Standard Brit Weapons?

[82Rigger]

What are the standard Brit infantry weapons nowadays? Rifle, handgun, light machine gun, heavy machine gun, anti-tank, etc.

Those of you that have experience with them...what is your assessment of them?

If any of you have used current US infantry weapons, how do you think they compare?

Thanks!

[Bombardier]

Well I have to say that my answer to your question will be somewhat limited and im sure that the likes of Highlandsniper, drone_pilot and others will give you a more detailed report.

Heres my two pennies worth.

When I joined the Royal Artillery in 1983 I was issues with an SMG (http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/3989) which was a low velocity 9mm Sub machine gun, it wasnt best ever and had a fixed firing pin, I can tell you of a number of incidents involving this weapon going off by accident.The next weapon I had was an SLR (http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/1246/password//sort/1/cat/all/page/1), now this was a 7.62mm rifle that I quickly began to love and sometimes hate, but never the less it was a very powerful weapon that would keep a target down if you hit it.Other weapons I have used include the SA80 (http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/72/password//sort/1/cat/all/page/1) albeit only briefly and before its more recent modifications, this was a 5.56mm round.I have also had the privelidge of using the General purpose Machine Gun 7.62mm (http://www.militaryimages.net/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/415/password//sort/1/cat/all/page/1) As far as US weapons I have fired the M16/M60/Colt 45 and found them all to be very good. I must say at this point that the most reliable assault rifle I have ever fired was the AK47, having pulled it out of the dirt during the first Gulf War where it had been lying for some days. It fired perfectly without any cleaning whatsoever. Well a limited response I know buddy but like I said there are people here with much more knowledge than me. :mrgreen:

[Zofo]

I joined in 84 & used the SLR, SMG, GPMG (as above) and the 9mm Browning automatic. That was fun but I couldn't hit a bull on the ass with a shovel there!. Good powerful weapons (apart from the SMG). the best weapon I fired was the G3 by I think H&K. Accurate, no kick (compared to the SLR) and a pleasure to use. I never got the chance to fire any US stuff.

[HighlandSniper58]

OK..............

Std. issue weapons

9mm Browning Hi-power pistol std.
5.56mm L85A2 "SA80" Rifle"
5.56mm L85A2K "SA80" Carbine (to be adopted by RAC Sept 2004)
5.56mm L86A2 LSW
5.56mm FN Para Minimi LMG
7.62mm L7 GPMG
7.62mm L96A1 Sniper Rifle
.338 Long Range Sniper Rifle.
.50 M2 HB Machine Gun
.50 M82A1 Barrett Anti-matieriel rifle
LAW80 94mm AT weapon.
MILAN AT Weapons system

Limited specialist use: (Plus weapons as above)*

9mm Sig-Sauer pistol (P226/P228/P229) used by Special forces, CP Teams.
7.65mm Walther PP/PPk pistol - RAF Fast-jet aircrew/Covert use
9mm Heckler & Koch MP5k - CP Teams/Covert Ops.
9mm Heckler & Koch MP5 - CP Teams, SF, Covert ops.
5.56mm Heckler & Koch HK53 - CP Teams/SF/Covert Ops
5.56mm Diemaco C7/C8SF - SF & Specialist use SAS/SBS/Pathfinders/RM Patrol troops etc.).
5.56mm Heckler & Koch G36 series - SF trials, used live in Afghanistan.
5.56mm FN Minimi (Full length version) SF use.
7.62mm Heckler & Koch G3A3/G3A4/G3KA4 - SF/CP use
7.62mm Heckler & Koch PSG-1 Sniper Rifle (SAS/SBS)
66mm M72 LAW - SF use

* This is by no means an exhaustive list. SF weapons inventory is huge. Anyone with further info please LMK

[82Rigger]

Thanks, gang!

Great info! The only of your current weapons that I have used are the Browning 9mm, the M2 BMG, The M82A1 Barrett, and the M72 LAW rocket.

I have to agree that the AK47 is REAL GOOD. I like it a lot. Lots of our guys in Vietnam wanted to carry the AK47, but it wasn't allowed because of the risk of the sound of it drawing friendly fire.

[Bombardier]

wasn't allowed because of the risk of the sound of it drawing friendly fire.

Yep, makes sense, it does have a distinctive sound when fired. According to Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway. ;) :shock:

[82Rigger]

Just to add something to the discussion that you might find interesting...

When I first got into shooting and handloading back in the early 1960s, there was almost no restrictions on small arms and small arms ammo here in the states. There was also worlds of WW2 surplus small arms and ammo available on the market, a lot of it British.

I remember owning a number of SMLE rifles (okay, help me out with the models here) a No. 1 Mk 4 (is that right?), a Mk III (the one that the stock went all the way to the muzzle) and a jungle carbine (Mk 5?). I bought these for about US $19.95 each. They weren't dogs either! Excellent condition!

Ammo was so inexpensive it was worth buying the rifles to be able to get the bargain ammo.

.303 Cal ball ammo was US $4.00 per hundred rounds (in boxes or bandoleers). Loose ammo, slightly tarnished, was $3.00 per hundred.
.303 incendiary was $3.00 per hundred rounds.

Also bought a .455 Webley revolver for $29.95. Nice condition. There wasn't a lot of cheap ammo for the Webley, but I handloaded for it using cast bullets for the Colt .45 automatic. Bullets were a little undersized, but it was great fun to shoot.

Man. those were the days!

[drywall]

Rigger,
Man you just brought back some memories with the $19.95 story. I can remember ordering rifles out of magazines for that price. It seems like they were Enfield .303's or 7mm or 8mm Mausers from all over the world.
I bought an old 8mm Mauser thru the mail once when I was about 16. The order form said "you must be 21 to purchase" or something like that. I marked yes in the box and sent off my money. In a couple weeks I got a call from the bus depot freight agent. And "poof" there it was. And people think gun control is too loose now. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

[HighlandSniper58]

Unfortunately, we have had pretty draconian firearms laws here in the UK for many years, the worst post 1968, and then post Hungerford and Dunblane incidents.

We are now restricted to Hunting/Target rifles (single shot, bolt, lever action); Shotguns (d/b, pump/auto <3 shots) and airguns - no handguns full stop.

I hunt and have .308, .243, .222 & .22 rifles, and 12g shotguns, but ownership is becoming more and more difficult without very good reasons..

I used to own a 9mm Browning pistol, but saw the writing on the wall and got rid of it for a good price before I was forced to hand it in for unrealistic compensation only.

Fortunately I had opportunities to fire many semi-ful auto weapons with the military - a chance many people just cant/dont get any more.