Being RAOC we didn't have the GPMG, but I did enjoy the LMG or Bren. Yes an old weapon but very satisfying to pull the butt into the shoulder and squirt rounds off (in bursts of three to five of course) down the range. One of the few weapons I've enjoyed firing more than the LMG was the .30 Browning, like the LMG an old weapon but it gave the firer bags of confidence...well I thought so anyway

My first time firing the old SMLE in shirt sleeve order I thought I had been kicked by a horse, then I fired a PIAT ... holy jesus I don't know what went further, the shell or me (backwards) .. but then having to reload it, I thought I would get a hernia ..

Ciphers

Know the feeling,not with a PIAT but I once and only bloody once had the dubious pleasure of firing a 94 (Energa) grenade on Sennelager ranges,oh dear,thought I'd lost my right hand with the kick of yon Ballasite cartridge,no sympathy though,told I should have held it tighter,as I was white knuckled gripping the SLR I dont see how that would have been possible.

Mmmm! I agree Nobby those 94's were wicked things to fire. The sights were a joke, if you got yourself at the twisted angle which allowed you to use them, the recoil would make you pay dearly. Being Regimental signals we used the Drill rounds to lay D10 telephone cable across "Obstacles" It, more often than not, fell on me as signals NCO to demonstrate to the trainees, not a job I enjoyed. Firing the 94 grenade is bad enough but a drill round with a pack of cable attached is a different animal, and a bloody dangerous one at that. I saw, too late to stop him, one pillock stand astride the cable as he fired, the resulting friction cut clean through his combats before I got him off it. Although he had a nasty burn he was lucky to escape with his jewels intact. Another time, on exercise, The Signal officer of all people was on the other side of a "River", in plain view, assessing accuracy of the shot whilst the shooters were vying with one another as to who could get the closest to him. I decided I should call a halt when one declared "get close %%$£%$" from here I can nail the twat". I suppose he was safe enough 'cos it was almost impossible to hit the target with the bloody things.
OH! happy days

Ah yes - the old PIAT - I remember it well and fired it quite a few times,but never in anger.And re-cocking that spring was definately a job for Charles Atlas.Brings back happy memories of the .303 rifle,of which I was a good shot and won the Regtl Rifle competition on the 3 occasions when we managed a small arms meeting.And drill with a rifle,then there is only one weapon - the good old Lee-Enfield!
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Don

The .303 was indestructible. Never been issued one, though I did own one and the carbine version to. All over the middle east I would see them being still used by various forces, police and security people.

The last one I owned now hangs on the wall at the Army Navy on Empress St in Winnipeg with appropiate spike bayonet. The bayonet came of a dead Greek-Cypriot soldier in 74.

Also saw my last Thompson SMG's in use with the Greek Cypriot forces. Mind Ellen in Ellen's bar on Regina St in Nic. had one to.

Mike2817

Can I ask your opnion on gun cleaning fluids?. I had so many conflicting opinions when I was working.

In recent years

Oil, OX-24 for general small arms cleaning purposes

Oil, PX-11 for long term storage

http://www.hmvf.co.uk/pdf/POLcompact.pdf

I was leaving the army just as SA80 was entering service - and probably long before we Scalies were due to get our hands on it.

But I have to say from everything I've heard and read, I would have preferred to carry the good old SLR had I stayed in longer.

I've seen it described elsewhere as an "Elephant Gun" but it's one powerful rifle with a good range and plenty of stopping power. By comparison the SA80 just seems so, well plastic - and a bit of a pop gun !

The reference to oils for weapon cleaning made me smile - a recollection came to mind from many years ago.

While a very young Apprentice Tradesman in the AAC Harrogate we had a stint at Beckingham Ranges near Newark. The accomodation was old Nissen huts with an old fashioned stove to heat the place. As it was in the middle of winter and bloody freezing we were given permission to light the stoves. Of course all the bits of flanellette were simply thrown into the stove as we cleaned the SLR's and seemed to burn without any incident.

Cue some smart alec who concluded "Gun oil doesn't burn well" and as we had a large plastic mug full of it once the cleaning was completed, proceeded to throw the contents into the stove.

That led to one huge "explosion" as all the gun oil went up in a flash, sending 8 sqaddies flying in all directions and scorching the ceiling of the Nissen Hut !

Brasso did a good job of lighting coke stoves

We were issued with the SLR in Germany about 1954 for trials, unfortunately there was not much ammo available for it at that time but it was easier to handle than the heavier 303.

Lot's of changes since those days!!

SLR was my personal weapon while in BAOR,when I did my first tour of Northern Ireland I was issued with a Browning 9mm handgun,must admit I never got to use the SA80 as I was out when they were being introduced,I loved the SLR,simple but very powerfull,superb weapon