My Sniper CES

[longebow]

Simon,
Don't start me off on why they selected the L96A1 over the M85 again article to follow and why I think it happened

I'm interested in hearing this story/saga!

[Gil Boyd]

Being proof read at the moment, once done hopefully I can get it launched on here after conferring with the headshed. It is a factual account and not aimed at being controversial, albeit, they should be glad I wasn't about when they made the wrong decision, IMO

[chosenman]

Why was it the wrong decision?? I'd fully support that statement if the L96 was a disaster but it wasn't it was hugely successful delivering in three major conflicts over 25 years, furthermore the ascendant rifles of the L96 are still in service today in several calibres. Sounds like they got right to me.

[Gil Boyd]

Steve,
You will have to wait for the article mate, and I am sure there will be lots of interesting feedback. Suffice it to say it was a very close call, but in my opinion, as well as many others, it was not substantiated from the experienced trialists of the systems.
There are people on this site who will perhaps come in now, or after the launch of the article, and air their respective views from a fist hand maintenance point of view.
I didn't do it for the hell of it, I was extremely interested as a firer of both weapons systems about the history of both AI and Parker Hale anyway, but did it because it killed off a major arms manufacturer in the whole process, which was the saddest part of the whole tale!!

[PrinzEugen]

Look forward to reading it all Gil. Is your enforcer box the proper one?

[Gil Boyd]

No, it was an option if carrying cleaning rods and bits and pieces. It is simply the biggest PELI case on wheels that weighs more than the rifle but, it is worth it when you consider keeping scope drums stabilised to and from the range etc.
It has had some knocks which would have been damage to wood and scopes in a traditional over the shoulder bag, but I have found the original Alluminium case makers now who want £485 for the green / black case with foam cut out, but not for the Enforcer.
Incidentally for the benefit of anyone reading this, I know where there is an Enforcer for sale at £1400 and also an L42 with full CES including the bottle and brush etc POA but well below silly money

[Surpmil]

Just a footnote for those of us outside the UK who don't get the allusion to "Brylcream", "The Brylcream Boys" was a nickname given to the RAF and the Dominion air force members by army and navy personnel in WWII and after. It wrapped up into one phrase a certain resentment, mixed with some envy(!), of the "flash" appearance of pilots and air force personnel, their often greater success with and access to the fair sex, and all the benefits of life behind the lines. The usual sort of inter-service stuff!

[Gil Boyd]

spot on. I knew when my father came home when I was a kid from long duration ops abroad, that he had been in mums bed first before I saw him in the kitchen fully clothed on my return from school, because of the brylcream stain on the head board. I have to say at this juncture, I took a few more years to figure that one out too