Having the appropriate support gear for your weapon is a priority for the Survivalist.
My good friend Bergmann and I were talkin’ about parts/survival gear storage locations on the weapons we both use, and I told him that because my Para FAL’s use the M-4 style stock and have no buffer spring, the whole tube was empty, and I use it to carry among other things, spare essential weapons parts. He immediately told me I needed to post something about it, considering how great it is to be able to carry essentials on your weapon, without it having a ton of pouches or extra parts hanging off of it.
Both of these Para FAL rifles use the M-4 style, hollow tube stock. No buffer spring in it means lots of storage area.
Here it is short and sweet. and in pics.
The space available in the M-4 style stock buffer tube on the Para FAL. Keep in mind, those of you with other rifles which use the M-4 style stock, but require no buffer spring (Example: AK’s) can do the same thing with your rifles.
The original style FAL pistol grip also has some storage space that I put to good use.
Remove the Phillips head screw with your multi tool, there is no tension ring like on a regular AR/M-4 style stock needing a special wrench.
There is a hole (red arrow) drilled through the stock tube that the Phillips head screw hole (yellow arrow) lines up with when you’ve screwed the stock in as far as needed, and keeps the stock at the correct position/attitude.
Various essential springs and parts (firing pin w/ spring and complete extractor) on the left side column go into the stock tube. The spare tritium front sight with allen key and a sight adjustment tool go into the pistol grip (bag on right side).
The stock filled with parts and ready to be reattached to the folding mechanism.
Here’s the video my Buddy Bergmann did on how he outfitted his M-4 with survival gear. below is the first of the four part series he did on “Total Utilization” of your gear.
Hopefully this post will give you some ideas of how to better utilize the storage space you might have on your weapons to carry extra essential parts you might need. As I said, this one was short and sweet.
JCD
"Parata Vivere"- Live Prepared.
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Off topic but great news,POTUS has pardoned the Hammonds,though late a bit of actual justice.JC,would like to think authors including you pushing the petition not once but twice and those who signed said petition may have helped,the smalls add up!
The spare parts and tools I carry for my AR-15 are:
-Buffer spring (Mainly needed if you know you have high round count on the current one and could need to replace it soon)
-Firing pin
-Castle nut wrench (All my AR’s have the nut properly staked but every class I go to some one else’s stock comes loose so I bring this to help them out)
-Lube
I also have a small zip lock bag with most of the extra lower parts like detents and springs in case we have to take something apart and one gets loose never to be found again. Occasionally I’ll bring a whole extra trigger assembly just because it is small and light but I’ve never needed it where as everything else list above has come in handy more than once.
This is so important not just for the apocalypse but every time you pay big money for a class you don’t want to be done for the day over a $12 buffer spring preventing your weapon from cycling.
I will add that it looks like Atlantic Firearms is actually selling a few models from DSA, but I’m not sure.
They are, but they’re always back ordered. I went through AIM, see comment with link below.
Devin,seems you moved to a new area,perhaps join if you have not if one around a local gun club,folks as you get to know them many times willing to let you try out one of their rifles and you just make new friends.I will also say in many areas some gun clubs rent out firearms,if doable in your area perhaps a good way to “try before you buy”.
As for getting in shape besides working your land just hike your area,is amazing how quickly gets you in better shape and learn your more about your region,can add pack and weight as time moves on for a better/more challenging workout,and hiking just fun,enjoy the new homeland.
Thanks James, that’s a good suggestion, I need to find a club, I was a member of another one when we lived in WA before the county closed them down after they had been open for a 100+ years. Idaho is great for firearms, but people can be more reclusive here, so it takes time to get to know people, even immediate neighbors. I will definitely do that. As for hiking, we have 7 acres of forested property with a creek running through it, I’ve been walking (hiking) up and down our hill which is a 100 ft drop over a 400 ft distance, but I need to add my plate carrier and backpack, thanks for reminding me.
So I’m interested in the FN FALs you show in some of your articles. Do you prefer FN FAL over an M4, or does it matter based on the situation? I read your article about compact firearms for carrying around during normal life on the homestead, but honestly this is one of those “please tell me what to buy” type scenarios. I’ve done some reading on the subject but the opinions are plentiful, I’ve always been attracted to FN FALs but stayed away because they are more pricey, but I’m willing to save up and invest if you suggest them. The main issue I saw is that they don’t seem to be readily acquirable, especially the para models. Then I see arguments over different versions of different countries and some people swearing bu certain brands and all that, you know the typical. I have a cheap $500 AK-47 for instance, but I’ve loved it so far, one of my favorite rifles and I have several different types other than AK. I understand you get what you pay for, my major concern when purchasing firearms is always 1. How plentiful/common are spare parts and the ability to obtain them. 2. How plentiful/common is the ammo and the ability to find them. So I have AKs and AR-15s. I have a couple one offs just in case, but want something solid. I’ve always like the bigger caliber of .308/7.62 NATO, but have never bought one and the main complaint I hear from people is the weight is not worth it. Anyway, I will stop blabbing and really hope to hear your opinion. 🙂
Great article as usual!
Thanks. OK, here’s my 411. If I needed something super light and relatively short, or my whole group was using AR’s, I’d go with my 11.5″ AR. The 11″ FAL OSW isn’t “light”, but it’s super compact, soooo. I started using shooting FAL’s about 31 years ago, and started buying and using them 29 years ago. I have owned a number of them, and consider the Para models as the “Go to” version in any barrel length, simply due to how compact it makes it. I believe the 16″ and 18″ models are the best compromise between size and range. I used FAL’s up till about 2004 when I decided to go with the M14/M1A types due to the U.S. Mil starting to reissue them in large numbers I makes sense to use an issue weapon from your Mil if it’s reliable and fills your power/range needs). They have now shelved the M14’s again, so it’s back to the FAL for me as my “Go to” rifle. The M110 (AR10) system still has a number of issues that I can’t overlook, and I won’t pay my money for an unreliable rifle. FAL parts and accessories are available in a number of locations, and that surplus is still relatively cheap. I own both the 11″ ParaFAL OSW “Pistol” because it can be carried loaded not only in a vehicle, but in State forests, where a loaded rifle (My 16″ Para FAL) might not legally be carried. I carry the same mags and load for both guns, and only have to determine which weapon I will carry based on the need and “mission”. DSA makes great rifles, and I’ve owned four, and their cost isn’t too bad, and quality is good. Here’s a thought, if you’re not wanting to get a 7.62N/.308WIN rifle, maybe you should get a 10.6″ AK pistol like the Century Arms C39V2 https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1CHG4544N&name=Century+Arms+C39V2+(Milled)+7.62X39+AK+Pistol&groupid=12282
That way you have the same options I do for my “Go to” gun. I would put a folding mechanism on it though, just to make it more compact. An advantage of the 7.62×39 with shorter barrels, is that it doesn’t have the energy and velocity drop off like some of the higher velocity cartridges do. The .308 cartridge isn’t for everyone, but I have big a big proponent of it for decades, but it’s not for everyone. Both of my FAL’s are in the 11-13 pound range, sans rails and add ons, and I have no issues carrying that weight all day because it’s not an empty 18 pound SAW (don’t forget the four 200 round boxes) Ahhh memories…..LOL. As to FAL type, just stick with the “Metric” version. Of the 93 countries that adopted it, a super majority were “Metric”, a few (the “Commonwealth” associates of the UK were “Inch”, and Israel was a blending of the two (go figure cuz….Israel=Different LOL)
AIM is where I got mine, and this (11″ OSW pistol) is in stock right now
https://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1DSA5811PISTOLBRCA&name=DSA+SA58+FAL+Pistol+-+11%22+Barrel+-+Folding+Arm+Brace+Included&groupid=11496&fprdct=1
Thanks for the info, EXACTLY what I needed to hear. I feel silly asking questions like this because I need to lose weight (slowly chipping away with PT and work around the new property) and I don’t want to come off as a mall ninja or armchair gunfighter (silly mental image). I know my limits, I want to improve said limits, but this kind of information really helps me and my family/neighbors understand the small stuff we don’t think about. I honestly understood keeping you have a rifle within reach, but never thought I should buy something more compact and carry it directly on me, like my hand gun, even better. So please keep it up I’m trying to point more people your (and the other authors) way and get people educated and self reliance as possible, and not just buying crap, but really learning how to muscle memory things. If I could afford to fly out more often I would love to take classes from all you all, slowly but surely, or just come our way up here in Norther Idaho and teach some classes. I can get people to show up to your classes and we’ve only lived here a few months.
An excellent way to use ‘dead space’. The Spanish FR-8 bolt rifle has a somewhat similar storage compartment below the barrel, where the bayonet stud is attached. Not quite a spacious as the above, (its maybe 1/2″ in diameter x 5″ long ?), I keep a chain bore patch, a single BIC lighter and three stripper clips (unloaded of course) inside it. More vital parts specific to this model could be inserted (Mauser 98s are not completely bulletproof). The cool thing – this tube can be removed and not affect the firearm at all, except for possibly changing the ammunition’s zero – I need to check that out !
Thanks for the post.
Yeah, I remember the FR-8’s I had having that tube under the barrel. I loved the “Tank tough” irons on that rifle, especially when the battle rifle I was using at the time was an HK-91 (sight picture).