I like the SA80

[cipherk98]

I'm sure part of the issue with the SA80s reputation is the lack of a civilian market to vindicate it. The AR has proven itself on the commercial/civilian side as the dominate modern semi auto because it is easy to fix, cheap to run, and is proven reliable with a wide range of ammo in virtually all conditions. Most of the time you buy an off the shelf AR, from a $400 DPMS to a $2000 Daniel Defense, or if you build one from parts, you expect it to run. It's not viewed as a jamomatic death trap anymore. The people who espouse it is crap today are typically the type who will find something damning with everything that isn't their gun, whatever it is (AK, FAL, whatever), or someone who just doesn't have a high opinion of any semi auto due to whatever beliefs they have.

The SA80/L85 obviously never got that chance. I think if the A2 was widely adopted by a civilian audience who got to run with it in matches, shoot it recreationally, or whatever for 40 years most of the mythos would go away if personal experience and public consensus proves it is a good gun. There are multiple rare guns that are ranked among the best of all time that I suspect would have a far different reputation if millions were in circulation privately getting run day in and day out... I love the StG44 but it's the first one that comes to mind.

Unfortunately it seems the era of automatic surplus being chopped up into parts kits and brought to the civilian market is coming to a close due to changing times... it's too expensive for importers due to high labor costs, other countries are often willing to buy complete guns, and is generally much more difficult on the paper work side. Thus it seems unlikely this family of rifles will get a second chance with civilian shooters, but you never know.

Edit: A gun with a very poor service reputation but seems to have been embraced later on just came to mind. the CETME-L. Heard very few complaints with HMG or privately built guns, when they are put together with the care required in assembly and with a few tweaks or adjustments here and there they apparently run very well.

History may be repeating itself with guns that try to be everything to everyone. The Modular Handgun System was an expensive process and the more I dig into them the more I question how good of an idea it is on the scale of a national army. A consumer maybe, but I just don't get it for a military. Time will tell.

[Peter Laidler]

The SA80 WAS available to the public and was widely advertised for sale in the UK by Royal Ordnance. Alas, it was in its standard issue/auto/semi-auto format. Also, it was about the time when semi-autos and rifles easily convertable were about to be banned so there were very few sales. That event also put the stop on any other variations of it in the UK

[Gil Boyd]

Well, when I get time, as I have just been given a mechanically broken Airsoft SA80 which was intended for mounting on a plaque but now not required, I may look at measurements and see if a Ruger 10/22 will match up and drop in without too much messing about.

The SA80 looks quite robust body wise all metal, with all the usual plastic bits in green thereon.
As long as the trrigger/bolt/pistol grip/magazine/safety catch and off course the rounds get chucked out correctly could be a novel body change.
Talks of someone doing it on the web with a Marlin 60.

[David TS]

Following on from Peter's post #112, here are some of the contemporary adverts for sales of the SA80. Pat Walker was advertising them from Jan through to Nov 1986.

There is also an article in the pictures attached, from Guns Illustrated from April 1986, showing Pat Walker actually shooting one.


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[mrclark303]

those were the days David, back then we had great firearms laws, thanks for posting, pure misty eyed nostalgia

[Peter Laidler]

Nope....., cannot be. According to those experts operating in another universe within the MoD, they were not available outside the UK MoD. They'll be apoplectic at seeing these ad's. There's none so blind as he that will not see I say.

[mrclark303]

Nope....., cannot be. According to those experts operating in another universe within the MoD, they were not available outside the UK MoD. They'll be apoplectic at seeing these ad's. There's none so blind as he that will not see I say.

Yep, this advert could well prove to be very useful to a good many people who are currently suffering under the MOD's current Spanish Inquisition on all things SA80 ...

[David TS]

Yep, this advert could well prove to be very useful to a good many people who are currently suffering under the MOD's current Spanish Inquisition on all things SA80 ...

Me being one of them..........

---------- Post added at 02:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 PM ----------

Nope....., cannot be. According to those experts operating in another universe within the MoD, they were not available outside the UK MoD. They'll be apoplectic at seeing these ad's. There's none so blind as he that will not see I say.

Peter

Of course they weren't! And thus a certain dealer (who shall remain anonymous) definitely didn't buy around 250-300 surplus L85 and L86's direct from HK (UK) circa 2000...........!

[browningautorifle]

Pat Walker was advertising them from Jan through to Nov 1986.

Since we were also having a good time in those days, I wonder if this could be where ours came from? The ones that may appear here in Canada...? Very few but I expect there would have been a few individuals that ordered them from far. I'll bet Warren will know a couple of people from back then that did that, if he surfaces here.

[bigduke6]

I remember the Pat Walker adverts in Guns Review, (not for the SA80 though) but for others such as the Sten, Sterling etc. looking at the small print on the third page along, L1A1 with plastic furniture £360 or with Wood Furniture £280.......... I doubt you get just the wood furniture for under £100 now. Some interesting adverts amongst them pages, anyone see The EM2 for £6000 ( also third page along) serial Number 2.