This video is a book review of Steve Raw's "The Last Enfield: SA80 The Reluctant Rifle". The book, published in 2003, comprehensively details the development of the SA80 weapons family, from its early Enfield Weapons System origins through its transition to 5.56mm, troop trials, adoption, and subsequent issues like those revealed in the Gulf War, leading to the HK A2 redesign. The review highlights the book's thoroughness in covering design changes, special prototypes, and accessories, emphasizing the often disastrous development path of the SA80 and labeling it an essential read for anyone interested in weapons design and military procurement.
This video from Armament Research Services (ARES) delves into the early history of the SA80 rifle program, focusing on the very first mockups. It explores the British military's long-standing interest in reduced-power cartridges post-WWII, which eventually led to the SA80 family. The content highlights five initial wooden and metal mockups, examining their conventional and bullpup configurations, as well as variations in stock design. A key takeaway is the early consideration of a universal optical sight. The video also details the subsequent functional prototypes, which were conversions of existing rifles, specifically a Stoner 63 and a Sterling AR18, into bullpup configurations. The description emphasizes the iterative development process with features like safety and magazine catch being refined.
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