Bummer.
Some more info on the L115A1.
After a worldwide trial in extreme conditions, the Army has bought 90 Accuracy International L115A1 rifles which will greatly extend the effectiveness of troops on the ground beyond the range of their SA80 rifles and light-support weapons.
The long-range, large-calibre Super Magnum, which fires a .338 round capable of disabling soft targets at a range of 1,500m,will be issued to Joint Rapid Deployment Force spearhead units and used at platoon level by the units' best shots.
It is seen as a major asset immediately available to the platoon commander who finds himself requiring a tad more muscle and who might otherwise have to call on heavy armour or mortars for supporting fire.
Although it has a single-shot bolt action and is described by its makers as a sniper rifle, the L115A1 is not intended for the traditional lone operator. It is more likely to be used as a defensive weapon in situations in which indiscriminate fire would be unacceptable.
In peacekeeping and stabilisation situations such as Kosovo and the Balkans, where ground patrols need to be sufficiently well armed to protect themselves and provide deterrence, mortar and tank fire support is unlikely to be appropriate.
Its a very fine rifle and we are very pleased with it," said Maj Andrew Macdonald PWRR, of the Small Arms Section at the Infantry Trials and Development Unit, Warminster.
"It had to convince us that it had a 70 per cent chance of hitting the frontal aspect of a Land Rover at 1,500m - that's seven out of ten shots on target - and it will. And there's enough energy in the round to do disabling damage at that range."
The new rifle, for which ball, armour-piercing and armour-piercing incendiary rounds (the "flash" of which indicates a hit at extreme range) are available, has demonstrated that it can penetrate brickwork and steel plating to a depth of 30mm.
During extensive trials, marksmen concentrated on a battle range of 800m, man-sized targets out to 1,200m and vehicles at 1,500m.
Soldiers who have fired the weapon describe it as "comfortable" and "user-friendly". That means, apparently, that the beast delivers little of the shoulder-numbing recoil sometimes associated with larger-calibre rifles.
Sniper telescope ensures the L115A1 is accurate at very long range while a sophisticated Simrad 200 series night sight extends its use into small hours. It can be fired from the shoulder or from a steel bipod.
Before the decision to buy it was made, infantry teams led by the Warminster-based Small Arms Section fired the competing rifles in environments as different as freezing Alaska (in temperatures down to minus 30C), the baking desert sands of Kuwait, Brunei's steamy jungles and the rolling and temperate, heather-covered hills of Otterburn, Northumberland.The reinforced nylon stock, designed for left- and right-hand shots, folds away when on the move.
The British-made Accuracy International Super Magnum emerged as the victor after being pitted in a heated battle against the French Hecate .50 calibre and America's Barrett .50 calibre.
Topic: Sniper Rifle L96 or L115A1 (Read 6837 times)
