Century Arms FN FAL Clone

MYSTERT85 · May 16, 2009, 05:53 PM

i have been looking at this beauty since it hit the local shop.....the lower is imported by century arms and the upper is made in the U.S. the dealer wants $999 and it comes with 5 20rnd mags...is it worth it? if i get possitive feedback i hope to pick it up in 72 hours....so please tell me about it

HorseSoldier · May 16, 2009, 11:23 PM

Short story is it may be good or it may be troubled. Century was unfortunately hit and miss with the FALs.

If you go over to the FAL Files website you can get a pretty good run down on problem issues and things to look for.

All that said -- I have a Century FAL built on a Rhodesian parts kit that runs as well as my DSA Para-FAL, and hasn't given me any problems. They did turn out some rifles that work alongside the problem children that are usually discussed.

nemethm · May 17, 2009, 10:41 AM

For a couple hundred bucks more you can have a DSA stg58

http://www.dsarms.com/STG58--Austria...info/STG58STD/

you'll have to wait but it will be built on a better quality kit most likey and assembled by someone who actually knows the rifle system. Plus it is built on a DSA receiver the best made besides Imbel and will have a NEW barrel as well. Much better investment and much less likely to cause frustration IMO.

Or you can cruise the FAlfiles market place for a nice rifle someone is selling. Be relentless and ready to pounce and you can find a solid deal and rifle.

smoakingun · May 17, 2009, 02:53 PM

Mine has been great, but the older century fals were troubled because of poor quality control but by the end of the assult weapons ban they had it sorted out. If the one you are looking at has a thumbhole stock, it is a ban reciever, stay away from it. All that being said, $999 seems a bit high, I paid $600 for mine back in october. Check gunbroker for prices there.

auberg · May 17, 2009, 02:58 PM

I have to agree, $999 seems a bit high. I bought one in November that was used, but in great shape. Its a great shooter and feeds everything I give it. But, I only paid about $700 for it.

Good Luck

IXLR8 · May 17, 2009, 03:39 PM

I have an L1A1, which is essentially the the same weapon. On the front of the gas tube there is a port adjustment for different types of ammo. Open it all of the way, fire a round, and close one click each time the action does not fully cycle, until 5 rounds have fed without a problem.

I did not know this, and had not seen it on any other rifle. I you leave it fully closed like mine was, you can have catastrophic results.

I have had an AR-15, AK, H&K, and many other weapons of this type, but this one can be really dangerous if you have not read the manual. It is as safe as any other weapon as long as you fully understand how to properly operate it.

It is a really great choice, just be careful!

kristop64089 · May 17, 2009, 06:53 PM

I am here just to brag

This my "new" R1A1, just picked her up yesterday.

wogpotter · May 18, 2009, 05:01 PM

Century guns are hit or miss.
I have one I'm very happy with, but a friend has one that frequently develops issues.
When you say US made reciever, made by who in the US? There are/were several US makers of FAL recievers.
If the reciever is an actual century-made (or marked) one then check the feed ramp. (there were two versions, one much more trouble-prone than the other.)
Unfortunatel without the answers to these questions the best I can say is maybe.

Dood_22 · May 18, 2009, 05:32 PM

Century built FALs on 3 different receivers: Imbel, Century and Hess.
Imbels are great, Century & Hess are hit-or-miss.

There could be issues other than the receiver. But most issues are repairable.

I'd see if he would take $750-800

May 16, 2009, 05:53 PM	#1
MYSTERT85 Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2008 Location: Pittsburgh Pa Posts: 177	Century Arms FN FAL Clone i have been looking at this beauty since it hit the local shop.....the lower is imported by century arms and the upper is made in the U.S. the dealer wants $999 and it comes with 5 20rnd mags...is it worth it? if i get possitive feedback i hope to pick it up in 72 hours....so please tell me about it __________________ Quit B*tching and Start a Revolution!

May 17, 2009, 10:41 AM	#3
nemethm Member Join Date: March 22, 2008 Posts: 35	For a couple hundred bucks more you can have a DSA stg58 http://www.dsarms.com/STG58--Austria...info/STG58STD/ you'll have to wait but it will be built on a better quality kit most likey and assembled by someone who actually knows the rifle system. Plus it is built on a DSA receiver the best made besides Imbel and will have a NEW barrel as well. Much better investment and much less likely to cause frustration IMO. Or you can cruise the FAlfiles market place for a nice rifle someone is selling. Be relentless and ready to pounce and you can find a solid deal and rifle. __________________ www.appleseedinfo.org

May 17, 2009, 02:53 PM	#4
smoakingun Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Location: melrose, fl Posts: 634	Mine has been great, but the older century fals were troubled because of poor quality control but by the end of the assult weapons ban they had it sorted out. If the one you are looking at has a thumbhole stock, it is a ban reciever, stay away from it. All that being said, $999 seems a bit high, I paid $600 for mine back in october. Check gunbroker for prices there. __________________ Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove... But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.

May 17, 2009, 02:58 PM	#5
auberg Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2005 Location: Louisville, Kentucky Posts: 243	I have to agree, $999 seems a bit high. I bought one in November that was used, but in great shape. Its a great shooter and feeds everything I give it. But, I only paid about $700 for it. Good Luck __________________ "I don't have to like it, I just have to do it."

May 17, 2009, 03:39 PM	#6
IXLR8 Senior Member Join Date: May 17, 2009 Posts: 107	Warning: read the manual before firing I have an L1A1, which is essentially the the same weapon. On the front of the gas tube there is a port adjustment for different types of ammo. Open it all of the way, fire a round, and close one click each time the action does not fully cycle, until 5 rounds have fed without a problem. I did not know this, and had not seen it on any other rifle. I you leave it fully closed like mine was, you can have catastrophic results. I have had an AR-15, AK, H&K, and many other weapons of this type, but this one can be really dangerous if you have not read the manual. It is as safe as any other weapon as long as you fully understand how to properly operate it. It is a really great choice, just be careful!

May 16, 2009, 11:23 PM	#2
HorseSoldier Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: OCONUS 61°13′06″N 149°53′57″W Posts: 2,282	Short story is it may be good or it may be troubled. Century was unfortunately hit and miss with the FALs. If you go over to the FAL Files website you can get a pretty good run down on problem issues and things to look for. All that said -- I have a Century FAL built on a Rhodesian parts kit that runs as well as my DSA Para-FAL, and hasn't given me any problems. They did turn out some rifles that work alongside the problem children that are usually discussed.

May 18, 2009, 05:01 PM	#8
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Century guns are hit or miss. I have one I'm very happy with, but a friend has one that frequently develops issues. When you say US made reciever, made by who in the US? There are/were several US makers of FAL recievers. If the reciever is an actual century-made (or marked) one then check the feed ramp. (there were two versions, one much more trouble-prone than the other.) Unfortunatel without the answers to these questions the best I can say is maybe.

May 18, 2009, 05:32 PM	#9
Dood_22 Junior member Join Date: February 20, 2009 Posts: 120	Century built FALs on 3 different receivers: Imbel, Century and Hess. Imbels are great, Century & Hess are hit-or-miss. There could be issues other than the receiver. But most issues are repairable. I'd see if he would take $750-800