Shooting a Falklands mint condition surplus SLR L1A1
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- Опубліковано 11 лис 2021
- This SLR was obtained legally into France as a Category B fire-arm. It has been in storage in its original factory wrapping since manufacture. The last 25 years were in storage in the Falklands. We are shooting it for the first time in France.
My first shot an SLR for over 40 years. enjoy!
Even after half a century could still strip/ reassemble with my eyes closed. Loved the SLR
I can do a field strip and clean no worries but did you ever remove the buttstock? I've had mine for a long time and i'm starting to worry about that spring. Any tips you can give me? Many thanks.
@@Stiglitz_H you need a stock removal tool to compress the dual recoil springs. Otherwise you'll never be able to get it back together. Check DSA or Brownells. They are about $15-20 US.
Best rifle the army ever had
yeah but to be fair - it is the EASIEST firearm in the history of fire arms to strip and reaseemble.
@@tomchappelow9602 You what? - i'll give you the benefit of the doubt in case we are thinking of different things but please explain? AFAIK the recoil spring is a single spring and at no point in assembly or dissassembly is it compressed.
The finest rifle ever to serve in the British Army.
Most of our weapon systems are amazing, but the SLR didn't really do it for me, either the M82 or our L85A2 for their ability to get rounds down quickly while not sacrificing accuracy, the SLR just seemed like a rifle that wasn't quite finished but still did a hecking good job at being a rifle.
Nah the Brown Bess musket
Could hit a Hermann 15 out of 20 at 400 yards. 7.62 long everytime over the Nerf rounds they use today.
Its coming back ss SLR a2 after 35 years the sa 80 should have been used to deal with the lugs that introduced it and buried with them.
How about the Lee Enfield MK4, two world wars and the Korean war.
A 7.62 round will take the fight out of anyone. The L1A1 rifle is a real soldier’s rifle.
Agreed but did you not find them awkward in a built up area like the North of Ireland, remember the brits going through lane ways and into houses, you’d always spot that big barrel. Also jumping in or out of pigs or going up stairway’s. As a kid I remember they looked so awkward.
@@patkearney9320 Well spotted.
Best rifle I ever used. You can keep 5.56 and give me 7.62mm every time! All hail the L1A1 FN SLR, a thing of beauty! 😎
And less parts easier to strip down
7.62 all day long
Fabrique Nationale or whatever, it was (the action) still a copy of Paul Mausers self loader...& The Llungman (Swedish Mauser in 6.5mm) & countless others.
Some American soldiers in Vietnam swapped their M16 for its predecessor the M14 which fired the 7.62. If an enemy soldier was behind a tree, a bullet from an M16 would be stopped by the tree. A bullet from an M14 would go through the tree and hit the soldier on the other side.
I prefer a metric FAL... The L1A1 is a tad long for my liking!
Ohhhh.. watching this brought back so many memories. I love this rifle with its unmistakeable ringing sound on each shot. Quite a heavy rifle, just over 11lb with a full mag if memory serves but wow, what blast from the past🙂
Yes indeedy! 9lb 9oz bare 👍
It was 9lbs but with all the other magazines that you carried well over that. At the end for a two hour foot patrol round the streets of west Belfast. You knew that you’d be carrying it around
Believe it or not the L85 with SUSAT and a loaded mag was about as heavy as the SLR in a similar configuration. Not sure about the newer A2 and A3 variants.
@@TheQuantumPotato That's absolutely true. Because it was a bullpup and close in it had a better balance point making it much easier to support in most fire positions. The LSW was the same really.
9lb 9oz empty, 10lb 10oz with a full magazine
Best rifle ever made. Now all you need to finish the set is a Browning Hi-Power 👍🇦🇺
Used both in the RAN, and the AR and F1! The SLR sounds so different on camera than in person!
When he clears the rifle at the end there was still a round in the chamber you see it fly out. Safety safety safety. So many memories of this rifle.
Not unusual .The mag is not always empty when doing an unload.Usual cycle after firing a round the normal cycle of a semi auto rifle is for it to reload as long as rounds remain in mag .The operator should be aware by counting rounds used .Correct sequence on unload is safety catch .Remove mag .Tilt weapon 90 degrees .Pull back cocking lever .Hold Open .Look In chamber..If empty.Release working parts..Safety off.Pointing in safe direction .Click trigger.Apply safety.Recover ejected round.
As you were firing it , a flood of memories washed over me , feeling the kick and smell
Superb. What a trip down memory lane this is! Haven't fired an L1A1 SLR in 30 years now, I hadt o forfeit the SLR for the inferior SA80- which came with a tool kit that looked like it could be used to carry out a major service in a NASA Space shuttle! Meanwhile, the SLR tool kit consisted of a pull through, combi tool, oil bottle and some scotchbright. Awesome rifle- superb build quality, extremely tough and durable. Hits like a sledgehammer, inspires confidence. Shoulder launched arty! I'd give my left one to have another go with an L1A1! Thanks for posting! :)
Never seen issued scotchbright, indeed we weren't allowed to use it as it was to abrasive....
Really enjoyed your video. The SLR was my father’s favourite, he was issued it in Northern Ireland. Although he shot every weapon the British forces used up until the early 2000s he maintained that the SLR was the best. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
Blessed to have one here in the states. A B61 production, Birmingham. I fired one back in 1991 or so when the Royal Marines visited Hungary. What a pleasure to shoot as I watched my targets fall down from 100 meters all the way to 400 meters. When I returned stateside, I just had to have one. I have the Trilux scope also with the tritium reactivated and boy is it an even more pleasurable rifle to shoot.
Hands down the best rifle I have. Was firing practical rifle competition one time being surrounded by puny mouse guns from competitors, it was fun knocking down the steel targets and they had to cease fire to get them back up. That was the power of the 762NATO.
Great video..thanks for sharing.
You nuisance knocking the targets down lol 😭🤣
@@jaymac7203 they stayed down....
The first time the SA80 5.56 was used on steel plates the plates wouldn't fall down unless double tapped and hit on the top edge. They had to make lighter steel plates for the lighter round.
.303 and 7.62 knocked down everything. Maybe in these modern times the enemy are supposed to be lightweights!
I was supposed to be about 9th best shot in my battalion in the British army back in the early 80's, so I was told, not that I believed it, but anyway, I only ever used Iron sights, I could never get to grips with the Trilux sight, they said I didn't have to use it...
I did have a good pair of eyes and still hit a target over 400 metres away lol...
@@muskett4108 Yes we used to call that falling plate back in the early 80's, 400 metres and the SLR took them out every time, I was only young using and using Iron sights only, always missed the first plate but got the other 9, it was a long time ago...
Solid, dependable & a real stopper.
Does my heart good to see this wonderful rifle again
I used that in the Canadian army as an Infantry soldier many years ago. It was called a FN-C1. I was later issued a FN-C2 a fully auto version with bi-pod. Loved both of them. 👍
Me too! CGG in 1979.
I served in the Brazilian Army in 1994 and I used the Fal rifle! It's a wonderful Rifle ! The difference to the SLR is that the FAL can fire shots in full auto and semi mode!
Wasted a lot of ammo though.
The FAL in full auto is hard to keep on target for many and ends up wasting a lot of ammunition.
The British Army preferred an SLR that a well trained professional soldier could fire quickly and accurately in the British tradition.
Also the Ministry of Defence didn’t want to pay for extra ammo with a full auto variant.
Fired probably thousands of rounds from these, always a pleasure, never a stoppage. Just a darn good rifle.
Never a stoppage? I trained with them in the NZ Army and we had heaps of stoppages. Many Israeli soldiers were found dead in their trenches with their FN's jammed during the Yom Kippur War.
It just lacked stopping power. Other than the heavy weight and lack of good sight and it's massive length. Not a bad rifle. Oh yeah .....it's heavy ammunition, pretty good.
I like them but they are not without their flaws. I used to own two back in the day when you could@@SimDeck
You would have had a stoppage at some time.
You would have had a stoppage. That's why they invented the stoppage drill cupcake.
This takes me back. The last time I fired one was in early 1968 and I can still feel the recoil and how "right" it felt to hold it.
This weapon is also called "hathimaar" in Indian counter insurgency units. Literally translated to " elephant killer". Very reliable
@@chriswilde7246 Well they obviously did have a shoot to kill policy
Thanks for this mate, takes me right back: that distinctive crack, even the sound of loading the mag. My first issue was wood furnished, and was an old sweat even when I got it in '83... Never let me down in all the years I had it... Great weapon, and completely 'Jock-proof...' 👍😂🏴
Memories:From the click of the rounds going into the Magazine to the actual firing - So much coming back to me even though I haven’t fired one since 1981.
...and that's when I started firing the SLR, @baron1595, for the next six years anyway.
I left just before everything moved over to the SA-80.
Well described; I'd love to be able to fire, strip, and clean that weapon once more.
As someone has already said - but it’s true for many of ‘us’ - I could still field strip and reassemble this rifle even now in the dark. The most reliable bit of British military kit ever supplied. My SLR NEVER EVER MALFUNCTIONED and it saw me through muck and mistreatment over and over again. The 7.62 SLR - like a faithful woman.
Was used by the Australian army in Vietnam
Loved that rifle, such a distinctive "ping" on each shot! happy memories indeed!
We used this weapon in the Australian army reserves back in the 80,s . I remember how easy it was to strip and assemble and how bloody hot the barrel was to touch after firing , I did not make that mistake twice !
haha yep ,and also if like me you were left handed i had to learn "the Army way' and left handed and dodge the shells
@@dilemaification Funny you should say that, I am also left-handed and to make matters worse I can only close my right eye. I could not even try to fire right-handed.
Having used the SLR on the streets of NI and in the bogs of the Falklands, they are suited for general purpose battle. yes they are heavy comapared to the present day can opener but a SLR will go through PPE at 500 yds your pop gun of today probably wont get that far. In urban warfare the SA is probably better suited but out on the field I would take the SLR over anything else. Better maybe would be an enfield no 4 in 7.62 chamber.
As a friend of mine used to call it, The Falls Road Equaliser.
Did you not find it unwieldy when in the back of a saracen or humber pig? This rifle was possibly unsuitable for the narrow streets of Belfast and Derry. 7.62 could go through the wall of a house and kill and injure the occupants inside. The IRAs armalite rifles especially the AR18 were excellent. Folding buttstock for concealment and a high velocity 5.56 to target the enemy British soldiers and RUC.
@@Gmtar Enjoy your new found Diversity Mick.
I agree. As a kid I had regular access to a gun club Lee Enfield and could get decent groups at 1,000 yards. When I joined up I found the SLR to be not so accurate. I could do almost as well with a Stirling SMG on single shot up to about 100 yards. I was never in Northern Ireland except as a TV film person after my service but rode a few times in the Pigs. If I'd still been a combatant I would have preferred a Stirling there. As it was I had an Eclair. The camera not the cream filled pastry unfortunately.
Having carried one in SE Asia in 1967/68, I often thought they would have been perfect for use during the war in Afghanistan. Most of the actions there seemed to take place in open country and over a distance. Perfect for the good old SLR.
That metallic reverb sound on every shot lives with you forever.
Especially on a frosty morning!
I was an RAF armourer from 69 to 96 most of that time servicing or shooting this rifle at Bisley. We found that with 5his rifle it was important get it down the range zero and make sure you take the kinks out of if, as you found out, but once it’s ironed out it’s a brilliant weapon for any shooting to 600 yards. If you used it for Bisley shooting don’t unlock it and break it open not good for the zero, so we used moline grease inside the top slide and gas plug while in competition. Then you can crack it open and give it a good clean. There were lots of tricks for using it especially using the strap such as connect the strap under the barrel but the other end of the strap around the upper part of the left arm, to make a solid hold put the strap around the magazine, carful of the magazine catch, put your left hand under the fore end furniture but above the strap, (put your watch on your right hand out of the way). This will make a three point hold which is locked on the left arm and right shoulder, it’s. A bit of a bodge job but it did work at longer ranges.
Or you could just use a Lee Enfield which was extremely accurate to 1000 yards. It was the long range rifle of choice for well over 50 years both in competition and in the field. That's why a number of Lee Enfields with scopes were issued/used in the Falklands. Nothing fancy or new about using a sling properly either. It wasn't just there to carry the thing. The .303 flat tailed bullet was/is vastly more stable than the 7.62mm boat-tailed bullet. I've used both. The 7.62 was loved because a squadie could get more rounds off faster but, for properly placed shots the Lee Enfield, in a decent pair of hands was far more accurate and you could still achieve 10 rounds/minute with them being better placed hits. Loved them both, and both were better than the SA80 and all it's subsequent modifications.
Trained on it in 83. Didn't realise how good it was until the SA80 came into service.
Hell - Sounds like you had a lot of experience with the SA80.
Run me through it again, the procedure for stripping it down?
@@digitalradiohacker I can't remember how to strip an SA80, even though it was my prime weapon for five years. The SLR I could do blind folded.
@@SimonAmazingClarke
The SA80 was your prime weapon? What else could you choose from?
@@digitalradiohacker there was no other choice.
The man stopper! Just recalled the first time Colour Sergeant threw one of these at me during a training session. I remember thinking, christ that's heavy! It wasn't until he asked me to pass it to my mate and the tossed a gpmg at me that I realised how much I preferred the SLR.
When I was stationed in Germany in 1986. we had an International Schutzen Fest. The Germans brought out their G-3s, P-1 (P-38) and MG-3 &.62 NATO version of the MG42. We brought out our M-16's and the British army brought their L1A1's. after shooting the G-3 and the MG-3. I got to shoot the L1A1. An Aside here I had been an FN-FAL Fan for a while so this was a thrill and a half. I looked at the date of manufacture and it was 1956 which just so happend to be ye year I was born. When I got out ot the army in 1991 I bought an FN-FAL Paratrooper version. about a year later I found a SUIT Scope for sale at a surplus dealer over the internet. I also bought a second top cover because the FAL is Metric . I had a gunsmith braze the scope mount to the spare top cover. Anyway it is nice to see people showing appreication for a great Rifle.
Been to a few Shutzen fests, fest a day in Germany
Only Rifle I ever used in the British Army whilst serving for the Light Infantry before I left in 91, beautiful rifle and precise
An inch SLR and the 7.62x51 - bloody good show indeed! I envy you, and would love to relive this brilliant rifle on the range as you did. Don't know if I could hit much these days, but oh the memories.
Sigh, brings back memories. Seeing it reminds me of the days when we were forced to “admire our weapon” Standing to attention with arms outstretched and weapon held in front of us, admiring it as it got heavier, and heavier, and heavier and you ended up leaning further and further backwards in an attempt to keep your arms outstretched….What memories.
Good old pokey drill first thing in the morning, before a 5 miler.
SA Infantry days 🧐
@@AmenYeshua Ja - nee! Remember “Min dae, vasbyt!
Think that was heavy try doing it with a GPMG?
@@davidyoung5830 Haha most likely, but back in my days in RSA (1975) we used the Belgian FN with a wooden stock and forestock which is a lot heavier than todays “plastic” weapons.
Trained with the SLR and that sound brought back memories, an absolute beast of a rifle.
Love it, I was RCT in Germany in the 80’s , the bizarre thing was, we had a much higher amo allocation than the infantry, absolutely no idea why but we were never off the range firing this rifle, was known as the “man stopper”.
Now now, you are telling porkies, we all know RickshawsCabs&Taxis only ever got smuge guns 😂😂
@@Beauloqs No, really not telling porkies, 10 Reg RCT had a massive ammo allocation, we literally lined up every lmg available to get rid of ammo, the barrels were glowing red, also once a year a large amount of 66 anti tank we had to use up, 8 Regt RCT were the same I believe. 10 reg were also shit hot boxing regt , no infantry could touch us in 70’s and 80’s, fact!
Still miss my L1A1. Had it stolen in 84 by the Uk Govnt. Was an excellent weapons system.
Why was it stolen?
@@johnnunn8688 In 1984 a person who had no reason to own a firearm murdered a number of people in a town named Hungerford UK. The response of the UK Government was to move all centre fire self loading rifles from Section 1 to Section 5. Effectively banning them for civilian use.
I am sure someone might have picked up on this point previously, but when the last shooter went to clear the rounds after the 10th shot, he (almost) made the basic recruits error, of not removing the magazine before cocking the working parts to the rear. But he stopped himself, removed the magazine and cleared the round that was seated in the chamber thereby ejecting that live round into the mud to his right. But all in all it brought back tonnes of memories the metallic ringing after every round fired, and dependable nature of it. Well done for reminding me of past glories.
In the Australian Army cadets i still remember someone from the SASR come in to our hut , stripped & rebuilt an SLR on a ground sheet with a blindfold on, awesome !
Reminds me of my infantry days in the South African Army, except we used the R1, which was an FN FAL manufactured under licence in South Africa. Exceptional rifle!
Same, then issued the R4 ( Galil from Israel ), couldn’t get used to it after using the R1.
@@AmenYeshua Same, trained and served with the R1, tried the R4 and it felt like a pop gun. Give me the 7.62 any time.
Back in the day, you could buy a "surplus" FAL kit here in the US that was a complete rifle, with the rifle rendered inoperable with 2 cuts in the upper receiver, for somewhere between $50 and $100. You could get a brand new Imbel receiver for $150 and a new barrel for another $100 or so. All you needed at that point was the right size locking shoulder and you had a hell of a rifle. The trick was getting 5 or 6 folks together for a build party, and if you got lucky someone had the locking shoulder you needed and you were good to go :). South African battle packs were cheap and plentiful too...ah, the good old days. Then the ATF came along and said you couldn't build "new" rifles with parts kits, which ended the fun. You can buy complete rifles now, but they're a WHOLE lot more than what it cost to build 'em back then.
Being made to march around the parade ground at HMS Raleigh with one of these held over your head a few times made you focus and switch on!.
A fine rifle.
Sure progress has seen things move on, but that shouldn't take away from the fact that in its day the SLR did what it needed to. Like the Lee Enfield and the Garand, the SLR is one of the finest battle rifles ever made to defend our freedoms.
I won the Tobacco Trophy for best young soldier with one in the 1980's; just shows how things have move on! Loved your video.
made me smile. Likewise, I won an all schools shooting competition with the No 4 Lee Enfield as I was in the cadets at the time. Was so proud of my marksman badge. Both the SLR and No4 are still very lethal. Wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of either!
@@Bader1940 I miss that: "sun on one's back" when lying on the point on Bisley Century Range, as many who have done such competitions do. I once had a HPS with the No:4 at 600m there too. The smell of Aquaoil and brass brush!
Later, I was issued the SA80, so one of that generation that shot all the last three British Service Rifles.
Good times.
My comp SLR had front wood furniture. We rested the mag in the prone. Used the sling as a one point sling. Lastly the Bren Gun had a fine front post that fitted the SLR; they were like hens teeth then. Just gave a better sight picture for the longer range shots. Oh, and Gun Black!
Lovely, memories come flooding back in earnest. As a cadet in the ACF in the west coast of Scotland we as a detachment had gained plenty of time with this as well as the SMG, GPMG, Browning and the H&K .22 LR conversation kit for the SLR. Plenty of time cleaning, the rats tail and if memory serves me well the gas setring between 4 and 6. Not many army cadets had the luxury of having ex sf as your detachment and battalion instructor as well as going on numerous exercises with both the Terri's and others, let's just say that those who exercised on a large Scottish island during the 1980s will know where I refer to, which also included do several contour flying sorties in a gazelle.
First round stoppage. Dead man's click 😂🇬🇧
Used to remember sitting in the butts hearing those 762 rounds whizzing by ... Happy days !!!
The inch pattern FAL's are considered the best designed FAL's of the bunch. Took me many years to convert an inch pattern FAL to a British L1-A1, but it was worth the effort-Beautiful guns:)-John in Texas
When PROPERLY zeroed at the range the SLR was very very accurate , it was best to shoot with Ironsights because the issued optics attached to the top cover which had a very slight amount of movement and so it quickly lost its zero .
I loved this rifle. It looks purposeful and is. I honestly never had a single stoppage in all the time I used it. The SA80 had inherent accuracy WHEN IT WORKED but the SLR had reliability and stopping power. If you had some skills, putting rounds on target was not a problem.
Brings back memories of my time in the RAF in 1980 learning to strip and assemble and fire on the range Fantastic rifle
You know that you had a more than capable weapon that was a trust worthy
Soldiers had these in northern Ireland for most of my growing up,, they used to play football on the big field in the Cregagh estate in East Belfast,,we got to sit in the Saracens and landrovers ,, lots of people who grew up there joined the army ☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️
In northern Ireland we loved the soldiers and I couldn't wait to join up
I served in the UDR and used the SLR. Loved it. And i know the East well 🥰
The kick was a shock, first day on the range. Whole troop had bruised shoulders. However a bloody marvelous rifle once mastered. 7.62 stopping power.👍
Ever fired a .303 Lee Enfield?
I had several gas stoppages on my first time on the range. Ended up with the gas plug completely closed. Was firing from prone, laying on a wet, inclined wooden ramp. Every shot sent me sliding down the ramp. Climb back up, fire and slide. Had a hell of a sore shoulder by the end.
Finally, someone on YT loading a mag with correct technique! A fine looking rifle and your form is still good after all these years Sir.
Correct technique as per TOET`s should be: Safety catch, pouch, magazine out and visual check of round seating, magazine onto the weapon, close pouch, hand back on stock, if I rem correctly. 2 Para 74-97.
I was in when we switched over to the SA80. I hated it. We all missed the SLR for many reasons you don't need me to mention. It was great to watch it in action again 👍
Brought back memories of countless hours shooting these along with 9mm pistols and sub machine guns and 7.62 "light" machine guns as part of a very competent R C T shooting team based in Germany but competing also at Bisley in the early 80's, we would have been falling plates champions if it wasn't for the dust cloud that obscured our plate targets leaving one plate standing . . we could run as well as shoot and took runners up medals. I was a fast hundred metre runner and would be down in prone
position with two plates down before anyone else arrived, now aged nearly 60 I can barely make it up the shop due to MS
I remember meeting a dads friend and his son at the pub. The friend was a Falkland’s vet and his son served in Afghanistan. They started debating on whether the SLR or SA80 was superior it was great
One only needed a daily pull through while the other required H&K rework as a little snow in the flash suppressor was enough to cause a stoppage. Boom :)
Now THAT is a visit to the pub.
@Mike Morris damn grammer
'oh you lucky bastard'!
The Sler (Aussie name for it lol) was my initial service weapon issued back in '86.
Damned fine weapon.
Cheers for sharing.
One off the best rifles ever made , loved it you know when you fired it with a nice kick and spot on target every time ,Starting to Drool over the SLR, Australian X infantry.
Used these in the Australian reserves in the early 80's. Heavy but packed a punch.
Great piece of kit. Even with open sites no optics I could get a 80mm group at 200m. Proper man stopper.
the ring of the cartridge throw takes me right back to 1981. i can smell the mothballs of the stores.
That's given me goosebumps.
It's been such a long time since I've heard that sound 😢
Loved this weapon. Responsible for my partial hearing loss, and a mark under my eye from the scratch it used to give me of the sights. It did however feel so good. 👍🇬🇧
I'm glad you guys took extremely good care of your rifles. I once had the pick of the litter on an SLR rifle and it was super difficult because all of the rifles I saw were in great condition. I ended up choosing one that had the Hysynthe combat sight on it and I have no regrets from it. The glow in the dark was still good. Now if from a choice of thousands of rifles I saw in the US, all of them with great paint left, excellent barrel life, and still giving wonderful accuracy, than this proves and goes to show how its previous owners were true professionals and truly took care of their rifles.
I only wish some of you oldies could keep one for old times sakes in the UK.
Yeah, and I can remember the NCO dialling up the gas plugs while we were on tea break during range practice, and a number of us forgetting to check our weapons and receiving a black eye and swollen cheek as a result of the kick. (One guy fractured his shoulder)
😂😂 The number of blokes with cracked glasses lenses first time on the range was hilarious!
Yes after my dad died they let me buy myself out, 12months later I joined 4 Para at Pudsey. I actually failed my medical and was told that I had high tone deafness, to say I was pissed off would be an understatement. They let me in but I had to sign to say I wouldn’t claim if my hearing deteriorated. I sprayed in for about 22 years but always ensured I wore earplugs, except for live firing excersises when I thought it best to be able to hear commands. Lol . Like you, I’m sure it was the ping from the SLR which caused the damage. I don’t suppose the GPMGhelped much either.
@@johnwiddowson7152 Blimey John! Anyone who ever heard orders during stage 5 exercises must've been superman! 😂 As soon as that first round was fired off the "whistling hum" of tinnitus was all you heard for ages! 😂
Being a south paw I was given extra range time when we switched to the SA80 to build up muscle memory to shoot right handed. Loved shooting the SLR with the added benefit of being able to switch between left and right shoulder.
Failure to feed diagnosis can be extremely difficult. I commend you on isolating it to the magazine so quickly. This type of issue has a times taken me weeks and many rounds to isolate. You are as sharp as a trout!!
Brilliant memories of a wonderful weapon should never have retired it and an unforgettable sound on the parade ground
Such a beautiful sound
Unmistakably ...nothing quite like it John
The LiA1 SLR was/is an iconic weapon! All 3 Armed Forces had it until the transition to the 5.56 mm SA80. The RAF transitioned at or about 1990.
5 years serving with a SLR. Like yourself, first few shots to get the gas setting right and a damn heavy clean to get rid of the packing grease and oils. I never had another stoppage after firing thousands and thousands of rounds. Loved it and 7.62 !!!
‘Weapon fires one or two shots, weapon stops…’ I want one!
Was TA loved the slr as a lefthand shooter it was great loved it 👍
Friend of mine bought one years ago for $125.00 Canadian. He sold it off without even telling me. Since then they are now prohibited in Canada and all our Canadian ones were rusting in Winnipeg I heard if they haven't been cut up. Best rifle ever. Loved the one I was issued in the Canadian army, CAL serial number 6L2781 and her name was Patricia. Didn't tell my mates that part though but she never let me down and I easily qualified every time with her on the ranges.
Shot the wooden stock & fore end, then the plastic in the late 70's. Loved them. Had the pleasure of shooting the SLR again in France 2/3yrs ago. Biggest grin on my face, same as yours. Got told off by the owner for cleaning the end of the gas rod in the soil.
Was a platoon machine gunner & would love to have another go on the GPMG.
If you offered my another go on the old Charlie G, I think I'd turn you down, that thing hurt, Alot.
Thanks for the memories.
Good old 762 SLR. You can hide behind a brick wall and she’ll still punch through it.👍
What a beauty! I would love one but live in Canada now and they are a 'Prohibited weapon' here. The Police here in the North used 'Lee Enfields up until the 1990s so I plan to get myself one of them.
Yes Canada is very strict. I have a CZ85 which was the Canadian version of the VZ58. I adore it. Good lock with the search for the Enfield ;)
@@theveteransmag-a-zine1165 Thanks. Oh very nice, yes SLR is prohibited due to ease of becoming full auto, otherwise it would be fine. Easy to get a 50cal here! As long as it has a long barrel and isn't full auto it's no problem. Pistols are allowed but you have to tell the police every time you transport it etc.
Can you get a Ishapore 2A1 rifle? These rifles were made in India in 7.62x51mm NATO. They are based on the SMLE rifles. In fact most of the parts are interchangeable with SMLE rifles in .303. I know in the U.S. I pick one up for less than $400.00 in great shape.
@@jonathancathey2334 That sounds like a great plan!
I thought they were prohibited here in the U.K. too
loved it ! when i was in cadets, we went from enfield to SLR, and in army, the transition from SLR to SA 80 was just happening.
I went to annual camp when I was a cadet ( we went in a 4 ton we thought we were so cool ) and they made a cadet GP which was a single shot version of the SA 80 but older cadets talked about the SLR ….looking back I wish I got to fire one
What a rifle. Absolutely love the sound it makes like no other
By 1986 99% of SLR rifles were worn out after over 30 years of service.
One in mint condition is as rare as rocking horse manure !
While many other units had adopted the SA80 by the late 80s / early 90s we still had these up until about 93 in our unit...I was ashamed at the SA80...what a load of crap...
@@truthjunkie2325 Yep, took mine to Gulf War 1. They wanted to "upgrade" us to SA80 prior to deployment, but luckily we didn't have time to fit in the conversion training.
@@siras2 Took them 40 years to design a bullpup and it was still crap shame the dsa sa58 wasnt around in the 80s
My personal weapon was a 1958 model and I used it in the late 80s but still accurate
Thats a proper battle rifle, I pity those having to carry the SA80 after these. That 7.62 full fat round had some punch to it..
This and your knitted top brings back some fantastic memories.....thanks.
that sound takes me back to my time in Service, best weapon I ever fired, and that was a lot of different ones over the years .
Greatest weapon platform ever ❤
This guy must have been an officer? You can tell from his weapon handling…..?
Big smile from ear to ear. Hearing that distinctive ringing after each shot 🥰. Good job you realised the gas plug was in wrong!!! That could have been interesting.
Been on my bucket list to fire one again for ages. One day 🙏
Great rifle. I served in the RAF from 84 to 93. All came flooding back watching him. Could even smell the gun oil and cordite. Trained on the SA 80 in 1990, no comparison.
Such a magnificent rifle, be it a SLR or any FN FAL. It always puzzled me how that extremely long and thin muzzle wouldn't bend accidentally with any impact, torsion or fall - not to mention overheating - thus ruining the rifle.
I used the Portuguese manufactured G3 in the Portuguese Army. Fine rifle too, with brute recoil and blast but you sure felt well armed with it, and what a beautiful rifle it was too. All our G3s had full auto capability but woe of us if by mistake we selected it in the range!
In the early sixties we used a good number of used German FN FALs, hastily purchased from the Bundeswehr to replace our Mausers K98 because of the insurgencies in Portuguese Africa. It seems that we then tried to manufacture the FAL under licence but FN raised endless objections with that, while HK was much more cooperative. And so we ended up manufacturing thousands of G3s, even selling them to the Bundeswehr itself, Turkey and Iran, among others. Nowadays it was largely replaced by the FN SCAR, in both 5,56 and 7,62mm.
G3A3 💪🏼
We got cheated out of that fine rifle by the Army Ordinance Dept. in the States and ended up with the M-14. . .which was in my opinion inferior.
We trained to use a pair as a stretcher with a poncho strung between them and no bending but I do know that they could bend as occasionally one would be sent to the armoury to be straightened
@@johnhudak3829 I reckon the M-14 was a good weapon, great stopping power and very accurate
Omg, that brings back memories 😭😢😀👍🇬🇧
Brilliant rifle I used one while serving in the T. A. in the 70s firing from the left shoulder got to see the empty cases flying out and that distinctive zing , happy days.
If the British army had this rifle in Afghanistan the Taliban would not have got so close to the troops it could go through a brick wall
Jealous . Still miss mine . Was there ever a weapon that engendered such affection from its users ?
I know exactly what you mean. I got all misty-eyed and nostalgic just watching the vid.
MsG
What an absolutely beautiful rifle! Wow!
I have not fired one of those for a very long time. Great to hear it again.
A Damn good Rifle and effective out to 900 yds
Had the upmost pleasure of firing a .303 LeeEnfield and a .303 Bren Gun as an army cadet with the 4th Royal Corps of Transport cadet regiment in my early teens (14-16) when i was taking my Cadet "Star" grades. Then when i joined up in the Royal Air Force (1985) i trained with the awesome 7.62 SLR and man, what a beast to fire. Miss this fire arm sooooooooooooo much and would love to own a De-act version one day.
So did I, in the same unit. You and I might have known each other. I was there '77 '79.
@@ianrkav My Army Cadet's was located in Croxteth in Liverpool (right next to the River Alt) We had a Sergant named Spicer and a S/Major name of Jones. Does that ring a bell, bud ?
@@scouse1967 Yeah Parkstile lane. Spicer rings a bell not sure about Jones. We had a sergeant called Chekhov or cheko. Dark haired guy with a moustache, and another called Mulvaney. What years were you there?
@@ianrkav I was there 80-83
@@scouse1967 Oh just after me. I've just checked some certificates I still have. I was there 76-79. Not 77 as I thought:-) I got to fire the weapons mentioned but also the GPMG and SLR at Catterick camp.
Sounded amazing!
Ah.. Brings back memories yomping a cross the moors with that rifle... Then firing on the range..... The SA 80 was just coming in when I left.... Thanks for the memories...
my favorite gun of all time ,,, I still remember where mine is buried in sealed container ,,, Trudeau will never buy back mine , priceless.
You spelt Trudeau wrong.
A miscount at the end there, but hey, so long as you enjoyed it.
Well spotted :) you could see the surprise on my face eh?
So many good memories, I served in the Aust army ‘81 to 87. Damn fine weapon. 👍👍👍
An amazing awesome piece of kit
Great memories of a fantastic rifle, we moved onto the SA80 in 1987 when in Ireland it was like a Woolworths toy gat.
Haven’t heard the term “ gat “ for a long time.
Ur a Kiwi?
Me grandad called any weapon (.22 .223, .303) as in pass us the Gat mate!
Must've been universal!
@@baabaabaa2293 Hi, no I’m English ex British Army. Gat was a term we all used, I think it came from the Gatling Gun however there was also an Air Pistol in the 70s called a gat so can’t be sure.
@@alannickson3197 Must've done mate, me grandad knocked about with WW1 blokes during the depression (if u get wot lm saying?) & Pistol, Rifle etc was always a GAT..& l rekn ur right, it'd be from Gatling surely.
Edit: hahaha l thought I was replying to the bloke with NZ after his name!! All good!
@@baabaabaa2293 Good too hear from you. Take care mate.
I will never forget my first love the awesome SLR, it was my PW when I joined up and was so sad to see it replaced with the crappy SA80.
Best weapon I ever fired! Beautiful! After 82 you could sign out the weapons from the Welfare Armoury in Stanley if you got yourself a FI Firearms Licence from FIGPU. I've kept mine for nostalgia 😁