Isnt it about time our army had a new rifle

[lew]

I’m sure a lot of you have already had this discussion before, but is the L85A1/A2 (sa80) really as unreliable and a generally bad weapon??? I only ask as I have recently heard of the new heckler and koch rifle the G36, this rifle by all instance and purposes is meant to be excellent and has already been adopted by the German forces is it not time for a switch from the old sa80 to a newer more modern and reliable weapon for the worlds greatest army????

[gash-hand]

no politicians going to be brave enough to make that shout

[Tab]

Well as Heckler and Koch are owned by British Areospace you never know your luck.

[lew]

heckler and kosh were owned by british aerospace, but the comapany is now back in german ownership

[Tab]

I notice that this thread was started by a student, I can't help wondering if
he has ever fired it and under what conditions.

[lew]

To answer your question no I haven’t fired the sa80, but I have read what seems like hundreds of accounts from soldiers complaining that the sa80 is a poor and un reliable weapon as well as talking to some ex soldiers who didn’t have any qualms in slating the weapon its a well known fact that there are better weapons out there that our army should of been issued with... of course if there is any evidence to suggest that the sa80 is as reliable as the m16 or g36 please let me know and I would be happy top retract the previous statement...


lew

[Cobalt]

From what I gahter the A2 has sorted a lot of problems. Apparently the press exaggerated or made up complaints about the weapon after Afghanistan. Not sure what the truth is behind that.

[voodoo sprout]

The SA80A2 did get some bad reports from Afghanistan, but reading what other soldiers have said it does seem largely down to them not being told how to clean the new rifles. But the major test has been the gulf, and I've heard very little in the way of complaints except with regards to the magazines so I'm now fairly open minded, even optimistic, on the matter. But however reliable it is, that doesn't detract from it's other problems though they've got as much chance of convincing the politicians to re-equip the forces as a purple badger with a taste for Morris dancing.

[Midshipman786]

how long does ur average assault rifle last for anyway before they decide to replace it? other countries seem to have all sorts of exotic toys on their drawing boards...whos seen that OICW the yanks are testing? or the Israeli Tavor....now that is one sexy looking assault rifle...i bet we have the SA80 for at least the next 20 yrs lol

[lew]

ive seen both and yes the tavor is one sexy looking rifle, but the oicw looks more like a quaser gun to me anyone else agree ???

[wOoKiE]

that OCI-whateveritscalled is one badass rifle. Except its not really a rife, more a grenade launcher that occaisionally shoots the odd 5.56

The SA80 isnt all that bad, its remarkeably difficult to miss anything with it up to about 300m. If it fires, that is

jk!

[CanadianHighlandFusilier]

I personally love C7, which is an M16-A2 variant. Lightweight (compared to SA80), accurate at 300m, more with the C79 scope around 400m, attachable M203, easy to use, easy to maintain.
Love that thing.

[wOoKiE]

C7..ahhh beauty! Got to handle (sadly not fire) one of those whilst on a visit to Warminster last winter. They had one in the small arms museum.

If you're a bit of a weapons-buff, that place is a must-see. Small arms heaven

[lew]

Ok this is what the oicw looks like

http://world.guns.ru/assault/as40-e.htm this site also has the travor on it if you go to the Israeli section plus lots and lots of other cool toys
:

[BenChug]

I want the red dot optical scope the yanks have on the M4 Carbines, best invention since sliced bread.