
5RAR soldier's
personal weapon 7.62mm
FAL, SLR (Self Loading Rifle).
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The L1A1 is the
Australian version of the Belgian FN FAL
rifle. It entered into service with the
Australian Army in 1959. The L1A1 was a
reliable, hard-hitting, gas-operated,
magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a
maximum battle range of 300 metres and a
practical rate of fire of 20 rounds per
minute. In Vietnam the L1A1 was the standard
personal weapon of the Australian soldier.
With a full 20 round magazine it weighed
4.96Kg. The standard issue was 5 magazines
per rifleman but almost all carried as many
filled magazines that they could get their
hands on, often dispensing with food rations
in order to find room for the extra
ammunition. The rational to this was that
the extra 7.62 mm rounds fired from an SLR
rifle would do more damage than throwing a
can of Ham and Lima Beans.
Type: Battle rifle
Place of origin: Belgium
Wars: Cold War, Vietnam War,
Falklands War
Designed: 1951
Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale (FN)
Produced: 1953
Number built: Over 1 million
Weight: 4.0-4.96 kg (8.8-10.2 lb)
Length: 1,090 mm (43 in)
Barrel length: 533 mm (21 in)
Cartridge: 7.62 × 51 mm NATO
Calibre: 7.62 mm (.308 in)
Action: Gas-operated, tilting block
Rate of fire: 20 rounds/min semi auto
Muzzle velocity: 823 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Effective range: 600 m (656 yd)
Feed system: 20-round detachable box
magazine
Sights: Aperture rear sight, hooded
post front sight |
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