Irish Army re-issuing FALs to sniper teams

[Tengu Joker]

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...e-2927099.html

I wonder how they will set them up ...

[Francisp]

My maternal grandfather served in the Irish Army before coming here and serving in the 11th Airborne and 7th Infantry Division in Korea. Thats pretty cool.

[Dr. Keith Seto]

I'm curious about the configuration as well. Wonder if they have a new method to mount optics.

[Dale Hunter]

This is the same as our government re-issuing M14's to teams. The Government realizes a need, is too inept or cheap to get a proper solution implemented in a timely manner, so they take some old worn out rifles from mothballs and press them into service.

The only stroke of genius would be if the ordered a bunch of Vltor CAS-V handguards so they can properly mount bipods and NV gear.

[kihnspiracy]

I would be interested to know how they are configuring them.

[JamesOC]

This is the same as our government re-issuing M14's to teams. The Government realizes a need, is too inept or cheap to get a proper solution implemented in a timely manner, so they take some old worn out rifles from mothballs and press them into service.

The only stroke of genius would be if the ordered a bunch of Vltor CAS-V handguards so they can properly mount bipods and NV gear.

You have it right. The Irish government is so broke that it cannot afford to do very much of any upgrades. Barracks have been shot down through out the country. With the rise of paramilitary's I think they are trying to either seem as if they are preparing or they are readying themselves for the future. Either way it is interesting that the FAL will be for the spotter?

[DC950]

DSA says they have supplied the Irish with some "upgrades".

[hermosabeach]

I think I missed something... The Shooter will have the .338- all 8K euro.... The spotter will get the FAL....
If a sniper team is found and has to extract, it sounds like the .308 err 7.61 x 51 would be a better CYA than a .225 err.... 5.56...

If you are engaging targets at 500 yards and they open up on you with a PKM, would you want your spotter to have a .308 or a .223????

SKILLED Irish Army snipers -- who protected US President Barack Obama and Queen Elizabeth during their visits here -- are to get a world-beating rifle which has become the scourge of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The highly trained snipers, who operate in a shooter and spotter pair, are being equipped with the powerful new weapon after a review of their equipment and training.
The British-made Accuracy International .338 rifle, which is used by the British army, has gained near legendary status after a British sniper used it to kill two Taliban machine gunners at a record distance of one-and-a-half miles (2.4km).
The rifle is designed to be effective at nearly a mile and capable of "harassing" fire beyond that range.

The weapon, which the Irish Defence Forces have adopted, comes from British firm Accuracy International, set up by two-time British Olympic gold medallist, the late Malcolm Cooper, an international target shooter.
The new .338 rifle, costing about €8,000 each, has already been used for some time by the Army Ranger Wing (ARW). It has a five-round magazine and is used with a telescopic sight.

As part of the upgrade of the snipers' equipment, a version of the famous FN FAL rifle -- which served as the Irish Army's main rifle from the Sixties to the Eighties before being retired -- is being reintroduced as a rifle for the spotterwho accompanies the sniper.

[Tengu Joker]

I understand wanting soldiers to have the best equipment possible and I agree with it wholeheartedly. I just find it interesting that they are choosing the FAL. Besides the primary difference between a FAL and a SCAR 17 are the materials they are made with. Both are adjustable piston designs with folding stocks...

[JamesOC]

I understand wanting soldiers to have the best equipment possible and I agree with it wholeheartedly. I just find it interesting that they are choosing the FAL. Besides the primary difference between a FAL and a SCAR 17 are the materials they are made with. Both are adjustable piston designs with folding stocks...

They have Fal's they don't have scars. They don't have much money.