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The British SA80/L85 rifle

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04 April 2003, 10:23
Tony Williams
The British SA80/L85 rifle
In view of the poor reputation they have gained, I have posted an evaluation of the British SA80/L85 rifles at:
http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/SA80.htm
This is a first draft and I would welcome comments or corrections.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum
04 April 2003, 12:35
Bakes
Tony
I looked through one of these in Timor in 1999. I like the sights better than those on our AUS Steyr which are 1.5x as opposed to 4x on the SA80 I belive?
Our rifles have recived some bad press as well,with complaints of jamming, double feeding and as happended to me, a case mouth being rammed into the plastic surrounding the ejection port, wasn't that a bastard! [Eek!]

Bakes
04 April 2003, 23:31
Deerdogs
Great stuff Tony.
05 April 2003, 00:42
1894
Very well balanced critique IMHO.

Mags continue to be the weak link in most military rifles - until you get issued your own to care for it's a bit of a lottery.
05 April 2003, 01:35
Tony Williams
Thanks for your comments, gentlemen. The SUSAT is indeed a 4x scope.

Some time ago someone posted a link - I think on this board - detailing all of the changes made in the development of the L85A2. I thought I had printed it off but, of course, I can't find it. Does anyone know where it is?

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion
forum
05 April 2003, 18:26
<SkiBumplus3>
Thanks for the analysis. Where are the pictures?

Sincerely

Ski+3
05 April 2003, 19:12
Tony Williams
quote:
Originally posted by SkiBumplus3:
Thanks for the analysis. Where are the pictures?

Sincerely

Ski+3
Hell, I thought everyone knew what the beastie looked like!

I'll add some when I revise the article.

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum
06 April 2003, 10:53
Tony Williams
I have revised the article to provide more details of the woes of the A1 and the modifications to the A2, plus some more links. See: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk/SA80.htm

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum
06 April 2003, 11:06
<SkiBumplus3>
Tony,

Thanks for the revisions. I have seen the Brit's on TV lately and wondered about the personal weapons.

Ski+3
06 April 2003, 13:37
<KBGuns>
quote:
If the SA80 is to be replaced in the foreseeable future, the choice will probably be between the HK G36 and the FN F2000. Both are new, state of the art weapons, from manufacturers with excellent reputations. The G36 is gaining a good reputation and increasing sales. It has been selected as the 5.56mm element of the US XM29 OICW, and may also replace the M16/M4 family as the standard US rifle, as it is being developed in the XM8 programme. In contrast, the F2000 has only recently been announced and it is too soon to evaluate its success. On the other hand, Britain has had a long and successful relationship with FN (the 7.62mm rifle and GPMG, as well as the Minimi, were FN designs), and the F2000 is a bullpup (unlike the G36) thereby enjoying the usual benefits of compactness.
Tony,

Do you have any more info on the XM8 program?

Kristofer
06 April 2003, 19:58
Tony Williams
quote:
Originally posted by KBGuns:

Do you have any more info on the XM8 program?

Kristofer[/QB]
Try this link:
http://globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m8-oicw.htm

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum
12 April 2003, 08:51
Tony Williams
A further update to include a link to what really happened to the A2 in Afghanistan...

Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and Discussion forum