Perhaps we should have kept a few L1A1 SLRs? - FN FAL thread :D

[Cromlech]

British troops get new Sharpshooter rifle to blast Taliban... because their weapons have a longer range than ours

British soldiers in Afghanistan will be issued with a new infantry combat rifle for the first time in 20 years, the Ministry of Defence announced today.

More than 400 Sharpshooter rifles, which fire a 7.62mm round, are being purchased as part of a £1.5million 'urgent operational requirement'.

The first batch of the U.S.-made rifles will be used by the 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, from October.

Now, I have no doubt that these shiny new ones that you guys are selling to us are going to be some nice rifles, but if we had kept a few hundred SLRs we might not have needed to spend any more money on getting back some 'Squad Marksman' 7.62 fire-power for our guys.

[freakazoid]

What in the world is that thing he is wearing on his head? 

[Viking]

Where did all those end up? Bottom of the North Sea?

[Cromlech]

It could be a Welsh/Scottish/Irish thing. I'd lean toward a Scottish Regiment.

[Cromlech]

Where did all those end up? Bottom of the North Sea?

Hopefully sold to another country that made good use of them.

[AZRedhawk44]

What's up with the holo-sight on top of the scope?

[Jamisjockey]

What in the world is that thing he is wearing on his head? 

A target.

[Cromlech]

What's up with the holo-sight on top of the scope?

Just noticed that too. Perhaps they hope to use it for shorter ranges and building clearance?

[AJ Dual]

In all honesty, the SLR is a difficult platform to turn into an MOA rifle. DS Arms has done a good job with the SA58 SPR, OTOH, it's a brand new build from the ground up to achieve what it does, and it uses no surplus parts. I don't think they'd have gotten the results they wanted by just re-working SLR's if any had been left in inventory.

Although a FAL/SLR as a 2-4 MOA DMR rifle, I think they'd have done fine.

Just noticed that too. Perhaps they hope to use it for shorter ranges and building clearance?

Exactly what it's for. A 6x ACOG is way too high a magnification and small FOV to be used in the "Bindon Aiming Concept" that the lower power ACOG's are capable of. In essence, using a two eye view, and it turns the ACOG into a red-dot type sight. And even then, many of the ACOG models have the secondary reflex sight mounted to them for CQB.

[Cromlech]

On a somewhat related note, and while they have the chequebook out, perhaps they could chuck out the L86A1 LSWs and get some more FN Minimis. 

[MillCreek]

What in the world is that thing he is wearing on his head? 

It is called a tam o'shanter, and you best not laugh at a British soldier wearing it.  They are probably an enlisted member of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

[French G.]

What's up with the holo-sight on top of the scope?

Something from the world of IPSC/3 gun, which is providing a lot of cross-over to real world shooters. Just a back-up/close range sight. Trijicon used to have a little post and ghost ring built into the scope body, this does the same thing. I prefer a dot sight mounted about 45 deg off vertical, often seen on the hand-guard. Roll the rifle over a bit and hose. Return to conventional firing posture to use real scope.

[sanglant]

sounds like someone needs to patent the swivel shoulder stock