Book Review - The Last Enfield: SA80 The Reluctant Rifle

This video provides an expert overview of Murdoch & Co's remanufactured SA80 family of rifles, including the L85A1, L85A2, and L85A3 models. Evan, CEO of Murdoch & Co, details the company's mission to preserve the history of the SA80 by producing semi-automatic versions in the USA. The L85A3 is highlighted for its modern upgrades like an M-LOK handguard and free-float barrel, while the Collector Series focuses on historical accuracy. The trigger performance is noted as superior to other bullpup designs.

This video provides an in-depth look at the EIW97, an experimental electronic variant of the SA80 rifle, presented by Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries. The EIW97 explored electronic ignition and programmable fire control to enhance lethality and hit probability, featuring specialized ammunition and a significantly reduced cyclic rate for improved accuracy. Expert Murray discusses its origins as a mid-1990s research program investigating future weapon systems.

Jonathan Ferguson of the Royal Armouries explains that the L85A1's fundamental design flaws, such as the ejection port size, could not have been fixed by Enfield even if the company hadn't been sold. While improved quality control might have reduced malfunctions, the inherent issues would have persisted, making the SA80 platform problematic regardless of manufacturing.

The L98A1 Cadet Rifle, a manually-operated variant of the SA80, was designed for British cadets to ensure safe training without semi-automatic capabilities. It features a unique side-mounted charging handle replacing the standard gas system and utilizes a standard L85 bolt. Specialized iron sights are included, adjustable up to 500 meters.

The Enfield L85A1 is critically reviewed as one of the worst modern military rifles, plagued by reliability issues stemming from poor quality control and design flaws. Despite its AR-180-based mechanics, it suffered greatly in harsh conditions like Desert Storm. A later H&K redesign resulted in the improved L85A2, though the original A1's reputation remains poor.

The Falkland Islands Defense Force (FIDF) adopted the Steyr AUG in 1992 after rigorous testing, selecting it over the problematic British L85A1. They procured 160 rifles in standard, carbine, and Light Support Weapon (LSW) variants, utilizing integrated optics and 30/42-round magazines. A unique three-position safety was implemented to prevent accidental full-auto fire. After 30 years, the FIDF is transitioning to the L85A2 for training compatibility.

This video details the unique 'French Finger Trap' issue with the MAS-36 rifle's bayonet, where two rifles can become unintentionally locked together. A 1951 French arsenal memorandum identified this problem, proposing a simple modification to the bayonet handle. Drilling a small hole allows a tool, like a firing pin, to depress the internal spring, enabling the separation of locked rifles.

The M134 Minigun is a scaled-down 7.62 NATO rotary cannon, requiring 24V DC power and consuming 1.5 kW. Its high rate of fire (3,000+ RPM) is essential for aircraft engagement windows. The complex delinker mechanism is critical for feeding ammunition, and practical hand-held use is impossible due to weight and recoil. Live fire demonstrates rapid ammunition consumption and the need for indirect aiming.

The H&K G11 is a revolutionary prototype assault rifle designed in the late 20th century, notable for its caseless ammunition and unique rotating drum bolt mechanism. Despite advanced features like a 2000 RPM burst fire rate and integrated optics, its development was ultimately halted by geopolitical shifts and cost concerns.

This video demonstrates the assembly and live-fire of the German 1936 pattern light mortar (L.Gr.W.36). It highlights the mortar's leveling mechanism for accuracy and the difficulty in visually tracking its 50mm projectiles after firing. The content showcases historical military hardware and its operational use.