| 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 |
|
| 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 vessels for boarding party usage were also capable of fully automatic fire.