"Paul J. Adam" wrote in message ...
In message , Steyr
writes
I spoke to some Brits in North Belfast last year and they told us
that their new
rifle was 'complete crap'. I think they were detached from a field gun
formation, possibbly Royal Artillery. The Welch Fusilers were in the same area.
Spoke to a colour-sergeant from the Royal Irish Rangers a few days ago
and he said the L85A2 was, quote, "****ing fantastic as long as you look
after it". While like any weapon it's less tolerant of neglect than an
AK, it shoots much better and is very reliable with basic (and correct)
care.
He'd been out using it for real, I assume he had some knowledge of the
subject.
I have no opinion on the SA80 matter other than to note that I've
not actually encountered a favourable review of the weapon from a serving
soldier.
Talk to a few who have used it. It's interesting how the "it's crap and
we hate it" mindset of the early 1990s has changed among soldiers who
have (a) used it on operations, (b) seen other weapons used on
operations.
A group of British soldiers spoke to an American lady about the crisis
in North Belfast, I was standing next to the group, I asked the
soldier holding the eapon what he thought of it, he said it was
"crap".
He then remarked to the American lady that he thought her soldiers had
a real rifle. His coleagues who ere living out of a Saxon vehicle
agreed with the soldier doing the talking.
'I have no opinion on the SA80 matter other than to note that I've not
actually encountered a favourable review of the weapon from a serving
soldier'
As I'm unlikely ever to use one, I've no personal opinion on the
matter other than it looks like a ergonomic copy of a 1949 rifle the
British contemplated adopting. I'd sooner have a Martini-Henry Mark
IV.
'So, Brits had to adopt another design, but this is also another
story. There's also some rumors that infamous British SA80 / L85
assault rifle, introduced in 1980s, was based on the EM-2 design. It
is not true, since the crappy L85 has nothing in common with EM-2
except for general external "bullpup" layout.'
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as59-e.htm