L1A1 still in service?

Pumpkinheaver · 04-07-2003, 10:35 AM

Anyone know if the brits or aussies are still using any of their L1A1s?

Jambo · 04-07-2003, 06:09 PM

try registering at FAL Files. Their server is down at the moment, but they should get it back up this week. FAL Files is very helpful. If you're an FAL fanatic, that's the place to be. They have the exact same layout as this forum.

AR-tim · 04-07-2003, 08:36 PM

As far as I know, the Brits now use the SA80. It is a bullpup that shoots .223.

Poccur · 04-08-2003, 02:16 PM

Nah, the ex-Brit guns are currently being used by combatants on the ivory coast.....the Brits have to use the SA80.....grrrr...piece of junk....grr....*&^%!!!!

Even the SAS have gone over to the M16....:assult:

Poccur

REM.303 · 04-08-2003, 10:47 PM

a whole bunch were De-Milled (I HATE that word) and have been sold to some ot the retilers as "Parts Kits"

Don · 04-18-2003, 12:40 PM

No the Brits and the Aussies arer not using the L1A1 anymore; however there are still lots being held in war stock reserve. Just in case, you know. Poccur, you gave the SA80 a rude noise, the original was like that, but Hecler and Koch fixed the problems for the Brits and it works a hell of a lot better. The Aussies are starting to dislike the Aug Steyr they licensed-built in Lithgow. The other member of the ABC FN, the Canadians, have placed all oftheirs in war stock reserve. I've only seen a couple of the C1A1 variant out there in the market place. They replaced theirs with the C7, a Canadian variant of the M16A2.

Poccur · 05-12-2003, 03:32 PM

No offence Don, but in my opinion the SA80 is junk and remains pretty much junk even with the upgrades...I have friends who carry it and swear it is better but it will still jam in a firefight, not a good situation. Thr problems are reduced but they have not gone away.
I offer as a supporting arguement for this, some footage on CNN recently. It was the British fighting in Basra....Middle of a firefight and there in the foreground was some poor b@#$%rd beating the heck out of his SA to try and un-jam it. The place for unreliability is not when trying to hold back the enemy.
There are more arguements to be made but this particular clip I thought was worthy of a mention..

Poccur

Don · 05-12-2003, 10:28 PM

Poccur; you are entitled to your opinion as anybody is: however, I've been working with Brits lately and they seem to be a lot happier with the upgraded SA80. Even Soldier magazine, the official mag of the British Army, gave it a good rating. I've tried it and I think it is a hell of a lot better than the original M16 for jams and misfires, which I have also used in the field. The SAS don't use the M16, they use the M203 combination rifle only because of the fire power it provides. They did use the M16 during the late L1A1 era, because they could carry more 5.56 rounds than 7.62 rounds, but there were times and theatres were the SAS continued to use the L1A1 for punching power and they still have them at Hereford.

MAX7.62 · 05-13-2003, 01:17 PM

India still uses them for sure. I would expect that some of the forces that switched may end up going back when they get tired of their Mattel toys not working. Don't let it hurt anyones feelings if I think the current Brit and Aussie general issues are junk, I still leave the AR15/M16 in the same category, never cared for them much either. I will listen openly to any and all arguments concernng these junk guns as soon as someone shows me a group at 800 or 1000 yds. I've got my paper at 800 and 1000 out of one of my FAL's, it just seems that no one can get a 5.56 to fly that far and still have enough grunt to punch through the paper?

Poccur · 05-13-2003, 02:26 PM

Don:
I thought the M203 combination was an M16A2 with a M203 grenade launcher?
I also thought it DID fire 5.56...

The way it was explained to me, the M16 was more reliable, accurate and easier to deny if left behind...

Either way, I have no knowledge of any L1a1s at Hereford, I know the SEALs kept some M14s to give them more firepower in a scrap....

Poccur

Pumpkinheaver · 05-13-2003, 03:26 PM

That's the kind of info I'm after did british special forces keep any on hand for missions where greater range and power are needed?

Poccur · 05-13-2003, 09:45 PM

the SAS use the Heckler & Koch G3 when they need the heavier hitting power of the 7.62x51, and it would be used whenever its range and stopping power outweigh the weight penalty.

The only time the regular SAS carry the SA80 is when disguised as regular troops although the Territorial army SAS (similar to the National Guard for our American allies/friends

...The Territorials do carry the SA80 as a standard issue. Their biggest complaint is the loud click the safety makes, even on the newer version. 450 pounds ($720) per rifle for the upgrades and its still not right....

Well the click AND the jamming....lol

Poccur

04-07-2003, 10:35 AM	#1
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,188	L1A1 still in service? Anyone know if the brits or aussies are still using any of their L1A1s? __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

04-07-2003, 06:09 PM	#2
Jambo Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Bum-**** Egypt Posts: 21	try registering at FAL Files. Their server is down at the moment, but they should get it back up this week. FAL Files is very helpful. If you're an FAL fanatic, that's the place to be. They have the exact same layout as this forum. __________________ "Get yer stinkin' paws off my guns, you **** dirty Liberals!!"

04-07-2003, 08:36 PM	#3
AR-tim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: WI Posts: 307	As far as I know, the Brits now use the SA80. It is a bullpup that shoots .223. __________________ "Unfortunately, the Army has revealed no plans to develop an air-droppable, laser-guided, self-chilling keg of beer!" From "Airborne" by Tom Clancy

04-08-2003, 10:47 PM	#5
REM.303 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: 15 miles PAST the end of the earth Posts: 145	a whole bunch were De-Milled (I HATE that word) and have been sold to some ot the retilers as "Parts Kits" __________________ Remember, the easy path IS ALWAYS Mined...

05-13-2003, 01:17 PM	#9
MAX7.62 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Classified Posts: 934	India still uses them for sure. I would expect that some of the forces that switched may end up going back when they get tired of their Mattel toys not working. Don't let it hurt anyones feelings if I think the current Brit and Aussie general issues are junk, I still leave the AR15/M16 in the same category, never cared for them much either. I will listen openly to any and all arguments concernng these junk guns as soon as someone shows me a group at 800 or 1000 yds. I've got my paper at 800 and 1000 out of one of my FAL's, it just seems that no one can get a 5.56 to fly that far and still have enough grunt to punch through the paper? __________________ The Second Amendment, it ain't about DUCK HUNTING! I feel more like I do now that I did when I first got here!

04-08-2003, 02:16 PM	#4
Poccur Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 15	Nah, the ex-Brit guns are currently being used by combatants on the ivory coast.....the Brits have to use the SA80.....grrrr...piece of junk....grr....*&^%!!!! Even the SAS have gone over to the M16....:assult: Poccur

04-18-2003, 12:40 PM	#6
Don Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Posts: 56	No the Brits and the Aussies arer not using the L1A1 anymore; however there are still lots being held in war stock reserve. Just in case, you know. Poccur, you gave the SA80 a rude noise, the original was like that, but Hecler and Koch fixed the problems for the Brits and it works a hell of a lot better. The Aussies are starting to dislike the Aug Steyr they licensed-built in Lithgow. The other member of the ABC FN, the Canadians, have placed all oftheirs in war stock reserve. I've only seen a couple of the C1A1 variant out there in the market place. They replaced theirs with the C7, a Canadian variant of the M16A2.

05-12-2003, 03:32 PM	#7
Poccur Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 15	No offence Don, but in my opinion the SA80 is junk and remains pretty much junk even with the upgrades...I have friends who carry it and swear it is better but it will still jam in a firefight, not a good situation. Thr problems are reduced but they have not gone away. I offer as a supporting arguement for this, some footage on CNN recently. It was the British fighting in Basra....Middle of a firefight and there in the foreground was some poor b@#$%rd beating the heck out of his SA to try and un-jam it. The place for unreliability is not when trying to hold back the enemy. There are more arguements to be made but this particular clip I thought was worthy of a mention.. Poccur

05-12-2003, 10:28 PM	#8
Don Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Posts: 56	Poccur; you are entitled to your opinion as anybody is: however, I've been working with Brits lately and they seem to be a lot happier with the upgraded SA80. Even Soldier magazine, the official mag of the British Army, gave it a good rating. I've tried it and I think it is a hell of a lot better than the original M16 for jams and misfires, which I have also used in the field. The SAS don't use the M16, they use the M203 combination rifle only because of the fire power it provides. They did use the M16 during the late L1A1 era, because they could carry more 5.56 rounds than 7.62 rounds, but there were times and theatres were the SAS continued to use the L1A1 for punching power and they still have them at Hereford.

05-13-2003, 02:26 PM	#10
Poccur Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 15	Don: I thought the M203 combination was an M16A2 with a M203 grenade launcher? I also thought it DID fire 5.56... The way it was explained to me, the M16 was more reliable, accurate and easier to deny if left behind... Either way, I have no knowledge of any L1a1s at Hereford, I know the SEALs kept some M14s to give them more firepower in a scrap.... Poccur

05-13-2003, 03:26 PM	#11
Pumpkinheaver Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,188	That's the kind of info I'm after did british special forces keep any on hand for missions where greater range and power are needed? __________________ Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!

05-13-2003, 09:45 PM	#12
Poccur Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 15	the SAS use the Heckler & Koch G3 when they need the heavier hitting power of the 7.62x51, and it would be used whenever its range and stopping power outweigh the weight penalty. The only time the regular SAS carry the SA80 is when disguised as regular troops although the Territorial army SAS (similar to the National Guard for our American allies/friends...The Territorials do carry the SA80 as a standard issue. Their biggest complaint is the loud click the safety makes, even on the newer version. 450 pounds ($720) per rifle for the upgrades and its still not right.... Well the click AND the jamming....lol Poccur

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