Not sure this is where you want this info, but here it is anyway ;) Like a said elsewhere. This was done by memory, a couple of the details will need to be fact checked. This is for Instructors, to better help them work the line with FALs. It really is lacking to be a serious "help" aid for new FAL owners. Not sure we can really do that justice on the internet.
FAL
Clearing Procedure:
The charging handle does not reciprocate with the bolt, and there is no forward assist with the charging handle. The bold hold open lever is under the receiver, just aft of the magazine well, on the Left side of the rifle. Most FALs will bolt hold back with an empty mag.
The mag release is under the receiver, just aft of the magazine well, on the Right side of the receiver. It is usually rather small, and can be difficult to operate. It must be pushed forward to release the mag, similar to the M1A. The mag is a rock in mag, similar to the M1A.
The Safety is located on the Left side of the receiver, similar to the AR15, and is operated by the trigger hand thumb. Up is SAFE, down is FIRE. There usually is no markings on the Right side of the receiver, so it may need to be marked, similar to the AR15. Note: If the safety is rotated beyond the FIRE position, the hammer will follow the bolt forward, and will not reset. There are a couple of mechanical methods to keep this from happening, but not all rifles have these features.
The chamber flag can be inserted through the mag well, allowing the rifle to lay on its Right side. this allows for the safety to be viewed as well as the chamber flag to be viewed. The charging handle, can be partially brought back, to further verify that the bolt is held back.
Sights/Adjustment:
The Front sight is adjustable for elevation. Metric FALs have a front sight post similar to an AR15, and can be turned with a bullet tip. One click equals 1 cm at 100 meters, so about 1/2 moa per click. A tool is available for this job and makes it very easy to do. Note: The front sight post is on the gas block, and there is a hole that allows chamber gases to reach the base of the sight post, this may seize the sight if the owner does not grease/oil the sight screws. The INCH FALs have a threaded blade type front sight. It is held in place by a set screw and can only be turned in 180 degree increments. I do not know the MOA adjustment of this sight. The front sight style is the easiest way to identify which rifle you are looking at.
The rear sights are a ramp style sight, usually calibrated in meters (metric) or yards (Inch). The range is from 200 to 600, normally, with some variations. 200 is the minimum setting. Some variations have no bullet drop/elevation adjustments. The rear sight can only be adjusted for windage. This is done by a screw on either side of the sight assembly. The technique used to change windage is to loosen the screw on the side of the assembly to which you wish to move the sight toward, several full turns (moving sight left, loosen the left screw). Then "drive" the assembly in that direction with the opposite side screw. Some of these screws have clicks, and they are 1 click equals 1 cm at 100 meters, so about 1/2 moa per click. Many screws do not have clicks. There is normally 18 clicks per revolution, so about 9 moa per revolution.
Operation:
Piston operated, gas system, with a regulator ring just aft of the gas block. The gas regulator system will need to be properly set to correctly function the rifle. This 'setting' procedure, per the manual is lengthy and uses a good bit of ammo. My suggestion, if the rifle is not cycling properly, is to increase the gas pressure on the piston, by decreasing the number on the gas regulator ring (a lower number means more gas to the piston, less gas getting vented overboard). I recommend 2 clicks at a time. When properly set, the last shot fired from a mag should result in the bolt being held open. There is little ill effect if the gas system is set to low (more gas on piston), other than a slight increase in recoil and very long term wear on the system (if any).
Potential Issues:
Gas regulator set too 'High', not allowing the bolt to fully cycle. If you are having cycling issues, this is the first place to start. Also, the rails on the bolt carrier need a good bit of oil.
The Gas Plug is turned 180 degrees off. This will result in the bolt not cycling at all, making it a single shot rifle.
The safety being rotated beyond the fire position. This will result in the hammer following the bolt forward, and not resetting.
fal
Old thread, I summon thee.
Can someone speak about sling usage on the FAL? It appears that the front sling swivel is on the barrel.
Won't a tight sling bend the barrel slightly? Isn't this a bad thing? How much of an effect does this have?
Not all of them have the sling swivel on the barrel. The one I have is in/on the screw that clamps the front of the handguard to the barrel/gas tube. Problem with that one is that it is on the left side of the barrel/handguard/gas tube, not the bottom.
At Appleseed we use cable ties to loop around folks rifle barrels and even tube fed .22 magazine tubes so they can run a sling through the tie. Does it affect the barrel/POI? Most likely. Don't crank the sling up so tight it numbs your hand/arm but be consistent in the amount of pressure you put on the sling. If you consistently bend the barrel a little bit you can adjust the sights for that and keep on shooting.
Quote from: shaftoe on November 08, 2010, 11:24:26 PM
Old thread, I summon thee.
Can someone speak about sling usage on the FAL? It appears that the front sling swivel is on the barrel.
Won't a tight sling bend the barrel slightly? Isn't this a bad thing? How much of an effect does this have?
In most cases (other than a free float barrel tube), this is true. Yes, the barrel will bend due to the sling. I found a 4-5 MOA different in point of impact between shooting on the bipod versus shooting properly slung up in prone.
This is less desirable than a rifle that doesn't do this, however, if you are consistent you can work persist through it.