UK Defence Forum

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

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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

GastonGlocker wrote:- Optics used, if any.

My googling says that there's a pair of optics that were designed for the rifle (the Hythe and SUIT sights).

Here's an L1A1 fitted with the SUIT.

One of my favorite military images.

Notice the long range sight.

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:

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!

Great vid:

nice video

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

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.

marktigger 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!

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 range

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.

there not that much difference in weight than SA80 and they are better balanced than the SA80.
they used to hang beautifully over right ammo pouch on runs

My PW was a Sterling SMG but always carried an SLR on ops great weapon nobody wanted the SA80.

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.

marktigger wrote:there not that much difference in weight than SA80 and they are better balanced than the SA80.

The SA80 is heavier than an L1A1.

yeap its still about 9.5lbs which is also about the same as a lee enfield

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.

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.

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.

Defiance wrote:I guess they liked what they had they just want to get the weight down.

I'd guess they were all flogged-out with age and wear.
Doubt much in the way of replacements were available after '82.

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.

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.

Brazil still manufactures the FN FAL

arfah wrote:

marktigger wrote:Brazil still manufactures the FN FAL

Also manufactured in the U.S. for the 2nd Amendment market.

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

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

Straight pull SLR in 7.62 is still legal, not the real McCoy I know but if you were so inclined.

marktigger wrote:Mind you they still produce the lee Enfield no1

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.
- the design is only 70 yrs old, so surely by now that one will work

yeap SLR isn't that far behind it and it works