Test firing is complete, checks and rechecks of headspace have been accomplished and deemed
within' specs after a total of 160rds fired down range over 3 range sessions. Time to backtrack
and go over the final assembly process. The above pic is of the final product. IT'S ALIVE
Muhahahaha!! =)
We left off with a properly headspaced barrel and upper assembly (Verified during test fire
sessions). All that's left to do is to assemble the remaining parts to the upper, and mate it
together with the assembled lower assembly completed earlier. Piece of cake!!
Note: The
the pics above are from dis-assembly and are not a representation of the parts condition during
asssembly (Theya looka mucho more nicer than that). =)
First off was installing the gas system parts to the upper receiver. I ensured all parts and
pieces were clean and free of debris before assembling them to the upper assembly by cleaning
them with bore patches and rags. It just so happens a .44 mag bore brush (I happen to have
on hand) is a perfect fit for the gas tube since the gas piston that supposed to seal gasses is
.431" in diameter. A few strokes with it followed by a jag and patch cleaned the inside of
the gase tube nicely. Mating the gas tube nut, gas adjuster ring and tube together, I first screwed
the gas tube nut to the upper assembly with the carry handle placed in it's slot (Lower Left Pic).
I only tightened it hand tight at this time in case I needed to make a few adjustments.
Next, I threaded the gas tube into the gas block of the barrel by hand, then finished off with a
strap wrench to bottom it out as far as it would go. Once it's bottomed out, you back it off
(unscrew about a quarter turn) to align the window notched in the gas tube with the gas vent
located in the boss of the gas block that the gas adjusting ring regulates. Next I inserted the
cross pin that keeps the gas tube from rotating which would block the vent hole then threaded on
the adjusting ring (Right Pic). I then put the little spring detent which provides a tactile
click for each gas setting, into it's respective slots on the gas block.
Lastly, I cleaned and lightly oiled the gas piston and spring with
Firepower FP-10 from MPC
Products and slid it into the gas block from the front and inserted the gas piston plug home
(Top Left Pic) rotating it to the "A" position for semi-auto operation, then cinched down the
gas tube nut into the upper receiver.
While I was at the gas block end of the barrel, I went ahead and installed the front sight post.
First, install the spring and detent plate ensuring the tabs line up with the notches. Then, with
a handy dandy front sight adjustment tool, screw the front sight post in. Before I installed
the front sight post, I put a little dab of green
Bright Sights paint (Pic above) to the top of the post. If you look closely at the pic, you'll see a
"dot" that I conveniently dabbed with a little yellow paint to hopefully show up better in the picture.
During test firing, I found that the front sight post (2 dot) that came with the kit was too tall. After
reading a good
discussion about metric front sight posts, it was determined I could use a "1 dot" front sight post which
is .65mm shorter than a 2 dot. Jen, of the
The FAL Files Forums came to the rescue again, as she had one avalable for a minimal outlay of cash. It
arrived a short 3 days after contacting her and was just what the doctor ordered. (Thanks Jen!)
Before moving on to mating the upper receiver to the lower and installing the furniture, I tackled
the task of installing the "bolt hold open" (BHO) device and the magazine release/catch assemblies
(pic above). They merely slide into their respective channels in the upper receiver near the magazine
well and pivot(slide) on the cross pin screw that's inserted from left to right. The part to the far
right in the pic is the locking shoulder that was installed earlier. Follow me to
Page 2 as we press on with final assembly showing how to mate the upper and lower together, lube and
install the bolt/bolt carrier group, install scope mount and attach the furniture. Stay Tuned!!
Shoot Safe!!!
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Test firing is complete, checks and rechecks of headspace have been accomplished and deemed within' specs after a total of 160rds fired down range over 3 range sessions. Time to backtrack and go over the final assembly process. The above pic is of the final product. IT'S ALIVE Muhahahaha!! =)
