L96/PM Muzzle device

[Micheal Doyne]

Michael

You are confusing L96A1 issued rifles, L96A1 Trials rifles and special purchase PM/S rifles.

The SBS and SAS have their own funding and a Special Projects Team. They ordered PM rifles before the L96 was ever designed, trialled or ordered. The exact numbers are in Steve's book, but numbered around the 20's for each unit from memory. The SAS ones specified an Ambidextrous safety as well.

These rifles are different to L96's because the L96 didn't exist at the time.

Once the trial had been completed and the contract issued, then none of the issued L96 rifles would have had the flash hider because it was never part of the Spec.

So the rifles that the SF may have had with swirly flash hiders were PM/S not L96's. Nor were they standard Military Issue.

I expect the early PM rifles were destroyed and replaced by the L96. I can't recall ever seeing an ambidextrous safety on any rifle in civvy hands.

Police Rifles have been seen with them, so it remained a commercial option.

Hi Roy,

No I am not confusing the L96 rifle and the other versions. I am well aware the L96 spec when finalised did not include the a muzzle device or suppressor. what I am interested in is why when the trials spec specified muzzle devices, a couple of muzzle devices where present on the version of the trials AIs and others where part of options AI offered at the time none made it through.

[Roy W]

Hi Roy,

No I am not confusing the L96 rifle and the other versions. I am well aware the L96 spec when finalised did not include the a muzzle device or suppressor. what I am interested in is why when the trials spec specified muzzle devices, a couple of muzzle devices where present on the version of the trials AIs and others where part of options AI offered at the time none made it through.

That's interesting,

Where is the Trials Specification that states that the requirement was for 'muzzle devices'? Presumably you have seen it? I wouldn't mind a copy.

I saw a photo of three of the L96's for the Trial, none of them had threaded muzzles, nor any form of device. How many rifles were produced for the trials?

Where are the photos of rifles involved in the trials with muzzle devices?

Thanks

[Micheal Doyne]

I have seen some of the docs and photos of the rifles, but frustratingly neither are shareable. they are very early, with dual safety, but also the iron sights added for the trial. I have seen later trials rifles which are much more L96 like, so I assume the flashider requirement was dropped pdq. what I haven’t seen is anything about why the flash hiders where dropped so quickly from all trikes offerings. I understand examples of some or all the rifles are in the royal collection at leeds, but the relevant rifles are on photo catalogue that i can find.

[Roy W]

I have seen some of the docs and photos of the rifles, but frustratingly neither are shareable. they are very early, with dual safety, but also the iron sights added for the trial. I have seen later trials rifles which are much more L96 like, so I assume the flashider requirement was dropped pdq. what I haven’t seen is anything about why the flash hiders where dropped so quickly from all trikes offerings. I understand examples of some or all the rifles are in the royal collection at leeds, but the relevant rifles are on photo catalogue that i can find.

It sounds like you are the only one who has seen these docs/photos, so you know more than others already I would suggest. Is there a reason you can't share them? They can't be restricted?

[Micheal Doyne]

well that is an unexpected situation for me to be in, oh well. I’ll do some digging else where, and check what can and can’t be shared. cheers all.

[Promo]

If this helps, this is how my commercially retailed L96A1 marked PM rifle came with. I've posted it in detail in this thread: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=76997

[Micheal Doyne]

cheers, that is now the fourth PM muzzle device i’ve seen. i’ve got the police style swirly wherly, and ive seen two types of L1A1 ish ones

---------- Post added at 08:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 PM ----------

what period is your PM from? this looks close to an early AW style.

---------- Post added at 08:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:05 PM ----------

my police swirly wherly is 89

[Promo]

what period is your PM from? this looks close to an early AW style.

Just follow mylink to find out as well as to notice you yourself have posted in that thread too

[Peter Laidler]

It does seem ironic that you are restricted from posting the photos wherreas I freely posted the whole trial report transcribed from poor qualirty microfische film.

[Micheal Doyne]

Just follow mylink to find out as well as to notice you yourself have posted in that thread too

cheers

---------- Post added at 09:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:18 PM ----------

It does seem ironic that you are restricted from posting the photos wherreas I freely posted the whole trial report transcribed from poor qualirty microfische film.

the photos are private photos that aren’t mine, as and the the document is one I have read but don’t have a copy off. if either where in my possession/mine i’d post them here directly. Is that report up on here?

---------- Post added at 09:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:22 PM ----------

Just follow mylink to find out as well as to notice you yourself have posted in that thread too

having re read it I can remember it now , i had 100% missed how interesting that muzzle device was at the time.