[kzguns]

One of my FAL rifles is a century, i want to rebarrel this rifle with a para barrel with a bipod cut. my question is how do i determine inch or metric and does it even matter for the barrel. it does have the folding type cocking handle and takes any fal mag. also does anyone have a barrel that they would like to sell.

 

[ScottD]

Yes it matters for the BBL. MOST Century FAL's are Metric. Ive forgotten all the little differences (built a few FALS about 4 years ago, all metric), but what does the receiver say? R1A1 or FAL, its Metric, anything else you wanna check on... The FAL files has a wealth of info on this stuff.

 

[Armorer]

I thought the R1A1 was the inch pattern. I thought they were made from Australian parts kits. But I could be wrong.

 

[kzguns]

It says L1A1

 

[IMBLITZVT]

It only matters a little. I have a L1A1 kit (inch) on a Imbel Metric upper.

KZ... is it a Imbel receiver stamped CAI or a made in the US CAI receiver. Pictures would help.

"folding type cocking handle and takes any fal mag" That should mean its a Inch receiver...

Honestly its should not be a problem I think... but post on FAL files... those guys know every in and out... other then timing I think there is no real problems. Timing you never know until you mate a barrel and receiver.

 

[blackrifles]

KZ,

R1A1 is metric, C1A1 and L1A1 are inch.

Sounds like you have Inch-pattern parts kit on metric spec receiver, Century is usually a "FrankenFAL" rifle, using mixed Inch/Metric parts in construction, doesn't hurt the rifle's function, just confusing and parts replacement can be a hassle.

ALL inch barrels with work on most metric builds(exception being Izzie- receiver threads different pitch) and vise-versa. You "might" need to swap gas block, generally going with gas block from parts kit keeps you from opening a whole can of worms, from sight issues to gas tube length.


On to the barrel, Para barrels are getting expensive, if you want a low buck option, look for nice 21" barrel that has been post-ban converted, threads cut off or one of those horrid brakes perm-attached, usually found at or around $100, then find someone who really knows their lathe.

 

[John Powell]

Nice Rifle!

Very nice! I think FAL's with nice wood furniture are beautiful.

 

[IMBLITZVT]

Very nice! I think FAL's with nice wood furniture are beautiful.

Glad you like it. I built it myself I really like that wood cocking handle. You don't see many of those!

 

[BLUESMAN]

Fal

Is that a l1 wood on a g1??
I have a g1 and want full wood with the bipod
yours is very nice
bluesman

 

[gska3873]

You most likely have an inch kit on either an Imbel or Argentine receiver if the receiver does not say Hess or Century anywhere on it but only says L1a1. If you can put both inch and metric mags in it then the magwell is inch pattern. You can put a metric barrel on it, however, if you put a metric barrel on it be sure to use metric gas system parts unless you swap out the gas block with an inch gas block then you could use inch parts. Again though, pictures would be a world of help in telling what you have.

 

[IMBLITZVT]

Nope its an Aussie L1A1 kit on a Imbel Type 3 receiver. Inch kit on a Metric gun. When I built it, no one had inch receivers and I was not getting a newer crappy CAI one.

Is that a l1 wood on a g1??
I have a g1 and want full wood with the bipod
yours is very nice
bluesman

 

[moosiah]

Fal barrel threads are 1" x16 metric or inch...... go figure.... EXCEPT Israelie made which has a METRIC thread of 25.4 x1.5875 mm ???? translates to: TA DA!!! 1"x16.005 (or so) it's a .003" differance over 1" ..... so take your izzie barrel and run a thread die down by hand ,,you won't even see any swarf, and then thread your Izzie barrel in and done!

 

[B-3]

Remove the barrel - cot and crown it to 18 inches -reinstall it
No problem
Good luck
Check the FAL files. there are several there that can do it for you

 

[bullseye]

I bekieve that the sight height on a british kit is closer in height to the para configuation as well

 

[Bolt2bounce]

As others have already said Inch and metrics are mostly interchangeable between parts, with the only major difference being the magazines, in the inch pattern magazines... they will not fit into a metric receiver along with a few other minor things like the folding cocking handle and angle of the pistol grip. It's funny but I like inch over metric pattern guns for the most part... But the parts for metric guns are more common... as a lot more of them were made world wide. As for your question just unscrew your existing barrel and replace it with a para barrel no problem... B2B

 

[hotchkissmtrifle]

I thought the R1A1 was the inch pattern. I thought they were made from Australian parts kits. But I could be wrong.

I helped a guy build one of those R1 kits out of shotgun news for $89 a few years ago. I believe it was SOuth African. He bought a Century reciever casting from Tapco-gave me one for helping and he milled it out (way cheaper to have bought it) The threads were metric and he screwed it up so took the nub off his kit and tig welding it in the new casting-it worked. The front site height and the rear site were somehow on different planes, I really think it was an Izzy barrel assembly but he put a scope on it anyway. Hotch
PS: he says he is legal on using the nub because he calls it a trunion

 

[Bonehead]

but... do you still need a barrel ? ? if so ; pm me , as I have a couple of spares.