Carbine SA80A2 to equip tank crews

Like others have said, it is still an SA80, and as that, will be pretty much despised by the squaddies. The SA80 has been plagued with problems since it's inception, including failing the MOD's mud/sand/fouling tests during trials. It was chosen because it was Briddish, doncha know?

Ever wonder why ALL the specialist units in teh UK universally DO NOT USE the SA80? Instead, they use a mix of AR15/M16/C7, HK G33K, HK G3K, etc?
 
For just over the past year my work has had me in quite regular and close contact with quite a few British soldiers from 8+ Army regiments, 2 Royal Marine Commando units, and their Infantry Trials and Development Unit.
I'll have to chime in here for the other side of the argument.
The original SA-80 was a POS, and I have yet to meet a British soldier that would not agree with that completely. That said, after the HK mods were made to bring it up to the A2 designation, the weapon is certainly no longer the same POS.
From what I have heard/seen, the weapon will in many cases out perform the AR family (C7/C8/M-16, etc). Ever wonder why HK was asked to mod the M4?
It's funny, because after the mods were done, the British military had to actually go out to the units to present this evidence, as the experiences with the SA-80 ran so deep that most troops refused to believe that anything short of completely ditching the SA-80 design would be acceptable.
 
Well,, you still can't shoot the SA80 from the left shoulder or left side,, so if you are a lefty you are still SOL. The handling drills are still wacked,, and it seems to weigh a ton.

I used the SA80 a bit back in May of this year,, used the plain jane SA80, the A1 and the A2 versions. Never had a stoppage with any of them,, and they were very accurate. Just on the range though. I had some issues with the mag well,, and saw an inexperienced lad jam a mag into the mag well of the LSW variant that took about 3 Brits to beat out of the weapon. Every Brit that ever voiced an opinion just drooled over any Diemaco product.

I would still prefer a C7/C8 over the SA80. Perhaps I am biased,, but I wouldn't drop my C7 and pick up any other rifle I may find on a battlefield.
 
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