[MasterGunner01]

The Royal Marines and SAS have used M16/M4 rifles since the Falkland's War (on and off). They call them “ArmaLites” after the originator. The SA80 has been plagued by problems ever since the British military shelved the 7.62 NATO L1A1 rifle (aka SLR — self-loading rifle). The SA80 (aka L85A1) was so unreliable in the First Gulf War that L1A1 rifles were reissued from war reserve stocks. H&K was brought aboard to cure the L85A1 problems and this resulted in the L85A2 that is now standard. For some reason, the Brits have a fixation with bullpup rifles. First was the EM-1 and EM-2, then the L64, and then the successor L85. The first three never saw service, but the L85 did and it has not gotten a sterling reputation.

[Farmer Dean]

I think it’s ironic that HK fixed the British weapon,but can’t seem to get a handle on the G36 problem.

[jospehm20]

The French FAMAS bullpup turned out to be a bust too. I am not sure if the Steyr AUG is any good. I saw Australians still carrying them a few years ago.

[FreedomPoster]

>>For some reason, the Brits have a fixation with bullpup rifles.

In the post-WWII, Cold War era, most British infantry was heavy mechanized infantry that cycled through the BAOR, British Army of the Rhine, in northern West Germany, to deter the Soviet tank armies in East Germany. If you’re getting to war in an APC or IFV, you’re crammed in there with a bunch of guys with full kit, and having a bullpup, assuming you have one that works reliably, could be a real plus vs. a full length rifle.

I’m sure there are other reasons the Brits went down that road, but I’m fairly certain that one was high on the list.

[the scotsman]

Well, we did invent the bullpup.