Hey everyone I am an extreme late comer to this thread and as I know continually abesent from this forum....Frankie Fisticuffs and I moved to Tennesee so I have been extremely busy....
Here is my Take on Britian and the its service rifle....Simple put the L1A1 would be thrust back into service immediatly. First lets consider the lifespan of an FAL type rifle. It is almost infinite, it is one of the most rebuildable rifles I have ever worked on. First you can shoot if for over 15,000 before the barrel is shot out. Secondly you can continually replace locking shoulders for a very long time so headspace errosion is almost a non issue and thirdly its not very difficult to rebarrel given you are qaulified to do so. The milled reciever alone would last easily 400,000 rounds before its worn out. So I don't see the L85A1 ever gaining much traction. Particularly with its many many short comings the Twilight war would command a rifle like the L1A1 not the L85A1. I think it would have failed early on and the L1A1 would continue in service for the duration of the twilight war. Especially considering new weapon prouduction would be non-exsistant.
Also Lets look at the caliber issue, if you have the L85A1 you have 5.56
as well at 7.62 for GPMG two calibers on the battle field is a logistical problem after the end of the world. Myself I would be more inclined to the more powerfull round because the 7.62 round is a much better round for a rifleman Its a better round for small unit fighting were taking less shots but more effective ones would be appropriate. You might not have machineguns at your disposal but if you have a few guys with L1A1's shooting at the same things (like the selous scouts often did) they can chew things up just as bad. 5.56 just doesn't have the penetration capabily that 7.62 does. Also Radway Green made many millions of 7.62 in the 80's. I am still shooting 1980's headstamped stuff today and it shoots great!!!!
I think supply being what it is soldiers would field whatever rifle they had been issued until no more were issued then the L1A1 would be the only alternative and be back in service...also since they are so durable I doubt they would be replaced by the AR-18 no real not do try to make a new rifle if your old standby is still working perfectly. The other option would be captured eastern bloc weapons if no L1A1's could be had...because the L85 would fail and com bloc stuff is good for the end of the world and would be laying around...Just my two cents as a gunsmith.
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