Correction - (edited) as pointed out by a helpful commenter this is *arguably* not truly "integrally suppressed" as it has no ported barrel. However, the term "integrally suppressed" existed at that time (hence the nickname of 'PMSD') whereas the "reflex" suppressor is a later invention intended for us with standard barrel lengths and to be removable for unsuppressed use. This rifle has a specially adapted barrel designed for use *integrally* with the rifle, which is not intended for use without it. The suppressor threads in place at the REAR like the DeLisle and the SPR300 (also not ported - I previously stated the DeLisle isn't either - it is in part, it just has a sleeve over the ports). Thus it is "integral" even if the barrel is not ported like an MP5SD.
So, not only it the first time I hear about this L96 variant, it's also the first time I'm encountering this bit of suppressor classification. Truly educational video, thanks a lot! @RoyalArmouries Pin the man!
@@tommihommi1 I've been mulling this over and I do think there's a difference. Not to mention "integrally suppressed" was a thing in the 1980s whereas the term "reflex" hadn't been invented. I'll edit my comment, thanks.
@@jonathanferguson1211 A complicated matter indeed. It just occured to me, however, that there's yet another perspective in this matter. Just how integral is integral sound suppression? One might be tempted to say that the name is only deserved with cartridge-based solutions, like in the Soviet and US special purpose handguns (BraMit-suppressed Nagant, QSPR etc.), and everything outside the barrel is external, be it requiring a barrel swap to undo the effect like here or a sleeve like on the Agram. Besides, there is a degree of similarity between a ported barrel and a short barrel with a large suppressor hanging over the muzzle like on the rifle we've discussing. A longer ported barrel can impart spin on a bullet for a longer period of time, sure, but just how much does it have to do with classification of suppressors is not that obvious.
Showing of the neat suppressed rifle and casually pulls out L96 serial number 1. That's like showing off your comic book collection just to pull out Superman #1 to compare the artwork. Awesome flex.
I was very surprised how short the barrel is, I had always assumed sniper rifles had long barrels for range and accuracy. I guess this was not intended for roles where long ranges were required.
As a complete numpty my initial thought was that the shortened barrel would reduce the 'oomph' of the round, reducing muzzle velocity, etc., etc., but I am not sure how that'd affect overall range.
I trained on the AW with Irish Army in 1993. On the course our SF instructor showed us the suppressed Meanie, with folding stock, removable barrel (I think.) and briefcase type ..
I am surprised by the 12 inch barrel of the suppressed version. What sort of range were they intended to be used and were considered effective and accurate?
Did I see a protective cover on the muzzle of the stock rifle ? I sometimes wonder if such a big collection makes use of VPI corrosion inhibitors to protect bores and other inaccessible spaces from tarnish and rust .
It's always cool when the creators of well-known designs are still around and can provide clarification. So much of Colt and Browning history is guesswork, but then you can just *ask* modern designers, what was this hole drilled for?
This makes me wanna fit one to my L115a3, issue is that's in 300 win mag, sooooooo yeah. I doubt a suppressor would last very long with that, now I have tried mounting some but even muzzle threaded ones tend to expand a bit if I fire past think the most was 12 shots so yeah. I load 300s pretty high as I love long range shooting but I'd love a L96a1 honestly? In 300 blackout or 7.62x35mm To me it would be a brilliant cartridge for a medium range suppressed rifle even bolt action it would be pretty darn effective if you ask me. But let me know if a 300 blackout L96 is a good idea
It’s referencing the movie “Ronin” where 'what colour is the boathouse at Hereford?' is asked by Robert DeNiro’s character to Sean Bean who claims to a former SAS member.
I have one of these and its no louder than standard ambient conversation, I have fired it at a range with people having a convo behind me and they didn’t know I had fired it
@@mandowarrior123 not really no. The way the arms industry works in the UK, especially for military items, the first one off the line almost always gets kept and almost always ends up in the hands of the royal armouries. I bet there's hundreds of pieces that are the first off the line in there
I'm sure, but I'm used to spotting minute differences and I still can't see any actual modification compared to the stock, er, stock - even with a loupe.
being a machinist (one who works with the precision cutting of metals) I can say that the loosest tolerances you'll get for a job like this are the specified dimensions plus or minus about .0002 of an inch. that is about as close to perfect as possible.
Only 35 ever made? That's pretty rare. Would love FPS games to include this type of info more often, to make you feel like you are using a very special weapon.
3:34 for those wondering, Jonathan is referencing the amazing film Ronin. One of the characters is testing another character to see if they were really SAS or not by asking about the boat house in Hereford (where SAS trains). I've seen Ronin a dozen times and i didn't even recognize the reference. i had to look it up lol
I do love the background story of Accuracy International, one of those classic British start ups, designing something great and punching above their weight.
It's a very inspirational tale, couple of talented men who got to really show what they were made of and build an enterprise around it, even having to defend it from sabotage and takeover, and finally becoming a world class name in the industry.
Interesting I wish an acquaintance of mine was still with us. As he was a royal Marine commando sniper and for a time seconded to the SAS in Northern Ireland You might have been able to answer if this rifle was ever used in service by either. RIP Anthony.
I really didn't know that the Royal Armoury was in Leeds. I gotta visit Leeds one day when i'm over in the UK, both for the museum and for the whole "Birth town of The Sisters of Mercy" thing :)
This has been one of my favorite guns based on looks for a long time. I can't explain why, it just looks so damn cool. I own an Airsoft version of this and it's great :D
I've certainly visited as a result of seeing these and the series Jonathan Ferguson, Keeper of Firearms and Artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, home to a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history, does with Gamespot. Went for the M41a Pulse Rifle, stayed for, and got totally obsessed with, their gift shop. My wife had to drag me out by my collar before I beat our credit card to death 🤣 Seriously, it's the most amazing gift shop on the planet if you're a weapons/Sci fi/fantasy nerd. They had Star Wars christmas tree decorations 🤓
Our visitor data is not really set up to capture this unfortunately but maybe 2-3%? It might actually be less. But it's very rewarding when someone bumps into me or asks to see me and says they're visiting because of RU-vid, which has happened quite a few times now. US, Scandinavia, even China :)
A lot of this stuff is hidden away in the actual armoury, not on display at the museum. But the museum itself is a really cool place to visit, with a good few hours worth of things to look at and experience, taking you through the history of warfare. There's not a whole lot of typical tourist chaff in Leeds to give a lot of people reason to visit for long, but it is a city full of history, going back to before the Danes settled here.
The rounds for these had the headstamp removed in a lathe by machining a groove in them.. A lot of the barrel work on the original batch of green meanies was done by a Scottish gunsmith as AI didn't have the capabilities at the time being men in a shed at the time. Also the best gun at the SF trials wasn't the green meanie but a gun by Thomson and Campbell from Cromarty , when asked why they didn't win the guy bringing the weapon back to them said politics.
Is it just me, or do all the names of these rifles sound like DLCs for a tactical game? _Accuracy International: Arctic Warfare,_ in particular, sounds like one I'd have played.
Was a grate bit of kit' workhorse ya could say'! Wen i used IT wen i'was in the forces!! Great show as always! Keep the gd work up an running from a oldswet my self an ex'service AB ALL THE WAY BROTHER FROM A OLDSWET self an ex'service AB"!😊😊 lot's of memories from a oldswet my self an ex'sniper! I can tell ya'workhorse and grate bit of kit"!😊😊❤ well done mucker lots of memories from a oldswet my self.😊 an may everyone on the channel an in the comments section have a great 80'th anniversary of D-DAY JUMP ! This yr'. This yr will be a bigone. For the 80th anniversary of D-DAY JUMP an so on. All have a grate time etc! 😊🎉🎉
How I wish AI made a submission for the UK's replacement combat rifle! It pains me that we're now buying American... At great expense... After refusing to pay enough to a British manufacturer in the 1990s to do it properly.
haven't seen any souless grumpy old'n'bald types grumbling that 'its a moderator not a suppressor!' yet. Was a classic thing to hear whenever a rare British suppressed gat cropped up - or you could really wind em up and call it a silencer 😀
I have heard that early accuracy international rifles used Australian barrels... Madco made in Toowoomba is anyone able to confirm this cheers from Australia
The short barrel length may be an idea similar to the H&K MP5SD in that it will limit velocities even of standard 7.62mm rounds and result in a quieter report. That said the MP5SD barrel is both short AND ported to get velocity of standard 124gr NATO FMJ down so it's more likely just a practicality. Without a short barrel the thing would end up being stupidly long and unwieldy. Remember this is not really a long range rifle given it's CRW role. It doesn't need high velocities to reach out to 1000 yards.
@jleano609 1000 yards is absolutely long range for even a standard 7.62x51 rifle, no way you'd be firing this over that sort of range in anything other than desperation. The barrel length would compromise the velocity of full power rounds but it clearly isn't intended to function like the mp5sd because users were instructed not to use supersonic ammunition. I do agree with the length being primarily about handling characteristics.
I see that the theme of unusual suppressed arms continues! 6:00 Now in Smell-O-Vision! 😁 8:46 I have to say I'm quite puzzled by what standard of accuracy & precision this rifle was held up to with the supersonic rounds. Barrel being so short doesn't strike me as supporting any sort of even medium-range performance, and the sight reticle needs to accomodate both trajectories. 9:04 Certainly back then there still were people around who might've remembered this logic being quite prominent, one only has to look at the M16 suppressors during the Vietnam war to see its manifestation.
Saw one once in 88/89. Was in the Wilts Army Cadets and a lot of units where in garrison towns on salisbury plain so Army brats had Dads in interesting units come help at cadets . One An RQMS in the SASC git lots of kit to show and brought one if these and a snub nose SA80 ( for tank crew) to a county range day . We didnt get to fire them but cool to see
@@senilestix If the barrel is long enough to stabilize the bullets they are using the length wouldn't have anything to do with accuracy. I would bet money their standard is higher than four or five MOA for that rifle.
Are you not allowed to bring any of these museum guns to gun range for test firing? Are all of these guns there in the back room just dusting for no reason at all?
LOL! That only clicked for me when I read this comment 😁 It's even funnier with Lothar-Walter producing the short barrel, and both packing similar S&B optics. Now I want to see this puppy with the silencer removed and the polymer casings replaced with 80's tint wood furniture 🤣
My understanding is that in terms of mechanical accuracy shorter barrels actually tend to be more accurate due to their increased rigidity. Of course there are other compromises, primarily velocity, but accuracy should be excellent.
😀 I had a reasonable idea what a reflex suppressor/moderator was. I made one for my Spring Air rifle about 25 years back - only to confirm that most of the 'crack' was from the piston hitting the end of the pressure chamber. 😕 I (still!) haven't gotten around to putting a buffer pad of some sort in. 🙄 Anyway. Where today's 'research' on said suppressors took me was - to the HSE info pages on them being a legal requirement for those 'who use firearms at work' 😅 Now that was unexpected. 😉
I would think a buffer pad might affect your velocity though, the piston would have slightly less stroke to compress the volume and that last little bit makes a big difference in pressure.
