This video announces a Kickstarter campaign for Jonathan Ferguson's new book, "Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901 - 2020." Recorded at the Cody Firearms Museum, the discussion highlights the book's comprehensive coverage of British bullpup firearm development, from early prototypes like the Thorneycroft and Godsal rifles to the iconic SA80 series. Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms & Artillery at the Royal Armouries, brings extensive archival access and original research to the project. The book also covers various EM series rifles, the Enfield Weapon System, SA80 variants, and other developmental and civilian weapons, serving as a successor to "Chassepot to FAMAS."
This video delves into the distinct categories of machine guns, explaining their unique characteristics, historical purpose, and evolution within military contexts. It meticulously breaks down terms such as Automatic Rifle, LMG, HMG, MMG, GPMG, SAW, and LSW, providing specific examples for each to illustrate their operational differences and design philosophies. The content aims to educate viewers on the nuances that differentiate these weapon systems.
This video delves into the pre-production history of the SA80 rifle, focusing on the XL85 and XL86 variants. It highlights key mechanical changes, such as the redesigned magazine well for improved precision and the addition of a barrel support on the Light Support Weapon (LSW) to address the persistent 'split group' issue. The video also touches upon the declining morale at RSAF Enfield due to impending factory closure, which is suggested to have impacted quality control. Companion blog posts offer detailed photographic evidence.
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.
This video demonstrates the terminal ballistics of the SA80 L86A1 Light Support Weapon firing a 5.56x45mm NATO round into a 10% ballistic gelatine block. It explains the principles of permanent cavity, temporary cavity, and penetration, using the gelatine block as a scientific standard to simulate human tissue. The description also touches on the history and design intent of the 5.56mm round as an intermediate rifle cartridge.
This video demonstrates the terminal ballistics of the SA80 L86A1 Light Support Weapon firing 5.56x45mm NATO ammunition into a 10% ballistic gelatine block. The content explains the scientific principles behind ballistic gel testing, including the formation of permanent and temporary cavities, and the importance of penetration depth. It details how gelatine simulates human tissue for wound track analysis and discusses the characteristics of the 5.56mm round, its origins with the AR-15/M16 platform, and its effectiveness when yawing. The description also provides a link to the Royal Armouries collection.
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