L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
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L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Am curious of your experiences with the L1A1 (or is it SLR?):
- Optics used, if any.
- Disbursement in a squad- L1A1, Sterling? what else?
- Did it have a grenade launcher adaptor?
- Complaints
- Accolades
Thanks.
GG
- Optics used, if any.
- Disbursement in a squad- L1A1, Sterling? what else?
- Did it have a grenade launcher adaptor?
- Complaints
- Accolades
Thanks.
GG
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
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Rifle 7.62mm Self Loading L1a1
trials rifle Fitted with Energa rifle grenade launcher
How they were issued depended on time period, Role the section was in and theatre.
usually in my experience section was 1 GPMG and the rest SLR though support units and UDR substitute an L4 LMG and again L4 was issued to sections in the 60's before the L7 GPMG became widely issued.
L4a3 LMG
Rifle 7.62mm Self Loading L1a1
trials rifle Fitted with Energa rifle grenade launcher
How they were issued depended on time period, Role the section was in and theatre.
usually in my experience section was 1 GPMG and the rest SLR though support units and UDR substitute an L4 LMG and again L4 was issued to sections in the 60's before the L7 GPMG became widely issued.
L4a3 LMG
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
My googling says that there's a pair of optics that were designed for the rifle (the Hythe and SUIT sights).GastonGlocker wrote:- Optics used, if any.
Here's an L1A1 fitted with the SUIT.
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Thank you gents for the great photos and feedback. Am curious if those of you who used both extensively, do you prefer the L85A1 or L1A1. I realize different philosophy of use but for GP use?
Nostalgic vid:
Nostalgic vid:
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
SLR more robust, better stopping power,better range, simpler to operate, more reliable. If you needed to get up close and personal the bayonet was further away from you. difficult to break!
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Pluses : relatively reliable and well made (took a lot of abuse)
7.62mm effective out past 300
Logical location for selector, cocking handle etc
Negatives:
Not ideal for jumping with or FIBUA due to length
Rate of fire
Weight (compared to M16 at that time)
Overall though a sturdy reliable straightforward weapon
7.62mm effective out past 300
Logical location for selector, cocking handle etc
Negatives:
Not ideal for jumping with or FIBUA due to length
Rate of fire
Weight (compared to M16 at that time)
Overall though a sturdy reliable straightforward weapon
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
I found the SLR to be very reliable, my main complaint was its weight, and I remember it had a healthy recoil if not held correctly.
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
I can vouch for that comment, only hassle I ever had was the actual size being RACT a bit cumbersome from a truckies pov, F88 Styer fixed the size but still preferred the SLR on the rangemarktigger wrote:SLR more robust, better stopping power,better range, simpler to operate, more reliable. If you needed to get up close and personal the bayonet was further away from you. difficult to break!
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
there not that much difference in weight than SA80 and they are better balanced than the SA80.bobp wrote:I found the SLR to be very reliable, my main complaint was its weight, and I remember it had a healthy recoil if not held correctly.
they used to hang beautifully over right ammo pouch on runs
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
My PW was a Sterling SMG but always carried an SLR on ops great weapon nobody wanted the SA80.
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
I can certainly testify to its reliability. Having been swamped with thick mud following an encounter in a mud filled ditch at Warcop ranges my SLR continued firing no problems, although I must have looked like a blob of mud carrying a mud covered tree root. It did need the gas closing down after firing a few more rounds but apart from that it was fine.
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
The SA80 is heavier than an L1A1.marktigger wrote:there not that much difference in weight than SA80 and they are better balanced than the SA80.
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
yeap its still about 9.5lbs which is also about the same as a lee enfield
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
I see that the Argentinians are getting rid of their FAL's and taking on a licence to manufacture of the Italian Beretta ARX-200 as the replacement.
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Still a beefy thing, chambered for 7.62 NATO (and the x39 but it's more likely to be the NATO cartridge). I guess they liked what they had they just want to get the weight down.swoop wrote:I see that the Argentinians are getting rid of their FAL's and taking on a licence to manufacture of the Italian Beretta ARX-200 as the replacement.
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
I'd guess they were all flogged-out with age and wear.Defiance wrote:I guess they liked what they had they just want to get the weight down.
Doubt much in the way of replacements were available after '82.
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Very true, it depends on the politics of the matter I suppose (or was that a zing to the rather large pile we dumped into the sea?) don't know off the top of my head what the Belgian response was to the invasion. Money talks at the end of the day and FN is a very successful exporter.swoop wrote: I'd guess they were all flogged-out with age and wear.
Doubt much in the way of replacements were available after '82.
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
shame hungerford put end to us owning them.arfah wrote:Also manufactured in the U.S. for the 2nd Amendment market.marktigger wrote:Brazil still manufactures the FN FAL
and India might also be looking at extending them. Mind you they still produce the lee Enfield no1
Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Straight pull SLR in 7.62 is still legal, not the real McCoy I know but if you were so inclined.marktigger wrote:
shame hungerford put end to us owning them.
and India might also be looking at extending them. Mind you they still produce the lee Enfield no1
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Re: L1A1 - Any old timers to regale us?
Some weeks ago I posted on another thread how they are going to buy 00'000s of AK47s as their newly acquired wonder AR did not work.marktigger wrote:Mind you they still produce the lee Enfield no1
- the design is only 70 yrs old, so surely by now that one will work
Ever-lasting truths: Multi-year budgets/ planning by necessity have to address the painful questions; more often than not the Either-Or prevails over Both-And.
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
If everyone is thinking the same, then someone is not thinking (attributed to Patton)
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