Why was the SLR,(self loading rifle) taking out of service...?

Question

a powerful weapon, could have put the SA80 SUSAT sights on the SLR and kept it in use.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

The reason the SLR was taken out of service was two fold .
1 it was not automatic but semi automatic and the way forward was a weapon that could deliver a better rate of fire.
2nd the rounds used were 7.62 and the americans used the smaller rounds for the m16.
this is the sa80 some good points..............................
http://www.cybershooters.org/sa80.htm
see what you think
we used anumber of sights on the slr a trilux sight for ireland and a image intensifier (night sight) which made the slr weigh nearly as much as a bazooka.
One other worry was at that time warsaw pact were our natural enemies and if the overan us their much better ak 47s could fire our ammo where as the slr could not.
and as for the magazine holding 20 rounds we used to use the bren gun 30 round box instead not a lot of people know that and they worked fine.

Source(s):

former soldier used the SLR upto 1980

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

very informative. thank you.

Answer 2

Can't give you an answer to that but I wish it wasn't taken out of service. Ya can't beat a 7.62. when ya hit someone/thing with that you knew it was going down. When I was in Norway, we used the SA80 and the things fell apart. The plastic went britle in the cold and cracked when you fired the thing. The 'carrying handle' aka iron sight kept falling off, and as for the sling? Think that is someones idea of a sick joke.

Source(s):

Ex Forces '84 - '94

Answer 3

basically because it is a high velocity rifle...sometimes if it was fired at target it shot the bullet with so much power that it would go through the intended target,meaning that it took more than one shot to put the target down..

Answer 4

Because of the size of ammunition used 7.62. It was deemed to cruel by the UN. Hence the nato introduction of 5.56..

Also UK forces were looking to introduce a new lighter weapon for years and the sa80 was in its testing stage and used in the falklands it used a smaller ammunition like alot of Britains allies and nato forces..

Answer 5

The breach block was`nt interchangeable ,the rats tail could snap off if it was being reassembled in a hurry.Also it was`nt easy carrying a large amount of 7.62mm ammunition.Military strategy changed,if you shot someone with an SLR they would most lightly die,if you shot someone with SA80 they would possibly take up a hospital bed and valuable medical resources.

Answer 6

Take a look at this it might help to understand if not it will kill 20 mins.

Source(s):

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~autogun/…

Answer 7

I think there are several reasons for this, of course the nato aspect was one of them, the other point is of course, the number of rounds that the SLR could hold in its magasine was limited to only twenty, due to the size of the the cartridge. The good old AK47 is also a 7.62 but is a 7.62 short and could therefore hold a 30 round magasine. The SA80 I bet although I don't know this for sure will also hold a 30 round magasine.

Answer 8

Because it was a Belgian design and NO ONE likes them.(not even belgians). ;)

Answer 9

It was replaced by the better L85 A1 and then the A2, at the start the L85 A1 had its problems but these were resolved and know it is a really good weapon system.
the 20 round 7.62 mm magizine was not good enough guys in the falklands empted mags before they blink and ended crawling around trying to find arge ammo, with the new 30 round mag this is much better and also using nato standard ammo made things easier with supply of ammo in the field a cross europe which at the time of release was still a real possibty.
the weapon is also lighter and easy to use. and with the shorter barrel it made CQB much easier