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bradaz11 wrote:

snayperskaya wrote:Tovarisch Kalashnikov was apparently less than impressed when got the opportunity to try out a L85......

where did you find that pic? and you got anymore or details?

Photo I found floating around on the ‘net.I don’t know the exact date but Mikhail Kalashnikov visited Britain in the 90’s,he was taken on a visit to the Royal Ordnance factory in Nottingham, and shown the SA80.Apparently after shooting it he looked at it for a while, and finally said: "You must have some very clever soldiers."

He also met Eugene Stoner on his first trip to the USA in 1990......

Charlotte the flyer wrote: ↑Wed Feb 10, 2021 7:14 pm
particularly as spares are pretty non existent.

What spares in particular?

Anything really to keep the old girl running. A1 rifles were well known for breaking - we used to break at least one or more at the range when I was a kid (mainly cocking handles as I recall) so I try to treat mine with kid gloves and not use it very often. The cheek piece seems to have started breaking up but other than that it's still working.

I am after a scope riser for an ACOG for it, these seem to be unobtanium to civvies as far as I can see. I _might_ try an Elcan on it instead if I can get one for the right price.

You might be able to get some SA80 bits from D&B, might be worth giving them a call if there's anything slightly rare that you are after.

https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/sa80-rub ... peice-e5-a

Thanks DL, That's exactly the piece that's broken up on mine.

Charlotte

DL. wrote: ↑Sat Sep 11, 2021 5:15 pm You might be able to get some SA80 bits from D&B, might be worth giving them a call if there's anything slightly rare that you are after.

https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/sa80-rub ... peice-e5-a

How much!!!!

Jesus.

Wow, this thread brings back some memories. I was an Army cadet in 1986. We started the year learning how to use a Lee Enfield 303 and then half way through the year we were introduced to the SA80 (I presume the cadet version, but don't remember it that well). I do remember thinking how plasticy it was after using the 303. There was a lot of 'hold it like this' and 'don't put your fingers there' with the briefing. Must admit though, I'd be interested to fire one again after all these years if the opportunity ever came about.

this really brings back memories... I remember being on the barrack range at RAF Waddington with one of these. I was on the farthest firing point and the rifle was laid in the sun on a black mat. It was absolutely boiling hot and it kept jamming. The RCO came over screaming at the two of us because "we kept riding the bolt forward" which was making it jam. He stood there and watched us fire it and I made the point of racking it back and totally releasing the handle to let the bolt slam forward totally under its own steam and surprise surprise, train wreck.

He got down and said "you're doing it wrong, watch THIS and LEARN". He got down, magazine in, cocked it, jam. He tried several more times and to everyones amusement, the pin snapped that held the rod into the cocking handle and it just slid around. He stood up and shouted at us "LOOK YOU'VE BROKEN IT". If I remember correctly, it was put back together with a paperclip and handed back to the armoury

The L98A2 came out about 5 years after I left the Cadets, by which point I was using the L85A2 anyway but to have had the L98A2 as a Cadet would've made shooting a much more enjoyable experience.

snayperskaya wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:49 pm Tovarisch Kalashnikov was apparently less than impressed when got the opportunity to try out a L85......

339E87A0-6A44-4F11-8328-ECAFA02D9D0B.jpeg

I'm less than impressed with Tovarisch Kalashnikov's trigger discipline, gun pointing down range or not

David TS wrote: ↑Sun Jan 02, 2022 12:11 pm

snayperskaya wrote: ↑Fri Feb 12, 2021 3:49 pm Tovarisch Kalashnikov was apparently less than impressed when got the opportunity to try out a L85......

339E87A0-6A44-4F11-8328-ECAFA02D9D0B.jpeg

I'm less than impressed with Tovarisch Kalashnikov's trigger discipline, gun pointing down range or not

I wouldn't worry he's probably already pulled the trigger and then lifted his head when the poxy heap of junk failed once again.