#l85a1

[historicalfirearms]

Gulf War Homemade SA80 / L85A1 Front Grip

I went down a bit of a rabbit hole with this video. After spotting an L85A1 with an ad hoc front grip in some footage from the Gulf War I did some digging. There's a rich history of British soldiers fashioning home made foregrips so we take a look at a few of those too.

Check out the accompanying blog here

[identifying-guns-in-posts]

Submission from @onegami:

I don’t know if this is in your arsenal (*wink wonk*), but I would so appreciate if you could identify these little guys

These are a bit blurry (and obviously aren’t real guns) and many of them are in that Generic AR15 Category, so I can’t give definitive answers here, but I will try my best. It’s also hard to squeeze in factoids for ten weapons in one post, so I will probably be pretty brief.

Up top we have some form of DMR conversion kit for an AR15, not entirely sure which or what kind due to image quality and camera angle. Could be a LWRC REPR (chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO). Has a really wonky looking muzzle device at the end; size-wise it makes me think it’s a suppressor, but it has holes in it, so apparently it’s supposed to be an obscenely large muzzle break??

The proportions of the second one and the appearance of the magazine lead me to believe the second one is the Heckler & Koch HK53A3 (chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO), which is just a super-compact form factor version of the HK33, their MP5-esque assault rifle series.

Our third rifle looks to be the Enfield L85A1 (part of SA80 series, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO), except it’s bizarrely mirrored, with the covered cheek rest side facing the camera, when we should be seeing the ejection port and charging handle in the back. Still, it’s also mounted with a standard issue SUSAT scope.

The fourth is tricky, possibly unintentionally so. The boxy foregrip, wire stock, and barrel and gas tube positioning all seem to suggest it’s an IMI Galil ARM (chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO), however the receiver is very different, almost AR-15 like. On a hunch, I looked up Counter-Strike listings on IMFDB and I think I have an answer: the receiver might be leaning towards the IWI Galil ACE 22 (5.56x45mm) design, like in CS:GO. I’m still not entirely sure, though...

The fifth is, I think, an M4A1 Block II (chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO) judging by the elongated foregrip with full rail systems on all four sides. It’s specifically fitted with an ACOG sight here. Could also be one of those Daniel Defense / Knight’s Armament clones but I’m not too sure and can’t be bothered to parse it down.

This next one, though, is a mystery. Like, the very first thing that totally screws with me is the bizarre thumbhole stock. It looks almost like an M16? Like, you can clearly recognize the carrying handle in there, but... I dunno. I’m passing on this one, it’s driving me insane.

Seventh is a very clear-cut Colt M1921A Thompson (part of the Thompson series, chambered in .45 ACP) with an extended box magazine. Good ol’ classic rattler.

I swear these guns are going to drive me insane. Eighth one immediately had the Benelli M4 Super 90 (part of the M series, chambered in 12-gauge) come to mind because of the pistol grip and stock construction, as well as the design clearly being that of a semi-auto shotgun, but the barrel being longer than the shell tube, and the foregrip seeming to recede into the receiver, are both tripping me up. And of course, yet again, we have no ejection port or charging handle on the right side where it should be...

Finally, we got two easy ones. Penultimate one is an AKM (Avtomat Kalashnikova series, 7.62x39mm) judging by the stock style and what I’m assuming is a stamped receiver... hard to tell given the lack of details and OH MY GODDESS THE RECEIVER IS MIRRORED AGAIN.

Last one is the FN SCAR-L (SCAR series, 5.56x45mm NATO), likely the CQB variant. Easy to tell from the distinctively shaped folding stock. The iron sights are folded down to make way for what appears to be a reflex sight and flip-down magnifier optic.

I’m not sure what the (*wink wonk*) is supposed to suggest. If you’re asking if I’d pick these keychains up... let me know if they do any actual sniper rifles or PDWs.

[nevesmose]

I'm bored at work so does anyone want a story? This one is called Neves and the Knife Girl.

Did you ever have something happen to you that just seems like it came out of a bad fanfic? Sometimes I think about how, many years ago back in my early 20s when I was a guide at a military museum, I ended up in the armoury with a short German girl with a kind of gothy dress sense who had been listening to the tour very intently.

I was in the middle of yapping about Lee-Enfield rifles when she suddenly came over and stood behind me with her hands up on the glass either side of me to trap me in place like some kind of rearwards kabedon and then whispered, literally fucking whispered to me:

"I like to collect knives. We do not have these knives in Germany. Tell me about the knives."

And so I told her about sgian dubhs for ten minutes or so while she breathed in my ear like a werewolf. Looking back on it now, it feels like it was an episode of inexpert autist-to-autist flirting with this overall vibe:

And I could tell you all kinds of self-aggrandising bullshit about how we had a sloppy makeout session right there in front of a rack of L85A1 assault rifles but that would be a lie. Maybe that's how it could have gone, but the truth is that I was very young and had no confidence in myself or my body whatsoever. It genuinely didn't cross my mind, ever, that someone might find me attractive or want to be around me because I was so deeply wrapped up in my own self-hatred and stubbornness.

So I guess I have a sage little word of wisdom: sometimes, just sometimes, you really will find someone who matches your freak. But, equally importantly, you will still be OK even if it doesn't work out or you only realise years later that that's what it was.

There are many other people whose freak can and will match yours even if it takes a long time to both a) find them and b) for you to be in a position to feel comfortable in doing so. If that makes sense.

To this day it remains the most aggressive way I have been rizzed up apart from my first kiss which was during secondary school, waiting for the bus when suddenly the golden-boy alpha of my friend group just plants one on me out of nowhere, one hand on my cheek and everything. I think he was still a little high from the night before. Anyway he kissed me and then stood back with a fucking smirk on his face while I dissolved into a sweating, blushing bisexual puddle. Fuck you Dan. That's the kind of thing that warps people's psyches.

[senjuushi]

I don't know if this is listed somewhere (and if there is, sorry I am so blind) - is there a list somewhere of what weapon each of the Moderns is?

I don't think I've listed that, actually lsjkhsj

But! I can do that! I think all of these are correct, but some of the original-game ones were a little ambiguous. >.>

. . .

F — FN FNC

Belga — Steyr AUG

Mikhael — MINIMI

Ninety — FN P90

Ghost — HK G11

89 — Howa Type 89

Eins — HK PSG-1

Fal — FN FAL

Kirsch — MP5K PDW

Hokusai — HK HK33E

Love1 — L85A1

Like2 — L86A1 or L85A2

Mauser — Mauser C96

Parume — RK 62

Muku — RK 95 TP

Marks — L96A1

Like Two — L85A2

Herme — HK G3

Arisaka — Arisaka Type 38

Springfield — Springfield 1865

Siegblut — HK G36

Gras — Fusil Modele 1874

Murata — Murata Type 13

Hachikyu — Howa Type 89

Benetta — Beretta 92

Carcanore — Carcano M1891

Squelette — FN SCAR(?)

[marcusoseman99]

songs of the isle pt. 21-22

Papa: Alcaeus Leander I’ve hunted with him before he knows how to help you.

Vick: What did you hunt?

*The scene opens with a young man sitting in the back seat of a car with brown slicked back hair dressed in all black combat gear but with a black waterproof trench coat covering it all.

The car stops and the door is opened by a man in a suit outside while the brown hair man leaves the car*

Man in the suit or MS: Mr Arawn?

William: yes

MS: We have lost contact with our squad that went after the target, sir

William: Which way did they go?

MS: Down that path.

*MS points down the path they are standing on that goes into a large forest of great pines*

William: I was told that the team were to wait for my arrival.

MS: They were however, Captain Leander thought that your presence wasn’t necessary.

William: *sigh* I guess I’ll need to catch up.

MS: Are you sure, Lieutenant?

William: If I don’t odds are.... they will die.

*William starts walking down the path*

William: *To himself* Unless they are already died.

 *The next scene is a collection of images of William going through the forest till he ends up seeing a large man around 6’1 standing in a clearing that is covered with blood and body parts

The man is dressed in a black tank top and combat trousers with large black boots and strangest of all is that the man is wearing a head and hid of a lion. The man in the clearing is holding a large club and is circling around the clearing *

Lion Man: COME ON FIGHT ME COWARDS.

William: That’s great my only ally is an idiot with a bat I should have left them.

*The man freezes then swiftly turns and hits a large lanky creature that is pale and very skinny with patches of brown fur around its forearms and calves. it has a deer skull as its face but with very sharp teeth.

The creature’s jaw is broken by the club, but the beast snaps it back into place with its large fingers that have just as big claws on the tips of each finger*

William: Guess I was wrong about the club even if it is barbaric.

*The creature runs away at supernatural speed, but blurs of the creature are occasionally seen around the Lion man circling him, as the lion man is looking in a certain direction the creature lunges.

Toward the unaware man and is about to dig its long dirty claws into the man’s lion hide covering his back but its claws snap against the hide.

The creature jumps back in pain looking at its hands then a gunshot rings out and the creatures left knee bends as black blood shoots out of the new wound the scene jumps back to Papa with a L96 bolt action sniper rifle as he exhales and reloads*

William: One.

*The Lion Man laughs but with a confused face then another shot goes off hitting the creature’s right knee as it tries to limp away*

William: Two

*The creature starts to crawl away as The Lion Man looks in the direction of the shots he starts to walk toward the tree where the shots came from then William emerges with an Enfield L85A1 in hand and unloads the entire clip into the creatures back*

The Lion Man: GOOD SHOT, YOUNG MAN.

William: *sighs* Are there more wendigos?

The Lion man: Wendo what?

William: *sigh* Are there more of them?

*William uses his gun to point to the wendigo body *

Leander: Sorry brother, i am not a expert of this part of the world *laugh*

William: We should move then and I normally deal with the werewolves in the UK but I did my research.

Leander: Fair but i perfer a equal playing field.

*The pair start walking past the corpses further into the forest*

Leander: mmh the UK beautiful but too cold for me though

William: *sigh* Really?

Leander: Absolutely but those werewolves oh, they were fun to hunt till they became cowards then fled to your country.

William: Shut up.

William: They are tough prey.

Leander: indeed, how did you make those first two shots I don’t think that rifle could have done that.

*William sighs again then grabs one side of his coat and lifts it away from his body and slowly puts his gun into the space between himself and the coat then the gun disappears then looks to Leander with an annoyed and tried look then pulls out a L9A1 9mm Browning HP Pistol*

Leander: Aren’t you full of surprises, my small English friend.

William: Please don’t call me that.

Leander: Then may I know your name then?

William: Arawn, William Arawn

Leander:  I thought you looked familiar; I know your father how is he?

William: Dead

Leander: *nervous laughter*

*Leander composes himself and looks over to William as they go further into the forest*

Leander: How did he die?

William: The job got him he tired to wipe out a forest and got killed.

Leander: I am sorry, William.

William: Thank you but he should have planned it better.... we lost a lot of men.

Leander: *sigh* These creatures don’t deserve to live.  

William: People like us have a duty to rid the world of them.

Leander: Yes, we do

*The pair stop as the quite forest erupts in loud monstrous noises getting closer, William lifts his gun to meet the noises that are approaching, and Leander puts his bat to the ground then knees to rub dirt into his hands*

William: I’ll shoot them as they approach and any stragglers that get past me you make sure they do not get to me.

Leander: That I can do.

*As the pair rally their spirts for the mob that edges closer and closer, William shots his first bullet to the creatures and the scene cuts back to an eager Vick and Papa with a warm smile*

Vick: Then what happens next?

William: that is a far too gruesome story.

Vick: But you told me that you would tell me everything.

Papa: I did just not the unnecessary gore *laughs*

Vick: disappointing, grandfather

*As Vick looks like he has eaten a hand full of salt while his Papa enjoys the view the door is pounded distinctly 3 times*

Papa: I’ll get that

*As Papa walks to the door the door is pounded again somehow harder than before making Papa jump, as he gets to the door he reaches to the coat rack. He reaches into his green coat and takes out a saw off shot gun then opens the door with the gun just behind the door

Papa looks out of the door slowly edging over the wood separating him from the unknown, till his eyes meet with Leander who hasn’t aged a day since their first encounter. Only gaining sliver to his curly black mane of hair not degreasing him at all only adding character to this mountain of a man just looking over William. *

Papa: Leave the door on its hinges next time you brute

Leander: I’m sorry my friend you know that I don’t know my own strength but alas you wouldn’t know anything about that feeling now would you old man.

*The pair stare into one another’s eyes with an aged malice till they both break into laughter*

Papa: Get in here you big lug

*Leander walks into the great home while papa returns his gun to its rightful place, Leander stops and breaths in before turning to his friend*

Leander: I missed this place; your father truly made a masterpiece.

Papa: he really did

Leander: I’m glad a worthy man has inherited it.

Papa: Thank you but how the hell did you get here so fast I only sent for you yesterday

Leander: it was nothing, I was already taking some time off in the UK then I got your call, it is about time we got another one that can use some magic.

Papa:  I know, we could have used these kinds of abilities some many times before

*Papa looks away from his friend till Leander places his hands on his shoulders*

Leander: We must look forward, always forward.

Papa: Right you are, rare but you are right

Leander: *annoyed laugh* anyway, where is your grandson?

Papa: Alcaeus Leander meet Vick Arawn.

*Papa gestures toward the door behind Leander where Vick is standing with a piece of toast in his hand and a weird smile*

Leander: mmmh we have some work to do.

*The scene goes to Apollo waking up then standing up followed by a scream yawn. He starts waking through the fortress while holding his wound until he reaches a door and opens it then sighs*

Apollo: REEGAN

[stepperbox]

damn bots with good URLs

L85A1 canon URL and all

[animegadaisukiidesu]

[animefan-2013]

Awww, look at L85A1 doing a high-five with the cat & that cute Galil getting chocolate from her beloved Armalite AR-18. Also one of the sub-machine guns flipping off a heavy(?) machine gun

[nightbringer24]

I don't actually know what's going to be on the weapon's lists for the game, since the images used so far are a bit... ecletic.

It is hard to tell without zooming in but the guy in the back of the group, with the beret, is holding an L85A1 (given the time frame, and also the carrying handle/iron sights). And there's MP5s, AR-15s, FAL platforms and what looks like a regular bolt action Winchester or Remington hunting rifle.

Just remembered that Clone-A-Saurus is set in 1991.

That kind of scales back the gun tech a fair degree.

[gun-gallery]

Enfield L85A1 - 5.56x45mm

[historicalfirearms]

L22A2 Carbine

When the SA80 was initially adopted a carbine variant was not offered. The L85A1 rifle was believed to be short enough to be suitable for troops in all roles. Subsequent attempts to create a carbine were made in 1989 and 1994 but neither of these proved successful. 

It became clear over time that troops in specialist roles needed a shorter carbine as a personal defence weapon and the British Army’s Armoured Trials and Development Unit called for the development of a dedicated carbine. The Sterling L2A3 submachine gun had originally fulfilled this role but these had been retired from service by 1994. Heckler & Koch, who also performed the extensive refit of the SA80/L85, developed the L22A2. HK built several thousand using parts from redundant L85A1 rifles, although other sources suggest L86 Light Support Weapons receivers may have been used. 

The SA80 in its current configuration, the L85A2 (source)

Heckler & Koch made only minimal changes to the base weapon, altering the gas plug by lengthening it and reducing its diameter to accommodate the shorter gas system and balance the carbine’s pressure curve. This allows the weapon to cycle reliably. A specifically designed aluminium heat-shield with Picatinny rails was added to the front of the receiver to mount accessories and a forward grip. A folding grip is increasingly is being issued, this makes the carbine even more compact for storage. The L22A2 has no backup sights and is generally fitted with a SUSAT sight.

The weapon is 57cm (22.5 inches) in length with a 33cm (11.2 inch) long barrel and weighs 3.5kg (7.7 lbs) unloaded. One of the ergonomic shortcomings of the SA80 series is that they are difficult to quickly fire from the hip, a feature the L2A3 Sterling it replaced was designed for. The L22A2 is issued to a number of branches of the British military. Armoured vehicle crews with the Royal Armoured Corps and helicopter crews of the Army Air Corps are often equipped with the carbines as are Royal Navy and Royal Marine boarding parties.

Sources:

Images: 1 2 3 4

‘Centrefire automatic carbine - Experimental L22A2′, Royal Armouries, (source)

‘British Enfield SA80 Part 6: Carbines’, ARES, J. Ferguson, (source)

The Last Enfield, S. Raw (2003)

SA80 Assault Rifle, N. Grant (2016)

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[kaismontyr]

[acecombatmutual]

she;s so fuckigbn smal,

[cursed-40k-thoughts]

I'm a Brit that knows far too much about guns.

Problems with that bastard's new bolter:

Not enough space for the bolt (component) to move, especially given the shown length for the charging handle

No place for casings to eject. Unless the chargung handle is just glued to the ejection port? If so he's gonna eat some casings

Semi-bullpup side mag? Gonna take a while to rekoad since its intended for right handers and its in his left. Also it can't be shouldered properly because of the mag placement.

Lmao that centre of gravity, no wonder he's pointing it low

It's like if the STEN (or the Sterling), VGO and L85A1 had a threesom. Absolute fuckup. Like fuck sake GW can't even use the "we've never seen a gun beforr" argument anymore because of this wonderful thing called The Internet.

Firstly, love getting gun info from non-Americans. Very novel, very sexy, thank you.

They should know what they're doing, but that would require the 5-8 pub buddies that write the codex lore to accept outside information or criticism for the first time in over twenty years.

Really, they should be making more guns look like the Steyr. The Steyr is a sensible but weirdo-looking gun. Perfect for 40k

[peashooter85]

The SA80 --- “A giant scandal of plastic and metal” -Ian McCollum

By the 1970's the British Army was considering to replace the L1A1, the British variant of the FN FAL which served as Britain's standard service arm since 1954.  The L1A1 was chambered for the 7.62 NATO cartridge, however by then most NATO and Western countries had adopted or were adopting the 5.56 NATO cartridge.  In addition the L1A1 was a comparatively large rifle weighing around 10 lbs (4.4 kgs).  Thus in the late 1970's British weapons designers set to work on designing a new, light, and compact rifle chambered for the 5.56 NATO cartridge.  By 1984 their design was introduced as the SA80 or L85A1, a bullpup rifle developed from a number of other bullpup designs dating as far back as the end of World War II.  With the action located in the stock, the weapon was highly compact but did not compromise range and accuracy.  The SA80 was officially adopted in 1985 and was considered to be a futuristic step in British small arms technology because of it's unorthodox design. Little did the British know the nightmare that would ensue in the coming decade.

Soon after adoption complaints arose that the SA80 had some severe reliability issues.  The British Army and British Government addressed these complaints by putting their fingers in their ears and shouting "LA LA LA LA LA! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! LA LA LA LA LA!" Ignoring reports that the SA80 was a flawed weapon, the British Government allowed the rifle to continue in service unaltered.  However, British involvement in the Persian Gulf War in 1990-1991 would reveal the numerous problems of the SA80 as the unforgiving climate of the Mesopotamian deserts would lay a beating on the poor rifles. Problems included but were not limited to... --- Parts breakages causing inoperability of the rifle. --- Jams, failure to feeds, misfires, and various malfunctions. --- Severe susceptibility to dirt, dust, and particulates which caused the rifle to jam. --- The  30 round magazine had to be partially loaded to prevent jams and failure to feeds, usually only 25 or 26 rounds due to faulty springs. --- Any small bump or jostle would activate the magazine release and cause the magazine to fall out. --- The cheap plastic furnishings on the stock would fall off or melt due to the hot sun or exposure to bug repellant. --- Mounted with a scope and full magazine it was roughly about the same weight as an FAL --- Cleaning, maintenance, or field stripping was exceptionally difficult. --- During firing, the rifle would often eject empty casings into the soldier's face. 

After the Persian Gulf War the British Government continued to ignore reports that the SA80 was a flawed weapon.  However by then the weapon had received a nasty reputation as a piece of junk in the ranks of the British Army. In 1992 a report from the Ministry of Defense was leaked to the public reporting 50 faults of the SA80.  At first the government passed off the report as fake, then claimed that the report wasn't an official report, then admitted that the report was genuine.  The result was a national scandal as it was revealed to the public that British soldiers were being forced to use substandard equipment.  However the government continued to stonewall and did nothing about the problem.  It wasn't until the year 2000 that action was taken to fix the SA80's problems.  Around 200,000 rifles were taken out of service and sent to the British owned German arms company Heckler & Koch where they were completely redesigned and rebuilt lock stock and barrel at a price of £400 each.  The new model was called the L85A2.

At this point the current model is the L85A3, a further improvement of the L85A2. In addition there are various models of carbines and squad automatic weapons. Apparently now the SA80 is a reliable and quality rifle.  I don't know if this is true or not, if there are any current or former British soldiers or marines who would like to opine, please do.  Regardless the SA80's history has cast a permanent negative reputation on the weapon system.  Britain has always had a reputation for producing fine quality small arms.  The Enfield P53 musket was the 2nd most commonly used weapon in the American Civil War.  The Lee Enfield was used through two World Wars, Korea, adopted by dozens of countries, and is still found on battlefields all over the world to this day. Nobody wants the SA80. Outside of the UK, the SA80 is only used by a few African countries who received them as military aid, and beggars can't be choosers.  Apparently Jamaica has adopted the rifle, cause they be jammin'.