L12A1 (SLR in .22LR)

[Peter Laidler]

I remember an old time REME Gun Fitter making a small scale replica of a 25 pounder from steel and brass etc etc. I remember him drilling the main blast shield and trail with hundreds of holes into which he soft soldered cut off pins to replicate the rivet heads. It was just a beautiful work of art. As I remember, he couldn't get the correct rubber tyres to suit the wheel size. I expect that he has now. I think that the NZ Artillery who provided the Artillery support has just been equipped with UK supplied 105mm pack howitzers and the 25 pounders were returned to the OFP at Johore for transport to Sylvia Park (? is this the right place) Ordnance Depot in NZ

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[Peter Laidler]

Red/Blue was the tactical sign of the Royal Artillery. In the Far East they and the later 105 pack how's were towed by simple one-tonners - I think that they were Morris Commerciials and/or Austin 1 tonners but the Malay Army had the first of the big forward control Land Rovers that I'd ever seen.

My friend bought one from a school CCF that had been languishing outside for many years and is restoring it as we speak. The limbers are VERY difficult to obtain so I'm told, because when they became obsolete in the 50's all the old County Fire Brigades were buying them up as light hose/accessory carriers for their equally old fire engines. I had so many dial sights and spares I gave a load to Fort Nelson just to get rid of them!

[ArtioZen]

Hi Crabbie - I believe you gave the correct answer to a "gun" picture request (closely followed by a staple-, spud- and glue-). Did you test the ammunition with the SUIT on? I would not trust a "good one" even for .22 - I used to give the running man a chin full with iron sights - go on! smack him!
Nice L12A1

[Ex Crab]

Hi Crabbie - I believe you gave the correct answer to a "gun" picture request (closely followed by a staple-, spud- and glue-). Did you test the ammunition with the SUIT on? I would not trust a "good one" even for .22 - I used to give the running man a chin full with iron sights - go on! smack him!
Nice L12A1

The SUIT sits in a tin box in the cellar where it is relatively harmless, when I use a scopeI use the Hensoldt sight that the Bundeswehr used on the G3. Good piece of kit. The tgts pictured above were shot with the iron sights, actually a Hythe sight that I had retrofitted. Unfortunately I didn't have my shooting glasses with me on that day so the tgt appeared a bit blurred.

[mrclark303]

Morning all, I attended the first shoot of my local small bore clubs use of a old disused RAF airfield range on Saturday.

Its only 25 yards, but perfect for L12A1 kit. In an attempt to retro things up a bit, I used some L5A1 Eley ammo ... with mixed results.

I found for the first time I had a few issues with the kit, tracked down to one of the magazines, I can't find a fault with it (it appears identical to the other working example in every way), but I am guessing the angle of the .22 magazine insert must be very slightly out of perfect alignment, as I was getting a few failures to feed.

but switching to the original L12A1 mag and the other supplied Fal converted example and it was back to perfect function.

I did find (unlike the mini mag) I was getting some ammo issues with the L5A1, the odd failure to fire (typical no powder in rim .22lr issue) and the odd failure to re-cock the rifle (lack or propellent).

Still, all good fun, accuracy wise, it was printing a ragged half inch at 25 yds with 10 rds, so perfectly happy with that.

The L2A2 SUIT was working fine, which surprised me at 25yds, as its a lot closer than the thing was designed for I am sure!

All great fun!

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