John Sukey left a comment on a thread about EAL rifles not being able to stand up to the rigors of Ranger use. I have two models, one civilian and one military. I realise that there were several variations of each and so they can be hard to pin down. Because of the variations, his statement may bear some credence.
Looking at mine, I really can't see any reason for them to fail before a full wood No4 MkI*. The only real weak spot I can see is the forward sling swivel. Other than that, they look pretty robust and reliable.
I've never fired either of them, although the civie has seen previous use, the military version looks to be unissued and unfired other than the original test rounds. Because of this lack of use I really can't give a knowledgeable reply to John Sukey's reply. I would appreciate a first hand opinion from a Ranger that carried one.