Final L1A1 build, for now...

• Oct 2, 2013

• #1

mawkie

C&R Whisperer

Sep 28, 2007

4,354

Catonsville

Bought a complete British L1A1 parts kit as a source of spares back in '93 when I got my first L1A1. This parts kit is from a 1960 BSA built rifle. When I heard the FAL Files was working on a group buy of a new design British pattern receiver from Coonan I grabbed one for my last FAL rifle build (sadly missed out on getting my huge pile of BREN parts built so it'll have to wait until I eventually move to a 2A friendly state down the road).
Coonan offered custom SN for an additional $35 so now I have matching upper and lower. Build went well and it head spaced perfectly. Chose a US built FHT set, gas piston, mag floor plates and Ironwood furniture set for US parts count.
Finish is Duracoat HK Black over a zinc phosphate parkerizing to simulate the gloss black stoving the British Army used on their L1A1s.
For accessories I had an Aussie SLR sling (I know it's not correct on a British L1A1 but I like it anyway), British L1A3 bayonet and front sight protector.
I still have a nice old L2A2 SUIT for old school optics. The inverted post actually works well for minute of man work with my old eyes.
The only good thing I can say for O'Malley is that he motivated me to finish this project that had been languishing for a couple decades. Glad I did it!

 

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• Oct 2, 2013

• #2

J

Jimbob2.0

Ultimate Member

Feb 20, 2008

16,600

I'm kicking myself for not getting a po for a Conan receiver

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #3

AwesomeBill

Awesome Member

Apr 24, 2009

261

Westminster

Beautiful! The gloss black looks great with the wood.

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #4

M

mcsurgeon

Active Member

Jun 10, 2009

955

catonsville,md

ver nice!

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #5

IMBLITZVT

Ultimate Member

Apr 20, 2009

3,799

Catonsville, MD

Very nice looking!

I did a L1A1 build a few years back. I got a Imbel receiver for mine off the last shipment of them to come into the country. So its kind of a Metric-Inch Mutt but thats fine with me. I found a wood metric style cocking handle and a wood carry handle and I am pretty happy with the look. Maybe I will try and post a picture. I have the optics for it too but I am not a big fan of the optics.

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #6

Alea Jacta Est

Extinguished member

MDS Supporter

Jan 7, 2013

30,282

on a hill...in the woods...by the creek

That, sir, is special.

Well done indeed.

Congrats

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #7

olddawg

Active Member

Feb 3, 2011

387

Harford County

Looks alot like one a buddy helped me build. Very nice Mark. Any issues with the build? Heard there were a few minor issues with these Coonans. What size locking shoulder did you end up using? She's beautiful. The lines on an L1A1 are just classic.

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #8

ThawMyTongue

Ultimate Member

Sep 26, 2009

3,465

Dublin, OH

That is beautiful, nicely done!

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #9

H

HiballHiside

Active Member

Apr 10, 2013

544

She's Purdy

 

• Oct 3, 2013

• #10

S

stu929

M1 Addict

Jan 2, 2012

6,605

Hagerstown

Very nice!

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #11

Rabu Rabu

Operatoroperatoroperator

Sep 10, 2012

333

Cambridge, MD

Beautiful job, I'm looking to start working on my Imbel soon.

I hope I get as good of results!

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #12

K

KingGeorge

Banned

BANNED!!!

May 30, 2013

523

Hey what round does that gun shoot?

Very nice

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #13

llkoolkeg

Hairy Flaccid Member

Sep 28, 2007

5,119

Holding the line South of Gettysburg in 2A-friendl

Dang...that wood looks a lot nicer than the black plastic on mine.

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #14

mawkie

C&R Whisperer

Sep 28, 2007

4,354

Catonsville

olddawg said:

Looks alot like one a buddy helped me build. Very nice Mark. Any issues with the build? Heard there were a few minor issues with these Coonans. What size locking shoulder did you end up using? She's beautiful. The lines on an L1A1 are just classic.

Click to expand...

No issues. The early part of the Coonan run had a tiny flaw with the mag release bore that was, thankfully, undersized. I heard that a round file and 2 minutes of labor fixed that. Mine was built after the faux pas was discovered so it was corrected in-house. Locking shoulder was a .262 (figures that I had .264 and .265 on hand!). Indexed to 10:30 so I took about .002" off the breeching washer to get it to 11 o'clock. That got a good 80-100 ft/lbs of torque on the barrel. The only downside to the Coonan is that it's a casting not a forging like Imbel and DSA. Otherwise they did flawless work and it nearly put itself together. Still have a pile of SLR furniture including a cool NZ SLR buttstock and a Canadian C1 black walnut buttstock and rare rotary rear sight.

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #15

mawkie

C&R Whisperer

Sep 28, 2007

4,354

Catonsville

KingGeorge said:

Hey what round does that gun shoot?

Very nice

Click to expand...

7.62 x 51. Same as the M1a.

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #16

olddawg

Active Member

Feb 3, 2011

387

Harford County

Glad it screwed together easily for you. All my receivers are forged, both DSA and Imbel, so I'm a bit of a snob. But, I haven't heard anything bad about Coonan's cast receivers. Many are absolutely committed to them. Their quality is obvious to the eye. I love your old style wood carry handle, they look so much better than the later green plastic ones. Hold onto your parts, they're like money in the bank. Let us know how it shoots.

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #17

5cary

On the spreading edge of the butter knife.

MDS Supporter

Dec 30, 2007

3,679

Sykesville, MD

Beautiful. I had an SAR-48 (not a classic, I know) that I sold a few years ago when I needed cash. Kicking myself. Hard.

That right there is a real battle rifle.

 

• Oct 4, 2013

• #18

H

hvymax

Banned

BANNED!!!

Apr 19, 2010

14,011

Dentsville District 28

I wish I would have gotten a few flats and bent them up .

 

• Oct 5, 2013

• #19

mawkie

C&R Whisperer

Sep 28, 2007

4,354

Catonsville

olddawg said:

Glad it screwed together easily for you. All my receivers are forged, both DSA and Imbel, so I'm a bit of a snob. But, I haven't heard anything bad about Coonan's cast receivers. Many are absolutely committed to them. Their quality is obvious to the eye. I love your old style wood carry handle, they look so much better than the later green plastic ones. Hold onto your parts, they're like money in the bank. Let us know how it shoots.

Click to expand...

Glad that I picked up the early wood carry handle years ago as they've gotten uber expensive over time. Will definitely hang onto the SLR furniture. Besides, when I'm depressed and need a pick me up I go to the spares bin and pull out a SLR coachwood hand guard and breath deep. That aroma is so wonderful and unique. Wish I could bottle it and get the girlfriend to douse herself in it!

 

• Oct 6, 2013

• #20

J

johnnyb2

Ultimate Member

Apr 3, 2012

1,317

Carroll County

Great looking rifle. I have always wondered if the thin looking barrels on them are CHF, and if they heat up quickly after 5-10 shots? Obviously, I have never shot one :-)