The m1a would always have failures to extract, I sent it back and it continued to fail. You could shoot 3 then fail, shoot 6 fail, there was no rhyme or reason but you couldn't get through a 20rnd mag without it failing to extract at some point. I tried FGMM, cheap winchester, everything. The FAL just wasn't accurate enough for me.... I love tiny groups, that's why I regret selling my scar.
Had a similar issue with my loaded M1A. Looked up a guy on youtube named "tonyben"... hes an M1A guru. I ended up buying a USGI M14 bolt kit from Windy City Sourcing and that fixed it right up. Went to the range a week after I installed it and went through 3 mags perfectly. IF you ever want another M1A, thats what I recommend doing.
hahah, yaaaa FAL's are like the AK's of battle rifles. I agree you never should have sold the Scar 17.... absolutely one of the best battle rifles ever made. My company in 1st Ranger Battalion did the trial runs with them for USASOC in 2009. All of 75th Ranger Regiment ended up keeping the Scar 17's. They're pretty sick with a 12.5" barrel on em too...and full auto