SA80

[bigduke6]

I've used both versions and to be honest I never had an issue with the A1 but I never had to do any hard work with it. The A2 has been perfect, I've been through Iraq with it, driven a Land Rover 3 miles before realising I'd left it sat on the bonnet (it fell off and wedged behind the bumper) and done numerous paraded with it. Apart from the stupidly shaped cocking handle it has also been perfect.

I've shot FALs, AK47s, M16 and SKS and the A2 was at least en par with the M16 and a ton better than the AK and SKS. After using the SKS, a plastic mallet would be better.

I for one am a L85 fan, one of only a few I'm sure but I'm not Special Forces or a Marine wanna be so it works for me.

First off, I love the last sentence/statement from BP, Although relative new to the L85A2, I'm a fan myself, never had to use it anger or like BP says give it hard work, but I can hold my own with it on the range, its never let me down as yet, mag changes on the run are not too easy but doing anything on the run these days isn't easy.... and I'm all fingers and thumbs regarding the trigger Mech but given time will improve (thats regarding stripping the whole thing down in a Armourers workshop), can only say that I think a lot of negativity towards it is what folk read........ bit like what they read regarding the Sten Gun.

If it comes to stopping power then thats down to calibre not the fault of the rifle.......

I'm not saying its the best etc, but you have to look at what it costs the Tax payer, around £450 +/- at present ? I'm not sure on the price of an M16 or what they could be supplied for, Like BP I've fired several Rifles and have to agree regarding the SKS, Myself I like the SIG 550/ 551 but I believe the price would put our tax up considerably......

M16...... what can I say, its all been said before, certainly tried and tested, I've used variations in two calibre's, and the bigger Nato calibre was not comfortable, just my opinion compared to using it in a rifle like the L1A1.....

At a guess I would say we will probably see something based on that design in the future, who knows..... one thing is for sure it will have to be a certain length so we can do drill with it.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

1990 price of the L85 for the purposes of a Board of Enquiry was £290. The SUSAT sight cost just over £300.

Repairability is also a great factor too. One that I never thought about until one came in following a fairly serious incident during an exercise when one was run over by a run-a-way APC (caused by stupidity....., but that was another story...) The rifle was seriously damaged and had been lost in a wet mudbath for several hours following the mishap. It was washed off, stripped down as best it could be. The trigger housing was slightly twisted but no welds were broken so it was dollied straight. Within a couple of hours the rifle was back in the Armoury, fully test fired and function tested.

[bigduke6]

Certainly come down in price Peter if you take the 1990 price, the figure I quoted is only a few years old, the SUSAT still costs more at around £500 IIRC.

[Flying10uk]

When the SA80 first came into service I believe that it was ahead of it's time in that it was of a "Bull-Pup" design and there were very few army using a rifle made to this principal. The only other armies which I can think of that were using the "Bull-Pup" design when the SA80 first came into service was France and in a very limited way China(?). Are there not significantly more armies today either using or considering the use of a rifle made to the "Bull-Pup" design/principle?

[bigduke6]

When the SA80 first came into service I believe that it was ahead of it's time in that it was of a "Bull-Pup" design and there were very few army using a rifle made to this principal. The only other armies which I can think of that were using the "Bull-Pup" design when the SA80 first came into service was France and in a very limited way China(?). Are there not significantly more armies today either using or considering the use of a rifle made to the "Bull-Pup" design/principle?

The Steyr AUG was adopted in late 70's by Austria think it was 78 ? so not a new concept, the French FAMAS bull pup, also adopted around the same time, the Chinese "Bull Pup" is a basic AK47 type of design in bull pup guise.

[Sentryduty]

Chinese "Bull Pup" is a basic AK47 type of design in bull pup guise.

Well kind of, the bolt is similar, but the gas system is more like an inverted M14 system and the hammer system is it's own odd duck.

I have one, and could make a thread about it is there is interest.

[bigduke6]

Well kind of, the bolt is similar, but the gas system is more like an inverted M14 system and the hammer system is it's own odd duck.

I have one, and could make a thread about it is there is interest.

Just going of memory Darren, after sitting in the Sun drinking ice cold Cider while I shake my bike tank (containing gravel) to a certain a song of choice does take it out of you, memory loss is quite common after Cider ....

[Sentryduty]

Just going of memory Darren, after sitting in the Sun drinking ice cold Cider while I shake my bike tank (containing gravel) to a certain a song of choice does take it out of you, memory loss is quite common after Cider ....

Of course, no harm, no foul, making conversation mostly, I would have classed it in a similar fashion, until I really pulled it apart and looked at it.

Those Chinese and their engineering trickery knows few limits, the Type 97 series rifles are nearly what could be considered striker fired, but they use this odd, sliding hammer, it probably gives horrible lock time, but I can't seem to notice it during shooting.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Ice cold cider.

There is, of course a to go with that.

[mrclark303]

Well kind of, the bolt is similar, but the gas system is more like an inverted M14 system and the hammer system is it's own odd duck.

I have one, and could make a thread about it is there is interest.

Please do Darren, I must admit I assumed it was a repackaged AK variant, sounds very interesting!