Year of L22A1 carbine production?

[Ominae]

Was the L22A1 carbine produced after the SA80s were finished production in '94? At least, that's what I've read in the Gun Zone.

If I'm right, I heard that the L22A2 was made with mods from Operation Telic.

Feel free to correct me if anything's wrong.

[DeltaWhisky58]

The L22A1 is a carbine version of the SA80-series of weapons and was produced by Heckler und Koch to the same level of modification/upgrading as the L85A2. The L22A1s were I believe largely produced from converted L86A1 LSWs, the conversions being carried out over the past three years or so.

There was a proposed carbine version in the original SA80-series of weapons, but these were never adopted/issued, rumour has it that a small number were produced.

So, in short the L22A1s are all of recent production, i.e. post Op. Telic.

[REMOV]

Was the L22A1 carbine produced after the SA80s were finished production in '94?

Yes and no. Yes - the, L22A1 was created about 10 years after closing the SA80 production line, and no, because the all existed L22A1 carbines are just converted L86A1s automatic rifles not the L85A1 assault rifles.

[DeltaWhisky58]

Yes and no. Yes - the, L22A1 was created about 10 years after closing the SA80 production line, and no, because the all existed L22A1 carbines are just converted L86A1s automatic rifles not the L85A1 assault rifles.

^^^ I could swear that's a precis of what I posted three hours ago!

[REMOV]

The Devil's in The Details

[Nige]

The L22A1 was not issued to British Forces until late 2006. The concept had been around for a while but it wasn't until OP TELIC that people really pushed the idea.
Also, there is no L22A2 - yet.

[DeltaWhisky58]

Also, there is no L22A2 - yet.

Nor will there be unless a further up-date programme becomes necessary. The fact that the L85/L86 were updated to "A2" standard is not reflected in the L22A1 designation because the first adopted model of the L22 series already incorporates the modifications which resulted in the "A2" model of the L85/L85.

In short, the L22A1 is the equivalent of the L85A2/L85A2 - the L22A1 is an entirely new weapon in terms of official designation having been re manufactured from L86A1 weapons by Heckler und Koch Gmbh.

L22A1 = First adopted model, no modifications
L85A2 = Modification of L85A1, remanfactured by Heckler und Koch
L86A2 = Modification of L86A1, remanfactured by Heckler und Koch

[Dave-Sappy]

Would these be examples of the SA80 carbines that weren't adopted?

http://www.gun-world.net/britain/sa80/l22a1.htm

The pics of the RMP soldier looks a bit too airsofty but the bottom pic looks real enough. Just wanted an experts opinion. Thanks

[Tony Williams]

See the fifth post down HERE and note the differences between the fifth and sixth pics down HERE plus the title HERE

I have fired an L22A2 and quite enjoyed it (see pic, from THIS article) but then I was wearing ear defenders...



Tony Williams: Military gun and ammunition website and discussion forum

[REMOV]

and note the differences between the fifth and sixth pics down HERE

Yeah, I noted. The weapon signed as "L22A2" has markings clearly showing it real name - L22A1, just take a closer look at it, it is yours photo, for God sake



Tony, there is no such carbine as "L22A2" I am afraid. And if you are the author of the JIW note about "L22A2" it is - in my opinion - just your mistake, nothing else

[Lov3ll]

A few sites call the l22a1 with the picatinny rail a l22a2, I'm guessing thats where some of the confusion comes from

[DeltaWhisky58]

What a few sites call it means nothing, there is only one version - The L22A1 - and AFAIK the Picatinny rail is a standard fitting since day 1. If you see an "SA80" carbine without either the Picatinny rail or the perforated rail in which the front vertical grip is mounted, chances are it is a photo of one of the early batch of carbines made when the "SA80" system was first introduced and never adopted.

See my post above on why the L22A1 is so designated.

[Little J]

Just out of curiosity, how long is the barrel on the "L22 A1". Things I've read in the past always say that "about a foot" has been cut off, was hoping for something a little more accurate.

cheers.

P.s. Tony the fifth pic labelled L22a1 on popenker's site is the 1980's SA80 carbine not related to the HK carbine (as may have been hinted at already )

[REMOV]

According to wikipedia and Popenker website it is 442 mm, but I am not quite sure if this value is correct.

[DeltaWhisky58]

Popenker is clearly wrong in his assumptions about the L22 as there is no L22A2. As Little J says above, what Popenker claims in the L22A1 is in fact the much older SA80 Carbine which was never adopted, and his L22A2 is in fact an L22A1.