FN (Browning) FAL Para .308 Match Rifle

Bartok5

Bartok5

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I have always wanted a Para FAL with the iconic Folding Stock mechanism, but have never encountered one for sale. Perusing the DSA FAL website recently it came to my attention that they sell Do It Yourself metric FAL Para Conversion Kits. I ordered up a kit through A Z T E C H Armoury and it was delivered less than a month later. I inspected the package of parts for any missing items and was pleased to find that everything necessary was included along with a few spare screws and the like.

The base rifle is a Fabrique Nationale / Browning Fusil Automatique Leger (FAL) ".308 Match" model in Excellent to "as new" condition. After removing and completely stripping out the Lower Receiver it was a relatively simple matter to transfer those parts over to the stripped Aluminum Lower Receiver for the Para FAL. From there it was an easy install of the Picatinny Scope Mount Rail on the Upper Receiver, followed by final assembly of the field-stripped rifle. Easy-Peasey, all things considered.....

Here is the finished product for your persual....


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Match and Para FAL should never be spoken in the same sentence. Short barrel, folding stock and short sight radius are all incompatible with true consecutive bullseyes on a 4x4 target. But ... that is a very nice setup.

I had my hands on a Kuwaiti army Para FAL in Kuwait City Mar 90. It had been burnt and was layered in active rust. Sigh. I mused about soaking it in oil to get off the desireable bits, but I had a kit bag of less controversial souvenirs by then.
 
In case anyone is wondering, there is more to this conversion than simply installing the stock...
 
Years ago I converted an Indian FAL to Para configuration. My memory of the process is a little fuzzy but I don't remember it being all that difficult to accomplish.

The Para FAL def has a different feel to it. I suspect it would be even better with a shorter barrel.


maple_leaf_eh said:
Match and Para FAL should never be spoken in the same sentence. Short barrel, folding stock and short sight radius are all incompatible with true consecutive bullseyes
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I had the same initial thought about the combination of Para and Match. :LOL:

The sight radius doesn't change, even if the barrel gets shortened, which Bartok's has not.
 
maple_leaf_eh said:
Match and Para FAL should never be spoken in the same sentence. Short barrel, folding stock and short sight radius are all incompatible with true consecutive bullseyes on a 4x4 target. But ... that is a very nice setup.

I had my hands on a Kuwaiti army Para FAL in Kuwait City Mar 90. It had been burnt and was layered in active rust. Sigh. I mused about soaking it in oil to get off the desireable bits, but I had a kit bag of less controversial souvenirs by then.
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Except that in my case, the two terms apply since it is a 21" Barrelled, ".308 Match" stamped Upper Receiver, now mated with a Para Lower Receiver and Para Upper Receiver internals. Not all Para FALs had the short 18" Barrel, some models featured the longer 21" Barrel fitted with the typical 22mm diameter FAL Compen̈sator/Flash Hider. The FN FAL 50.61 had a steel Lower Receiver, whereas the 21" FAL 50.64 featured an aluminum Lower exactly like mine.
 
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KotKotofeich said:
Which kit did you get?

I've been ogling them before but they seem to now have very varied options.

I already have the railed receiver cover - two in fact by some luck... So looking at this one https://dsarms.com/product/ds-arms-...frame-para-stock-hinge-block-connecting-bolt/

Will the dsa lower accomodate FA capability?
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You need a different Railed Receiver Cover for the Para internals that go into the Upper Receiver where the Recoil Spring is relocated. Trust me when I say that you ought to buy a complete conversion kit, with a new Railed Body Cover, which will set you back approximateĺy $1K CAD through A z t e c h Armory. Here is the kit I bought, listed for $529.95 USD by DSA:

DSA FAL SA58 PARA Conversion Kit – Includes Stock, Lower Trigger Frame, PARA Carrier, Standard PARA Scope Mount, Springs and PARA Sight, No Internals
SKU: 090P620AP-A

As to your other question, any FAL lower Receiver will accommodate a Full-Auto Selector and Trigger Plunger. They are not neutered like AR Lowers.
 
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I don't think a US commercial lower has provision for the safety sear.
About the only FALs in the States with a safety sear are the serial number recorded G-series rifles.
 
tiriaq said:
In case anyone is wondering, there is more to this conversion than simply installing the stock...
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100% correct! You need the correct Para Breech Block Carrier, Spring set, Guide Rod and Body Cover in addition to the Aluminum Lower Receiver with Para Rear Sight and Folding Buttstock.
 
Bartok5 said:
You need a different Railed Receiver Cover for the Para internals that go into the Upper Receiver where the Recoil Spring is relocated. Trust me when I say that you ought to buy a complete conversion kit, with a new Railed Body Cover, which will set you back approximateĺy $1K CAD through A z t e c h Armory. Here is the kit I bought, listed for $529.95 USD by DSA:

DSA FAL SA58 PARA Conversion Kit – Includes Stock, Lower Trigger Frame, PARA Carrier, Standard PARA Scope Mount, Springs and PARA Sight, No Internals
SKU: 090P620AP-A

As to your other question, any FAL lower Receiver will accommodate a Full-Auto Selector and Trigger Plunger. They are not neutered like AR Lowers.
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Thanks. Just wanted to check because I've seen some CA FALs here with welds on the lower.

Appreciate the info on the receiver cover.
 
KotKotofeich said:
Thanks. Just wanted to check because I've seen some CA FALs here with welds on the lower.

Appreciate the info on the receiver cover.
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No, nothing like a neutered Canadian 12(3) Converted-Auto FAL. This is a brand new, US-manufactured, lightweight aluminum Lower Receiver. All of the parts included in the kit are pristine, brand new manufacture. They are top-quality parts from DSA. A perfect fit on my Metric FAL in terms of both the Lower Receiver Internals and the Bolt-Carrier/Railed Top Cover.

Yeah, unfortunately you will need the new Railed Top Cover to mate with the Recoil Spring's Guide Rod. The Body Cover holds the Bolt Carrier and Recoil Spring in place using the Guide Rod, which fits into a special recess at the rear of the Top Cover. Your other Top Covers won't have that Recess for the Guide Rod, as they are based upon the Recoil Springs being contained within the Lower Receiver/Buttstock Assembly.

The kit looks awesome once it is installed. Have fun!

Mark
 
I love the look of those stocks, but can do without the folding mechanism. Never liked folders because they inevitably wobble loose. I know the steel ones won't, but just something I got used to with all the plastic fantastic folding stocks out there.
 
infidel29 said:
I love the look of those stocks, but can do without the folding mechanism. Never liked folders because they inevitably wobble loose. I know the steel ones won't, but just something I got used to with all the plastic fantastic folding stocks out there.
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The FAL folding stock has a spring-loaded, wedge-shaped engagement surface that automatically takes up any slack created by friction-induced wear to the bearing surfaces. Not that there is much appreciable wear to the steel latching components in the first place. The Galil shares the identical folding Buttstock mechanism that one might politely suggest was plagarized by the Israelis.....


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The Para FAL (particularly in it's short barreled configuration) is still my grail gun - I would trade every firearm I own for the opportunity to have one, but alas, I was born too late. :(

I have a deactivated Australian L1A1 that's #### and click, and I have been considering trying to get parts to convert it into a short barrel, folding stock Para, but I would imagine that it would require modifications beyond the scope of what's permissible (dewat the donor barrel before removing the old one, maybe?) - it would be a very expensive project either way, for a gun that still can't function. I might as well buy a nice airsoft rifle for way, way less money.

Bradley
 
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