L1A1 on IMBEL receiver: Go/no go?

Marko Kloos · April 17, 2002, 02:01 PM

Local shop has a standard-length FAL clone, CAI-marked, on an IMBEL receiver, three magazines, priced at $700 and change. Clerk says he can probably do six and a half on it, and I've been looking for a decent battle rifle in 7.62x51 for a while.

Anyone have any experience with those? Would it be a worthwhile addition, or am I going to spend another $300 in 'smith fees just to get it working?

Correia · April 17, 2002, 02:29 PM

lendringser,

I have a CAI FAL. I am one of the lucky ones that got a good one, and even then I spent a bunch more money getting it how I wanted it.

I don't really know about firearms prices in Tenn. But that seems kind of high to me. If you look in the shotgun news you can find CAI FALs for about $200-$300 less. And the Imbel is a much nicer receiver than the CAI, but there are still Imbel receivered Century guns out there for less than that. Also the mags are only worth $5-$10 each. So don't let the number of mags coming with the gun influence your decision.

If you are worried about spending the smith fees anyway (always a possibility with a Century gun) you may want to buy the parts yourself and have somebody build it for you, to your specs.

Imbel Receiver: $220
G1 Parts kit: $100-$200
US parts to keep the BATF happy: $100-$300

So even on the high end the parts gun would cost about the same. If I were you I would hit the shotgun news and check out some FAL prices before you make a decision. I got mine for $500 about 2 years ago, and they have come down since.

Steve Smith · April 17, 2002, 02:47 PM

That's a $500 rifle. If you're willing to spend close to $700, get the DSA.

gryphon · April 17, 2002, 04:59 PM

Agree with Steve Smith. The most you should pay for that is $500, anything more than that and you'd be better off with a DSA.

Steve has an echo!

1911A1 fan · April 18, 2002, 02:41 AM

My wife got me one as a gift ( gotta love a woman like that

) and from what I understand I got lucky, runs like a top and it's a real tack driver compared to some of the FALs I've shot. IMHO $500 would be about the max. for $700 get a DSA.

-Yo- · April 18, 2002, 03:07 AM

No, no, no... get a DSA Austrian. Mine shoots straighter than my M1A, even with the primitive sights.

Good smithing is important for FAL accuracy and reliability. A friend of mine but a cheap FAL and it's junk compared to mine which is 100% matching Austrian StG on a DSA receiver.

yo

Coronach · April 18, 2002, 09:46 AM

Ditto: if he is asking 7-ish for it, pony up 8-ish and get the DSA.

Mike

Badger Arms · April 18, 2002, 12:44 PM

DSA Also gets my vote. If you have to change anything on any FAL, get free-float handguards or something that insulates better than metal handgaurds. My god they get hot.

April 17, 2002, 02:01 PM	#1
Marko Kloos Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2000 Location: Enfield, NH Posts: 5,521	L1A1 on IMBEL receiver: Go/no go? Local shop has a standard-length FAL clone, CAI-marked, on an IMBEL receiver, three magazines, priced at $700 and change. Clerk says he can probably do six and a half on it, and I've been looking for a decent battle rifle in 7.62x51 for a while. Anyone have any experience with those? Would it be a worthwhile addition, or am I going to spend another $300 in 'smith fees just to get it working?

April 18, 2002, 02:41 AM	#5
1911A1 fan Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2001 Posts: 155	Way to much! My wife got me one as a gift ( gotta love a woman like that ) and from what I understand I got lucky, runs like a top and it's a real tack driver compared to some of the FALs I've shot. IMHO $500 would be about the max. for $700 get a DSA.

April 18, 2002, 03:07 AM	#6
-Yo- Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: Near the Ocean Posts: 248	Go DSA No, no, no... get a DSA Austrian. Mine shoots straighter than my M1A, even with the primitive sights. Good smithing is important for FAL accuracy and reliability. A friend of mine but a cheap FAL and it's junk compared to mine which is 100% matching Austrian StG on a DSA receiver. yo Last edited by -Yo-; April 19, 2002 at 03:01 AM.

April 17, 2002, 02:29 PM	#2
Correia Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 1998 Location: SLC Utah Posts: 3,740	lendringser, I have a CAI FAL. I am one of the lucky ones that got a good one, and even then I spent a bunch more money getting it how I wanted it. I don't really know about firearms prices in Tenn. But that seems kind of high to me. If you look in the shotgun news you can find CAI FALs for about $200-$300 less. And the Imbel is a much nicer receiver than the CAI, but there are still Imbel receivered Century guns out there for less than that. Also the mags are only worth $5-$10 each. So don't let the number of mags coming with the gun influence your decision. If you are worried about spending the smith fees anyway (always a possibility with a Century gun) you may want to buy the parts yourself and have somebody build it for you, to your specs. Imbel Receiver: $220 G1 Parts kit: $100-$200 US parts to keep the BATF happy: $100-$300 So even on the high end the parts gun would cost about the same. If I were you I would hit the shotgun news and check out some FAL prices before you make a decision. I got mine for $500 about 2 years ago, and they have come down since.

April 17, 2002, 02:47 PM	#3
Steve Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 9, 1999 Posts: 4,131	That's a $500 rifle. If you're willing to spend close to $700, get the DSA.

April 17, 2002, 04:59 PM	#4
gryphon Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,069	Agree with Steve Smith. The most you should pay for that is $500, anything more than that and you'd be better off with a DSA. Steve has an echo!

April 18, 2002, 09:46 AM	#7
Coronach Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 1999 Posts: 3,147	Ditto: if he is asking 7-ish for it, pony up 8-ish and get the DSA. Mike

April 18, 2002, 12:44 PM	#8
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 3, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,700	DSA Also gets my vote. If you have to change anything on any FAL, get free-float handguards or something that insulates better than metal handgaurds. My god they get hot.