The British
Army's issue service rifle.
A poorly researched, badly designed and sloppily constructed
weapon, of a layout that generations of designers have been trying to foist on the
Army since 1911.
The only outstanding
point of the
weapon is that it is the most expensive battle rifle available.
It has been kept on purely for political reasons, rather than because it is a good
weapon. But in the halls of Westminster political careers deemed to be worth more than brave men's lives.
While the premise of a shorter rifle is laudable, the fact is that this particular 'design' can only be shot from the right shoulder forcing soldiers to shoot from positions without cover thereby putting their lives at greater risk, and negates the
British Forces previously unchallenged position as leaders in
Urban Operations, (FIBUA/OBUA/MOUT.)
It has previously and erroneously been defined and described as "a good overall
weapon" and "undoutably the best weapon series in the world today.... stoppages are all attributed to the rounds.... old magazines would rarely
jam with 30 rounds. Do not rate this weapon on what the media says, you have to be like me, live with it and use it regularly to know it." It would be interesting to find out what these gentlemen are comparing the SA80 to.
I too have lived
day in and day out with the SA80, but I've also been issued and had many years experience with a large number of other weapons and know their fortés and foibles, and can speak with a certain degree of authority on the subject.
