SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s)

The SA80 (Small Arms for the 1980s) is a British family of 5.56mm small arms. It is a selective fire, gas-operated weapon. SA80 prototypes were trialled in 1976 and production was completed in 1994.

The L85 rifle variant of the SA80 family has been the standard issue service rifle of the British Armed Forces since 1987, replacing the SLR L1A1 variant of the FN FAL. The improved L85A2 remains in service today. The remainder of the family comprises the L86 Light Support Weapon, the short-barreled L22 carbine and the L98 Cadet rifle.

The SA80 was the last in a long line of British weapons (including the Lee-Enfield family) to come from the national arms development and production facility at Enfield Lock. Its bullpup configuration stems from a late-1940s programme at Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield to design a new service rifle which was known as the EM-2, which though similar in outline, was an entirely different weapon.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• SA80
• (Small
• Arms
• for
• the
• 1980s)

[legsonawheelchair]

Most of you lot are a bunch of homos who've never used the fucking thing. Its a facking rifle. It shoots stuff, it does it well. I'll sum it up simply for you simple people out there:

Blank Firing: Facking 'orrible, but blanks are shite and smell like unwashed fanny

Live Firing: Mega, bullets come out and the fucker doesn't pack in

Cleaning: Easy. If you say its hard, fuck off and do some SAA lessons you cadet

Weight: You have noodle arms if you cant carry the cunt, man up cheese tits

[50CaliberElliot]

@Halongas I have been using the A2 for 3 years and I have only had 1 jam. Stop regurgitating shit you hear in the media about the older A1 variant.

[Tailpipe26]

The programme to upgrade SA80 from A1 to A2 and now to A3 standard has been an outstanding success. It has undoubtedly become a reliable weapon which also says a lot about the support infrastructure behind it. However, the L85 is much heavier than its rivals. With newer weapons such as the FN SCAR(L) and HK416 coming into service, the L85 is starting to show its age. There are also question marks about the long-range effectiveness of 5.56 mm ammo. For the moment, however, it works well.

[ShipRock04]

Lefty's cant fire it with the charging handle?????

[MrTOMWP]

a new mag is being bought in made of light steel and a plastic window so that you can see how many rounds you have left.

[thethreelions3]

the sa80 will be replacing the SUSAT with the ELCAN, which should increase the accuracy of the rifle especially over medium-long ranges, it also increases the area the soldier can see.

[tny0061]

can not fire from left hand side

[JWoolford27]

@Thunderbolt22A10 Try the HK416 or the HK417. Greater & even more modern version of the M4. ;)

[kullas924]

@50CaliberElliot amercain here ever touch m4 m16 weapon system and did like it or hate it like your rifle very nice wish my own country take on a bullpup but the old guard are pain in the ass

[Thunderbolt22A10]

personally I prefer the M4 the newer versions of the rifle are sick

[210482fmj]

you don't wanna be armed with a sa80. It will get you into trouble. Leave your guns at home son