MG Note: The following discussion is for the education of our readers. Attempted conversion of this rifle to selective fire is both dangerous to the rifle and shooter, as well as highly illegal (it can earn you 10 years in a federal prision in the United States).
As they came from the factory, both metric-pattern FAL and inch-pattern L1A1 and C1A1 rifles had selective fire components installed. These two parts were the ejector block, permanently pinned into the upper receiver, and the safety sear. As its name implies, the ejector block contained the ejector for throwing fired cases from the rifle. It also retained the bolt hold open and magazine catch parts. It was notched on the left side for the safety sear.
The safety sear performs two functions: (1) prevents the firing of the rifle when the bolt is not fully locked and (2) prevents uncontrolled automatic fire from the rifle (runaway gun). Correct adjustment of the safety sear is critical to the safe operation of a select fire rifle.
Above: The ejector block on the right and safety sear (with sear spring) on the left.
Users of the FAL or L1A1/C1A1 series rifles soon realized that the powerful 7.62 NATO cartridge could not be controlled in full-automatic fire and many rifles had their automatic fire function permanently made inoperable. The automatic function was locked-out in one of several ways: (1) the lower receiver had a stop pin installed that limited safety selector travel or (2) the safety selector incorporated a design feature that prevented its movement to the automatic fire position.
Above: The lower receiver of this T48 rifle shows the stop pin and safety selector that locks out automatic fire on the rifle.
Below: (Left) a Canadian C1A1 shows off the mechanical stop of its safety selector; (right) the L-shaped safety selector of an Israeli FAL.
A heavier support weapon was designed using the basic rifle that used a larger 30-round magazine, had a heavier barrel for sustained fire, and employed a bipod for support. Metric-pattern guns were called the FALO and inch-pattern guns were called L2A1 (Australia) or C2A1 (Canada) automatic rifles. British users preferred a 7.62 NATO conversion of the venerable .303 Bren light machine gun of World War 2 fame. British 7.62 NATO-converted Brens used a curved 30-round magazine that interchanged with the 20-round magazine of the standard rifle. Magazines of all Commonwealth-made rifles were interchangeable.
Above: A represenative automatic rifle version of the metric-pattern FAL was called the FALO. This is an Israeli heavy barreled version with enlarged carrying handle, folding butt plate and fixed height bipod with a 5-slot flash suppressor.
Commercial production rifles or rifles made from metric-pattern or inch-pattern parts, do not have the safety sear nor do they use ejector blocks with that are sear-cut. This feature makes them permanently incapable of selective fire. Even though the safety selector may go to both semi-auto and full-auto positions, the rifle can fire only in semi-automatic mode. Some rifles also use new production pistol grips that limit the safety selector travel.
Below: An aftermarket pistol grip without the safety selector cut acts as a stop for the selector.
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