| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 85.1 | The British SLR | BRABAM::PHILPOTT | Col I F 'Tsingtao Dhum' Philpott | Wed Apr 04 1990 10:00 | 58 |
|
The 'SLR' (Self Loading Rifle) or rather the L1A1 and its variants is the
British version of the Belgian FN FAL. Though broadly similar to the FAL it is
in fact dimensioned in inches and parts are not interchangeable with FN made
rifles.
spec (L1A1)
System of Operation: semi-automatic only (can be modified to selective fire
at a cyclic rate of 650-700 rounds per minute).
Weight, loaded: 10.48 pounds
length, overall: 44.5"
Barrel length: 21"
Feed device: 20 round, detachable, staggered box magazine.
Sights: front: post with protective ears
rear: aperture, adjustable from 200 yards to 600 yards.
Muzzle Velocity: 2800 fps.
Operation:
Pull the cocking handle on the left hand side of the receiver to the rear. This
leaves the right hand on the pistol grip ready for firing. The cocking handle
does not move during firing. If operated with an empty magazine the bolt locks
back and a fresh magazine can be inserted. Pressing the release stud on the left
side near the mag release will release the bolt. The return spring is housed in
the butt.
Operation is a fairly standard gas mechanism.
FAS regulator:
A gas regulator and gas plug control the quantity of gas permitted to reach
the piston. The gas plug is fixed onto the end of the gas cylinder, and has two
positions. One permits full access of the gas to the cylinder and the other when
the plug is turned through 180� blocks off all entry of gas. In this condition
the rifle functions as a straight pull bolt action rifle (used with grenade
launchers for example).
Field Stripping:
Stripping and reassembly for routine field maintenance requires no tools (a
bullet is used if you need to replace the extractor and firing pin). With
the magazine removed and the action cleared, the release catch at the rear top
of the receiver is pressed and the body of the gun hinges open like a shotgun.
The entire bolt and gas operating assembly may now be removed as a unit to the
rear of the receiver. The extractor and firing pin may be removed and replaced
if necesary (they are known to break). All parts are self-contained, there are
no loose springs, guides, screws or pins to be removed (and lost) in this
operation. The recoil spring is retained within the butt when the gun is opened
in this way. When the assembly is returned to the receiver, the guide rod at the
end of bolt, resting against the compression plug in front of the butt, serves
to compress the spring housed within when the action is cocked or in recoil
motion.
According to FN no further stripping is necesary in operational use.
/. Ian .\
|
| 85.2 | SA80 | DUCK::NASHD | | Tue Jan 29 1991 08:35 | 8 |
|
When the SA80 was introduced it received some criticism about it's
reliability in the field. What's been heard from the Gulf regarding
the weapon and its varients?
Dave
|
| 85.3 | | BRABAM::PHILPOTT | Col I F 'Tsingtao Dhum' Philpott | Wed Jan 30 1991 09:00 | 14 |
|
So far the only word is that they appear to be more sand resistant than the old
SLR.
The machine gun variant however still has its old overheating problem.
Interesting footnote: British Aerospace (who own Royal Ordnance these days) are
said to be buying Heckler & Koch, who have financial difficulties (they
couldn't pay their workers in December). H&K as you may know have invested
heavily (perhaps too heavily) in the development of the G11 "caseless ammo"
system, which is widely mooted as the replacement for the SA80, which is said
to be only an interrim system.
/. Ian .\
|
| 85.4 | Caseless ammo.. | DUCK::NASHD | | Wed Jan 30 1991 09:12 | 7 |
| Ian,
This caseless ammo has me puzzled, how are the bullets ( rockets ?)
ignited?
Dave
|
| 85.5 | | BRABAM::PHILPOTT | Col I F 'Tsingtao Dhum' Philpott | Wed Jan 30 1991 12:41 | 14 |
|
Caseless ammo: the propellant is "cast" so you don't need the brass cartridge
case. You can either cast the primer into the base of the solid charge or you
can ignite it electrically (replacing the firing pin with a mimiature spark
plug).
Whilst current systems are experimental consensus is that future production
systems will be all solid state with very few moving parts (piezo electrics
mean you don't even need spare batteries). The biggest plus is that the gun
doesn't need any case ejection system (except a manual one to clear jams) and
so the gun can be more or less totally sealed - good for keeping desert sand
out!
/. Ian .\
|
| 85.6 | | CARNTA::SIMMONS | UNIX - All Implementations are exactly the same, only different | Wed Jan 30 1991 17:31 | 7 |
| Dave,
American Rifleman had an interesting three part (two part?) series on HK's
caseless system a year or two ago. If a library over there carries it on
microfilm you might enjoy the article.
regards/tim
|
| 85.7 | | ZPOVC::HWCHOY | Mostly on FIRE! | Tue Nov 19 1991 13:18 | 4 |
| How does the ammo handle moisture and rain?
hw,
where average humidity is 90%+
|