New Cadet Rifle

[Maggot]

We wont be seeing the Savage rifles down here for some time yet.

My only thoughts are how they will stand up to the abuse the No8s have taken, up to 70 years of it in some cases.

They put up with dry firing, being dropped and all sorts of horrors.

It would be nice to think that the new rifles will be supplied with decent slings and the instructors with the knowledge to use them, along with the return of the sub calibre kits for the L98A2.

I got the issue if the No8 alongside the No4 as it was a fairly common design, so the No4 lead on to the No8.

The Savage will only lead on to the cadet target rifle or be a step up from the Scorpion (for those units that use them).

It would make sense, given the scarcity or range time on the L98A2 for the kids to get some L98 related practice before hand, using the adaptors.

[Kungfugerbil]

I notice today that one has appeared on Gunstar at a not-insignificant £910...

The package looks nice and the stock seems well thought out for the purpose. I would be half-tempted to buy one, but that's a few quid more than I had thought it would be.

[Sim G]

From a US site detailing the Savage contract....

£910 is perhaps not bad considering the "buy" price to the government.

The initial order is for 750 rifles and the UK will be buying 8,500 Savage rifles by the end of the contract next year, putting the price per unit at around 700 pounds or $1,000. A commercial FVT usually costs about $400 in the US and a little more in the UK, but that of course doesn’t include the deluxe stock, modified action, accessory package and custom hard case which easily accounts for the increased cost.

[Mike95]

Landmarc were responsible for this purchase for the MOD and Landmarc is half owned by a USA company....in fact Landmarc seem to do an awful lot for the MOD. Look them up..

Average price per gun £770...I would have thought that CZ could have offered a good deal at half the price...blank off the cz mag slot and add a tunnel foresight...simples.

Pity BSA are not still going....or Parker Hale .
Wonder what happens to the number 8's.....must be worth a few bob.

When I worked in the Police stores, the old side handled batons, which were bought for £100+ each, from a USA company, were sold back to them for £3 each (less postage) and rapidly appeared on international websites at around £80 a pop.
Our public bodies seem witless when it comes to spending public money.

Mike95

[Maggot]

There do seem to be a lot of other options that you would have thought would do the job, but Savage aint bad rifles.

From my point of view, as one who will eventually have to coach and train kids with these rifles (and the 8s) is that they are simple and very hard to screw up with.

In reality, from a safety point of view these are the least easy to screw up with, the L98 being next, with the Scorpion being the one people can heasilly have accidenst with if they are not on the ball.

From a marksmanship point of view, application gets difficult with the No8 because they cannot readilly be zeroed to a specific cadet. This should not matter during grouping practice but if they progress to comp work they are not ideal.

Also, for the smaller kids, the only real option is to use a support. I get this but I dont like it as from the start they dont HAVE to apply the principles in full. The new rifle with its adjustment and sling should be ideal right through from first shot to cadet 100 as long as ther are looked after and the settings are recorded.

How many slight young ladies have you seen doing the right stuff at the NSC with full sized target rifles and a correctly set sling? A habit worth starting with the smaller cadets to my mind.

[ovenpaa]

I had a close look at one of the new offerings on Bank Holiday Monday, they are tiny little things and the shaft for the butt pad extension is a bit odd, other than that they seem OK.

[Kungfugerbil]

The kit and gubbins looks good, but I question how much a flimsy front rest or oversize hard case will realistically be used.

Looks like an extreme LOP adjustment too :)

[Mattnall]

Looks like an extreme LOP adjustment too :)

Have you seen the size of most cadets?
They range from stumpies (struggle to make 5ft) to knuckle draggers (6ft+ with orang-utan arms).

I'm thinking there may not be enough adjustment.

[Kungfugerbil]

I'm thinking there may not be enough adjustment.

:)

I'm kind of surprised they didn't specify any comb height adjustment. The Anschutz junior rifles I'm familiar with have adjustable cheek pieces as youths vary so much in size and shape that getting a repeatable head position is a constant struggle. I suppose it gets them used to the standard issue army kit with its lack of adjustment and compromises :)

I haven't actually seen the rear sight on the Savage up close - I looks like it might be a side mount in which case there may be some vertical adjustment in that I suppose.

[Maggot]

Looks like an extreme LOP adjustment too :)

Have you seen the size of most cadets?
They range from stumpies (struggle to make 5ft) to knuckle draggers (6ft+ with orang-utan arms).

I'm thinking there may not be enough adjustment.

If the DPA did not prevent it I would post an image up here that would prove this. We have one lad who is taller than me at 6'3" (we did some of our 22 together, top bloke and will make a good squaddie) and there is my mini Gurhka who just about comes past his waist. We have had to have his kit tailored otherwise he looks like a smiling compost heap. A tough little sod who is passionate about hi sshooting already. It is with these kids in mind that this rifle, with its adjustment, makes it such a usefull piece of kit.

Currently the No8s are in all different states, with or without hand stops, PH sights, slings, so you could have a corker or a pig. Also some of the smaller nippers are shooting supported and this gives them the idea this is the norm. The lighter rifle with a decent sling will get them on a level playing field.

Moreover, the No8 was designed as an infantry training unit with a compromise towards competition (with the version the chose). There not many fragile young ladies in the infantry back then.

Turns out we should get our sub cal kits back soon as well....bargain.....