How much will I spend building a FAL?

**yosuthnmasa** · 03-26-2004, 12:26 AM

Well, I've just about decided to build an AK but have read alot about these FAL's and how easy they are to build. Can someone give some kind of idea what I would be spending if I built one of these beauties? Maybe a price breakdown on what I would have to buy and how much it would cost?

**kfranz** · 03-29-2004, 09:29 AM

$225 kit
$200 receiver
$125 Compliance parts

$550 total for the parts, which is of course, approximate. Shipping/transfer fees are not included since it is a ballpark estimate.

Tool cost varies widely, depending on how low budget you want to go, and how handy you are. The advantage of tool cost is that they can be spread over several builds or sold when you are done, driving the average cost down.

scubadvr · 03-29-2004, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yosuthnmasa

Well, I've just about decided to build an AK but have read alot about these FAL's and how easy they are to build. Can someone give some kind of idea what I would be spending if I built one of these beauties? Maybe a price breakdown on what I would have to buy and how much it would cost?

I'm just a couple of days ahead of you. There is also the cost of the tools.

scubadvr · 03-29-2004, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yosuthnmasa

Well, I've just about decided to build an AK but have read alot about these FAL's and how easy they are to build. Can someone give some kind of idea what I would be spending if I built one of these beauties? Maybe a price breakdown on what I would have to buy and how much it would cost?

I'm just a couple of days ahead of you. There is also the cost of the tools, I place a minimun at $150.00

**yosuthnmasa** · 03-30-2004, 08:04 PM

So were looking at 550 for the gun plus around 150 for the tools...and what can I get a similar one for new? The reason I'm wanting to build and AK or a FAL isn't necessarily to do it cheaper. I'd just like to say that I can do it. Sounds like it will probably be quite a bit cheaper to build an AK but harder. The FAL is more expensive but I don't have one. Would it be smarter to start my building career off with a FAL then move up to an AK. I feel like I am pretty mechanically inclined. I am working on finishing my M.E. degree now. Or would an AK be a good start too?

shortround · 03-30-2004, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yosuthnmasa

So were looking at 550 for the gun plus around 150 for the tools...and what can I get a similar one for new? The reason I'm wanting to build and AK or a FAL isn't necessarily to do it cheaper. I'd just like to say that I can do it. Sounds like it will probably be quite a bit cheaper to build an AK but harder. The FAL is more expensive but I don't have one. Would it be smarter to start my building career off with a FAL then move up to an AK. I feel like I am pretty mechanically inclined. I am working on finishing my M.E. degree now. Or would an AK be a good start too?

That $150 worth of tools can probably be sold for $125 when you're done. Think of it as a rental fee.

Sheik Yerbouti · 03-31-2004, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shortround

That $150 worth of tools can probably be sold for $125 when you're done. Think of it as a rental fee.

My brother has built a boatload of FALs. The first 6 he did with common hand tools that he had lying around. For the receiver, he made some vise jaws from aluminum and clamped the receiver in the vise after inserting the bolt carrier. He used a 26mm open end wrench on the barrel flats. He used the two rods method for perfect barrel timing. Since he bought the mill, he has made his own receiver wrench, but you really don't need one unless you are building multiples.

He has built on just about every type of FAL receiver made in the last 10 years. For a first timer, he recommends a quality receiver like Imbel, DSA, or Coonan. The cheap ones like Century and Hesse can make good rifles, but they can be problematic. He thinks the FAL is the simplest MBR to build.

See if there are some local hobbyists that will give you a hand. You can build much cheaper if you shop around and trade. My brother's truck gun was built on a used Hesse stainless receiver that he got for $100 (the Hesse stainless receivers are actually quite good). He bought "grab bag" parts off of eBay and the FAL Files for a kit, and he bought compliance parts from TAPCO on sale. All in all, he figures he only has $325 in the gun, but it took him about 10 months just to get the parts to build, because he was shopping price.

Here is how it turned out after he refinished it:

**yosuthnmasa** · 03-31-2004, 10:59 PM

Very very nice! Where would you or your brother recommend a nice but reasonable price for a parts kit?

Sheik Yerbouti · 04-02-2004, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yosuthnmasa

Very very nice! Where would you or your brother recommend a nice but reasonable price for a parts kit?

There is a rumor that there are 38K kits coming in from Austrailia. If this is true, kits should be relatively cheap, maybe even in the $125 range. Keep an eye out and watch for them. The first 3 months, prices will be high, but as the competition gets heated up, they will drop. When the Brazilian kits first came in, they were $200. By the time they got distributed they were selling for about half that.

scubadvr · 04-02-2004, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sheik Yerbouti

There is a rumor that there are 38K kits coming in from Austrailia. If this is true, kits should be relatively cheap, maybe even in the $125 range. Keep an eye out and watch for them. The first 3 months, prices will be high, but as the competition gets heated up, they will drop. When the Brazilian kits first came in, they were $200. By the time they got distributed they were selling for about half that.

That rumor has increased 10k fold since yesterday.