Calling all Servicemen and woman

[Tower75]

Morning, all.

I’ve got a question for any and all servicemen and woman, both current and past. I’ll explain how this question came about below.

So, when you joined up, and you were first shown your service rifle, handgun, etc for the first time, were you informed of what it actually was, by designation, or by a general name? It’ll be interesting to hear, as I assume it’ll very depending on what unit and how your sergeant felt at the time.

Now, the reason for this odd question is, I was chatting to the girlfriend’s father, Bill, the other day, he’s ex-army, and I spied a picture of him where he’s in his No2 uniform and holding an L85 rifle.

This is how the conversation went:

Me: “Is that the ‘A1, or ‘A2?” (Meaning, is it the L85A1, or L85A2)
Bill: “It’s the A1”
Me: “Oh, right, that’s good, then. The A2s are good I hear”
Bill “Yeah, it’s the L1A1”
Me: “…, …, The L1A1 was the FAL rifle”
Bill: “Yeah, the L1A1”
Me: “Yes, but that rifle you have in the picture is the ‘SA80’”
Bill: “They both fall under the category of L1A1”
Me: “The L1A1 is our version of the Belgium FAL rifle, and that picture there shows an SA80 rifle, adopted as the L85”
Bill: “L85?”
Me: “Yes”

This brought up other memories, too. I remember about 7 years ago, I was working for a bank, and one of our security guards was ex-service, and he was convinced that the L1A1 rifle was a completely different rifle to his “SLR”.

Now, I’m not sticking my nose in the air, and saying “look at me”, but I just find it odd that I know more about a soldier’s rifle then they did, at least on paper. I have no doubt they could out perform me every day of the week.
I know that at the end of the day it’s just superficial information, and as long as a serviceman/woman knows how to shoot and maintain their weapon it doesn’t matter if they call their SA80 an SLR, or Frank for that matter.

I was just curious about how people who serve actually get introduced to their firearms.

[tackb]

most service people i talk to just treat it as a tool to do their job and don't really care what it's called ?

[Geordie bloke]

I was introduced to the FN SLR (7.62 Nato) back in 1967 which you may call the L1A1 and the gunnery instructor said this is the SLR and its purpose is to shoot em dead. He then introduced us to the Sterling and said this is the Sterling 9mm machine gun and its purpose is to shoot em dead.
Finally you guess the rest concerning the Browning 9mm pistol. No mention of L1A1 or any other nomenclature as they were just tools to kill/maim/frighten and make the big nasty enemy boys run away to their mothers.

[Doz]

I'm not entirely certain, but I believe it was 'SLR' or possibly just 'Rifle' - certainly not L1A1.

[saddler]

My experience of 99% of service folk is that they are in cause its a job & they are not into shooting as such...they are however mad keen on football drinking beer until they fall over & fighting in pubs

99% of shooters I know don't give a flying stuff about who is kicking a pigs bladder around a field, earning more a week than some third-world countries turn over annually

Over 35 years in THIS sport has yet to see me proved wrong on the above

Which has the greater police presence & yet has cost more innocent lives?
Ever heard of increased domestic violence rates when a shooter comes home & never shot straight X-rings all day?? Football fans on the other hand...

[Tower75]

That's what I assumed, guys.

Cheers for the info. As I say, I'm not being all superior and "I know more then Squaddie MkI". No disrespect to the services, I was just curious how it was done.

[Sandgroper]

I was introduce to the SLR in this manner, during week 4 of recruit training -

"This is the SLR. It's designation is the L1A1. SLR stands for self loading rifle. If you can't work out what self loading means then I suggest you leave now and rejoin as a techo or an officer, better yet, f*ck off and join the Navy or the Army! Any questions? No. Good, then I shall continue..."

Still makes me smile! :lol:

[Tower75]

I was introduce to the SLR in this manner, during week 4 of recruit training -

"This is the SLR. It's designation is the L1A1. SLR stands for self loading rifle. If you can't work out what self loading means then I suggest you leave now and rejoin as a techo or an officer, better yet, f*ck off and join the Navy or the Army! Any questions? No. Good, then I shall continue..."

Still makes me smile! :lol:

:lol: :lol:

[IainWR]

The official name for the SLR repalcement was, I believe, "the rifle". It never caught on. Pretty much everyone called it the SA80. The official designation was indeed L85A1 and then L85A2.

OK, quiz time:

Question 1: what are the makers names, official names and common terminology for:


L1A1
L39A1
L42A1
L81A1
L85A1
L85A2
L96A1
L96A2
L98A1
L98A2
L115A1

Q2: Any more L*A* guns post WWII that you know and I don't? I can think of at least 7 possibilities.

Q3. Are you sad enough to be able to do the same for ammunition?

Iain

[ordnance]

So, when you joined up, and you were first shown your service rifle, handgun, etc for the first time, were you informed of what it actually was, by designation, or by a general name?

I was described to me by general name. Regarding the SA/80 it was described as a piece of crap.