Gun of the Day- "God Save the Queen" Edition

The SA80 Family

Production history

Designed 1970s–1980s

Manufacturer: BAE Systems

Heckler & Koch

Produced: 1985–1994

Number built: Approx. 350,000

Variants: L85A1 Rifle

L85A2 Rifle

L86A1 Light Support Weapon

L86A2 Light Support Weapon

L22A1 Carbine

L98A1 Cadet Rifle

L98A2 Cadet Rifle

Specifications

Weight: 3.82 kg (8.4 lb) (L85A1 empty)

4.98 kg (11.0 lb) (L85A1 with SUSAT sight and loaded 30 round magazine)

6.58 kg (14.5 lb) (L86A1 LSW)

4.42 kg (9.7 lb) (L22A1)

Length: 785 mm (30.9 in) (L85A1)

900 mm (35.4 in) (L86A1 LSW)

709 mm (27.9 in) (L22A1)

Barrel length: 518 mm (20.4 in) (L85A1)

646 mm (25.4 in) (L86A1 LSW)

442 mm (17.4 in) (L22A1)

Cartridge: 5.56x45mm NATO

Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire: 610–775 rounds/min

Muzzle velocity: 940 m/s (3,084 ft/s) (L85A1)

970 m/s (3,182.4 ft/s) (L86A1 LSW)

Effective range: 450 m with iron sights, 650 m with SUSAT (L85A2)

850 m (L86 LSW)

Feed system: 30-round detachable STANAG magazine

Sights: Telescopic SUSAT or ACOG scopes, aperture iron sights