The SA80

[rambo19]

My mate's son has just joined the RGJ's(i know i know, I tried to convince him otherwise!) he reckon's the mk 2 is the nut's.

Still prefer the SLR though.

Am I getting old?

Ready for anything.

[Greenronnie]

Nah, just boring.

[Tab]

Wait till they buy the Heckler & Koch G36/G36V

[Greenronnie]

Wait till they buy the Heckler & Koch G36/G36V

I'm waiting! Nice weapon, but not too sure about all that plastic. I've used it a few times, heats up pretty quick when you whack a few mags through it rapid.

I would take it over the SA80 any day though. When we were out in Botswana last year, a 2 Para full screw told me how his whole section was out of action due to US weapons on a section attack. Could be a little worse than embarrasing if something similar happens out in Afghanistan this year with 3 Para.

[harry hackedoff]

Mate, I have said several times what a beautifull example of the Armourer`s Art that wonderfull weapon is and I won`t have a word said against it.

I`m sick to death of you blokes whose lives depend on the weapon slagging it off at every opportunity

The way you whingers drip about it, anyone would think it was an under-developed weapon with several skoolboy design errors, foisted on the Armed Forces for the sake of Political Expediency and to give Royal Ordnance a full order book before HMG flogged it off at knockdown rates to their mates,ffs

Get a life will you

[owdun]

Oy likes the Lee Enfield 303.'er never seizes just 'cause the weather is 'ot or wet, and revels in the cold. bit 'o sand dont bother 'er much either, never let me down, an' thats all yo can ask of a wepping.


Owdun.

[Greenronnie]

I'd say the same about the AK47, plus it's shorter, lighter and automatic. I just wish someone would design a weapon that is just as reliable instead of some gucci bit of plastic like the G36.

[SO19]

Anyone had the opportunity to handle and shoot an AR-18/180? I've read a lot of people believed this was the weapon the British Army should have been issued rather than the SA80.

I rather think the 'A2 is a sexy looking design.

[harry hackedoff]

You`re on some serious drugs there then, matey

I rather think the 'A2 is a sexy looking design

Ron, to my mind the average Grav, or Tom, just wants a weapon fit for purpose, not too heavy which goes bang when he wants it to.
The AK74 onward is just about as good as that system can be and it has the ultimate advantage of thriving on neglect. Design was "evolved" from the MP44 (shamelessly ripped off from)
Dunno if you have ever seen the pre cursor of the wunnerfull SA80, early 50`s, called the ERMA? Has a very similar look and feel to that other fantastic Herman assault weapon of double yew double yew two, the Falshirmjaeger Gewehr which you must have played with
Has anyone seen my anorak

[harry hackedoff]

Here you are girls, the G36 in several variants , and the AR18.
The G36 can have anything up to an 81mm mortar tube bolted to the top rail







The 18 doesn`t look that much different from earlier models and is way too long. There`s much better kit out there than that heap. Plus, is a plastic receiver a good thing

[SO19]

That was the EM1/2, though I beleive it was deemed too radical at the time by the more conservative thinkers. It's interesting to think where we would be now if this had been introduced back in the 50's.




Harry, the plastic receiver on the AR-18 is a recent addition to the rifle, it's been going under some sort of revival in recent years with the introdction of the AR-180b. I only really brougt it up because of my previous comment and the fact that a lot of other rifles built upon it.

[harry hackedoff]

Sorry mate, this is your anorak
The EM was binned in order to help the war torn economy of Belgium.
What about the war-torn economy of Ingoland, I wondered
Have you fired the rifle, btw? I have, and it has the same sort of group as it`s deviant offspring. But imagine if we`d have bought ERMA instead of FN. Where would we be now? Look at Elmer and where he`s gone.
A tremendous opportunity was wasted if you ask me, and SA80 wasn`t the answer Early eighties I trialled the weapon in Norge, it was shite then and not much has changed since

[SO19]

I've never fired it so I can't be any real judge on it, but with a couple of simple observations I can see the EM-2 is nearly 1kg lighter than the SA80 and has considerably less bulk to the rear.

Simply on looks alone it seems more balanced to me, but in reality, how did the two compare?
If you can remember that is

[Greenronnie]

Ron, to my mind the average Grav, or Tom, just wants a weapon fit for purpose, not too heavy which goes bang when he wants it to.
The AK74 onward is just about as good as that system can be and it has the ultimate advantage of thriving on neglect. Design was "evolved" from the MP44 (shamelessly ripped off from)
the Falshirmjaeger Gewehr which you must have played with
Has anyone seen my anorak

Yep that's exactly what I think a personal weapon should be- reliable and fit for the job. That's why I think the AK series is so great, it works FFS. I think the R4/5 from South Africa is the nearest workable solution (as it's 5.56 NATO), used it a few times and was very impressed.

Of course I've had a play with the FG42, also the MP44/StG44, both excellent weapons, way ahead of thier time. Obviously not a personal weapon, but how mega was the MG42? Those krauts are clever gits!

[SO19]

That's exactly right gents, I'm amazed by some of the new weapon systems currently making the rounds, especially those competing for US mil contracts.

Take the XM29 for example, you telling me this is practical? It may have some half decent technology behind it, but its simply not the right answer with regards to practical combat. If you ask me, this whole "Future Warrior" stuff is bollocks.



It has to be simple, robust and reliable. (doesnt mean it can't be sexy) Nice choice with the R4 btw ronnie.