LM308SP Rifle

As an ex-squaddy and a fan of battle rifles like the FN FAL this test is a bit of a treat for me and also a revelation. The 5.6x45mm or 223 Rem; great little cartridge but doesn’t have the stopping power or effective range of the 7.62 x 51mm NATO. Yes it allows you to carry twice as much ammo for the same weight, but you would probably need it to do the same job. So what has this got to do with sports’ shooting? Absolutely nothing!

I have used various 223s with good effect for Practical Rifle, small deer, foxes and varmints for many years. However, punching paper and hunting is a little different from combat and the limitations of the 5,56mm have been seen around the world when ranges increase. The solution first fielded by the Americans was to bring back their classic M14 in 7.62 NATO suitably tweaked and in a Sage EBR (Enhanced Battle Rifle) stock to give the infantry more range and effectiveness. Not for everyone but for a designated marksman (DMR) in a rifle section, much like they did in WWII with the 1903 A4 Springfield sniper rifle.

FISH NOR FOWL!

So the need was established and in December 2009 our Ministry of Defence issued an urgent operational requirement for a semi-automatic rifle in 7.62x51 mm NATO. Desiganted the Sharpshooter it was to be a dual-role weapon that combined the longer range effect of a sniper gun with the handling and ability of battle rifle. Neither fish nor fowl but a bit of both.

Contenders included H&K, FN, Oberland Arms, Knight Armament and LMT (Lewis Machine & Tool). The main criteria was that the rifle had to shoot the standard/issue, 147-grain, 7.62 ball round and hit man-sized targets out to 800m. Rifles like the Knight Mk 11 shoot best with match-grade ammo, which is not standard issue. In the end LMT won it with their LM7 7.62x51 mm NATO MWS (Modular Weapon System) which we adopted as the L129A1 Sharpshooter. As we shall see it has two features that do make it something special. The rifle is distributed in the UK by Law Enforcement International (LEI) to the armed forces and some constabularies too.

CIVVY VERSION

There’s little doubt that the L129A1 caused quite a stir with the civilian community; certainly those who shot 223 AR15s. So it was logical a manually-operated version would be well received!

It was not long after this that LEI got LMT to produce such an item – the LM308SP.

Guns are brought in in small batches by LEI and retailed through North West Custom Parts with Defence Mechanisms Ltd doing the trade side and some retail too. The build spec was not what I imagined as its T-handle operation only, which I knew from past experience with hybrid 223 AR15s can present serious problems. Even worse with the old AR10s in 7.62, even with side cocking! Equally when I found out it had a 16” barrel I was not impressed! Too short and potentially unreliable were my first thoughts. But what the hell let’s see!

The rifle arrived with some GGG 7.62 NATO ball ammo and the 223 version the LM223 SP, which I will be testing next. I was prepared to hate the 308 SP as it appeared not to tick any of my boxes. However, going hands-on started to change my mind; certainly in terms of feel and handling, even though it’s a mann-opp AR10-type platform.

DIFFERENT

I am no stranger to the AR15/M16 and have used them in all flavours, but the LMT concept is different. First the Monolithic Rail Platform (MRP) upper/forend assembly. Machined from a single piece of forged 7075 T6 aluminium it offers a 21.5” top, Picatinny rail in the usual 4-way, free-float style, which makes for a seriously rigid component. Second the ability to switch barrels easily, and though 16” was an MOD specification there will be some length/calibre options for civilian shooters based on the generic 308 Win head; 243 Win, 260 Rem and 7mm-08 Rem.

There are two barrel options currently - stainless match in 1-11.25” twist and chrome-lined carbon steel in 1-10”.  I had the former with an M16A2-type flash hider; the L129A1 has a prong type, which is available as extra as are the proper, military, fold-down iron sights.

MIGHTY T

The lower shows an ambidextrous mag release and safety catch. The trigger is a 2-stage unit and breaks at a pleasing 3-4 lbs. The upper receiver has a case deflector, ejection port cover but no forward assist. Cocking is by a T-handle with a Tac-Latch catch on the left. Looking at the rear of the T shows a wider deeper shape, which acts as a gas deflector for the L129A1 when a moderator is fitted.

Though I can understand many potential owners wanting the 308SP to look as original as possible, and despite assurances that it ran sweet with the GGG ammo, I was yet to be convinced! With any calibre of AR side-cocking is the most efficient route; we shall see!

The gun comes with an ErgoGrip pistol grip and an LMT SOPMOD butt with battery storage tubes and removable rear pad. Three solid rail covers are supplied for the forend, all furniture is available in either black or desert tan. There’s two, QD swivels and a basic sling and LMT’s detachable iron sights with a fully adjustable L-flip rear aperture and the classic A-frame post up front, which are more basic than the Sharpshooters! Feed is from a 20-round Magpul PMAG (one supplied).

DIFFERENT

Inside is a seemingly standard AR10-sized bolt though the firing pin is held by a captive retainer pin. I was told that the cam path has been specially cut for manual operation, which was intriguing. The bolt head is chromed and unusually has twin, plunger ejectors, with the carrier looking like satin chrome. Control-wise and in every way this is just a big M16!

The most obvious aspect is the weight, which tips the scale at 9 lbs 14oz empty. Not light but handy enough and pointable;  it’s noticeably nose heavy - perhaps not a bad thing for a 308! It put me in mind of my old H&K G3 paratrooper rifle!

The barrel change is simple though you do need a torque wrench set at 140 Inch Lbs for correct re-assembly pressure. Open the bolt and undo the two cross bolts in front of the mag well. The rear one is captive and just pinches up for a friction grip, the front is removed as it passed through a slot to give the mechanical engagement.

LEI said that the GGG ammo, which is NATO spec and made in - of all places - Lithuania is the mutt’s nuts for the rifle and will be the subject of a later ammo test. Along with this I would also be trying a selection of 308 Win. The scope - a Vortex Razor 1-6x24 GEN II designed by top US shooter Jerry Miculek, it’s JM-1 reticule is good from 20 to 600m, I mounted it in their 2” off-set QD mount, which is a sweet combo. The Brits use a Trijicon ACOG 6 X 48 mm in service, which does look a bit big.

Speaking to an ex Army sniper who used the Sharpshooter in the Afghan he told me that the rifle was well received and if possible used in favour of the AW as it was lighter, shorter and performed well past 800m. He also liked it in fire fights as it had a lot more power and range over the 223 L85 Bullpup. Others I have spoken to say it’s the calibre and not the rifle that really makes the difference! True no doubt, but you can’t deny it’s a slick delivery system!

SURPRISINGLY IMPRESSED

Bombing up the mag with GGG I was prepared for a hard time, but to my delight it never happened! Sure T-handle operation is not ideal for this sort of rifle as it’s slower and more awkward. However, not one hard extraction from the first 20-rounds. Accuracy-wise the GGG was printing 1” @ 100 yards, again very good as was the 2-stage trigger. I have to say that Vortex scope was a peach, though only a maximum of x6 optical clarity and FOV were awesome and it felt more like an x8.

I also tried some NATO-spec PPU 145-grain FMJ, which had given hard extraction in the M14 test last month and though a tad stiffer it functioned well. Next up some Hornady 150-grain GMX Superformance, again no problems, though the gun did not like the non-lead bullets! LEI told me that with a 168-grain load it shot well. So I dug out my last box of 168-grain A-MAX Hornady TAP FDP. To see what it could do I switched to my Leupold 4.5-14x50 LRT scope and, as advised, the gun was chopping ½”.

I also tried shooting 3-rounds, then switching the barrel off and on and

repeating the exercise. To a greater degree the gun retained its point of impact, which was good! So far all very impressive, so what about velocity? Well that 16” tube is going to suffer a bit as you can see! (SEE TABLE BELOW)

However, with reported and authenticated hits at 1000m + it certainly seems capable of doing the job! What was a little strange was the consistency of the extreme velocity spread (ES), as these three different rounds all gave an ES of dead on 25 fps! Though starting the test as a doubting Thomas, I came away seriously impressed! Personally a 20” barrel would be my choice probably in one of the 6.5mms - 260 Rem, 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.5x47 Lapua,  and of course a decent side cocking system. Which is now available as Defence Mechanisms make a unit, which has been approved by LEI. But if you do not feel the need for speed then the LMT 308SP with T-handle is as good as it gets for a fullbore hybrid AR10 and that’s pretty damn good!

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