Century Arms FAL, real cheap

mdjamesd · May 2, 2011

A coworker of mine has a Century FAL that he has offered up for sale. He listed a few quirks with it.....

After 2-3 rounds, it stovepipes during extraction
Doesn't like feeding properly, edge of cartridge gets caught on part of receiver
Sometimes issues with the gas block

It includes 6 mags.
Plastic furniture
Grooved carry handle

How big of a can of works am I looking at.
Any certain things to look for?

Any help would be appreciated

fivepointstar · May 2, 2011

Whats he asking for it?

its may be an easy fix or a big one.

clandestine · May 2, 2011

Could be a simple fix, could be a bad upper or barrel. Hard to say without seeing it. Best bet is to tear it down and clean it thoroughly, then replace all the springs. Lube with 40W Syn Motor Oil and then get some new mags.

Some guns just ahave a poor seal on the gas tube, some have rough cambers.

StantonCree · May 2, 2011

I think your best option is to pass and let me buy it for 300 bucks.......you don't want that headache!!!

mikec · May 2, 2011

Century could produce a FAL that is on par with DSA and then produce 10 that make the buyers cry.

BTW, is it a Century factory gun or a gun someone built on a kit using a Century receiver?

Here is a review of the Century Inch pattern receiver by one of the noted FAL builders.
http://www.arizonaresponsesystems.com/notes/notesfal/falcai/pagefalcai.shtml

olddawg · May 2, 2011

Replacement parts are plentiful and relatively cheap. I'd buy it if its a good deal. I have a century unibrow as my beater FAL and it runs like a top.

Kinbote · May 2, 2011

I have one of the Century FAL's from 1995 or so, originally a Canadian C5 or whatever they called it up there, works well enough but it's a bit clumsy to shoot, partly as a result of the design and partly due to the Bell and Carlson thumbhole stock. I've never had any problems with it other than shooting lead bullets and jamming the gas tube with lead, but that was easy enough to fix.

That list of problems you posted is pretty disconcerting, especially since there are not one, not two, but three different concerns and none appear to be related. What exactly is the gas block problem? The stovepiping could just be a matter of adjusting the gas regulator. The feeding problem you might be able to fix easily, but it sounds as if that gun just wasn't put together well.

You can get a Century for around 600, I think, probably less for a used one, so if you're paying 200 or maybe 300 for that one it might be worth taking a chance on being able to fix it. If it's any more than that, I'd rather take my chances on buying a new one.

BFMIN · May 3, 2011

Whose Century build?
Century used a lot of mix 'n match parts that changed constantly so to give you an accurate answer you'd need more info on the exact parts involved in the construction.

There were (at least) 3 receivers used in the CAI FALs, the Imbel (non gear-logo) is an excellent one & works well. The later "unibrow", or "Widows peak" receivers varied a lot from pretty darn good to a horror story. Can you copy any markings from the receiver for us to check as that would tell us which version you're looking at?

Stovepiping sounds like a gas adjustment problem, fairly easy to fix, but the jamming sounds like a receiver issue which is harder to fix. It might be a symptom of the "unibrow" type receiver. It might just be a normal aspect of the cycling as well FALs tend to ding up case mouths during ejection. If this is what you're seeing it's an easy fix & in fact related to the stovepipe gas problems.

What EXACTLY is the gas block problem? That could be the most serious problem & hardest to fix depending on what it is.

mdjamesd · May 3, 2011

He had mentioned that sometimes the gun wouldn't cycle all the way, i.e. short stroking, he found that by fiddling with the gas block, it would work for a few more shots. It sounds like he doesn't really know alot about these, and doesn't care to learn. I'll try and get him to send me some pics

Thanks so far guys

BFMIN · May 3, 2011

Based on that it might be as simple as a missing or loose cross pin (roll pin) that can be made from an old coat hanger for under $0.01, it depends on what exactly the "fiddling" is. Maybe the gas is set wrong, this seems to confuse a lot of FAL newbies as its actually the opposite of instinctive use.

Also check the gas piston. It should be 100% unbent & CAI guns were (in)famous for having some the curved, bent or twisted causing all sorts of problems. That's an easy fix swap it out for $25~35 with no tools needed.

There's also the possibility that the butt stock spring tube is full of oil, grease or just plain crud that could cause problems & who'd think to look in the butt stock for a problem with the gas tube?

Luigi · May 3, 2011

Is this the same guy who tried to sell the FAL on here yesterday? If it is, he didn't mention he was having issues with it when he tried to sell it on here... :innocent0

mikec · May 3, 2011

Luigi said:
Is this the same guy who tried to sell the FAL on here yesterday? If it is, he didn't mention he was having issues with it when he tried to sell it on here...

I thought that guy mentioned it was an Entreprise Arms rifle, not Century.

Luigi · May 3, 2011

mikec said:
I thought that guy mentioned it was an Entreprise Arms rifle, not Century.

Ok cool...disregard then

StantonCree · May 3, 2011

Yeah and thankfully I ended up buying that gun today!!! Glad I stalked these pages before the lock and delete hahaha. Scott seems like a good guy!

StantonCree · May 3, 2011

oh and yeah.......enterprise

mikec · May 3, 2011

mpdc4511 said:
oh and yeah.......enterprise

Actually, they spell it differently, it's Entreprise, not Enterprise. Check the web site, http://www.entreprise.com/

BTW, good luck with the rifle. Most of them are good, every once in a while a bad one gets out.

olddawg · May 4, 2011

There's also the possibility that the butt stock spring tube is full of oil, grease or just plain crud that could cause problems & who'd think to look in the butt stock for a problem with the gas tube?[/QUOTE]

Good call. I thought of the spring also. I'd try to hook up with someone that has an FAL. You could swap lowers and then the gas pistons to see if that clears up the problems. Cheap way to troubleshoot the problem.

Century Arms FAL, real cheap

The #1 community for Gun Owners of the Northeast

Member Benefits:

Ultimate Member

Thank you MD-Goodbye

AR-15 Savant

Watch your beer

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Active Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Ultimate Member

Banned

Ultimate Member

Banned

Watch your beer

Watch your beer

Ultimate Member

Active Member

Users who are viewing this thread

Log in

Forum statistics