L96A1 Purchase? or New Accuracy International AW

[PrinzEugen]

I've never seen an L96 for sale in the UK - are they available then? A gun club member told the me other day at a shoot that he'd seen some in Gunmart - but I've never spotted them.

[Peter Laidler]

Of the original dark green S&B PM 6x 42 26mm dia telescopes. I understand that some rascals are doctoring-up other scopes to look like these special L96 beasts. It's not that easy. The grat is a tapered flat topped pointer with a standard crosswire. The 4 figure serial numbers are also from a distinct batch too, commencing AI-0001 upwards. The deflection scale is in MoA's - 16 left and right. The range scale is marked in both M0A's. (42 0 to 1000) and up to 1,000metres.

Someone has assured me that the scopes are a 1" tube diameter but our 4 L96's all have - as you'd expect - original telescopes of 26mm diameter. Later these were replaced with a 6x to 12x mag scope. One of ours has been engraved with 'TEL STRT STG L13 A1' probably at a Base Workshop somewhere to reflect it's official designation.

The bracket and rings are from A-Int. You can put a 1" scope into it but I'm told (by same person with a faked up one sadly.....) that the 1" scope will slip unless it's wrapped with a suitable thickness of shim. If you need to know any more just ask and I'll try to answer.....

[bigduke6]

If you need to know any more just ask and I'll try to answer.....

Were was the faked one purchased ? the one I mention was at Minsterley, Shropshire and was a one off, and part of a trade.

[Peter Laidler]

Sorry for the confusion Big Duke. I meant that he had a faked-up telescope, faked to look like the original L13 type

[Brian Dick]

Paul is on the money. I think I was told 13 but it's close enough. I know we're down one here in the USA because I exported it back to England several years ago. It had the Gunsite import mark on it. Exports from the USA of any 7.62 caliber current or obsolete sniper rifles is now forbidden unless going to police or military end users. This includes the L42A1 unfortunately. There were 10 SR98, (Australian L118A1) rifles imported here in 1999-2000 so they turn up for sale from time to time.

[bigduke6]

Think we are both getting our wires crossed, It was Scope I was referring to, was at Minsterley, were did you man find his?

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, yes............... Made it himself from a bog standard S&B

[Nigel]

I picked this up the other day. From Peter's description it is a genuine one for an L96A1 - it has been repainted but professionaly done. Correct Serial No., elevation and windage drums and flat top tapered post reticule, mount , etc.

[m4carbine]

Dig D,

The L96A1 was the first production model from AI, they were called PM rifles or Precision Marksman. The center section was made from a left and right half that was slipped into the front and rear tubes and welded.

The action is bonded to the chassis. The skins are a cast resin, not very durable!

The AW came after a weapons trial in... Norway or Finland, some cold country, they were told to let the rifles cold soak over night outside, the next morning all the rifles in the trials were froze shut.

Then came the AW's, AWM's, AI 50, the AE Mk 1 the Mk 2 and the AS 50. All the foreign models are slight variations of these rifles. Then comes the AX series rifles, their new fleet.

[Brian B]

Thank you all for the excellent information!! I had no idea that this thread would light up like it did. I hadn't checked it until this evening and wanted to thank you all for the overwhelming response and the detailed information.

This could be a tough one (and expensive) to track down!!

Thanks to everyone!!