British troops get U.S. rifles to tackle the Taliban.

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 16th January 2010 | Mail On Sunday Reporter

[PotatoHeadMick]

British soldiers are to be given a powerful new U.S.-made rifle to take on Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.

The Ministry of Defence has spent £1.5million on 440 Sharpshooter semi-automatic rifles, which use 7.62mm ammunition that can kill at up to 900yards.

The order follows concern that the Army's standard issue SA80 A2 assault rifle, which fires smaller 5.56mm bullets, is less effective because its 'kill' range is limited to around 300yards.

[AnAmericanMother]

Don't make fun of a Balmoral bonnet within hearing of one of the Scottish regiments!

By the white hackle, he's a Royal Highland Fusilier.

[randomhero97]

Everything you need to know about 5.56/.223.

ammo oracle

It's not as bad of a round as every claims it to be and terminal ballistics prove it.

[FreedomPoster]

>>My little Win 92 lever action rifle in .357 is impressive at short range .

That sort of thing ia pretty much the original “assault rifle”.

[Frantzie]

One poster here and I think another article said it is more in common with the AR-10.

It looks pretty good to me (not the hat).

[lapsus calami]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[tony549]

I think that these are Lewis Machine Tool (LMT) manufactured rifles that are similar to the AR-10/SR-25 rifles in 7.62x51 NATO. The upper is a monolithic design similar to the 5.56x45 LMT Monolithic Rail Platform. It is a direct impingement gas operated design.

[Cold Heat]

That’s exactly what I tried to tell them when they took my M-14 away and gave me the M-16.

[AnAmericanMother]

Well, in cowboy action you are expected to put 10 rifle rounds, 10 pistol rounds, and 4-6 shotgun rounds on target in something under 50 seconds. I'm in the low 40s now with an occasional high 30, trying to get into the high 30s consistently.

It's amazing what practice will do for you.

[FreedomPoster]

Yes, just looking at it, that thing has AR-10 written all over it.

[FreedomPoster]

We have a good friend whose son is a SEAL. From talking to him, that last sure seems to be how they operate. They shoot a LOT. Which is A Good Thing^TM.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

It is such an “assault rifle” that the state of California attempted to ban them when they passed their law against assault rifles. That is why many new reproductions are designed for 10 rounds instead of more. So said Neal Knox years ago.

[AnAmericanMother]

Very true. You can't get good without practice -- in much of anything.

That's why police officers, by and large, are such bad shots (except for the ones that are also gun fanciers, IPSC shooters, and so forth). You won't be any good at shooting your sidearm if you just put 10-20 rounds a year down it at qualifying time.

[calex59]

Very similar to the old Blakeslee speed loader of Spencer fame.

[FreedomPoster]

>>And I’ve got plenty of .303 for my Long Branch sniper SMLE . . . .

BTW, on that note, I wonder if the issue here isn’t partially that they’re taking some long range fire from guys with old-school bolt actions, most likely Mosins, but perhaps some Enfields as well, and need something to respond with besides 7.62 MGs and mortars.

[AnAmericanMother]

I bet that Pakistan and Afghanistan are crawling with SMLEs, both the old originals and bazaar knockoffs.

It was George MacDonald Fraser who said he didn't know what the wild men of the world would do when the last Lee Enfield wore out.

[AnAmericanMother]

I got the idea from another cowboy shooter, I’ll have to ask her where it came from.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Oh heck yeah, I know Afghanistan was awash in WW2-era design bolt action rifles - they even were using locally made flintlocks - as their mainstays initially to fight the Soviets with until they started getting more contemporary weaponry through captures and outside aid. I have no doubt there are plenty still floating around and actionable - you just don't take a sturdy and reliable tool and throw it away. I know I sure don't!

 

 

 

 

[Frantzie]

That is a very nice dinner table mat.

BTW - what is that?

[lapsus calami]

 

 

Uhmm - which "that" are you referring to specifically?

 

 

 

[Frantzie]

The thing on the dinner mat? :-)