SA80/L85 Butt pad, a question for those who have served

[User702]

Under 60 seconds for the sling, or you were never taught right! Just remember that the serrated part of the clip goes on the same side as the brass loop thing.

Charlotte, I have to ask, but why did you buy such a hateful thing?

[Charlotte the flyer]

Because it was the first full bore rifle that I ever fired. And I have a thing for British military service rifles.

My M4 is lighter, slicker and looks nicer but it's just not the same.

[Gaz]

I'd love to own an L98A1 for cadet nostalgia reasons but it was a right sodding pig to shoot. Far too butt heavy and the giant gimp handle destroyed your position every time you recocked it. If it rained the stoppage rate went up exponentially unless you slathered the gimp handle and slide in a gallon of oil.

On the bright side, the 5-hole elevation adjustable rearsight was a nice touch. It was a shame most rifles hadn't been properly breeched up so you needed all the windage available on the backsight to get it zeroed.

[Maggot]

Under 60 seconds for the sling, or you were never taught right!

No, I agree, back then I taught others but I bow and scrape to my superiors, I know my place :cool2:

SASC must have some really crap instructors tesnews

From memory it may even have been 2 lessons...it was certainly 1 full one.

I have to agree though, it is bloody orrible

[Gundoc]

On the bright side, the 5-hole elevation adjustable rearsight was a nice touch. It was a shame most rifles hadn't been properly breeched up so you needed all the windage available on the backsight to get it zeroed.

Indeed, because the Armourers are always letting incorrectly breeched rifles out of the workshops...

The OP has an interesting new toy, I'd quite like one, its just a shame that it wouldn't be a true 'straight' pull

[Grahamcs]

I used to give the 'kids' the cadet rifle (ensign was it called?) and stick with the SLR (mechanical musket L1A1)

However, I pretended it was an R1 and that I was fighting with the Saints in Rhodesia against 'The Terrorists' not stuck in a forest in Northern England.

Our cap badges were similar and our Officer was Rhodesian so that helped!!

The SLR seemed a lot bigger back then for some reason as well!

Ahhhh memories of the TA opening up on you from five feet away with a GPMG in your face!

Health and safety?

what's that?

[Grahamcs]

Also,

Although we did eventually get to break these rifles on a regular basis when they took away our SLR's I have no nostalgic attraction to them at all.

I vaguely remember the cocking handle coming off in my hand????????

Maybe maybe not

My favourite toy of all was the LMG (3 star skill at arms anyone?)

I made a sling for ours so I could carry it like the Marines in the Falklands!!!

I loved that

Friday nights was taking a small wood full of dog s*** with deactivated 303's, a Bren, an old football rattle for sound effects and some illegal thunder flashes that the Colour 'found' on the last camp

That was our 'Call of Duty'

:-)

[SevenSixTwo]

Under 60 seconds for the sling, or you were never taught right!

Under 60 seconds blindfolded surely?!

[Maggot]

Under 60 seconds for the sling, or you were never taught right!

Under 60 seconds blindfolded surely?!

Blind drunk.....

I remember being turfed out of the scrotes mess and being armed sitting waiting near a large hole in the perimeter fence...just in case the owner returned.

I was not entirely sober party2

I seem to remember with the L85 (sure we called it that back then) one chap adjusting the elevation on the foresight.

There was a loud crack and he had managed to rotate the thing with the small push down locking pin still engaged and it sheared.

I did the usual DS thing (lots of expletives) but at the same time, fair play. One that he managed to do it but two that is was possible....rubbish tesnews

[User702]

Iron sights on the L85-A2 do have the elevation adjustment on the foresight, requiring dexterity of the gods to push down the pin and move the thingy round to shift the point of aim. Windage is a similar awkward adjustment on the rear sight.

I really hate iron sights. On the L85 the sight access is, in my opinion, short for a battle rifle. Also, even though it's called a carrying handle, DS generally shout at you for using it as a carrying handle on a CFT!