Since I know that each of you are waiting breathlessly for an update...(pics added)

on my current activities, I am making this post to advise you that I am leaving my house in a few minutes and going out to the shop to build parts for my short gas para FAL. I will take pictures and post them as I make significant progress on the project.

No need to thank me.

I may not have been wondering about your activities, or whatever kind of update; but I will say I have always liked your avatar......


On another note; what is it you are building.......?

Thank you.


I am building an FNFAL Para with a shortened gas system. There really isn't any reason to shorten the gas system. Sort of like chrome wheels on a muscle car. It doesn't enhance the performance, it just looks cool.

progress so far:

If I knew how to post pix, I'd show my short gas system guns.

Open a free account at www.photobucket.com. Upload the files from your computer. Then use the /img links in photobucket for each picture and copy/paste them into your post here.

I had to finish ream it to set the head space rather than use the standard method. The chamber was far too short.

The barrel started life as a military contour K98 replacement chambered in 30-06. I bought it along with a new Garand and AR15 barrel when they were on sale at Brownells several years ago. I screwed up the chamber and rather than throw away the barrel I decided to try to convert it to 308WIN. After converting it to 308WIN, there wasn't enough shoulder left to use it on a K98 or even an FNFAL. That is when I got the idea for the collar nut.(for lack of a better name). We shall see if it works.


I had intended to leave it at 18", but one day it dawned on me that I already have5 full size FNFALs and I have always liked the looks of a short gas para. I will never have a better opportunity than this so, why not.

The muzzle device is just a crown/thread protector.

Looking good.

Really good looking work. I love my Buck six jaw also.

I made some progress today. But, it isn't the kind that photographs well. I could take pics, but you would not be able to tell what I got done.
There is a battle rifle "competition" on the 15th. I would like to have the top end done by then.

I made significant progress today, but I forgot to take my camera with me to the shop. And since the barrel is less than 16" and I do not have the muzzle device ready to pin, I disassembled it and left it in the shop lest some barney fife type pull me over and give me grief for the "short barreled machine gun."

I have the gas block pinned, the gas tube cut and pinned, and the gas piston and spring cut. I used the WAG method to determine the length of the gas piston spring. We shall see if my calculation was accurate. I still need to cut the hand guards and fab the muzzle brake and get it pinned.Then I will be ready to take it to the range and give it a shake down cruise. If that goes well I will turn to on building the folding stock and then refinish it.

After carefully analysis, I chose to make the gills for the brake 5/16 wide. The analysis was, of course, of the tool box drawer containing the end mills. I didn't have a 1/4 in ball end mill and 3/8 was just too big. So, 5/16 it is.







I have the muzzle brake/compensator mounted, gas and front sight parts installed, temporary lower receiver with standard butt stock for first shake down range session. Hopefully tomorrow or maybe Monday. The gas port needed to be reamed to .113 in order to function reliably with the regulator set to midway and firing Argentine surplus ammo.
I do not have a bore scope, so I cannot confirm this, but judging by the reamer when it protrudes, I think that I was successful in putting the gas port in a groove without cutting into a land.
I have a theory that when a land has an interrupt in it, that interrupt acts like a cheese slicer and cuts a miniscule part of the bullet jacket away. Since the bullet is spinning at roughly 195,000 RPMs,((inches per second/ twist rate) x 60 seconds) that miniscule cut makes the bullet wobble in flight. Sort of like having the tub of a washing machine out of balance. If I can keep all of the lands intact, then perhaps the true accuracy potential of this barrel can be exploited. Theoretically anyway.
The hand guards have proven more difficult than I had first thought. But, I have plenty of putty and lots of Dremel tools....
I have discovered that once cured, that Devcon Steel putty is unbreakable. The hand guards break before the Devcon. It is impressive stuff.

bump for update

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