L85A1

Weapon Information

The L85A1 is a British bullpup assault rifle that served as the primary weapon of the British Armed Forces during its operational life. Introduced in the mid-1980s as part of the SA80 family, it was designed to modernize the British military’s arsenal with a compact, accurate rifle chambered in the NATO-standard 5.56 x 45mm cartridge.

The rifle has an overall length of 30.9 inches and weighs 11 lbs with a loaded 30-round magazine and SUSAT sight. Its bullpup configuration allows for a full-length barrel in a compact package.

Key features include: – Bullpup design for shorter overall length without sacrificing barrel length – SUSAT (Sight Unit Small Arms, Trilux) 4x optical sight for enhanced target acquisition – Select-fire capability for flexibility in different combat scenarios – Compact overall length for maneuverability in tight spaces – Full-length barrel for improved accuracy, and ballistic performance.

The L85A1 was notorious for reliability issues, particularly in adverse conditions, which led to widespread dissatisfaction among users. These problems prompted the development of the improved L85A2 variant. Despite its issues, the L85A1 played a crucial role in the British military during its operational period, paving the way for future improvements in the SA80 family.

Weapon Specifications: 

• Caliber: 5.56 x 45mm NATO
• Barrel Length: 20 inches
• Firing Modes: semi-auto, full-auto
• Rate of Fire: 650 rounds per minute
• Effective Range: 500 meters
• Years in service: 1985 – 2001
• Country of Origin: United Kingdom