SA80

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

As a matter of interest, one of my last bosses refused to sign off the L86 LSW for service........ But someone did!

I'm minded to ask Clarkie above the following. If the current but oh-so-slow A3 version is relaible and effective, is it any MORE reliable and effective than the A2 it is slowly replacing? Given that mechanically, it is the same.

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As you say Peter, mechanically the same, new body, full length rail and up to date go faster forend.

I would assume it's as reliable as the A2, it certainly should be.

---------- Post added at 03:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:46 PM ----------

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Originally Posted by skiprat

As an Armourer and a prolific shooter of the SA80 in many service competitions , reliability was 2 different things.
As a shooter if I picked it up would it work as required? And for how many rounds.
As an Armourer when it came to inspections how many out of the company require repair, something the user will never know (as they would be repaired and returned to service)
The A1 was plagued with many many small faults that were mainly sorted when they changed over to the A2. But with age other faults came to light ( welds failing on the bodies and TMH’s)
I think the A 2 was slightly more reliable than the A1 but we had 15 years to get it sorted. But that dose not say the A2 was reliable just not as bad....
I found one big failing of the A2 fitted with the new handguard and down grip was the fact that you could grip the front grip and flex the barrel enough to pull shots well off target.
A reliable weapon should function AND be able to hit the target

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I guess it's different stokes for different folks, I know one chap who used the A2 in a few tours of Afghanistan (with the usual sand pit taping up), he said it's just fine...

Perhaps given a choice though!

As an aside,
At the range last year, one of the guys brought along his son, a young serving soldier in the Signals.

He was used to using the A2 and his first go on an an AR platform was my .22 Tippmenn M4.

After he stopped his muscle memory from reaching over and searching for a cocking handle that wasn't there, he settled down and really enjoyed himself.

He thought it was a joy to shoot, controls falling to hand naturally..

The AR platform in its many guises takes a lot of beating.

Hmmmm, I said my bit regarding the SA80 in a previous thread sometime back, see post #10 in the link at the bottom, but before you proceed lets start out with some facts regarding the the small clip of the A3......... it isn't a new rifle and never will be, As Peter says, same meat different gravy is all it is.

I was fitting A3 parts (mainly new body) some years back, the only main difference is the upgrade of the welded areas.......... these parts were black by the way not the new fancy colour and that is all that is a new colour, everything else is brown so they may as well paint the rifle.

A new rifle....... very far from it, it would cost too much, the body and trigger mech is just folded pressed sheet steel, (think of AK etc) so with these bits added you get a upgraded rifle and not a new one.

Its a catch 22, when a rifle is on its last legs and where the MOD are with there budget (not a lot these days) so a few cheap solutions to bring it back to life is all that is needed really.

We will see a change someday thats for sure to an AR based platform rifle but when is anyones guess.

Its very easy to slate something off by comparison, I'm guilty of it myself regarding Citroen's, but after having a Berlingo van for over 5 years, I wouldn't hesitate to get another, either that or a Peugeot (the Berlingo and Partner were the same van just different badge)

If I was in a situation and had to grab a weapon and all the pallet of AR's had gone I wouldn't be too upset of grabbing an SA80........

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=57466

Well said Geoff, the chap I was referring to in my post who used the rifle on active service on numerous occasions, has no real complaints.

It's poor ergonomic design is overcome with training and drills, so, you have a rifle that isn't perfect, but does what it says on the box.

I doubt a replacement will be announced before 2030.

It will take a change of caliber to force the issue before that point, as you say, a new rifle is low on the priority list at the moment.