SA80

[Flying10uk]

SA80 Rifle: Want To Know All Of The Gen?

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[Gil Boyd]

Rhymes with rollocks! People will always say the SA80 is better regardless, but someone will have to convince me its better than anybody elses weapons systems "out there" as the last speaker aludes!!! It is a new variant of the A2 but still has the same flawed issues regardless of its badge IMHO

[Peter Laidler]

Silk purse - sows ear............ familiar to anyone? Or what about this one. Same meat, different gravy?

[Gil Boyd]

As Peter and others will know the Pullpup in the lates 50's drove this rifle into service when the SLR should have remained in service until everything was ironed out, and possibly into the late 90's too as the A2 hit many bumps in the road, especially when it got hot........without 40-50 degrees in Afghanistan in those days to boot!!
A bit like the L96A1 and the serious issues with that in the early days at Sennybridge!!!

It seems sometimes those that make the these vital decisions, do so with so little operational experience, amd almost a drive to get the job done regardless, putting commonsense firmly in the toilet.
Sorry to be so cynical, but it was a grave mistake bringing it in when they did, and I still have grave concerns regardless of all the retoric from the Royal Marine instructor on the film, more than his paygrade to criticise it now!!

[Flying10uk]

If we were to draw up a table of the most expensive service rifles ever to be issued in military history where would the SA80 sit on that table considering the amount of money that has been spent on it during it's service life? We know that a lot of money has been spent on it but have other service rifles eclipsed it in terms of how much cash has had to be spent in order to get it into usable condition?

[Gil Boyd]

In answer to that it is at the pinnacle of ANY graph and one of the worst mistake Royal Ordnance have EVER made.
It should have been held off until is was ready, instead of withdrawing the BEST weapon we have ever had namely the SLR, to a lesser calibre where you need four shots to put someone down where once hit with one solitary 7.62 you didn't get up!!

[Peter Laidler]

From the front of the trigger guard rearwards, it's all the same stuff. From the front of the trigger guard forwards, where the changes are, are all superfluous add-ons. Did anyone notice the later type 'swirl' pronged flash eliminator shown in the video? Even back in 2008 or so when it was first being fitted nobody could say exactly what improvement it meant or made over the original 'closed-in' type with a ring around the front. The best answer we ever got was that it came as a part of the Daniel Defence handguard package and............ Open pronged flash eliminator is looking for trouble. Been there, seen the problems in 60's Malaya and SVn

Correction made. Deleted 2020 and inserted 2008

[Gil Boyd]

You can fit the best sight in the world to that weapon system, and it won't change a thing. Thats what they are currently doing, most of the sights cost more than the gun!!

[NearSightedSniper]

Don't know if it's true or not but I think I remember reading somewhere that the Brit SAS prefer's the M16. If it is true that really say's something about the SA80.

[Gil Boyd]

You will NEVER see a Regiment guy with an SA80, and in that I don't mean attached Arms.