straight pull sa80?

[hiho]

already got a stryr aug for foxing now looking for something to put a NV scope on so im wondering if any of you boys have experience with one of these

 

[sv51macross]

Oh hoho, the SA80 is a very, very rare kitten indeed. I think you would be better off trying to get one of your L98 Cadet Rifles. AFAIK, the only SA80 in 'production' is the Prexis PL-85, and that is definitely not legal in England, not to mention you have to bend the lower yourself.

 

[Acera]

I would think that the reliability issues of the SA-80, and the general embarrassment it caused your countries ordnance department after adopting it would preclude it's choice as a relied upon rifle. Do you have any links to the one you are talking about?

I am assuming that by straight pull, you mean it is not a semiautomatic rifle, that it resembles one, and you have to manually operate the charging handle each time to cycle the action.

Kinda Ironic that it took the Germans to sort out the problems out with that gun.

 

[hiho]

i can only get straight pull no semi autos and dont feel like another steyr there is afew ex cadet rifles and about or i was thinking about a ruger mini 14 that i could modify to bullpup but i like the sa80`s more

 

[Cromlech]

I was in the Army Cadets and used those rifles (The L98A1 Cadet GP and the L86A1 LSW). Were you also a Cadet?
If you were, and wish to buy something that you are familiar with, that's fair enough.

Personally, I can only think of a few reasons to buy it:

The good:
Novelty value
The 5.56 NATO round is nice to shoot in it
High ammo capacity
It uses NATO 5.56 magazines (plenty of them in the world)
Is pretty darn accurate
Easy to field strip - I did it blindfolded (L98A1) - never was good at cleaning it though

The bad
Heavy - about as heavy as an M1 Garand (no, really)
Cocking the weapon is comparatively awkward (remember this is something you will be doing for each shot)
Not all that comfortable in the prone position IMO
Probably going to be expensive

 

[hiho]

iv used a mates and he had a modded bolt handle and barrel and i found it very easy to use and i like bullpups for nights shooting as my other guns are big and when your climbing over fences with a full size 223 it proberly isnt safe.
i no that with there not being many about resale value will proberly be good aswell

 

[elmerfudd]

Seems to me that if I were planning on using it as a working gun, I would go with a bolt action instead. The ergonomics, price, accuracy, trigger and other things are all going to be better with a good bolt gun. If you're looking for a collectible and fun shooter first that can also perhaps work for hunting, then I might go for the SA80. They have an excellent reputation for accuracy and I would imagine that a straight pull action would only improve on that.

 

[Cromlech]

Well hiho, if it 'ticks the right boxes' for your personal use, then by all means go for it! Personally I wouldn't especially go looking for one, as I have had mostly 'meh' (indifferent) memories of it as a Cadet. It fulfils it's role, but doesn't excite me.

I'd want a bolt-action rifle myself.

 

[hiho]

i would say im getting one as im getting on with my dealer (bought shotgun last week and traded a rifle) and he has one in stock