[id10t]

Re: The FN-FAL/L1A1

For $800 on up you can get a great shooting FAL built on a parts kit, around 1300 you hit the SAR4800 (factory Imbel made post 89 ban, pre94 ban), around 1500 the SAR48 (pre 89 import ban) starts, and other Real Deal pre '89 ban imports at 2k and up.

For $500 you can get one of the new production 22 conversion kits, which makes shooting it much more affordable.

Receivers - Original licensed manufacture is best - Imbel most common, but there are others out there. For US made, most runs of DSA are good, the DCI/Coonan ones are good. The Williams "alumabomb" aluminum ones that shouldn't be used for most rifle cartridges (but would be great for a 22 conversion). Century, which may be hit or miss, and many Century guns were built on Imbel receivers. And remember - on the FAL/L1A1, the *upper* receiver is the registered part, although the lower could be marked with a completely different number.

Inch (L1A1) vs. Metric - all functional differences can be enabled/disabled by swapping parts - no last shot BHO on the inch, metric has it, swap parts out and you got it. Real difference is ergonomics, I prefer the metric. Try one of each. Inch guns can mostly use metric mags, metric guns metric mags only. Some Century (and other I guess...) inch type builds are built on receivers that are metric cut for mags. Metric mags are plenty common and less expensive than inch, but that gap is closing since there are new production rifles that take metric FAL mags (RRA LAR8, etc).

US parts - you need 7 if you have a muzzle device. Mag bodies, floor plates, followers. Barrel, receiver, muzzle device, gas piston, handguards, pistol grip, butt stock, hammer, trigger, sear, charging handle are all the easy choices. Pick 7. NOT the selector, which may go to all 3 positions - which is useless since the hammer will follow the bolt since you don't have a sear cut to hold the sear. But, it is better to make your selector into a "2 safe position" unit, or order a semi-only selector. Or be prepared to deal with unknowing law folk and/or range fudds.