Thread: Best weapons / optimum calibres

Originally Posted by DH24

Perhaps I'm confusing terms, but for conversion I'm talking about a whole replacement lower with a magwell designed for 7.62 mags yet with all the usual controls in familiar places...I made a mistake though in thinking that a jump to 7.62 for modularity and DMR work was feasible.

In the video I linked the calibre changes are 5.56 to 6.8 which only require barrel and bolt changes, 6.8mm rounds fit into current magazines as far as I'm aware but with a reduced capacity.

So how are you going to change the barrel in the Upper? You will need to change the barrel extension which is welded in so that it will take a larger bolt and bolt carrier. This would mean cutting it out of a steel stamping - sorry mate but you're way off the mark with this idea, it would need to be built from scratch and who in their right mind would want to replicate the controls layout of the L85? They are scattered all over it like a madwoman's sh t!

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

So how are you going to change the barrel in the Upper? You will need to change the barrel extension which is welded in so that it will take a larger bolt and bolt carrier. This would mean cutting it out of a steel stamping -

Ok, thanks, that general area of the L85 isn't one I'm familiar with. I was never saying we should take existing stock of weapons and take hack saws to them but money aside, if there was a requirement for replacing the current weapon(s) being used now, what's to stop a scratch built modular L85-alike being produced at a prototype level?

Or does everyone want something made by H&K?

Anyhow, thanks for tolerating the technical ignorance

Originally Posted by DH24

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

So how are you going to change the barrel in the Upper? You will need to change the barrel extension which is welded in so that it will take a larger bolt and bolt carrier. This would mean cutting it out of a steel stamping -

Ok, thanks, that general area of the L85 isn't one I'm familiar with. I was never saying we should take existing stock of weapons and take hack saws to them but money aside, if there was a requirement for replacing the current weapon(s) being used now, what's to stop a scratch built modular L85-alike being produced at a prototype level?

Or does everyone want something made by H&K?

Anyhow, thanks for tolerating the technical ignorance

Get yourself a workshop, a budget and a Section 5 RFD and crack on! ;)

If you do then let me know because I can help :D

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

Originally Posted by DH24

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

So how are you going to change the barrel in the Upper? You will need to change the barrel extension which is welded in so that it will take a larger bolt and bolt carrier. This would mean cutting it out of a steel stamping -

Ok, thanks, that general area of the L85 isn't one I'm familiar with. I was never saying we should take existing stock of weapons and take hack saws to them but money aside, if there was a requirement for replacing the current weapon(s) being used now, what's to stop a scratch built modular L85-alike being produced at a prototype level?

Or does everyone want something made by H&K?

Anyhow, thanks for tolerating the technical ignorance

Get yourself a workshop, a budget and a Section 5 RFD and crack on! ;)

If you do then let me know because I can help :D

And so could I but to be honest you have chance of shitting gold at the moment of getting any design changes agreed, authorised and then implimented. The customer who decides what the soldier must have in the field is happy with the current rifle, although they are content for mild improvements to be made in order to increase the fightability of the weapon out in Theatre, quad rail picatinny, downgrip etc

There will be no new general issue rifle untill 2025 unless there is a shift in thinking at higher authority!

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Originally Posted by auscam

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Answer, on a postcard:
No.

Thought not. What are the squaddies going to use for rifles until 2025?

Originally Posted by auscam

Thought not. What are the squaddies going to use for rifles until 2025?

The L1A1 UOR.....

Originally Posted by Cutaway

Originally Posted by auscam

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Answer, on a postcard:
No.

L98 A2 currently being roled out to the Cadets, is an SA80 without the change lever.

The machinery definately still exists.

Originally Posted by Majorpain

Originally Posted by Cutaway

Originally Posted by auscam

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Answer, on a postcard:
No.

L98 A2 currently being roled out to the Cadets, is an SA80 without the change lever.

The machinery definately still exists.

err no it doesn't, they are all reworked weapons. Add gas parts and some other modifications to an L98A1 and you have the A2

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

Originally Posted by Majorpain

Originally Posted by Cutaway

Originally Posted by auscam

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Answer, on a postcard:
No.

L98 A2 currently being roled out to the Cadets, is an SA80 without the change lever.

The machinery definately still exists.

err no it doesn't, they are all reworked weapons. Add gas parts and some other modifications to an L98A1 and you have the A2

Ah, my bad then.

I guess i shouldnt take being told they were "New" weapons too literally.

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

Originally Posted by Majorpain

Originally Posted by Cutaway

Originally Posted by auscam

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Answer, on a postcard:
No.

L98 A2 currently being roled out to the Cadets, is an SA80 without the change lever.

The machinery definately still exists.

err no it doesn't, they are all reworked weapons. Add gas parts and some other modifications to an L98A1 and you have the A2

As I understood it they're L85A2s with the change lever removed, as the L98 can't be converted to semi-automatic and quite a few of them are worn out anyway.

Having said that, taking the change lever off a rifle and making it from scratch are two different things. AFAIK an order was placed with HK for 200,000 weapons and that's it.

Originally Posted by Bravo_Zulu

Having said that, taking the change lever off a rifle and making it from scratch are two different things. AFAIK an order was placed with HK for 200,000 weapons and that's it.

For the A2 yes... But not the A1. Whilst doing some quick research i found this:

The A2 upgrade for the SA80 system involved about 200,000 weapons out of a total production run of 380,000, and thus a good few L85A1s were still sitting unusued in the system. Approx 16,000 of these were drawn from stock to be refurbished to L98A2 standard by H&K. Interestingly, you can see overpainted L85A2 marks on the TMH of the A2 rifle.

The production run of SA80's was actually 180,000 more than we actually needed, which is probably where all the spares are being sourced from.

Originally Posted by Bravo_Zulu

Originally Posted by EX_STAB

Originally Posted by Majorpain

Originally Posted by Cutaway

Originally Posted by auscam

What scope is there for replacing issue weapons that become unserviceable in the next 15 years? Is SA 80 still made? (excuse the ignorance)

Answer, on a postcard:
No.

L98 A2 currently being roled out to the Cadets, is an SA80 without the change lever.

The machinery definately still exists.

err no it doesn't, they are all reworked weapons. Add gas parts and some other modifications to an L98A1 and you have the A2

As I understood it they're L85A2s with the change lever removed, as the L98 can't be converted to semi-automatic and quite a few of them are worn out anyway.

I understand otherwise. Putting a barrel with a gas port and a set of gas parts on an L98 A1 makes it semi-automatic. No reason to butcher L95A2's.

Originally Posted by Bravo_Zulu

Having said that, taking the change lever off a rifle and making it from scratch are two different things. AFAIK an order was placed with HK for 200,000 weapons and that's it.

HK only did a refurb job, they never made any SA80 series weapons from scratch.

Originally Posted by Majorpain

Originally Posted by Bravo_Zulu

Having said that, taking the change lever off a rifle and making it from scratch are two different things. AFAIK an order was placed with HK for 200,000 weapons and that's it.

For the A2 yes... But not the A1. Whilst doing some quick research i found this:

The A2 upgrade for the SA80 system involved about 200,000 weapons out of a total production run of 380,000, and thus a good few L85A1s were still sitting unusued in the system. Approx 16,000 of these were drawn from stock to be refurbished to L98A2 standard by H&K. Interestingly, you can see overpainted L85A2 marks on the TMH of the A2 rifle.

The production run of SA80's was actually 180,000 more than we actually needed, which is probably where all the spares are being sourced from.

Of course back when they were ordered we had a full size army..... :(

Doubt the L85A2 marks would be "overpainted". They would be stamped out if that was the origin of the donor weapons I think.