imbel FAL no gas return

[vcsniper556]

A friend an I went shooting over the weekend, both with our new guns. His used Imbel FAL seemed to have a gas return problem. Every time we would shoot it, the slide wouldn't move back and the round wouldn't eject. After each round we would have to pull the slide back. The gas control knob on the front of the gun was set to 1 out of 6, which meant that the gas hole was blocked and all of it was supposedly being returned to the bolt carrier. Could there be a problem with the gun leaking gas because of a bad seal, or could it be the ammo? We were using surplus British .308 from an M60. thanks

 

[flintoid]

did he buy this off of a guy that home built this FAL?

have you tried the "bullet test"?

My guess is that it's either a gunked up gas regulator or it's a shot out parts kit.

 

[strangenh]

Check it isn't set in grenade launch mode. The A/B thing if it is so marked on the gas plug up front. "A" is what you want.

 

[vcsniper556]

did he buy this off of a guy that home built this FAL?

have you tried the "bullet test"?

My guess is that it's either a gunked up gas regulator or it's a shot out parts kit.

no idear, he bought it at a local gunshop for like 600$. what does bullet test mean; trying different rounds? If so, we were planning on buying some remington or regular market hunting rounds to see if that helps.

 

[vcsniper556]

it was on A

 

[KMM696]

Shamelessly stolen from the FAL files: FTF/FTE troubleshooting guide

......

4. No apparent movement of bolt or carrier regardless of gas setting

a. Check that the gas plug is in the “A” position.

b. You DID remember to put the gas piston back in, didn’t you?

c. Check to make sure the gas tube is pinned in place and has not rotated. Ideally, the exhaust ports in the gas tube should be at 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock but if they are at 10 and 2, it will not affect operation.

d. Ensure that the gas port is not obstructed.

e. Check that gas piston is not undersized or worn. Proper diameter is between 0.429” and 0.431”.

f. Excess leakage around gas tube, see No. 6

g. Check that the bolt carrier “rat tail” is straight and in the recoil plunger detent and not jammed against the back of the lower receiver when closed.

h. Take the gas piston spring out and roll the piston on a flat surface to check for straightness. Reinstall the gas piston with the bolt and carrier removed. The piston should fall freely through the gas cylinder and gas nut. If not check gas tube and gas nut for roundness and damage.

i. Check for cracked gas block.

j. Make sure you haven't put a metric gas plug in an inch gas block. A metric gas plug is about 3/16" longer than the inch plug. The gas plugs are not interchangeable.

.....

Imbel is a good receiver, but someone else put the thing together here in the US, and there are quite a few spots on the FAL that can get screwed up. Any manufacturers name on it besides Imbel?

 

[vcsniper556]

thanks, its my friends, so Ill have to look at it myself.

 

[Remsport Mfg]

For $600.00 I am supprised the the gun shoots at all.