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FAL 45acp Conversion Instructions

The conversion of your FN FAL receiver and kit to a carbine or Class 3 gun is very easy to do with the majority of the work being done to the bolt and carrier. The following instructions have been designed to use the most common tools that are around most households. Also given is a time to complete to help you with determining if you are on the right track. The easy parts are assembled on the receiver first so that you will be able to check your progress work on the bolt assembly.

 

Table of Contents

 

  1. Installing the barrel, Page 2

  2. Installing the mag adapter, Page 2

  3. Modifying the bolt and carrier Pages 3 and 4

    1. Remove the bolts locking shoulder

    2. Modify the extractor

    3. Cut the ejector slot

    4. Shorten the carrier

    5. Modifying the carrier more

    6. Shorten the firing pin

    7. Test with primer rounds

    8. Mate the carrier and bolt together

  4. GUNSMITHS.... ABBREVIATED INSTRUCTIONS Available soon

  5. TEST, TEST, TEST, Page 5 Available soon

  6. Trouble shooting Available soon

  7. Printable check list Available soon

  8. Your done, Have fun and good shooting

 

STEP 1. Installing the barrel. This is fairly easy just remember to install the hand guard ring on the barrel and in the correct direction first. There are several ways to install barrels, on this one remember that you do not need to tighten the barrel with a million pounds of force like on a 308 cal FAL. The method I will describe is for those who do not have lots of equipment.

 Place 2 blocks of wood in the vise and your receiver in the middle. The wood protects the metal from harmful scratches and is mandatory, also some people install the bolt assembly to help keep the receiver from bending. Tighten the vise so the receiver is in nice and tight but don't crush it. Now with your barrel (and HG ring) screw it in to the receiver with your hands. Once it gets tight simply use a high quality wrench to tighten the barrel. Use the wrench directly on the barrel as the ring acts only as a spacer ring. You may need to move the hand guard spacer ring out some then after the barrel is tight redo the ring.    Time required, 5-45 minutes

Prepping the barrel. If you need to have the Gas block installed follow these instructions, it is very easy to do.

 

 

 

 
The picture above shows how to remove a gas block from a old barrel. The first step is to remove the retainer pin, do this by using a punch or even a nail punch and a hammer. Next place the barrel on a block of wood to avoid damaging it. then place the supplied block of wood on the rear of the gas block and pound down, it should take a couple good hits to get it to first move then it will fly right off.  The picture on the right shows how to install one. First you need to mark your barrel as to were the top is, then install the gas block until it rests on the area it will stay. Then with supplied wood place it on front and pound away until it seats itself. Next you will need to install the barrel to make sure it is aligned correctly, make adjustments if necessary. Now you will need to drill out the retainer pin hole. Use a 5/32 inch drill bit and drill half way through and switch sides. Next Drill out the Hand Guard screw hole. Use a 13/64 inch drill bit for this.
   

 

 

 

STEP 2a. Installing the Thompson Mag adapter.  This is the easy part. The mag adapter is a self contained assembly. First install the bolt release lever, original mag catch and screw. Now simply insert the mag adapter as you would a regular magazine, it should be very tight and not want to go in all the way. It will require a tap on the rear section (see fig xx) for the mag catch to lock in. Insert a mag to make sure the lips fit snug under the bolt support. If you are using a Imbel you may need to remove some metal at the area shown, be careful and test often as you cant add material. The adapter should fit tight into Hesse and loosely into WACs. At this point you may as well install the trigger  assembly. If the front to back fit is too tight and you can not insert the adapter, you can remove the front pin and shorten it with a file.  Time required, 5-10 minutes 

Insert the front first then slide the rear in, if you are having difficulty remove the little pin in the front block and try this.  Here is one that is fully seated in a WAC, note that I forgot to add the bolt stop. If the front of the adapter has a gap that is too large for you (the area the arrow is pointing too) then remove the adapter and see the instructions below.

If you want to reduce the size of the gap on the side of the gun then file a small amount of material off the top of the front block. The picture to the left with the yellow line shows were to file.

 

STEP 2b. Installing the Grease Gun  Mag adapter. The first step is to remove the old ejector block. Use a good punch to remove the pins. Next install the Grease Gun adapter, the Hesse will require you to tap the adapter into place (see fig xx) the WACs should slide in easily. Now install both pins a part of the way, only deep enough that it will keep the adapter block from moving. Next try fitting a Grease Gun magazine. If it is too tight, remove the pins and adapter block and remove some metal from the upper magazine shoulder (see fig xx). Now retry the procedure of fitting the pins in partially and testing the magazine. You should not need to remove much metal if you are having a tight fit. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO AND GREASE GUN MAG CONVERSION

 Remember that before you install the block to install the bolt hold open. First remove the little side pin off the bolt hold open and then insert it into the adapter block and align the holes. Next insert the supplied pin and push it in while wiggling the bolt hold open up and down. The pin will find its way through the holes. You are now ready to install the adapter into the receiver.

 

 

STEP 3. Modifying the bolt and carrier. Although this sounds scary and complex it is actually easy and straight forward. The measurements are not critical except for the firing pin. The 2 piece firing pin is used as the 1 piece could lead to a misfire or unwanted double taps. The reason for this is that the 1 piece will come into contact with the primer as soon as the round is seated if the hammer should not lock down, and pistol primers are more easily set off than rifle primers, early testing  showed that the 45acp will fire out of chamber with a 1 piece. Also the 2 piece must be modified as the kinetic energy from the hammer is strong enough to  knock the firing pin out 1/4 inch or more (see pic). In early testing this blew the crap out of several primer rounds. TAKE YOUR TIME ON ALL THESE STAGES!!!

 Click here for bolt and carrier modifications

Contact info

Email Tseidel2000@hotmail.com