STG Bipod on non bipod cut barrel

[19Charlie_84]

My FAL is not bipod cut, only the ridge for the front sling swivel (which is not attached, jingled too much) and I wondered if the STG bipod would fit over it anyway. Maybe if I just screwed it on tight enough it would work? Maybe cut out some of the bipod mount to fit over the ridge??

Here is some artists renditions of the proposed solutions. Yay for MS Paint.

The black text in the barrel pic is from the guy I stole it. Only pay attention to the red text.

[Anthropy]

You could give it a try. However, notice in the picture that the sling swivel ridge is tapered on the outside, so you would need to take a file and square the shoulder. You may even have to narrow the ridge to the appropriate width of the bi-pod.

What you need is the measurements from the bi-pod including the grove width from the bi-pod to use it as a guide.

[rudrules]

My FAL is not bipod cut, only the ridge for the front sling swivel (which is not attached, jingled too much) and I wondered if the STG bipod would fit over it anyway. Maybe if I just screwed it on tight enough it would work? Maybe cut out some of the bipod mount to fit over the ridge??

Here is some artists renditions of the proposed solutions. Yay for MS Paint.

The black text in the barrel pic is from the guy I stole it. Only pay attention to the red text.

That is interesting! let me know if it works cause I also have only one ridge on my barrel and will get a bipod if it works.

Are you going to try it?

Thanks for the post.
Rudy

[Nazgul]

You guys ever thought about one of these instead?
http://www.dsarms.com/prodinfo.asp?number=624HVY

[19Charlie_84]

I wanted to stay away from the heavy barrel version, it sticks out way too much. I wanted the original STG style so it would be flush against the handguard like my PTR's HK bipod.

[19Charlie_84]

Will it work? Short answer...yes. Long answer...with a lot of work.

I started by grinding out the small piece of metal in the top bracket that sometimes is loose that was in green in the first post. My thought was to allow the brackets (top and bottom) to rotate freely on the barrel ridge. I later did some thinking and realized that was to keep the bipod from rotating too far. Enter JB Weld. After fixing my premature Dremeling I was back in bidniss.

The barrel ridge for the sling swivel is too tall combined with another collar around the muzzle end of the barrel touching the ridge. Both had to be ground down some to make a better fit for both brackets.

DO NOT try to bend your brackets. They are find just how they are and if you mess up the angles the legs wont fit in the handguard grooves. It took forever to unscrew this mess.

I didnt want to spend all nite Dremeling my barrel down so I resorted to brute force to make it work. It would have helped imensely to have had a second set of hands for this part, so I would get one. All my spares were asleep. :sleepy:

I drew some pics of the process in MSPaint. I hope it clears up some of my ramblings.

You will need a C-clamp and two buffers, I will call them. I used a bolt and a square nut for more surface area than a hex shaped one. Because of the ridge and collar, the two brackets cannot join completely and align the top bracket's hole with the threaded hole in the bottom one. The clamp assembly forces the two together in alignment. Use your other hands to hold this monstrosity together. Do one side at a time until the holes line up and put on the leg with spring and roller installed. Lining up the bipod bolt while compressing the roller and spring is extremely difficult and you deffinetly need someone to help you. I did it alone only after many curse words and stabbing myself with the bipod foot numerous times.

Once you get the bipod screw started in the threads, you can remove the clamp and buffers to fully compress the spring and screw the screw all the way in and add the castle nut to the inside of the brackets.

Do the same for the other side. Mine wouldnt line up properly so I dremeled the hole in the top bracket slightly until the bipod screw would engage the threads. Do this as a last resort.

I realize the gas piston and screw arent in the rifle. Take these out while you are working because the nut will get in the way. Forgot to reinstall for photo shoot.

This gun has been a fun project from a crappy parts kit build. New furniture, STG flash hider, Aussie carry handle, DuraCoating, now bipod. I have on order a new carry handle/gas tube/handguard retainer nut (mine is all chewed up), a wide style mag release, and big foot bolt stop. I still need to make sure timing and headspacing is ok though.:rockon:

[Deadheadmatt]

I'm glad it worked for you. How does it shoot?

Matt

[19Charlie_84]

Im not sure on the headspace, I dont have gauges so I want to have it checked so it doesnt blow up in my face.

[rudrules]

Hey 12Charlie_84
That looks awsome!
Can you take some up close pics so I can see in detail what you did, because Im going to ordered a set of bipods for mine I try to do the same!
your bipods are the light bipods that DSA has on their website right, actually they have two wich one do I get?
1http://www.dsarms.com/FAL_STG-Folding-Lite-Bipod-New-with-New-Hardware/productinfo/624/
2http://www.dsarms.com/FAL-Quick-Detach-Lite-Bipod-Factory-New/productinfo/624QD/
great job!

dont forget the up close pics, thanks.
Rudy

[Planning]

Hey 12Charlie_84
That looks awsome!
Can you take some up close pics so I can see in detail what you did, because Im going to ordered a set of bipods for mine I try to do the same!
your bipods are the light bipods that DSA has on their website right, actually they have two wich one do I get?
1http://www.dsarms.com/FAL_STG-Folding-Lite-Bipod-New-with-New-Hardware/productinfo/624/
2http://www.dsarms.com/FAL-Quick-Detach-Lite-Bipod-Factory-New/productinfo/624QD/
great job!

dont forget the up close pics, thanks.
Rudy


charlie your set up looks great. thanks for the information.

rudy, i got my bi-pods from sarco for around $30 plust a little shipping, they were new. you might check there.


ron

[19Charlie_84]

Rudrules - I have the number 1 in your post. I wish I knew of the number 2. In the #1 where it shows the parts there is a tiny oval shape piece. This is what engages the ridge and prevents the bipod from swinging 360 degrees. Mine was tacked into the slot for it on the top bracket.

That #2 bipod might be the way to go if you dont mind spending a few more bucks. With some minor dremeling you might be able to make it work with less of a rise in blood pressure I sustained.

What kind of pics do you need? More MSPaint jobs? I cant take the bipod off, its pretty permanent without ruining all my work. It is held together by spring tension and the two big screws. In my MSPaint drawing I had ground the ridge down some, cut a slot at 12 o'clock for the tiny oval piece, and shaved down the collar from 9 to 3 by way of 6 o'clock (front sight being 12 for all references).

I can get some close ups tomorrow, I reduracoated the front end as I scraped the brackets pretty knarrly while I was working on it (its a battle rifle, who cares).

[19Charlie_84]

Here are some close ups as promised. You can see between the top and bottom brackets a small gap in some of the pics at 9 and 3 o'clock. You want there to be as little as possible if not touching to make your life easier. Many ways to manipulate the metal as I have described. Possibly heating and reshaping is another course of action. I have never done that so Didnt really want to mess my stuff up.

Also you can see the plunger piece with the roller properly installed. They dont come with any instructions so that shows correct placement. The springs of course go in the legs first and they are a BEAR to compress down while simultaneously getting the screw to hold it all together to thread. Use a partner.

Using the C-clamp method, one side lined up the holes relatively easy compared to the second side. It kept having a 2mm skew that the threads in the bottom bracket could not be engaged by the screw. I took the clamp off and used a carbide dremel dril to remove some metal from the top bracket hole from about 2 to 6 o'clock if muzzle-ward was 3 o'clock. It lined up fine after that and holds together fine. You can see on the ejector port side, the two brackets arent even by a little bit, that is why.

When you install your legs, do it in the OUT position, not folded. Oh, and make sure you put your legs on the correct side. Sometimes you have the gun upside down in the rack/vise and right becomes left. Label them EP and CH for EJECTOR PORT side and CHARGING HANDLE side. That way no matter the facing you will be correct.

[Nazgul]

Great job!

[rudrules]

Thanks 12Charlie_84!
Those are great pics and you did one hell of a job, and i will bet you feel good about getting it done.
Thanks once again!
Now I have to order mine and wait a while, it might be a couple of weeks but I will let you know how it turns out.

[19Charlie_84]

My buddy ordered a couple mags from DSA and it only took a week, or so. Normal ordering time. They might only be super duper backed up with rifle orders. Parts might sift through the mess. Which one did you get, regular or quick release?\

edit...Sarco still has these bipods btw. I was going to get one from them but found it at the York, PA gunshow while I was out there.

[rudrules]

My buddy ordered a couple mags from DSA and it only took a week, or so. Normal ordering time. They might only be super duper backed up with rifle orders. Parts might sift through the mess. Which one did you get, regular or quick release?\

edit...Sarco still has these bipods btw. I was going to get one from them but found it at the York, PA gunshow while I was out there.

I dont know the difference between them, do you?
Let me know because I would like order a set soon, I can not tell the difference by the pics nor the discription on the DSA site.
I appreciate any comments you might have.
Thanks,
Rudy

[19Charlie_84]

Aside from $40, the more expensive one looks like it has screws of some kind on the bottom of the bottom bracket to hold it to the barrel. Either to secure the two bracket halves together, or set screws into the barrel. It says something about "easy attachment/detachment without tools." Which would be sweet because I had to use about 90 tools for my build.

[Woodman in MO]

Maybe I'm missing something, but putting the bi-pod on is easy enough if you put the bolt and nut on one side without the bipod leg to hold it to the rifle, then to the other side with the bipod leg, then go back and undo the first side and do it over with the leg.

It usually takes me just a few minutes to put on on that way...

[19Charlie_84]

Maybe I'm missing something, but putting the bi-pod on is easy enough if you put the bolt and nut on one side without the bipod leg to hold it to the rifle, then to the other side with the bipod leg, then go back and undo the first side and do it over with the leg.

It usually takes me just a few minutes to put on on that way...

That is true on a barrel made for it. Very much different on a non bipod cut barrel. The sleeve is too thick and the holes done line up without a ton of force. My technique crams 10lbs of s*** into a 5lb bag.

[rudrules]

That is true on a barrel made for it. Very much different on a non bipod cut barrel. The sleeve is too thick and the holes done line up without a ton of force. My technique crams 10lbs of s*** into a 5lb bag.
That's so funny, LOL I can't stop laughing,
I can't wait till I have to cram 10lbs of s*** into a 5lb bag.
Im still undecided on what bipod to order, but i will decide soon!

[19Charlie_84]

Rud, have you got your bipod yet? Lets see it!

[rudrules]

I sold that Fal! but I bought another unfired Metric Fal with the bipod cut barrel and the factory bipods all ready on, also it has the PSG Style black pistol grip. I installed another Magpul PSR Stock and intalled a very nice Leupold scope and the extreme duty scope mount from DSA.
Im Happy Happy.
I will post some pics soon with all the extras that I put on, it really looks good!
Thanks for all your pics and help!
Rudy

[19Charlie_84]

Sounds like a great setup, insert the faces holding the useless thread signs.

I was playing with my FAL when I installed the large magazine release as well as wide foot bolt catch. This combo WILL NOT WORK. The mag catch cannot be pushed foreward enough to release a magazine. I had to grind off the wide part of the bolt stop. (The old wide foot bolt stop had a loose foot and did not work well).