My new rifle build!

[SPQR]

Yep, its a FAL, a 21st century version. Just tipping the scales at 8 pounds w/o optic or mag, recoil as light as a .223 but in .308, and cute as can be. Its topped off with an IOR 3x25 tactical optic with illuminated recticle. Accuracy was exceptional even at ranges of 200 meters +.
If you live in the US or other country that respects the right of citizens to keep and bear arms, then pm me for build details in case you'd like to update your own FAL to the 21st century!





The business end!

[scrybe]

Looks great except for the Magpul in the back. I understand how functional they are buy.... gah!

[Seraphim]

How do you get a proper cheek weld on that or do you just put your chin ontop of the stock. ;)

[TacoDelRio]

Hey that's a good setup. I'd like a similar one, but just a plain CONGO PARA FAL, with a rail for a light, and tritium sights. That's about it.

Luck you!

[SPQR]

How do you get a proper cheek weld on that or do you just put your chin ontop of the stock

Cheek weld, sight alignment, sight picture are optimal with the pictured stock geometry for iron sights. I build rifles for pure functionality. Taller optics like the one pictured or Eotechs may cause you to reposition your head slightly but at no time does the cheek leave the buttstock.

[BiZ]

I think I'm in love...

[Catch22]

SPQR - could you show us some pics of yer 21'stFAL shouldered/fired, please?

[Zero The Hero]

I take it this FAL was a para version to begin with? I've been wondering if there's a conversion kit to change the solid (but great) stock of my StG58 into a sidefolding or a telescopic one. Whose picatinny foregrip is that?

[XxDrAg0nxX]

So cool...

I wish I live outside Singapore...:roll:

[Geezah]

I like it allot, but I have to agree with the few here, I'm not keen on the stock,it makes me think of the AR stock on the new SIG 556.That doesn't really matter though does it, as it's not mine.

Nice build though....

[SPQR]

Geezah & Zero The Hero,
To answer your questions. The upper receiver is stg58 profile with the "lightning cuts". The rear iron sight is attached to a pictinny rail mount so that you can use most AR15 compatable, detachable sights on the market. That lower receiver is custom built in my machine shop. Its modular so you can change the stock in seconds to any AR15 compatable stock on the market; vltor, magpul, ace socom, ect. These lower receivers can be set up with an ACE hinge block to make them not only collapsible but also sidefolding.
Example: assembly of lower with ACE side folder/collapsible and fn249 grip:



Some extra pics...

the birth:

almost:

siblings:

getting ready:


range time the last cut you see in the hillside behind me is 200 meters, with just iron sights, it was easy to hit an 8 inch steel pipe:


As I said previously, the rifle is around 8 pounds (4.5 kilos) and is very compact, close to an M4 in size. But packs the devastating punch of 7.62x51(.308) instead of the flacid little 5.56x45(.223). The recoil is light because of the special gas system and quality recoil springs, rapid shots were easy to keep on target. The precision barrel with 6 grooves of rifling is 14.75 inches (with flash-hider 16.25) and allows shot groups like this (with iron sights, no optic) at 100 meters:

[Geezah]

Wow......when you said build, I was thinking with a stripped lower, didn't think from scratch. Major kudos to you my man.......
I had that ACE stock on my AR, I liked it allot but I moved it on to a guy to do some smithing for me.

[SMGLee]

SPQR...I think what you are doing are very impressive, and I apploud you for the effort.

I think the stock option is great for iron sight but not so for the optic, much like the M14, a cheek piece is required and forgo the iron. In your case, this is the same dilemma you would face with this design. but however, with your design, it is great piece of kit for iron and the ability to add an ACE stock for length of pull adjustments and the ability to fold for compactness during vehicle or airborne operations. how much longer is the lower now with your extension added to it?

One solution is the Aimpoint on a low mount, this will definitely give you the cheek weld and also the ability to co-witness.

Great idea, nice design and way to go on taking an idea to reality.

Good job brother.. let me know off line on a price of the lower.. I like try it out

Thanks

[gafkiwi]

That rifle is fricken awesome. As a L1A1/SLR owner I wish my rifle would grow up to be half as cool. Whats better is you seem to have built a good rifle that also performs to, Quite often Ive seen guys do stuff to their rifles just for looks and then can't hit ****e with it. A couple of questions mate
What type of ammo do you put through it? (FMJ, military surplus or some flash civi stuff)
What barrel twist rate did you use?
cheers

[SPQR]

As a L1A1/SLR owner I wish my rifle would grow up to be half as cool. What type of ammo do you put through it? (FMJ, military surplus or some flash civi stuff) What barrel twist rate did you use?
L1A1/SLR could be modified to use the lower with the addition of a para carrier and top cover. re-Barreling and headspacing is best left to a gunsmith.

Ammo used: NATO spec: Radway Green - British, FN - Portugese contract. Match grade: Hirtenberger 190gr - Austrian, Federal Gold match 168gr.
Civie: Winchester 147gr.

Twist rate: 1/12


I think the stock option is great for iron sight but not so for the optic, much like the M14, a cheek piece is required and forgo the iron.
Not so, since I have machine tools, I was able to experiment to get the optimum placement of the stock for proper geometry between sight alignment (iron and optic) and cheek weld. Only someone of smaller stature or if teaching a child marksmanship, would a cheek rest be required in this configuration. Your right though about the M14 platform being a bear to get co-witnessing optic/iron sight capability. Overall the FAL can be a much more ergonomic, light weight platform for .308 than the M14 or the G3. Like I said... 8lbs.

[tedtay17]

your rifle looks really photoshopped in but it is very nice, kinda makes me wish i had money

[SPQR]

Actually, I used Fireworks MX to crop the pics. I shot the pics outdoors with a white backdrop and suspended the rifle above the ground from a roof overhang with fishing line. Snapped the pics without all those bothersome shadows to remove later.

[tedtay17]

are you serious or just messing with my small brain

[SPQR]

No, I'm serious. If you want good pics and don't want to spend hours photo editing, then take your time preping the light, backdrop, and subject matter to be photographed. I also had to remove all surface gun oil from the weapon because it was causing a blotchy effect and hiding the nice black matte hk finish. Not to get off subject, but I've photographed quite a few guns and military gear, so I hope these tips help if you ever do the same.

[Caribou Kid]

That is a mighty fine build you've done, sir. I take my hat off to you for the extra effort of machining your own lower. Can you say "swarf?" :) The custom stock placement aspect was a particularly nice touch, I thought. Obviously a very well-thought out project.

Not a bad little grouping for 100 meters, either. That must have been quite satisfying to see after your laborious efforts. I imagine quite a few man-hours have gone into this particular undertaking...

Would you consider a lighter weight Trijicon Reflex sight to save even more weight, or is that too much of a step down in optics performance for your taste? Speaking of weight savings, have you got a titanium gas piston in there, or the stock one?

I'd be interested to see how hot that Rail Interface Handguard got after a 3-gun match, or an Urban Rifle course at Thunder Ranch or Gunsite.. :P

SPQR, I am greener than the Jolly Green Giant with envy. The pics are of a pretty good quality too. The extra effort shows. Nicely done, mate.

[SPQR]

Would you consider a lighter weight Trijicon Reflex sight to save even more weight, or is that too much of a step down in optics performance for your taste? Speaking of weight savings, have you got a titanium gas piston in there, or the stock one?
I'd be interested to see how hot that Rail Interface Handguard got after a 3-gun match, or an Urban Rifle course at Thunder Ranch or Gunsite.. :P


I've built several incarnations of this same rifle and built quite a few for others as well;) The reflex, aimpoint, eotech have been popular, but I've seen other optics used as well such as leupold 1x5 30mm w/ illum recticle. Since trying the IOR 3x25, I'm not sure I can go back to anything else for this type of application. Even the $1000 trijicons don't seem so nice anymore. Crystal clear glass by schott of Germany, a near perfect, easy to aquire range finding illum. recticle and 3x magnification is low enough for both eyes open cqb but just enough mag for 200-300m targets.
The gas piston is a standard Austrian stg58 cut to proper length for the shorty front end.
As for those handguards getting hot... good question. It was pretty chilly the day we were shooting but I usually wear a glove anyway or use a vert handgrip.

[Randomrokottaja]

Looks damn nice! FAL is a great rifle.

"recoil as light as a .223 but in .308"

How did you manage to reduce the recoil? And how much did it cost to update the weapon?

"wish i lived outside uk..."

Thank God i live in Finland. No weapon bans nor other communistic restrictions like mag capacity limitations etc. nonsense crap decided by people who haven't even seen any weapon.

[SPQR]

How did you manage to reduce the recoil? And how much did it cost to update the weapon?
The dramatic recoil reduction is from a combo of factors: More weight towards the muzzle, less in the butt / improved and tuned gas system / heavy aftermarket recoil springs, 3 are used, one inside the other. Total cost of weapon w/o optic $2000 (1600 euro).

Thank God i live in Finland. No weapon bans nor other communistic restrictionsNever met a Fin I didn't like, too bad there aren't alot more of you so you can take over the rest of Europe.

[yiorgo]

the pics you are showing are of the Kaiser works VLOPSI Lower are you affiliated with Kaiser works?? http://thekaiserworks.com/products.html

[SPQR]

"are you affiliated with Kaiser works?? "

Yes.

[yiorgo]

very nice love your guys lowers....one thing though tried to get Rich at CGW to put one together for me and it was a no go.....tried to sight in at 200yrds and was shooting 6 to 7 inches high....is there something different you guys are doing with your new lowers...thanks

[Randomrokottaja]

The dramatic recoil reduction is from a combo of factors: More weight towards the muzzle, less in the butt / improved and tuned gas system / heavy aftermarket recoil springs, 3 are used, one inside the other. Total cost of weapon w/o optic $2000 (1600 euro).
Never met a Fin I didn't like, too bad there aren't alot more of you so you can take over the rest of Europe.

1600e is still a good price for FAL with all bells and whistles. Hardly can afford even a new AR15 naked (with no optics) from store for that price.

I spent today my sunday leisure time at range shooting with AK + PSO-1 and got almost my hands frozen. Should replace the current stock to some kind of skeleton version, AK74M stock perhaps.

[TacoDelRio]

1600e is still a good price for FAL with all bells and whistles. Hardly can afford even a new AR15 naked (with no optics) from store for that price.

I spent today my sunday leisure time at range shooting with AK + PSO-1 and got almost my hands frozen. Should replace the current stock to some kind of skeleton version, AK74M stock perhaps.

The skeleton stock is metal tubing, right? No padding or anything?

Wouldn't that be bad in a cold climate against your face, unless you wore a skimask or something?

[Randomrokottaja]

"Wouldn't that be bad in a cold climate against your face, unless you wore a skimask or something?"

Yes, it would be, if it was russian or bulgarian Arsenal's metal stock currently available. Polymer would be better but what is the best choice today? I'm not too interested about ACE's AR -style ones for an AK, or stocks with price of half of the weapon's itself.;( There should be no lack of alternatives on the markets. Regular AK stock is pretty unergonomic.

Or then, could consider about RK95 skeleton stock and humble ask for a surplus one, but i guess it would need then an adapter to fit. Not a matter of one day though.

[TacoDelRio]

Cool stuff.

I like standard AK stocks, with their shorter length of pull. I just don't like how typically they rattle in loose mounts. That can be fixed.

I think I'd go with the skeleton stock, then just wrap some duct tape around the frame to keep your cheek from turning black!

[Randomrokottaja]

Cool stuff.

I like standard AK stocks, with their shorter length of pull. I just don't like how typically they rattle in loose mounts. That can be fixed.

I think I'd go with the skeleton stock, then just wrap some duct tape around the frame to keep your cheek from turning black!

Short AK stocks are great in rapid shooting, specially stocks with straight profile. But i don't like them though when shooting at prone position magazine's head resting on the ground. Weapon lowers too down and makes prone position damn uncomfortable, unlike with finnish RK -serie rifles.

In late 90s i still had one Norinco 56 rifle with extremely crappy fixed whatever bamboo-wooden stock and it's quality as well as the really loose mount were pure piece of ****. I solved the problem by replacing it to a plastic DDR surplus stock used with MpiKm rifles and it mounted very tight. Never loosened again.

After that i very fast replaced all other crappy original chinese parts to DDR ones. That project became pretty cheap too, parts cost only about 5 FIM (less than 1 euro) per piece including stock, handgrip, foregrip, gas tube and recoil spring.

[Wanta B]

SPQR,are your modular FAL lowers still availible? If they are I would like to get one ASAP

Regards
Wanta B

[BiZ]

SPQR,are your modular FAL lowers still availible? If they are I would like to get one ASAP

Regards
Wanta B

Awesome first post and 2 year thread revival. Though I'm pretty sure you could have PM'd him, especially since you require it "ASAP" and thus more likely to get a response.

[SPQR]

Sorry, the AR market has us burried right now. No FAL lowers left, you could settle for DSArms inferior product if you need that configuration or from time to time one of our lowers pops up on GunBroker. We are however making a rock-solid reliable bullpup conversion for a FAL for SHOT show!!! Here are some pics of what we are busy making now, sorry its a 5.56 not a 7.62.

[gaijinsamurai]

That's a beautiful carbine, SPQR! Best of luck with the sales, though I doubt you'll need it.
The only thing I'd change is having a flip-up front sight, in place of the standard government style. But that's just my own personal preference.