L96A1 Archive

[chosenman]

1) SN. 89PM0573
2) Date Shipped out of AI March 1989 to Bedfordshire Police.
3) Designation. L96A1
4) Spec. Currently Military
5) Location. UK
6) Additional Notes. Original police barrel and scope is still with current owner, fully converted from police to military specification.

1) SN. 92PM0975
2) Date Shipped out of AI July 1992 to MOD
3) Designation. L96A1
4) Spec. MOD Military
5) Location. UK
6) Additional Notes. Interesting rifle as is PM prefixed and MOD owned. I have seen this rifle and at the point of writing this is pristine. This rifle was a British army shooting team rifle, hence its condition.

[Peter Laidler]

I wonder if in years to come, those that have changed the spec of their Police or MoD L96's by changing this that and the other will come to regret it. Think Enforcers, L39's and L42's and No4T's where owners are moving heaven and earth to revert back to the as issued spec. Everyone to his own of course.

Incidentally, the L96's issued to the ARA via the usual Ordnance channels were specifically for target shooting (and to replace the L39's at unit level where requested with ARA confirmation) and were NOT issued from Ordnance with telescopic sights or means of fitting such (probably means the bracket?), only iron sights. The iron sights could be replaced with any suitable commercial iron sights subject to the usual conditions. These conditions aren't mentioned in the EMER but usually means no unauthorised modification to the rifle - such as drilling/tapping holes

[chosenman]

I have for that very reason retained the original barrel, which so far it would seem all other ex police rifle owners have also done. I have to admit though I did let the scope go and you now have me thinking Peter.

[Peter Laidler]

It was always a bone of contention leaving the allen keys in the chests when they got to the units because on the course, the snipers were SHOWN how to adjust the trigger pull-offs. And GUESS what they did when they got back to the units.........? Yep......, got it in one! They'd set about the trigger mech and adjust the pull-offs that the Armourers had accurately set up when the rifle and CES was received by the unit. Correct weight, no drag. There were a few classroom models of the trigger mech (real ones) attached to small boards for the students to faff around with (amend that to read '...faff around with and ruin....) as you couldn't really see the operation when it was in the rifle. I did modify a few trigger mechs with one of the side plates made from hard oroglass (a sort of harder perspex) which they could actually see working. Still got one........

Is anyone interested in the gauging standards? Or is all this stuff common knowledge?
What about the modifications to the crap ground spike?

[longebow]

Peter:

Yes please. For the good of the order, and this archive...

Longebow

[blurrededge]

Yep, I'm interested Peter 'specially in the ground spike mod.
It'll make a nice late chrissy prezzy, a bit of L96 info.

[Simon]

Any info available regarding 90PM0695A. She used to reside in my Gunroom many moons ago. Gone of to Sunnier climes now unfortunately.

[chosenman]

Any info available regarding 90PM0695A. She used to reside in my Gunroom many moons ago. Gone of to Sunnier climes now unfortunately.

Leave it with me Simon.

[Steve1152]

Does anyone know if an AI L96A1 would have a serial number PMXXXXX without a year number in front of the PM part of the serial number?

[chosenman]

I think, possibly, the examples prior to the L96A1 designation when AI were promoting the rifle as a PM rifle may not have had a year date in the SN. It may be worth contacting Richard Stork, Devizes Gunsmith to be sure as he had one of these examples not long ago.
However if the rifle carries the L96A1 designation in the usual manner on the left side of the receiver I would fully expect to see a year date in the SN.