Small Arms Defense Journal
No Result
View All Result
Sun , May 11, 2025
  • Login
  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Brief
  • Category
    • Ammunition
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Features
    • Grenades & Rockets
    • History
    • Industry Profiles
    • Interviews
    • Military Museums
    • New Products
    • Reviews
    • Show Reports
    • Show Videos
    • Suppressors
  • Press Releases
  • Search By Issue
    • Volume 1
      • V1N1
      • V1N2
      • V1N3
      • V1N4
    • Volume 2
      • V2N1
      • V2N2
      • V2N3
      • V2N4
    • Volume 3
      • V3N1
      • V3N2
      • V3N3
      • V3N4
    • Volume 4
      • V4N1
      • V4N2
      • V4N3
      • V4N4
    • Volume 5
      • V5N1
      • V5N2
      • V5N3
      • V5N4
    • Volume 6
      • V6N1
      • V6N2
      • V6N3
      • V6N4
    • Volume 7
      • V7N1
      • V7N2
      • V7N3
      • V7N4
      • V7N5
    • Volume 8
      • V8N1
      • V8N2
      • V8N3
      • V8N4
      • V8N5
      • V8N6
    • Volume 9
      • V9N1
      • V9N2
      • V9N3
      • V9N4
      • V9N5
      • V9N6
    • Volume 10
      • V10N1
      • V10N2
      • V10N3
      • V10N4
      • V10N5
      • V10N6
    • Volume 11
      • V11N1
      • V11N2
      • V11N3
      • V11N4
      • V11N5
      • V11N6
    • Volume 12
      • V12N1
      • V12N2
      • V12N3
      • V12N4
      • V12N5
      • V12N6
    • Volume 13
      • V13N1
      • V13N2
      • V13N3
      • V13N4
      • V13N5
      • V13N6
    • Volume 14
      • V14N1
      • SADJ – V14N2
      • SADJ – V14N3
  • Trade Show Information
    • Show Calendar
    • Africa
      • Africa Aerospace & Defence – Centurion, South Africa
    • Asia
      • Asia China Police Expo – Beijing, China
      • BRIDEX – Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam
      • Defense & Security – Bangkok, Thailand
      • Defense Services Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
        • DSA Pre Show Report : EXPECT THE BEST!
      • IDEAS – Karachi, Pakistan
      • INDO DEFENCE – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • TADTE – Taipei, Taiwan
    • Europe
      • Arms & Security – Kyiv, Ukraine
      • ASDA – Split, Croatia
      • B&T Police Equipment Show – Thun, Switzerland
      • BSDA – Bucharest, Romania
      • DSEI – London, United Kingdom
      • Eurosatory – Paris, France
        • Successful 27th edition of EUROSATORY after a 4-year absence!
        • EUROSATORY 2022
      • Expomil – Bucharest, Romania
      • Future Forces – Prague, Czech Republic
      • IDEB – Bratislava, Slovak Republic
      • IDEF – Istanbul, Turkey
      • IWA OutdoorClassics – Nuremberg, Germany
      • Milipol – Paris, France
      • MSPO – Kielce, Poland
        • MSPO 2023: Mission is Underway
        • MSPO 2023 – Lead Nation Exhibition Update: Preparations Are Underway
      • Partner – Belgrade, Serbia
      • Symposia at Shrivenham – Shrivenham, UK
    • Middle East
      • IDEX – Abu Dhabi, UAE
      • ISDEF – Tel Aviv, Israel
    • North America
      • Modern Day Marine – Quantico, VA
      • SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
    • South America
      • FIDAE – Santiago, Chile
      • LAAD – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
      • SITDEF – Lima, Peru
        • SITDEF – NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021
  • About us
  • Home
  • Advertise
  • Brief
  • Category
    • Ammunition
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Features
    • Grenades & Rockets
    • History
    • Industry Profiles
    • Interviews
    • Military Museums
    • New Products
    • Reviews
    • Show Reports
    • Show Videos
    • Suppressors
  • Press Releases
  • Search By Issue
    • Volume 1
      • V1N1
      • V1N2
      • V1N3
      • V1N4
    • Volume 2
      • V2N1
      • V2N2
      • V2N3
      • V2N4
    • Volume 3
      • V3N1
      • V3N2
      • V3N3
      • V3N4
    • Volume 4
      • V4N1
      • V4N2
      • V4N3
      • V4N4
    • Volume 5
      • V5N1
      • V5N2
      • V5N3
      • V5N4
    • Volume 6
      • V6N1
      • V6N2
      • V6N3
      • V6N4
    • Volume 7
      • V7N1
      • V7N2
      • V7N3
      • V7N4
      • V7N5
    • Volume 8
      • V8N1
      • V8N2
      • V8N3
      • V8N4
      • V8N5
      • V8N6
    • Volume 9
      • V9N1
      • V9N2
      • V9N3
      • V9N4
      • V9N5
      • V9N6
    • Volume 10
      • V10N1
      • V10N2
      • V10N3
      • V10N4
      • V10N5
      • V10N6
    • Volume 11
      • V11N1
      • V11N2
      • V11N3
      • V11N4
      • V11N5
      • V11N6
    • Volume 12
      • V12N1
      • V12N2
      • V12N3
      • V12N4
      • V12N5
      • V12N6
    • Volume 13
      • V13N1
      • V13N2
      • V13N3
      • V13N4
      • V13N5
      • V13N6
    • Volume 14
      • V14N1
      • SADJ – V14N2
      • SADJ – V14N3
  • Trade Show Information
    • Show Calendar
    • Africa
      • Africa Aerospace & Defence – Centurion, South Africa
    • Asia
      • Asia China Police Expo – Beijing, China
      • BRIDEX – Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam
      • Defense & Security – Bangkok, Thailand
      • Defense Services Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
        • DSA Pre Show Report : EXPECT THE BEST!
      • IDEAS – Karachi, Pakistan
      • INDO DEFENCE – Jakarta, Indonesia
      • TADTE – Taipei, Taiwan
    • Europe
      • Arms & Security – Kyiv, Ukraine
      • ASDA – Split, Croatia
      • B&T Police Equipment Show – Thun, Switzerland
      • BSDA – Bucharest, Romania
      • DSEI – London, United Kingdom
      • Eurosatory – Paris, France
        • Successful 27th edition of EUROSATORY after a 4-year absence!
        • EUROSATORY 2022
      • Expomil – Bucharest, Romania
      • Future Forces – Prague, Czech Republic
      • IDEB – Bratislava, Slovak Republic
      • IDEF – Istanbul, Turkey
      • IWA OutdoorClassics – Nuremberg, Germany
      • Milipol – Paris, France
      • MSPO – Kielce, Poland
        • MSPO 2023: Mission is Underway
        • MSPO 2023 – Lead Nation Exhibition Update: Preparations Are Underway
      • Partner – Belgrade, Serbia
      • Symposia at Shrivenham – Shrivenham, UK
    • Middle East
      • IDEX – Abu Dhabi, UAE
      • ISDEF – Tel Aviv, Israel
    • North America
      • Modern Day Marine – Quantico, VA
      • SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
    • South America
      • FIDAE – Santiago, Chile
      • LAAD – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
      • SITDEF – Lima, Peru
        • SITDEF – NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2021
  • About us
No Result
View All Result
Small Arms Defense Journal
No Result
View All Result
Phoenix Ads Image
Home New Products

“Sharpshooter” Reaches Further Downrange: The L129A2 gets adopted

by Dan Shea
3 October, 2023
in New Products
0 0
0

A British soldier firing the new “Sharpshooter” in 6.5 Creedmoor with Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18x44 optic and Huxworks HXQB Helix suppressor, at the COTEC Range during the Shrivenham Close Combat Symposium in 2022.

0
SHARES
1.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

By Dan Shea

A bit of background: During the war in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s, many soldiers were questioning the terminal ballistics—the stopping effect—that the 5.56x45mm NATO round had at longer distances. A rifle’s purpose in war, of shooting an enemy soldier, is not so much to kill as it is to stop him from continuing what he’s doing… to make him cease being a threat. Many coalition soldiers have stories about hitting the enemy, center of mass, at 600 meters only to see the enemy soldier fire an RPG or DShK in return, dying later, bleeding out 100 meters away. The projectile did not do the “stopping” part of the job.

In the mid-2000s, Karl Lewis of LMT Defense, and Greg Felton of Law Enforcement International Ltd. (LEI) in the U.K., were involved in a program for another client. The requirement was for a reliable, maneuverable 7.62x51mm select-fire rifle. The rifle that LMT & LEI provided was nothing short of amazing. Concurrently, the British Ministry of Defence came out with a requirement for a Designated Marksman Rifle in 7.62×51, semi-auto only. The basics were there, Karl had to remove the full auto feature and add a few needed design changes and they submitted what is now adopted as the L129A1 “Sharpshooter.” The weapon was an outstanding success, and after Afghanistan, the weapon system – initially purchased as a temporary measure—was adopted as a permanent system.  

The L129A1, as adopted, 16-inch barrel, 7.62x51mm tuned to British cartridges, with the very large-appearing Trijicon 6×48 ACOG machine gun optic. Once a shooter looks through the optic, they understand why such a large optic was chosen – fantastic light gathering, wide field of view, crisp picture, perfect for the designated marksman range. More than 2000 were purchased and delivered.
Live fire of the L129A2 at COTEC range in southern England during Shrivenham 2022, as Greg Felton of LEI watches. The optic is the Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44 M5C3 Desert IR with Tremor3 reticle, on a Tier One mount. The rail is 15.5 inches with M-Lok slots, longer than the rail on the L129A1.
The lower features fully ambidextrous controls, including the magazine release, bolt latch, and selector. It is finished with a flat dark earth Cerakote finish.
The Royal Marines have ordered an unspecified quantity in dual calibers now, but the primary caliber is 6.5 Creedmoor. The 6.5 CM is a flatter shooting cartridge than 7.62x51mm, and should extend the range of “Sharpshooter” about 200 more meters. As a DMR, this will be an exceptional rifle. The barrel is 18 inches in length, free-floating in LMT’s Monolithic upper, and features a solid, full-length rail. The barrel twist is 1:8-inch RH, and the adopted suppressor is the Huxworks HXQB Helix.

Author’s note: We have the L129A2 system heading to us for a full test and report. Watch for that. We’ll compare the caliber performances, as well.

Author

  • Dan Shea
    Dan Shea

    View all posts
Tags: L129A1LEILMTPrecision WeaponsRoyal MarinesUKUK MOD

Related Posts

Author Name

BAE Systems M777

by Chris A. Choat
15 August, 2023
Author Name

SIG Sauer 716 Patrol: 7.62x51mm Piston-Driven AR

by Todd Burgreen
15 August, 2023
New Products

Del-Ton TRX (Flat Dark Earth)

by SADJ Staff
24 February, 2023
New Products

IDEB 2012

by SADJ Staff
11 August, 2023
Author Name

Future Soldier Exhibition & Conference 2012

by David Pazdera
11 August, 2023

RECENT POSTS

Daniel Defense PCC SBR- The Pistol Caliber Carbine Taken to a Higher Level

27 June, 2024

True Velocity, FN America Announce Global Manufacturing Partnership on Lightweight Medium Machine Gun

18 June, 2024

CZ’s New Modular, Multi-Caliber CZ BREN 3 Rifle

17 June, 2024

Reaching 2 Miles and Beyond: A Review of Barrett’s New MRADELR Rifle

11 June, 2024

FN Updates EVOLYS Ergonomics

6 June, 2024
Small Arms Defense Journal

Welcome to Small Arms Defense Journal‘s digital presence! The contributors to this site come from many walks of life, but we all have common ground; the study of small arms technology and history.

POPULAR CATEGORIES

  • Ammunition
  • Doctrine
  • Foreign Military
  • Grenades & Rockets
  • Machine Gun Memorabilia
  • Suppressors

SITE LINKS

  • About us
  • Editorials
  • Reviews

CONTACT DETAILS

  • Phone :+1(702)565-0746
  • Email : office@sadefensejournal.com
  • Web : www.chipotlepublishing.com
  • Chipotle Publishing, LLC 631 N. Stephanie St., No. 282, Henderson, NV 89014
  • Advertise
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

© 2024 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

- Select Visibility -

    No Result
    View All Result
    • About Small Arms Review
    • About us
    • Advertise
    • Brief
    • Home
    • Observe
    • Show Schedule
    • test
    • Trade Show Information
      • Africa
        • Africa Aerospace & Defence – Centurion, South Africa
      • Asia
        • Asia China Police Expo – Beijing, China
        • BRIDEX – Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam
        • Defense & Security – Bangkok, Thailand
        • Defense Services Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
        • IDEAS – Karachi, Pakistan
        • INDO DEFENCE – Jakarta, Indonesia
        • TADTE – Taipei, Taiwan
      • Australia
      • Europe
        • Arms & Security – Kyiv, Ukraine
        • ASDA – Split, Croatia
        • B&T Police Equipment Show – Thun, Switzerland
        • BSDA – Bucharest, Romania
        • DSEI – London, United Kingdom
        • Eurosatory – Paris, France
        • Expomil – Bucharest, Romania
        • Future Forces – Prague, Czech Republic
        • IDEB – Bratislava, Slovak Republic
        • IDEF – Istanbul, Turkey
        • IWA OutdoorClassics – Nuremberg, Germany
        • Milipol – Paris, France
        • MSPO – Kielce, Poland
        • MSPO 2021: Defence industry giants – solid as a rock
        • MSPO 2022 — South Korea Holds the MSPO’s Lead Nation Exhibition for the Second Time
        • MSPO 2022: SHOW REPORT
        • Partner – Belgrade, Serbia
        • Symposia at Shrivenham – Shrivenham, UK
      • Middle East
        • IDEX – Abu Dhabi, UAE
        • ISDEF – Tel Aviv, Israel
        • SOFEX – Amman, Jordan
      • North America
        • Modern Day Marine – Quantico, VA
        • SHOT Show – Las Vegas, NV
      • Show Calendar
      • South America
        • FIDAE – Santiago, Chile
        • LAAD – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
        • SITDEF – Lima, Peru
    • V12N3

    © 2024 Chipotle Publishing | All Rights Reserved