L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle

L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR)
The L1A1 self-loading rifle
Type	Semi-automatic battle rifle (L1A1/C1A1) Light machine gun (L2A1/C2A1)
Place of origin	Belgium United Kingdom Australia Canada
Service history
In service	1954–1998
Used by	British Commonwealth (See Users)
Wars	See Conflicts
Production history
Designer	Dieudonné Saive, Ernest Vervier
Designed	1947–53
Manufacturer	Royal Small Arms Factory and Birmingham Small Arms Company factories (UK), Lithgow Small Arms Factory (Australia) Canadian Arsenals, Ltd. (Canada) Ordnance Factory Board (India)
Produced	1954–1985
Variants	L1A1/C1/C1A1 (Rifles) L2A1/C2/C2A1 (Squad automatic weapons)
Specifications
Weight	4.337 kg (9.56 lbs) empty
Length	1,143 mm (45 in)
Barrel length	554.4 mm (21.7 in)
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Gas-operated, tilting breechblock
Rate of fire	Semi automatic (L1A1, C1A1) Full Automatic (L2A1, C2A1) 675-750RPM
Muzzle velocity	823 m/s (2,700 ft/s)
Effective firing range	800 m (875 yds) (Effective range)
Feed system	20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Aperture rear sight, post front sight

The L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle is also known as the SLR, by the Canadian Army designation C1A1 (C1) or in the USA as the "inch pattern" FAL. It is a British Commonwealth derivative of the Belgian FN FAL battle rifle (Fusil Automatique Léger ["Light Automatic Rifle"] produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal [FN]). The L1A1 is produced under licence and has seen use in the Australian Army, Canadian Army, Indian Army, Jamaica Defence Force, Malaysian Army, New Zealand Army, Rhodesian Army, South African Defence Force and the British Armed Forces.

The original FAL was designed in Belgium using metric dimensions, while the components of the "inch-pattern" FALs are manufactured to a slightly modified design using British imperial units. Many sub-assemblies are interchangeable between the two types, while components of those sub-assemblies may not be compatible. Notable incompatibilities include the magazines and the butt-stock, which attach in different ways.

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 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 as well. Only Australia and Canada used this variant, as the UK and New Zealand used Bren light machine guns converted to fire the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. Canadian C1s issued to naval and army personnel were also capable of automatic fire.