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Discussion: Issues with the SA80Reported This is a featured thread

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tbhergert
tbhergert
Issues with the SA80
Jun 6 2008, 5:28 AM EDT | Post edited: Jun 6 2008, 5:28 AM EDT
As one will read from either of these links, the SA80 is far from "the most reliable weapon of it's type in the world"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-80
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as22-e.htm

It was not designed by H&K, but Enfield. H&K simply did an upgrade on about half of the ones in circulation in 2002.
It before that, it was infamous for being quite possibly the least reliable modern assault rifle in the world.
Large amounts of misfires, parts breaking, the works.
After the upgrade, there are still issues with reliability in hot weather, wet or dry.
On top of that, it cannot be fired lefty, weighs more than 10 pounds, and you'll never even see one unless you're in the UK.
Perhaps the only redeeming quality of this gun is its amazing accuracy, which I won't deny.
Personally, I'd rather use an M4 than an SA80. Not in the sense that I'm a stupid hick who is convinced that American guns are the best.
In the sense that I know how bad the M4 has been and still is, and I'd still prefer it over an SA80.

I'm not saying this to bash anybody's country.
I'm simply stating that the article on the SA80 on this page shouldn't contain false information. 3  out of 5 found this valuable. Do you?    
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ColossalStop
ColossalStop
1. RE: Issues with the SA80
Jul 10 2008, 9:08 AM EDT | Post edited: Jul 10 2008, 9:08 AM EDT
You're right, i laughed, hard, when i saw that "the SA 80 is the most reliable weapon of it's type in the world" but that being said, i think its most redeeming quality is the fact that its overcome most of its weaknesses. its no longer the most unreliable weapon in the world even though it still has problems in that area. The main reason for its hefty weight is counterbalancing but with changes in material it can only get lighter. In 2 or 3 years time do you think you could say the same things about it? Its had so many changes, at least it cant get worse. Oh and don't worry about offending people, anyone who takes criticism to a rifle as a bash to his country is likely to push civilization backwards 1000 years with pure stupidity, except Mozambique, they'd just kill you haha! Do you find this valuable?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
2. RE: Issues with the SA80
Jul 10 2008, 11:14 AM EDT | Post edited: Jul 10 2008, 11:14 AM EDT
The article reflects the SA-80's interesting history. Do you find this valuable?    
tehcat
tehcat
3. RE: Issues with the SA80
Jul 13 2008, 9:31 AM EDT | Post edited: Jul 13 2008, 9:31 AM EDT
yeah the clip has a tendancy to fall out at bad times, thats why the british SAS don't use it much, and whats with the bashing against the AK? Do you find this valuable?    
Andering_J_REDDSON
Andering_J_REDDSON
4. RE: Issues with the SA80
Jul 13 2008, 2:32 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 13 2008, 2:32 PM EDT
"(W)hats with the bashing against the AK?"
It’s the most overhyped weap ever in the history of mankind (well, after the chautchaut, but barely).
It’s SOLE claims to fame are:
The Russians would give them to anyone that said they wouldn’t do business with the Americans;
Sell them to anyone that would pay for them (whether they did business with the Americans or NOT);
That the M-16, when it was first issued in Viet Nam, had a very high (almost absolute) tendency to jam due to lack of cleaning kits.

BTW- It’s not bashing to point out the facts. Bashing would be to say it’s unreliable, inaccurate, heavy, and kicks like a mule. Only three of these are true (it’s not ‘unreliable’ as in prone to jam, drop mags randomly, etc), and only two were mentioned (that it’s heavy and not terribly accurate). Do you find this valuable?    
ColossalStop
ColossalStop
5. RE: Issues with the SA80
Jul 14 2008, 5:55 PM EDT | Post edited: Jul 14 2008, 5:55 PM EDT
Whats your take on the Aks older brothers? Yknow, all the more modern derivatives the ak 74 and the 10X series. Theyre made based on the first ak design. Do you think they inherited the original's flaws? Do you find this valuable?    
sensible_soldier
sensible_soldier
6. RE: Issues with the SA80
Aug 20 2010, 11:14 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 20 2010, 11:14 PM EDT
"As one will read from either of these links, the SA80 is far from "the most reliable weapon of it's type in the world"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SA-80
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as22-e.htm

It was not designed by H&K, but Enfield. H&K simply did an upgrade on about half of the ones in circulation in 2002.
It before that, it was infamous for being quite possibly the least reliable modern assault rifle in the world.
Large amounts of misfires, parts breaking, the works.
After the upgrade, there are still issues with reliability in hot weather, wet or dry.
On top of that, it cannot be fired lefty, weighs more than 10 pounds, and you'll never even see one unless you're in the UK.
Perhaps the only redeeming quality of this gun is its amazing accuracy, which I won't deny.
Personally, I'd rather use an M4 than an SA80. Not in the sense that I'm a stupid hick who is convinced that American guns are the best.
In the sense that I know how bad the M4 has been and still is, and I'd still prefer it over an SA80.

I'm not saying this to bash anybody's country.
I'm simply stating that the article on the SA80 on this page shouldn't contain false information."
I'd rather use the SA80 over m4 for a couple of reasons:

1) very short easy to manove in urban combat and due to having its working parts in the butt (thank you bullpup) it still maintains accurcy at distances.

2) the m4 isnt short of it's problems:
# 34% of soldiers reported that their M4's handguards rattled and became excessively hot when firing.
# 15% reported that they had trouble zeroing the M68 reflex sight.
soldiers reported the following malfunctions:

* 20% reported double-feeding.
* 15% reported feeding jams.
* 13% reported that feeding problems were usually due to magazines.


 Do you find this valuable?    
SGTGerman
SGTGerman
7. RE: Issues with the SA80
Aug 21 2010, 6:15 AM EDT | Post edited: Aug 21 2010, 6:15 AM EDT
Okay guys I wouldn't use wikipedia to prove a point.

The SA80 was a shower of **** but after the Germans overhauled it, the SA80 is quite a fine weapon.

It isn't faultless but like with any weapon if you maintain it properly you wouldn't have a problem with it. Do you find this valuable?    
Philos0pher
Philos0pher
8. RE: Issues with the SA80
Aug 22 2010, 2:37 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 22 2010, 2:37 PM EDT
I don't know much about the gun, but if it's so unreliable why the hell is it the standard weapon of choice for the british army in afghanistan??
All i know about it is that they will be soon using a round with more punch which theyre calling the "dirty harry round" to go further distances. Its the same calibre. Do you find this valuable?    
Madurjafro
Madurjafro
9. RE: Issues with the SA80
Aug 22 2010, 9:12 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 22 2010, 9:12 PM EDT
Well, I never knew the gun weighed over 10 pounds I thought all rifles weighed that much. Nextly you can't put it down for not being able to have left handed people fire it, thats a problem with all bullpups (amiright?). I guess we are using it because we wan't to show our independance, but because we can't make guns for ****, we gave it to the Germans to fix, because Germans are cool Do you find this valuable?    
brandon_a_boyer
brandon_a_boyer
10. RE: Issues with the SA80
Aug 22 2010, 9:39 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 22 2010, 9:39 PM EDT
" left handed people fire it, thats a problem with all bullpups (amiright?)."
Both the Kel-tec RFB , the FN-2000 and FN p-90 eject in a way which enables it to be fired by both left and right handed shooters. Do you find this valuable?    
SGTGerman
SGTGerman
11. RE: Issues with the SA80
Aug 23 2010, 3:09 PM EDT | Post edited: Aug 23 2010, 3:09 PM EDT
I have seen a left handed LSW (a heavy SA80 used for surpressing enemy) but never an SA80 in fact most don't believe they exist. Its not impossible but all the left handers I know were forced to learn it right handed. Do you find this valuable?