L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle

L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle
A British L1A1 SLR
Type	Semi-automatic rifle Light machine gun (L2A1/C2) Battle rifle (Ishapore 1A/1C)
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Service history
In service	1954–1994 (UK) 1954–present (Other countries)
Used by	Commonwealth (See Users)
Wars	See Conflicts
Production history
Designer	Dieudonné Saive Ernest Vervier
Designed	1947–1953
Manufacturer	Royal Small Arms Factory Birmingham Small Arms Company Canadian Arsenals Limited Lithgow Small Arms Factory Ordnance Factory Board ROF Fazakerley
Produced	1954–present
Variants	L1A1/C1/C1A1 (Rifles) L2A1/C2/C2A1 (Squad automatic weapons)
Specifications
Mass	4.337 kg (9.56 lb) empty[1] page 58.
Length	1,143 mm (3 ft 9.0 in)
Barrel length	554.4 mm (21.83 in)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Rate of fire	675-750 rounds/min (L2A1/C2)
Muzzle velocity	823 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range	800 m (870 yd)
Feed system	20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Aperture rear sight, post front sight

The L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR), also known by the initial Canadian designation C1, or in the U.S. as the "inch pattern" FAL, is a British version of the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle. The L1A1 was produced under licence and adopted by the armed forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Rhodesia and Singapore.^[2]

The L1A1 is manufactured to a slightly modified design using British imperial units compared to the metric units of the original Belgian FAL. Many sub-assemblies are interchangeable between the two types, while components of those sub-assemblies may not be compatible. Notable incompatibilities include the magazine and the stock.

Most Commonwealth pattern FALs are semi-automatic only. A variant named L2A1/C2A1 (C2), meant to serve as a light machine gun in a support role, is also capable of fully automatic fire. Differences from the L1A1/C1 include a heavy barrel, squared front sight (versus the "V" on the semi-automatic models), a handguard that doubles as a foldable bipod, and a larger 30-round magazine although it could also use the normal 20-round magazines. Only Canada and Australia used this variant. Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom used the Bren light machine guns converted to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge for use in the support role. Canadian C1s issued to naval and army personnel were also capable of fully automatic fire.