British army dudes...what is the deal with the SA-80

[Curval]

Just read that the manufacturer of the SA-80 has blamed the soldiers for misfires and jams that have occurred recently prompting the soldiers to request a new standard issue weapon.  The manufacturers claim that the weapons were not cleaned "properly".  

This smacks of "cover-up" to me.  Brit soldiers are trained to look after their weapons first and foremost...just like any army worth its salt.  I have a feeling the conditions under which the soldiers have found themselves in when cleaning weapons in the field are not the same as the conditions under which the manufacturers cleaned the weapons.  Try cleaning a weapon in a torrential downpour...or in a dust storm...then give out a report.

What are the Brit soldiers supposed to do, ask the enemy to hold off attacking in the rain because they cannot clean their weapons properly?

Why do the SAS not use the SA-80?  Perhaps because it SUCKS!

[straffo]

perhaps are they supposed to be ina class 1000 room ?


(definition here : http://www.esrf.fr/experiments/optics/metrology/cleanroom.html )

This is the correct place to clean-up your gun (in case you're a brit soldier ) :

[fd ski]

time to buy some Kalasnikows ?

[Gman]

This isn't news, it's an issue that is years old now.

My best friend is in 2 Para, they don't even use the SA80 anymore because it was so unreliable, even after many "rebuilds".  The General in charge of the Parachute regiment was relieved of command he put up such a pisser of a stink over the SA80 a while back.

When my pal was in Macedonia, he carried captured Soviet block weapons like the AKSU or RPD lmg when he could, he so distrusted his own rifle.

Now they are using M4 variants usually when deployed last I spoke to him.

[Pongo]

Stupid rifle even when if it works.