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Work order — FN FAL

Taking the firearm apart for a job such as refinishing, and putting it back together to specification. Generated from the Pew-Takedown entry last updated 2026-10-29. Confidence: medium.

Shop difficulty: Tier 3 of 3

FN breaks the strip into 18 groups, most of them for armourer or workshop. Several springs fly when released: the hammer spring housing, the sear, and the frame-body lock spring. The return springs in the butt come out only with FN's special butt-screw tool. The gas regulator and rear sight settings have to be preserved. There are many sprung parts and a dedicated tool, which puts it at the hard end of the rifle group. 115 parts (complete semi-automatic FAL per the Gun Digest exploded drawing legend 'FAL Standard Autoloading Rifle' (Browning/FN commercial FAL), keys 1-115, magazine included (112-115). Key 61 'Trigger Mechanism). Pew-Takedown's rating, not the manufacturer's.

Bench time: strip ~55 min, rebuild ~80 min (estimate). Actual: strip ______ rebuild ______

Special tools:

• FAL butt screw / return spring tool — Butt screw and return springs
• FAL gas regulator spanner — Gas regulator sleeve
• Pin drifts — Frame-body lock retaining pin, sling swivel pin
• Front sight tool — Foresight elevation (only if moved)

Watch for:

• The hammer spring housing is levered out of its notch under hammer-spring pressure and has to be held with a thumb or it flies. (both; Fabrique Nationale Herstal)
• The sear comes off its axis pin under its spring and is held by hand while the pin comes out; the sear spring itself is riveted. (both; Fabrique Nationale Herstal)
• The two return springs in the buttstock are held by the butt screw and need FN's special tool, held firmly against the springs. (both; Fabrique Nationale Herstal)
• The frame-body (takedown) lock spring launches when its retaining pin is drifted out, so the drift is left in and the spring held back. (both; Fabrique Nationale Herstal)
• FN says the full strip is not difficult, but a few operations need special tools and most groups are armourer/workshop only. (both; Fabrique Nationale Herstal)

Tools

• Cartridge rim or a small tool — Adjusting the gas regulator on variants where it is not hand-adjustable.

1. Clear and make safe

1. Point the muzzle in a safe direction and keep your finger off the trigger.
2. Press the magazine release and rock the magazine forward and out.
3. Pull the cocking handle fully to the rear and lock the bolt open using the hold-open device.
4. Inspect the chamber and magazine well with a light and physically confirm the chamber is empty.
5. Place the selector on safe and remove all live ammunition from the work area.

2. Disassemble

Field Strip

1. Complete the Clear and Make Safe procedure and ease the bolt forward.
2. Press the takedown lever at the left rear of the receiver and hinge the upper receiver forward and down, opening the rifle at the front pivot.
   Warning: Support both halves as they separate.
3. Withdraw the recoil spring assembly rearward out of the receiver.
   Warning: The spring is under compression. Control it as it comes out.
   Tip: On folding-stock rifles the recoil spring is in the receiver rather than the buttstock, and comes out differently.
4. Pull the bolt carrier and bolt rearward and out of the upper receiver.
5. Lift the bolt off the carrier, tipping it up and forward to disengage it.
6. Press in and rotate the gas plug at the front of the gas block, then withdraw it.
7. Withdraw the gas piston and its spring from the gas cylinder.
8. Stop here for routine cleaning.

3. Refinish

The components the procedures above separate. Coating, masking and cure are outside this database; follow your coating system's instructions. A part the manufacturer marks "factory fit" should not be swapped or reworked.

No manufacturer statement of materials or finish is recorded. Identify each part's material before choosing prep and cure.

4. Reassemble

Reassembly

1. Insert the gas piston and spring into the gas cylinder, then install the gas plug and rotate it to lock.
   Warning: The gas plug must be locked. Firing without it properly installed vents gas into the handguard.
2. Seat the bolt onto the bolt carrier, engaging its locking surfaces.
3. Slide the carrier and bolt into the upper receiver from the rear and push them fully forward.
4. Insert the recoil spring assembly into the receiver and seat it.
5. Hinge the upper receiver closed onto the lower until the takedown lever latches.
   Warning: Confirm the takedown lever has latched fully before the rifle goes back into service.
6. Cycle the action several times and perform the function check.

5. Torque

No manufacturer torque values are recorded for this firearm.

Notes: The manufacturer's documents give no torque value. They say: "— Replace the pistol grip and nut screw and tighten screw (fig. 104 and 105)." (F.N. Light Automatic Rifle (FAL) — English-language manual with stripping/assembly and lists of components, PDF p. 45)

Fit or check on rebuild

• Gas regulator setting — The gas setting is factory/armourer-set and must be restored (note the click count before removal)
• Backsight stop screw — Only one backsight support screw is removed; the other is a locating stop
• Zero — Foresight and backsight moved for coating mean a re-zero by an armourer
• Locking shoulder/headspace — Not disturbed in a coating job, but the breech block and body are fitted; keep the rifle's own breech block

6. Function check

• Verify the rifle is unloaded with no magazine inserted before each step.
• Cycle the action by hand and confirm the bolt locks and returns fully to battery.
• With the selector on safe, press the trigger. The hammer must not fall.
• Move the selector to semi, cycle the action, and press the trigger. The hammer should fall.
• Hold the trigger back, cycle the action, and release the trigger to feel the disconnector reset.
• Confirm the bolt hold-open engages on an empty magazine.
• Confirm the takedown lever is fully latched and the receiver halves are tight.

If any check fails, the firearm is not safe to fire. Stop and see a licensed gunsmith.

Sources

1. FN FAL Light Automatic Rifle Handbook — Fabrique Nationale de Herstal primary
2. The FAL Rifle — Collector Grade Publications secondary
3. F.N. Light Automatic Rifle (FAL) — English-language manual with stripping/assembly and lists of components — Fabrique Nationale (FN) — scan hosted on archive.org; publisher name not visible in the scan (see notes) primary
   https://archive.org/details/gunmanual_FN-FAL_Manual
4. F.N. Light Automatic Rifle (FAL), English-language manual with stripping/assembly (archive.org text layer) — Fabrique Nationale Herstal primary
   https://archive.org/download/gunmanual_FN-FAL_Manual/FN-FAL%20Manual_djvu.txt
5. FAL User's Manual, Light Automatic Rifle Cal. 7.62 mm — Fabrique Nationale Herstal primary
   https://archive.org/download/lots-of-gun-pdfs-firearms-manuals/Gun%20PDFs/fn_fal762.pdf
6. The Gun Digest Book of Exploded Gun Drawings (975 isometric views) - Browning 'FAL Standard Autoloading Rifle' — Gun Digest Books / Krause Publications (scan on archive.org) secondary
   https://archive.org/download/the-book-of-exploded-gun-drawings-975-isometric-views/The%20Book%20of%20Exploded%20Gun%20Drawings%20-%20975%20Isometric%20Views.pdf

Educational guide only. Some information comes from non-authoritative sources. Always consult your manufacturer's manual and a licensed gunsmith. Verify your firearm is unloaded before every procedure. Full disclaimer: https://github.com/Fundamental-build-LLC/Pew-Takedown

Legal notice: this material is third-party information compiled from sources of varying reliability and is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not gunsmithing, technical, safety or legal advice, it is not verified or endorsed by any manufacturer, and it must not be taken as fact. Any work on a firearm beyond the routine field stripping described in its own owner's manual should be performed only by a licensed and insured gunsmith. You use this material entirely at your own risk. Fundamental Build LLC and the project's contributors make no warranty of any kind and accept no liability for death, injury, damage or loss arising from its use. Full terms: LEGAL.md.