I know what you mean, you have to tilt the gun and use your left hand. Rather than upgrading the A1 sa80 I believe we should have got the canadian m16 carbines.

I know what you mean, you have to tilt the gun and use your left hand. Rather than upgrading the A1 sa80 I believe we should have got the canadian m16 carbines.

The M16 is not a great design either. Just like the SA80 the yanks have had reliability problems as well. The Russian AK47 is hard to beat for that, but is very inaccurate.

The cocking mechanism is a bugger on the SA80, the way you have to tilt the rifle away from you, as you reach over it. The mechanism to lock the bolt in place for checking the chamber etc is also difficult to use because of the angle you have to hold the rifle.

Despite the claims for reliability I know the magazines are still not strong enough on the rifle. Shame really. I am all for UK troops using a UK rifle, but it has to be a good design.

I've been lucky enough to use the SA80 (.22 conversion)at the royal green jackets base nr winchester was great fun (shotting targets not peoples)

Also had a go with M16 when i was in the states a few years ago belonged to a navy seal instuctor or so he said

Thought the SA80 was a better bit of kit

I wouldnt say the ak47 is that inaccurate, but due to the amount of recoil it shifts up from the target when on auto.

I loved the feel of the m16.

are crossbow's legal?

I used to own a Weihrauch HW35, which was a break-barrel, .22 calibre air rifle with as its name suggests a 22in long barrel that made it very accurate especially with the Tasco 4x40,s I had on it. It also was on the limit at 12ft pound ( a decent gun/air rifle shop had the equipment to calibrate and test).

I used to do field target competitions, and have done the odd vermin shoot at farms with permission.

I used to use the Prometheous pellets, and every now and then the Nato pellets which although heavier than Prometheious had a far harder hitting ability as long as you allowed for the heavier ammo when aiming.

I was telling one of me mates about my latest obbsession with Air Rifles. I don't want to say much incase he gets sacked, but he arranged for me to attend a private "firearms awareness" session at an undisclosed location.

I nearly came in me pants!

We got to fire a Heckler & Koch semi auto 9mm pistol using live rounds. The recoil on that thing causes it to jump about all over the place. Eventually twigged that you have to gently squeeze the trigger to get anything on target. It felt feckin brilliant to fire though and it's not as easy as you see on Spooks.

Next up was a Heckler and Koch MP5 sub machine gun with live rounds. We weren't allowed to fire it on full auto mode, just squeeze of a few shots. there's hardly any recoil and it even made me look like I was a top marksman. It felt even better firing the MP5, it's even feckin brillianter.

We also shot a .22 rifle with live rounds, which felt like you were firing a spud gun after the H&K's, still pretty accurate though. Not much recoil at all to speak of.

Then the weapon of mass destruction! an AK 47 using blank rounds ( which, by the way, look like they should be fired by heavy artillary) Only fired this once in full auto mode. Started off with the barrel pointing staright out in front of me. Ended up with the barrel pointing skyward, sore arms, and a few loose fillings. I don't know how anyone could use that thing in a day long fire fight. It's a chuffin neetmare.

I can honestly say this was one of the best experiences of my life. Us brits don't often come accross fiearms like these, unless like William and Daytripper, you've been in Her Majesty's services. I'd strongly reccomend it if you ever get the chance. It were great.

Still looking for an air rifle though....

I hated it when the SA-80 arrived, because I'm left-handed. I could fire the SLR left-handed, but it's not possible with the SA-80, because of where the cartridges eject.

It was also a strange thing to hold: it doesn't feel natural.

I'm more into clay pigeon shooting these days. It's quite easy to get a shotgun certificate, and fitting a secure cabinet is only a minor hassle. In addition, it's easy to get hold of left-handed shotguns: I've got a Beretta 682, and love it to bits.

Shooting clays is far more satisfying than shooting stationary targets. Having said that, I used to get a kick out of that too.

I can honestly say this was one of the best experiences of my life. Us brits don't often come accross fiearms like these' date=' unless like William and Daytripper, you've been in Her Majesty's services. I'd strongly reccomend it if you ever get the chance. It were great.

Still looking for an air rifle though....

[\QUOTE']

You should get yourself on a weekend trip to Prague: you can fire all sorts of weapons there, and you can even have a beer while doing it! Great fun, and there were hardly any deaths!

I hated it when the SA-80 arrived' date=' because I'm left-handed. I could fire the SLR left-handed, but it's not possible with the SA-80, because of where the cartridges eject.

It was also a strange thing to hold: it doesn't feel natural.

I'm more into clay pigeon shooting these days. It's quite easy to get a shotgun certificate, and fitting a secure cabinet is only a minor hassle. In addition, it's easy to get hold of left-handed shotguns: I've got a Beretta 682, and love it to bits.

Shooting clays is far more satisfying than shooting stationary targets. Having said that, I used to get a kick out of that too.[/quote']

ever used the SLR. Were did the rounds eject on it? The top? My father who initially used the Old Lee Enfield (sp?) bolt action rifle always had a very low opinion of the SLR that he had to use when he was recalled to help set up the UDR when it was formed in the early days of the N.Ireland troubles. He found the SLR to be very inaccurate compared with the older rifle. He also said that in the Royal Ulster Rifles (his original regiment), they had been so well trained they could fire the bolt action rifle almost as fast as the semi-automatic SLR.

ever used the SLR. Were did the rounds eject on it? The top? My father who initially used the Old Lee Enfield (sp?) bolt action rifle always had a very low opinion of the SLR that he had to use when he was recalled to help set up the UDR when it was formed in the early days of the N.Ireland troubles. He found the SLR to be very inaccurate compared with the older rifle. He also said that in the Royal Ulster Rifles (his original regiment), they had been so well trained they could fire the bolt action rifle almost as fast as the semi-automatic SLR.

I can't remember exactly where the ejected, but I think it was OK for left-handed use because it was longer: the SA-80, being really short, ejects cartridges straight into your face. It's a similar situation with right-handed semi-auto shotguns: you can fire them left-handed, because the length of the stock means the cartridges pass in front of your face, rather than hitting it!

I've fired the old Lee Enfield .303s as well: The thump of recoil is something I won't forget! I fired all these rifles when I was in the Air Cadets, so it was a fair while ago. The .303 was enormously accurate, and a very stable platform. The SLR was pretty impressive, but difficult to fire accurately AND quickly: the self-loading mechanism caused it to pull up in the air.

Curiously, some shotguns have venting in the barrels, which causes the gun to be enormously stable for the second shot. I guess this just wouldn't work with a rifle, though.

As a comparison, the recoil on the .303 was similar to using a 12-gauge, 34 gram felt-wad cartridge (that's what I thought, anyway: I tend to stick to 28 gram, because it's a lot less painful).

I agree that the SA80 is not well designed. I am right handed but I find they way you have to tilt the gun so that the cocking mechanism is facing down and then reach over it with the left hand to actually work the mechanism very ackward. Also the newly refurbished A2's which my unit have just been issued with are all very stiff. Because of my rank in the past I was only trained to use the pistol, but new regulations concerning the RNR have been introduced and basically every one has to be able to use the SA80 now.

are crossbow's legal?

Yes, 100% legal and some of them are very very nasty.

Believe it or not, shotguns are not hard to legally own either. Anyone 16 or over can go into their local police station and ask for a shotgun certificate, and they can only deny you one under certain circumstances (criminal record, history of mental illness etc). Once you have the certificate, you can legally walk into a gunshop and buy a shotgun. I've seen second hand ones going from

Its the whole bullpup design which makes it unatural. I dont like the position of the mag either. At the end of the day the rifle is very capable in trained hands.

Pittvrs im glad you enjoyed you night with firearms, its good to hear something positive about guns for once. I certainly know what you mean with the recoil on the ak47, after a while your arms will get used to it and stronger,you will find that your shots become more accurate. Recoil is the only downside to the ak, it has to be one of the most reliable assault rifles in the world and its nearly 60 years old.

Believe it or not, shotguns are not hard to legally own either. Anyone 16 or over can go into their local police station and ask for a shotgun certificate, and they can only deny you one under certain circumstances (criminal record, history of mental illness etc). Once you have the certificate, you can legally walk into a gunshop and buy a shotgun. I've seen second hand ones going from

If Hugh Fernley Whitingstall can shoot atv small birds then, why can't the masses?

.....Being Navy am not allowed to fire the SA80 on automatic :(.

I think, it might be no difference, Army , royal marines, paras and all others

which are equipped with it, migt be allowed to fire it automatic ...

But does that really work ????

Couldn't agree more in connection with firing an AK47,fired one on semi and fully auto in the States and they are a phenomenal piece of equipment.

having fired one and having seen many films before makes me laugh how they just fire them and hit everything as when i fired it was all over the place,the recoil is huge.

absolutely loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Recoil hence the unaccuracy of the 47.

Ak 74s are good too.