LAR-8 FAL mags?

loose_holster_dan · May 23, 2012, 05:46 PM

i know the LAR-8 is supposed to take FAL mags, so i picked up a couple of DS Arms 20 round mags.
it almost always fails to load the last round.
my LAR-15 used to do this with surplus steel mags, until i put magpul self-leveling followers in them.
is there a fix like this for the FAL mags?

wogpotter · May 24, 2012, 07:53 AM

Try something other than a DSA magazine & see if that fixes the problem.

DSA made 20, 25, & 30 round magazines for the FAL, the first generation 20 round ones were so out of spec they not only didn't work, they couldn't be made to work by experienced smiths.

They promised the generation 2 would work, but so far it hasnt.

How do I know? I have 2 of the gen 1 & they are going to replace them with a gen 2 any day now, (when they make the gen 2 work), any day now, any day now. (Its been a couple of years at this point.)

loose_holster_dan · May 24, 2012, 07:57 AM

Lol and i was told these were the best available.

5.56RifleGuy · May 24, 2012, 08:32 AM

In my experience, surplus ones have been the best available. I have had the best luck with the Austrian surplus ones.

wogpotter · May 24, 2012, 12:45 PM

Agreed! The steyer ones with the witness holes in the rear face are great.

Part of the problem with the original DSA mags was the tabs sticking up from the follower were fouling the curve at the top of the magazine body. The curve was too smalla radius & the tabs were too long, causing that last round to not com up raf enough to be caught by the bolt as it came forward.

You could try this as it might fix the problem.

Put 3 rounds in the magazine.
Now look carefully at how the top round sits. How high is it, how does the bullet tip look when viewed fron the front & top of the magazine.

Remove 2 of the bullets (safely of course).

Look at how the last one sits. Is it the same as the one from before? If not you have the ol' DSA mag problem, loose lips not sinking ships!

You might be able to remove a little material from the tips of the tabs to stop them hitting the inside of the magazine curve maybe?

5.56RifleGuy · May 24, 2012, 07:08 PM

I bought some of the new DSA 30 rounders also. They don't seem to work that great. I'm hoping they will break in with time.

Next gun show I go to I'm going to be looking for more steyer ones.

gyvel · May 25, 2012, 08:56 AM

A little off topic, but does anyone know where you can get floor plates and keepers for L1A1 mags?

A few years back, I was able to get some brand new Canadian surplus mag bodies. I have since acquired followers and springs, but no floorplates or keepers.

loose_holster_dan · May 25, 2012, 10:39 AM

i had heard that the DSA 20's were supposed to be good. i heard that the 30's were bad. i'll have to check out the steyr models.

May 23, 2012, 05:46 PM	#1
loose_holster_dan Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 2,461	LAR-8 FAL mags? i know the LAR-8 is supposed to take FAL mags, so i picked up a couple of DS Arms 20 round mags. it almost always fails to load the last round. my LAR-15 used to do this with surplus steel mags, until i put magpul self-leveling followers in them. is there a fix like this for the FAL mags? __________________ Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."

May 24, 2012, 07:53 AM	#2
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Try something other than a DSA magazine & see if that fixes the problem. DSA made 20, 25, & 30 round magazines for the FAL, the first generation 20 round ones were so out of spec they not only didn't work, they couldn't be made to work by experienced smiths. They promised the generation 2 would work, but so far it hasnt. How do I know? I have 2 of the gen 1 & they are going to replace them with a gen 2 any day now, (when they make the gen 2 work), any day now, any day now. (Its been a couple of years at this point.) __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

May 24, 2012, 07:57 AM	#3
loose_holster_dan Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 2,461	Lol and i was told these were the best available. __________________ Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."

May 24, 2012, 12:45 PM	#5
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Agreed! The steyer ones with the witness holes in the rear face are great. Part of the problem with the original DSA mags was the tabs sticking up from the follower were fouling the curve at the top of the magazine body. The curve was too smalla radius & the tabs were too long, causing that last round to not com up raf enough to be caught by the bolt as it came forward. You could try this as it might fix the problem. Put 3 rounds in the magazine. Now look carefully at how the top round sits. How high is it, how does the bullet tip look when viewed fron the front & top of the magazine. Remove 2 of the bullets (safely of course). Look at how the last one sits. Is it the same as the one from before? If not you have the ol' DSA mag problem, loose lips not sinking ships! You might be able to remove a little material from the tips of the tabs to stop them hitting the inside of the magazine curve maybe? __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

May 25, 2012, 10:39 AM	#8
loose_holster_dan Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2011 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 2,461	i had heard that the DSA 20's were supposed to be good. i heard that the 30's were bad. i'll have to check out the steyr models. __________________ Favorite range gun for the money - CZ 75B or STI Spartan V 9mm Go-to carry setup - Walther PPS or PPQ in FIST kydex holster 1AK Favorite semi-auto design - HK P7 "A Sig is like a lightsaber - not as clumsy or random as a Glock."

May 24, 2012, 08:32 AM	#4
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	In my experience, surplus ones have been the best available. I have had the best luck with the Austrian surplus ones.

May 24, 2012, 07:08 PM	#6
5.56RifleGuy Senior Member Join Date: May 9, 2010 Location: USA Posts: 1,212	I bought some of the new DSA 30 rounders also. They don't seem to work that great. I'm hoping they will break in with time. Next gun show I go to I'm going to be looking for more steyer ones.

May 25, 2012, 08:56 AM	#7
gyvel Senior Member Join Date: August 30, 2009 Location: Northern AZ Posts: 7,172	A little off topic, but does anyone know where you can get floor plates and keepers for L1A1 mags? A few years back, I was able to get some brand new Canadian surplus mag bodies. I have since acquired followers and springs, but no floorplates or keepers.