till then with Century with two rifles had been favorable so I rolled the dice. It was an inch pattern mix and match with a unibrow feed ramp. It took me a while to get to shooting the rifle. Fortunately it had no feeding issues, but, during its first range session the trigger ceased to function. The rifle felt great to me, but a non-functioning trigger was sort of a major issue. My smith fixed the trigger and the rifle went back in the safe. Then, late last year, seeing how much the rifle had appreciated in value and having that trigger problem leave a bad taste in my mouth, I traded the rifle away on a deal too good to pass. Even with a trade the rifle provided an excellent return. I promised myself to take another stab at an FAL some time down the road, but it wouldn’t be a Century. My goal had been a DSA, but with a kid in college it just isn’t in the budget at the moment. Then, this past weekend I ran across an FAL the got my attention; an Entreprise L1A1 Sporter.
I had never heard of Entreprise but once I got home I started researching the brand. A few things seemed certain. One, their FAL has been a mixed bag with much of their desirability dependant upon when the rifle was made. Their earliest rifles had receivers that were made by a local machine shop from forged steel billet. These receivers were excellent presenting no issues and generally can be identified in a number of ways. These receivers predominate rifles with serial numbers under 2000. These were 93/94 pre-ban rifles. The issues with their receivers started when they brought the manufacture of them in-house. There were also issues with these newer receivers when assembled outside of Entreprise in kits as to fit, but completely Entreprise produced rifles were fine. I have also seen that newer rifles seem to be trouble free as they have resolved those QC issues. I went back to the shop yesterday to see if the L1A1 was either very old or very new. I also took a few unwanted pieces that I had been saving for trade knowing (hoping) that they would add up to the rifle.
As it turned out the rifle was under serial number 900. It also had the configuration of the original desirable receiver as obviously evidenced by the notch cut out on the right side of the magazine well in front of the mag release. The rifle was a bell-ringer. Next to it was a DSA FAL carbine, but the price was nearly a third more than the Entreprise. Also next to it was a Century with an Imbel receiver that was also priced significantly higher than the Entreprise. I know that Imbels are very desirable, but I wasn’t going back the Century route. Besides, the issue with my Century had nothing to do with the receiver. Knowing what I knew about the Entreprise, and my budget, it was the only clear choice. It’s used but in nice shape, and the fact that it has obviously been well used by the previous owner(s) bodes well.
As it turned out the trade that I had proposed to the shop was dead even, as I knew that it would be. Below is the rifle. The bayonet that it came with has been relegated to my parts cabinet. Now to shoot it.
I learned a lot about the history of Entreprise FALs, most of which can be learned at the FAL Files Forum. As I have said, the rifles have been hit or miss, but with a little research it isn’t hard to learn how to maximize the probability of choosing a good one. It appears that they can provide a very good value for an FAL is you aren't able to go the DSA route. Hopefully I will have been correct as I am not fond of eating crow and really want to shoot the FAL on a regular basis. I can get the rifle to the range in the next couple of weeks and that will be the test.
I had never heard of Entreprise but once I got home I started researching the brand. A few things seemed certain. One, their FAL has been a mixed bag with much of their desirability dependant upon when the rifle was made. Their earliest rifles had receivers that were made by a local machine shop from forged steel billet. These receivers were excellent presenting no issues and generally can be identified in a number of ways. These receivers predominate rifles with serial numbers under 2000. These were 93/94 pre-ban rifles. The issues with their receivers started when they brought the manufacture of them in-house. There were also issues with these newer receivers when assembled outside of Entreprise in kits as to fit, but completely Entreprise produced rifles were fine. I have also seen that newer rifles seem to be trouble free as they have resolved those QC issues. I went back to the shop yesterday to see if the L1A1 was either very old or very new. I also took a few unwanted pieces that I had been saving for trade knowing (hoping) that they would add up to the rifle.
As it turned out the rifle was under serial number 900. It also had the configuration of the original desirable receiver as obviously evidenced by the notch cut out on the right side of the magazine well in front of the mag release. The rifle was a bell-ringer. Next to it was a DSA FAL carbine, but the price was nearly a third more than the Entreprise. Also next to it was a Century with an Imbel receiver that was also priced significantly higher than the Entreprise. I know that Imbels are very desirable, but I wasn’t going back the Century route. Besides, the issue with my Century had nothing to do with the receiver. Knowing what I knew about the Entreprise, and my budget, it was the only clear choice. It’s used but in nice shape, and the fact that it has obviously been well used by the previous owner(s) bodes well.
As it turned out the trade that I had proposed to the shop was dead even, as I knew that it would be. Below is the rifle. The bayonet that it came with has been relegated to my parts cabinet. Now to shoot it.
I learned a lot about the history of Entreprise FALs, most of which can be learned at the FAL Files Forum. As I have said, the rifles have been hit or miss, but with a little research it isn’t hard to learn how to maximize the probability of choosing a good one. It appears that they can provide a very good value for an FAL is you aren't able to go the DSA route. Hopefully I will have been correct as I am not fond of eating crow and really want to shoot the FAL on a regular basis. I can get the rifle to the range in the next couple of weeks and that will be the test.
