Exactly, who would design a weapon to test then swap all the bits for cheap crap prior to operational delivery? Only our MoD.
MK1 SA80:
Swapped Brit 30 rnd mag for cheap US surplus (gold under the crap paint that rubbed off when you cleaned the mags) 25 round M16 mag = weak springs that couldn't lift 30 rnds, this also caused double round feeds & jams in the chamber with double feed that you couldn't clear, Susat's that fogged up, barrels that bent if you used a bayonet, butt plates that fell off, dust covers that snapped off and then the chamber/working parts got filled with snow that then froze solid or muddy crap that solidified, supplied incorrect spec oil (probably left over from WW1), utter crap 1st gen grenade launcher that nearly smashed your eye socket in when the funny sight was fitted, firing pins that snapped on the SA80 and the LSW, bayonets with wire cutters designed in (good idea) but in reality the lug snapped off, the utterly incomprehensible official way to attach the sling and finally the magazine release catch had no protection so you always hit it and the magazine fell off.
LSW:
Most of the above plus the inability to carry it horizontal like the GPMG as some idiot put the front sling swivel in the shortened stock. so the sling dug into your neck and the muzzle pointed just in front of your boots. We used to put a grenade ring into the end of the stock so we could put the sling through it and it stayed almost horizontal. Same problem with the mag release catch (no cover for it) so patrolling along then CLANG clatter clatter (or thud if on grass) - mag on the floor 30 rounds all over the place.
weak return spring so it wouldn't fully lock home - puzzled rifle men when it was an unknown IA because the parts looked forward and locked. Did the MoD replace the spring? Nope - they brought in the "forward assist"
MK2:
Incorrect oil delivered again, uprated mags this time, still got double round jams in the breech. We had to stamp on the new cocking handle to unjam them. Dodgy but it worked.
Still it was a bit better than the MK1.
Never saw the LSW again after MK2 SA80 introduced - guess it must have been mothballed - it was utterly crap except as a target rifle.
That's enough of that now as it's all ancient history
MK1 SA80:
Swapped Brit 30 rnd mag for cheap US surplus (gold under the crap paint that rubbed off when you cleaned the mags) 25 round M16 mag = weak springs that couldn't lift 30 rnds, this also caused double round feeds & jams in the chamber with double feed that you couldn't clear, Susat's that fogged up, barrels that bent if you used a bayonet, butt plates that fell off, dust covers that snapped off and then the chamber/working parts got filled with snow that then froze solid or muddy crap that solidified, supplied incorrect spec oil (probably left over from WW1), utter crap 1st gen grenade launcher that nearly smashed your eye socket in when the funny sight was fitted, firing pins that snapped on the SA80 and the LSW, bayonets with wire cutters designed in (good idea) but in reality the lug snapped off, the utterly incomprehensible official way to attach the sling and finally the magazine release catch had no protection so you always hit it and the magazine fell off.
LSW:
Most of the above plus the inability to carry it horizontal like the GPMG as some idiot put the front sling swivel in the shortened stock. so the sling dug into your neck and the muzzle pointed just in front of your boots. We used to put a grenade ring into the end of the stock so we could put the sling through it and it stayed almost horizontal. Same problem with the mag release catch (no cover for it) so patrolling along then CLANG clatter clatter (or thud if on grass) - mag on the floor 30 rounds all over the place.
weak return spring so it wouldn't fully lock home - puzzled rifle men when it was an unknown IA because the parts looked forward and locked. Did the MoD replace the spring? Nope - they brought in the "forward assist"
MK2:
Incorrect oil delivered again, uprated mags this time, still got double round jams in the breech. We had to stamp on the new cocking handle to unjam them. Dodgy but it worked.
Still it was a bit better than the MK1.
Never saw the LSW again after MK2 SA80 introduced - guess it must have been mothballed - it was utterly crap except as a target rifle.
That's enough of that now as it's all ancient history
