The L42A1 is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.
Used in the past by the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force RAF Regiment, the L42A1 entered service in 1970. It was replaced by the Accuracy International AW (as the L96A1) in 1985.
The L42A1 has been used in several conflicts, including the Dhofar Rebellion in Oman, The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War.
The L42A1 was the last model in a long line of bolt-action rifles that used a rear-locking action designed by James Paris Lee for the British Army. This action design appeared first in the Lee–Metford rifle of 1888.
Design details
The L42A1 was a 7.62×51mm NATO conversion of the Second World War era .303 British chambered Lee–Enfield Rifle No. 4 Mk1(T) and No. 4 Mk1*(T), which had remained in service for some time after the 7.62×51mm NATO L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle replaced the Rifle No.4 as the standard service rifle in 1957. A new hammer-forged heavy 7.62×51mm NATO barrel was installed, with four-groove, right hand twist rifling instead of the five-groove left-hand Enfield-type rifling used in .303 British barrels. The heavier barrel was free-floating, which meant that the required accuracy standard could be achieved without the barrel bearing against the wooden fore-end, as had been the case with the No.4 MkI(T). Therefore, the woodwork was modified by shortening the fore-end to 1/2" in front of the middle band, and a new design for an upper handguard was fitted. The modified version was renamed the "Telescope, Straight Sighting, L1A1".). These rifles were mostly sent to the Army Rifle Association, and were available for purchase by military units.
;Enfield Enforcer
:A police-specific sniper variant used by various British police forces from the early 1970s. It was similar to the L39A1, with a commercial "Monte Carlo" style butt with semi-pistol grip and integral cheekpiece. It was provided with a high-quality East German-made Pecar Berlin telescopic sight. The telescope mounts were of commercial pattern; they did not resemble the No.4 Mk1(T) type screw-on mounts used on the L42A1. Target sights similar to those used on the L39A1 could also be fitted to the Enforcer. The 7.62×51mm NATO magazine was fitted, and 767 were made.
;Enfield Envoy
:Similar to the L39A1, but was produced with a higher standard of external finish for sale on the civilian market. It had a fore-end of broader cross section of the same shape as the No.8, and was supplied with a No.8 style butt.
;Police users;
- : British police forces – Enforcer (Police version).
;Non-state military users
- Lebanese Forces: Enfield L42A1 and Enforcer rifles.
See also
- M21 Sniper Weapon System
- M40 rifle
- Remington Model 700
- Savage 10FP/110FP
- SSG 82
- Steyr SSG 69