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L1A1 SLR Rifle

L1A1 SLR Rifle

In terms of post WWII military battle rifles three designs stand out – the Russian AK47, Belgium FN FAL and the American M16. All unique as to calibre and operation, they also share the fact they have probably been used/adopted world- wide more than any other service rifles.

The FN FAL - ‘the free world’s right arm’ was Britain’s choice for our first self-loading design to replace the Lee Enfield No 4. Chambered in the new 7.62x51mm (NATO) the design was suitably Anglicised to become the Rifle Self Loading L1A1, better known as the SLR. Though identical in many ways it differed as to minor features from the FAL.

Having carried an SLR in the British Army for many years I learned to love it, preferring its power and range over the lighter and more compact 9mm Stirling SMG. In civvy street I had an FN G1, which was the FAL variant used by the Germans until replaced by the H&K G3.

MECHANICAL MUSKET

I changed three things on my G1 the safety/ selector, magazine catch and plastic forend all from the SLR, as they were superior to the FNs. However, I preferred the FAL’s sights, butt, pistol grip and cocking handle. The furniture being fuller and offering better ergonomics. I loved my G1 and it broke my heart when self-loaders were banned in 1988!

Time moves on and ever-adaptable we now use manually-operated (straight-pull) versions of the centrefire self-loaders of the past. The most popular is the AR15 as its light cartridge; accuracy potential and adaptability suit this style of mechanism very well. There are other options; one such was the Brazilian Imbal FAL, purpose-built for the UK market.

However, many devotees of military rifles wanted an SLR, but back then it was impossible as the law stated that any rifle built as a Section 5 (which was how all self-loaders post-88 were re-classed) remained in that classification.

However, recent developments have seen this prohibition over turned, with a few of companies now offering legal Section 1 SLRs made from original parts kits but fitted with a new/un-drilled barrel, no piston and a modified bolt carrier to suit.

SUFFOLK CONNECTION

One such supplier is Suffolk Rifle Co run by Neal Parnham. The SLR I tested was fitted up with the black plastic furniture, with replaceable butt pads to adjust LOP. Neal also has some woodwork should you want an original L1A1. Also supplied was the old SUIT (Sight Unit Infantry Trilux) along with the dedicated top cover, he has limited quantities of these too.

I have mixed views on these hybrid, straight-pull rifles. In 223 Rem and 7.62x39 they work well with easy operation and modest recoil. However, the 308/7.62 guns are bigger, heavier and require more effort to operate, plus recoil is up too. The SLR is no exception, a fact that first came to light to me in the Army when we were training for Northern Ireland in 1974. In the CQB range in Tin City we could not use service ammo, so were issued the blue, training alternative. This consisted of a two-piece build, the case and bullet were polymer with a brass rim/ head section at the back.

COCK ‘N’ SHOOT

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Though accurate (ish) at short ranges the ammo did not have enough power to cycle the mechanism so it was a case of cock ‘n’ shoot every time, which was a pain! Today with guns like the FAL, SLR and Dragunov (SVD) nothing much has changed and shooting a 20-round course of fire is more physical than using a 223 AR15.

The SLR controls are as follows; above the pistol grip on the left is the large and well shaped safety catch, which pushes down to FIRE and up for SAFE. At the rear of the mag well is a big, push-forward magazine release catch. In front of this is a small, vertical plunger that gives manual bolt hold open only. Forward left on the upper receiver is the folding, cocking (charging) handle, which runs in a slide and does not reciprocate with the action. Feed is from a 20-round box mag.

Sights consist of a fold-down leaf/ aperture on a sliding ramp marked from 100/200 to 600 metres for range. Windage is set by two opposed screws either side of the sight base. Up front there’s a blade in a rabbit ear protector that allows you to fine tune your base elevation. I reckon the SLR gives probably the best iron sight picture of any military rifle!

Also fitted are front and rear sling swivels supplied with an original green nylon sling of the period. There is no gas system with the tube and piston removed too, however the gas plug is retained for the look of the thing. Rear left of the lower receiver is the stripping catch that pulls back to allow the upper and lower receiver halves to hinge open.

21/25”

Design-wise the L1A1 shows a long/fixed flash hider, which doubles as a bayonet lug, which makes an overall length for its 21” barrel of near 25”. There’s a folding carry handle that swings down under the ejection port. Locking is different as the bolt body sits in a carrier, which cams it down in front of a locking shoulder in the lower receiver. Headspace can be an issue as the shoulders wear with heavy use, however, they can be replaced to account for this.
As a hybrid straight-pull the shooter is overcoming primary extraction and the unlocking movement along with compressing a strong return spring every time; which needs some effort. Plus the cocking handle needs to be flipped up every time too, which makes it slightly slower than the FAL, which has a fixed-type. It’s also on the left so you are taking the weight on your shooting arm alone, so a better choice for a left hander. Add to this the SLR weighs a hefty 10.5 lbs loaded and is 44.5” long so a lot of metal in the shoulder. It is possible to modify the SLR for a right hand, drop- back cocker, which I have seen and it works!

S.U.I.T. YOU SIR

Along with the rifle Neal supplied a S.U.I.T. sight (Sight Unit Infantry Trilux) which was an early attempt at a combat optic and a precursor to the S.U.S.A.T. as used on the L85 bullpup. This low power monocular system uses a large, tapered pointer that comes down from 12 o’clock. It offers two range setting via a lever, essentially it was a point and shoot set up. For low light use it had an integral Tritium insert that illuminated the tip of the pointer. It attaches by a special top cover, with a QD lock.

With any rifle of this type, you need to see what ammo it likes, due to the dictates of primary extraction. I used PPU’s (Prvi Partizan) 145-grain FMJ and 168-grain HPBT Match in 308 Win. The former is more in keeping with the 7.62

NATO Loading.

It was good to get behind the old SLR again after many years away and it all came back to me. Flip up the safety, snap in the magazine and flick out the cocking handle and retract it to cycle the action and chamber. Trigger pull is a firm 5-6 lbs but not bad and the iron sights give a good picture. Accuracy with either load showed it could keep the shots in a 4x2” rectangle at 100-yards, so good enough. The S.U.I.T. allows it to shoot slightly tighter, due to the fine pointer and small magnification.

This is a heavy rifle to use in the shoulder and manually-operated. Yanking that big bolt, carrier and return spring back each time take some effort. Personally I found a string of 20-shots more than enough and far slower to complete than a comparable, mann-opp AR15. Add to this as the gun gets hotter primary extraction gets more noticeable, with extra effort required to overcome it. At £2000, this is not a cheap rifle and would have expected it to look like new with all the metalwork finished in the same way. As it is you get a shiny black barrel and rather worn looking grey/ phosphated action.

Though some will disagree I feel the straight-pull SLR is just a bit much. However, the interest in these rifles continues apace, so it looks like I’m the odd one out…

PRICE: £2000

  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

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  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

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  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

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  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

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  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

  • L1A1 SLR Rifle - image {image:count}

    click on image to enlarge

gun
features

  • Name: L1A1 SLR
  • Calibre: 7.62x51/308 Win
  • Capacity: 20 (DM)
  • Barrel: 21”
  • Length: 44.5”
  • Weight: 10.5 lbs
  • S.U.I.T. sight: £450 (inc mount)
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