SA-80

chink · April 13, 2001, 10:38 AM

I was inthe UK a couple weeks ago and i visited Windsor Castle. The most exciting thing there, were the guards. they were carrying what I am told by my UK-Based co-worker that it was an SA-80 or L85A1. The picutres look almost correct, but it looked the like one the guard had at Windsor has a shorter, collapsible stock (*Correction Not collapsible stock, but a folding stock*). Was i just not seeing correctly that day? thank for any info

Dangus · April 13, 2001, 06:52 PM

Horrible gun! I have seen one of the few examples of this weapon type in the US in the hands of a collector. When he first got it he wanted to put at least one magazine through it, it had an out of battery detonation which threw the bolt back, broke the cocking handle off and sheared the hammer in two. Suprisingly the rest was ok. I couldn't tell what had happened by looking at it(he got replacement parts for it). I think it is only like one of 100 or so in the entire country... They are RARE, and in this case that's a good thing...

I hear duct tape is a standard armorers item in England...

Gabe · April 13, 2001, 07:03 PM

When I was at Windsor, there was a sweet old lady taking a picture of one of the sentries. Aparantly she crossed a faded yellow line on the ground (I'm sure she didn't see it), and this sentry pointed to the line and yelled "get back behind the line!" to her stunned face.

A couple seconds later, a file of guards came marching through. The old woman was too slow to get out of their way and almost got ran over.

I'm sure that's how they were trained to respond, and maybe the British public thinks that's cool. But Americans would never put up with that ****.

Rokchukrslave · April 13, 2001, 07:41 PM

Being that the action is pretty much under your cheek on a bullpup, I don't see how an SA80 could have a folding stock. You must have been seeing things, must be that British beer.

JoshM75 · April 13, 2001, 08:39 PM

For official Guard duties I saw on a British documentary that the SA-80's had a Black fabric cover over the stock. Maybe this is what you saw?

I don't know why they fit these, maybe it just looks better then the OD green finish with the Red dress uniforms, I read that the Guards had to develop a new manual of arms for ceremonial display purposes as the new SA 80 was shorter and not as eye catching as the big black SLR's.

I've never seen a SA80 with an underslung M203 style G/Launcher, anybody ever seen one? This is probably another reason why the SAS won't adopt it, aside from it's laundry list of other problems.

mussi · April 14, 2001, 10:00 AM

The black cover is AFAIK used to protect the ceremonial garb of the
guards.

They'd rather invest into a beautiful M-14. Looks much better, is much
more reliable and shoots a socially relevant cartridge.

MadScientist · April 14, 2001, 10:02 AM

isn't SA-80 the laundry detergent that Amway sells?

fed168 · April 15, 2001, 11:37 PM

I think the guards would look much sharper with the L1A1s.

Badger Arms · April 16, 2001, 09:33 PM

Every inquiry I've ever made about the SA-80 has resulted in badmouthing for the most part. They always say it handles well but breaks too often. Heard good things about the FAMAS though.

Jeff White · April 16, 2001, 10:06 PM

I have a friend who recently left the British Army. He says the SA80 is very accurate, light, but totally unreliable. They wished they could have M16s mounted with the SUSAT optic the Infantry gets on the SA80.

Jeff

They also scarfed up every one of our M16 mags we'd trade, seemed to theink their rifles would work better with our mags.

vitiaz · April 17, 2001, 12:32 AM

When I was at Edinbugh castle the color sergeant described the SA-80 as "a piece of s***!". He said he much preferred the old LAR(ie, FAL). He said the Scots were supposed to be getting G36s within the year(I was there last September)

chink · April 17, 2001, 02:14 AM

Maybe it was the black cover and that big black belt. that made me think that that stock was a lot shorter that it really was.
thanks for the info.

My co-worker also told me that the SA-80 was a great firearm. But he isn't Gun Guy. I respect him even though he is opposed to gun. Not just Guns in the hands of civilians, but guns in the hads of everyone. he thinks that Cops shouldn't have guns either. He is the only anti that I have every met that thinks almost the exact opposite of gun folk. the police are just regular citizens also.

April 13, 2001, 07:03 PM	#3
Gabe Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2001 Posts: 147	The queen's guards When I was at Windsor, there was a sweet old lady taking a picture of one of the sentries. Aparantly she crossed a faded yellow line on the ground (I'm sure she didn't see it), and this sentry pointed to the line and yelled "get back behind the line!" to her stunned face. A couple seconds later, a file of guards came marching through. The old woman was too slow to get out of their way and almost got ran over. I'm sure that's how they were trained to respond, and maybe the British public thinks that's cool. But Americans would never put up with that ****.

April 13, 2001, 08:39 PM	#5
JoshM75 Senior Member Join Date: June 28, 2000 Location: New Zealand Posts: 223	Black Covers ? For official Guard duties I saw on a British documentary that the SA-80's had a Black fabric cover over the stock. Maybe this is what you saw? I don't know why they fit these, maybe it just looks better then the OD green finish with the Red dress uniforms, I read that the Guards had to develop a new manual of arms for ceremonial display purposes as the new SA 80 was shorter and not as eye catching as the big black SLR's. I've never seen a SA80 with an underslung M203 style G/Launcher, anybody ever seen one? This is probably another reason why the SAS won't adopt it, aside from it's laundry list of other problems.

April 13, 2001, 10:38 AM	#1
chink Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1998 Location: saratoga, ca, usa Posts: 800	I was inthe UK a couple weeks ago and i visited Windsor Castle. The most exciting thing there, were the guards. they were carrying what I am told by my UK-Based co-worker that it was an SA-80 or L85A1. The picutres look almost correct, but it looked the like one the guard had at Windsor has a shorter, collapsible stock (Correction Not collapsible stock, but a folding stock). Was i just not seeing correctly that day? thank for any info

April 13, 2001, 06:52 PM	#2
Dangus Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2000 Location: IA Posts: 1,921	Horrible gun! I have seen one of the few examples of this weapon type in the US in the hands of a collector. When he first got it he wanted to put at least one magazine through it, it had an out of battery detonation which threw the bolt back, broke the cocking handle off and sheared the hammer in two. Suprisingly the rest was ok. I couldn't tell what had happened by looking at it(he got replacement parts for it). I think it is only like one of 100 or so in the entire country... They are RARE, and in this case that's a good thing... I hear duct tape is a standard armorers item in England...

April 13, 2001, 07:41 PM	#4
Rokchukrslave Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2000 Posts: 111	Being that the action is pretty much under your cheek on a bullpup, I don't see how an SA80 could have a folding stock. You must have been seeing things, must be that British beer.

April 14, 2001, 10:00 AM	#6
mussi Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2000 Location: Berne, Switzerland Posts: 762	The black cover is AFAIK used to protect the ceremonial garb of the guards. They'd rather invest into a beautiful M-14. Looks much better, is much more reliable and shoots a socially relevant cartridge.

April 14, 2001, 10:02 AM	#7
MadScientist Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2001 Posts: 319	isn't SA-80 the laundry detergent that Amway sells?

April 15, 2001, 11:37 PM	#8
fed168 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2000 Posts: 1,041	I think the guards would look much sharper with the L1A1s.

April 16, 2001, 09:33 PM	#9
Badger Arms Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2000 Location: Harnett County, NC Posts: 1,679	Every inquiry I've ever made about the SA-80 has resulted in badmouthing for the most part. They always say it handles well but breaks too often. Heard good things about the FAMAS though.

April 16, 2001, 10:06 PM	#10
Jeff White Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1998 Location: Kinmundy, IL, USA Posts: 1,408	I have a friend who recently left the British Army. He says the SA80 is very accurate, light, but totally unreliable. They wished they could have M16s mounted with the SUSAT optic the Infantry gets on the SA80. Jeff They also scarfed up every one of our M16 mags we'd trade, seemed to theink their rifles would work better with our mags.

April 17, 2001, 12:32 AM	#11
vitiaz Senior Member Join Date: November 17, 2000 Posts: 158	When I was at Edinbugh castle the color sergeant described the SA-80 as "a piece of s***!". He said he much preferred the old LAR(ie, FAL). He said the Scots were supposed to be getting G36s within the year(I was there last September)

April 17, 2001, 02:14 AM	#12
chink Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 1998 Location: saratoga, ca, usa Posts: 800	Maybe it was the black cover and that big black belt. that made me think that that stock was a lot shorter that it really was. thanks for the info. My co-worker also told me that the SA-80 was a great firearm. But he isn't Gun Guy. I respect him even though he is opposed to gun. Not just Guns in the hands of civilians, but guns in the hads of everyone. he thinks that Cops shouldn't have guns either. He is the only anti that I have every met that thinks almost the exact opposite of gun folk. the police are just regular citizens also.