SA80 (L85A1)

Last Updated on Tuesday, 21 July 2009 15:18 Written by Administrator Thursday, 02 July 2009 16:37

The SA80 L85A1 is a British bullpup configuration rifle developed in the 1980s. The debut of the rifle was not auspicious. It was adopted by the British to replace the earlier SLRs.

Though the design of the SA80 was very good on paper and the rifle proved it to be very effective during the initial tests, problems arose when it was deployed in the field. Some of these problems were quite serious in nature.

The SA80 was prone to serious malfunction when it became dirty. In addition, the rifle’s cocking handle would often break apart during use which would render the rifle completely useless. Another design flaw with the SA80 made the magazine to get accidentally released when the rifle was carried. This was a liability when the weapon had to be brought into action all of a sudden and also may result in live ammunition ending up in enemy hands.

Despite these disadvantages, the SA80 saw wide spread deployment in conflicts where Britain was involved. It was deployed in Northern Ireland, Iraq during the First and Second Gulf Wars, Bosnia, Kosovo, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.

It was also exported to a few countries—most notably Venezuela. Venezuela acquired these rifles for its Special Forces. However the rifle was found to be lacking in terms and reliability and thus the rifle was dismissed from service subsequently.

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