Florida Shooters Network

SA 58 .308 fires one round, loads a second round but will not fire. If you hand rack the bolt while keeping the trigger depressed, the sear catches. If you let the bolt slide back rapidly or by firing a round, it usually won't engage.
This model has a changing lever which goes to and locks in all 3 positions. In the "A" position, the second round may not fire but the primer is getting a light dimple.
Just purchased this gun "used" yesterday. Any advice?

Ming

Make sure the hammer is cocked, then charge it letting it go with full force letting the bolt lock. Then open up and see if the hammer fell. Then if that worked try the same thing again but this time hold the trigger down. If so it is coming out of sear and you need to check the FCG. Sounds like it might be the problem given the light primer strike probably due to hammer follow, kinda suprised it has not doubled on you.

1- Changing lever= safety. If it's an S R A lower, R is semi, A is auto, your FAL's upper receiver, (where the bolt is), isn't milled for the safety sear which permits full auto. If you're putting a Semi only upper in the A position, it's a single shot gun. Put it in R only for firing, S for safe.

If it's an S E D lower, S is safe, E is semi.

Good luck.

Test:

No mag, no round, no topcover, put safety from S position to R position. MAKE SURE THERE'S NO MAG IN THE RIFLE, OR ROUND IN THE CHAMBER. Pull the trigger while pointing the gun in a safe direction. Pull charging handle, (left side of receiver by barrel), to the rear fully, and release allowing bolt to move forward into battery. Hammer should be cocked, and another trigger pull should release hammer. With the topcover off, it's easy to see and verify. Try this a few times to observe this action.

Repeat with safety in A position. If it's built right, hammer should not be cocked, and "follows" the bolt forward. This is caused by a lack of a safety sear that can not be installed in Semi-only receivers.

Re-assemble, take to range, keep it in S when you want to fire.

There are several fixes to keep you from putting your safety on the lower in the "A" position. Semi only pistol grips, safety levers, pinning the lower, etc.

It is an S R A lower and it has indeed doubled or tripled several times. I appreciate your observations and recommendations.
Obviously it was not a typical problem readily fixed by some adjustment so I thought an opinion from the manufacturer was in order.
DS Arms said it sounds like someone tried to do a trigger job and polished off a bit too much on the sear.
It's going back to the dealer tomorrow and will probably need a new sear.
Thanks very much for the advice.

Ming

DSA US Made Hammer Trigger Sear sets are known to have issues at times. When you get it back from them, before you go to the range, try the drop test. Rifle in R position, no mag, no round, bang the stock hard on a tough surface. (tile, concrete, etc.) If the hammer drops, your HTS isn't good, and could malfunction.

Good luck. They'll make it right.

Sounds like a very reasonable precaution. Thanks for your help.
Ming