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Do the British Army still use the SA80?
But problems plagued the SA80, which is still in service in a variety of configurations. To be fair, some British soldiers say the L85A2 — the most recent incarnation of the SA80 assault rifle — is reliable most of the time.
What rifle did the British Army use before the SA80?
The SA80 family originally consisted of the L85A1 Rifle, the L86A1 Light Support Weapon (LSW), and L98A1 Cadet GP Rifle. The first weapons were issued in October 1985. The SA80 family was designed and produced by the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield Lock.
Do the SAS still use MP5?
It’s thought that SAS/SBS CT teams now mostly use C8 carbines. The SAS also uses a cut-down version of the MP5, with a shortened barrel and without stock, called the MP5k (L80A1) .
Why do British soldiers use Bullpups?
That range-to-overall-length ratio is actually rather important to the UK military. With their focus on vehicle borne operations, the UK military planners felt that it was important to retain their compact individual weapon system. So, they doggedly stuck with their bullpup rifle through the tough times.
What sniper rifle does the British army use?
L115A3 Long
The primary weapon of the British military sniper is the L115A3 Long Range Rifle. This is a bolt-action weapon, chambered in 338 Lapua Magnum (8.59mm), with an effective range out to 1.2 km.
When will the SA80 be replaced by a new model?
When the production line for the SA80 was closed in 1994, it was expected that the SA80 family would need replacement by 2005. Reductions in troop numbers and the rebuilding programme by H&K, pushed the replacement date to 2020. In 2014 the Ministry of Defence announced a trial to select a new rifle.
Can the SA-80 be unscrewed in the UK?
The UK isn’t going to replace the SA-80 anytime soon. Bottom line up front, they have well and thoroughly screwed the pooch and once it is screwed it can’t be unscrewed. The very thoroughness of the screwing of the pooch precludes its unscrewing, ever, ever again.
Why is the SA80 so popular?
It is fairly simple to operate and can be used by almost anyone, it has a good effective range of around 300m and can lay suppressing fire at around 600m (although you are unlikely to hit anything) and is fairly light and an all-round good weapon. The British government have put a lot of money into getting the SA80 system right.
What are the different variants of the SA80 family?
There are four main variants that make up the SA80 family: the L85 Rifle, the L86 Light Support Weapon, the L22 Carbine and the L98 Cadet rifle. The family currently consists of two major models, A1 variants being the first issue weapons, and A2 distinguishing weapons which have undergone H&K upgrades.