BROWNELLS - FN-FAL RIFLE ACTION WRENCH & HEAD

We tried this wrench after less-than-perfect results with other cut-from-plate style of FAL wrenches. The plate wrenches didn't fit as well as the Brownells wrench and would mark the receivers. This wrench worked perfectly with the Brownells FAL vise blocks. We had no problems. Assemble the wrench to the receiver on the bench, as it can take 3 hands until you get the hang of it. Was easy to get correct alignment and barrel torque.

We first saw this wrench at another shop and were impressed with the near total bearing surface of the design so we bought two. After getting them in house we had to admit they can be a bit awkward to use at first, but once we got a system down we fell in love with them. We have barreled and re-barreled many rifles with Imbel, DSA, and Coonan receivers in Barrel lengths from 26" down to 11" with no problems at all. We are definitely recommending this to all our associates and the only reason we can see to ever buy another one is because we need more people building more rifles.

Wrench works best removing de-milled receiver stubs from used barrels that come with FAL parts kits. Very hard to juggle the multiple pieces that make up this tool. Also there are clearance issues that can cause receiver damage in the charging handle guide slot area. This wrench system works great on M1 Garand, Mauser 98 and other receivers, just not on FALs. [...]

Working on a metric G1 FAL barrel with DSA receiver. For one, the metal that actually holds the receiver is thinner than the block AND exactly in the middle, so the block overhangs on both sides of the actual gripping metal. That means that you can not just put some aluminum blocks in your vice and hold the barrel in the vice, as the extra metal on the wrench head sticks out past the receiver that you are turning. If they just made the receiver gripping metal flush with the face of the head on one side, this would be vastly improved, but there would still be a problem... all that extra metal limits how far back you can set the block on the other side, as it starts to hit the magazine well. All the extra thick metal in the head basically serves little purpose as far as making the head any stronger and serves to make the whole wrench pretty useless. It's also far too much metal to grind off. Also, the metal that grips the receiver is hitting in the wrong places, too close to the gas nut hole in the receiver (that could be solved by some filing and sanding, but not worth it with the other problems).