WE L85A2 SA80 Replica GBBR

If you're working on your British Army loadout and want the most realistic primary out there, you need the WE L85A2 SA80 Replica GBBR! This detailed SA80/L85 replica boasts full metal construction with a gorgeous stamped steel receiver and fantastic quality polymer furniture, giving it the appropriate weight and feel to properly simulate the British Army service rifle.

Being a Gas Blowback Rifle (GBBR), the WE L85A2 is incredibly realistic, requiring you to cock the bolt to load the first round before firing and providing incredible immersive recoil with each shot. The bolt carrier reciprocates, just like the real thing and when your magazine runs dry the bolt locks to the rear, showing off an open chamber, just like the real thing.

Nothing beats the satisfaction of bagging a kill with a GBBR, though it doesn't come without challenges. With a gas power source and low-cap magazines, you will have to choose your shots, and when it comes time to reload, showcase your handling skills. If you're the type of player who gets a kick out of working hard like the real warriors do, you'll love the WE L85A2 GBBR!

Starting at the front, we can find the SA80 style birdcage flash hider, constructed from steel and mounted to the alloy outer barrel's 14mm CCW male threading. This means that if you're building your L85A2 out to be the "In Theatre" A2 with the UOR parts installed or the latest A3 you can add the latest four-prong flash hider seen out in the field. Mounting a suppressor or tracer unit is also an option but this might upset the purists!

The handguard follows just behind, made from olive green high-density polymer and matching the "A2" variant of the real steel handguard. The ports on the A2 handguard are larger than the A1 to allow for improved cooling for the gas piston of the real thing. Speaking of gas pistons, pop the upper handguard open from the left side to check out the realistic dummy gas piston inside, a lovely touch of realism for this already very realistic L85A2. The handguard also features a sling point which can be installed on either side, constructed from alloy and mounted to the gas block for maximum strength.

The front iron sight can be found protruding through the handguard, mounting to a dovetail-shaped lug on the mock gas block. The dial in the base of the sight allows the ultra-fine front blade to be adjusted up and down for elevation, letting you get zeroed in perfectly if you choose to run the L85A2 in its classic format. If you plan to mount a SUSAT, ACOG or ELCAN scope, you'll be happy to learn you can remove the front sight completely via the screw on the left side.

Moving rearwards, we come to the receiver which is constructed in two parts from stamped steel, just like the real thing. Vent ports are present on each side above the pistol grip, giving you a glimpse of the buffer and spring inside. This buffer prevents the bolt carrier from impacting the HOP-up unit too hard during the L85A2's ferociously energetic cycle and also simulates the piston return spring present in the real thing.

Below the ports, we can find the pistol grip, trigger guard and safety catch; all positioned up front in this "Bullpup" configuration rifle. The pistol grip includes a storage compartment inside designed for the standard SA80 tool but can also be used to house tactical snacks, spare accessory batteries or other tools you might need in the field. The trigger guard is constructed from steel and the trigger is the A2 "snow-cutter" type, designed to cut through any obstruction which finds itself lodged behind the trigger.

The safety catch is a push-through design on the right side, above and in front of the grip. The safety is ideally placed for a right-handed user to hit it with the trigger finger as the rifle is raised to fire. When on safe, the button will protrude from the right and when the platform is hot, it will protrude on the left. This safety controls the safe/fire function but the fire selector switch is further rearwards on the left side of the stock.

As we move rearwards we reach the action, where the action happens! The magazine well is on the bottom, made from stamped steel and welded onto the receiver itself. The mag release is on the left side and is protected with a welded-on magazine release fence, an addition to the "A2" variant of the real thing intended to prevent magazines from being dropped and lost in the field as the SA80 rubs against other kits.

Over on the right side, we can find the charging handle which is the enlarged "A2" type, allowing the L85A2 to be cocked either over or under the platform while held in a firing grip and also serving as a brass deflector in the real thing. The charging handle is attached directly to the bolt and reciprocates with each shot, giving you beastly recoil, gas billowing from the ejection port and a meaty muzzle report followed by a violent "click-clank" of the bolt cycling.

To the rear of the charging handle, a small olive green polymer plate serves as a dust cover. This cover will automatically open as the bolt carrier cycles but when in place, it helps to keep dirt and debris out of the action. The green lever just behind is the mock bolt lock catch which serves in the real thing to allow the bolt to be manually locked open for malfunction clearing and inspection. This is the only dummy control on the WE L85A2, the rest all functions exactly like the real deal. If you want to lock the bolt open manually, this can be achieved by pulling the charging handle back and pushing upwards on the internal bolt catch inside the magazine well on the left side.

The bolt release catch is on the left side and is fully functional, taking the form of a square button which needs to be pushed down to drop the bolt after a reload. Though the SA80 series isn't famed for its ergonomics, the bolt catch is relatively easy to reach after inserting a fresh mag, though you also have the option of "power stroking" the charging handle to return the bolt to battery by going either over the platform or under.

The fire selector switch is on the rear left of the stock, providing two fire modes; semi-automatic and fully automatic. The semi-auto position is denoted with an "R" which stands for "Repetition" and the full auto mode with an "A" for "Automatic", in classic British style and matching the real L85A2 perfectly. As with practically all GBBR platforms, the full auto fire mode is more for fun than for skirmish effectiveness; due to the cooldown effect and real capacity magazines, these hyper-realistic platforms are best used on the semi-automatic fire mode.

Above the fire selector switch, we have an olive green polymer cheek rest designed to allow for a comfortable cheek weld when using either the included iron sights or a SUSAT, ACOG or ELCAN Specter LDS optic. The iron sights are integral to the carry handle of the L85A2 and are adjustable for windage via the dial on the right side. There is a detent pin just below holding the adjustment dial in place and to turn the dial you will need to hold this down. This is quite difficult but if you want to loosen it up you can carefully loosen the screw on the left side of the sight.

The carry handle mounts to a 19mm STANAG Dovetail rail and can be removed via the screws on the left side and the smaller screw in the centre of the handle, accessible through a port in the top. The 19mm Dovetail rail is only compatible with SUSAT style optics but 20mm Picatinny adapters are available on the aftermarket so you can add a more modern optic and complete the contemporary Squaddie loadout. We hope to have them available soon!

At the very rear of the L85A2, we are treated to a grippy rubber butt plate complete with serrations for maximum traction. A sling point is also present on each side, ideally used with an SA80 sling but compatible with other hook slings with the addition of a loop of paracord. The butt plate is a comfortable design and is curved to match the profile of the shooter's shoulder.

One of the coolest features of WE's GBBR L85A2 is its realistic disassembly, allowing the rifle to be split into two parts in seconds by removing two body pins. The pins which need to be removed to break the L85A2 down are the rear pin between the cheek rest and butt plate and the body pin just in front of the magazine well. Inside you'll find very realistic-looking internals and the adjustment dial for the HOP-up. The HOP-up adjuster takes the form of a grub screw just above the very realistic chamber, complete with mock locking recesses. You will need a 1.3mm Allen key to adjust the HOP-up and if it is small enough it is possible to adjust it through the ejection port with the bolt locked back.

Internally, the L85A2 in the current batch comes with a low-velocity nozzle installed which gave us approximately 260 FPS using 0.2g BBs and VORSK V6 Green Gas, keeping things legal for us Brits but potentially requiring an upgrade to fulfil its full potential. We recommend an RA Tech Magnetic Locking NPAS nozzle as one solution, but the more techy types out there might be able to crank up the velocity with other methods.

The best perk of the L85A2's internals is by far its compatibility with aftermarket VSR/GBB type inner barrels and HOP-up rubbers, giving you access to some of the best upgrade parts for accuracy and range. Anything from a Maple Leaf Crazy Jet to a Laylax Ultra-Tightbore can be installed along with flat HOP-up kits and other VSR/GBB compatible enhancements. We've had great luck with S+ Inner Barrel & HOP-up unit combos in WE GBBR platforms so if you can get hold of one of those you won't look back!

The bolt carrier of the L85A2 also has a slightly shorter travel length than the real thing, making it effectively "short-stroked" from the factory and adding a whole lot to its gas efficiency, cyclic rate and semi-auto response speed. While aftermarket steel bolt carriers are available, we recommend if you're upgrading your bolt carrier to go with a CNC aluminium solution (preferably 7075 alu) for a perfect combination of gas efficiency, cold weather performance and strength.

If you're in search of the most realistic SA80/L85 replica on the market, you've found it! The firing experience of the WE L85A2 GBBR is without equal, with stunning recoil, a violent gas-spewing action and full realism when it comes to handling and operating. If you like to work hard for every kill and experience Airsoft in its most realistic form, this is the L85A2 for you!

Features

• Full metal construction
• Gas Blowback Rifle - Maximum recoil & realism
• 14mm CCW Male threaded outer barrel - Tracer/suppressor ready
• Realistic mock gas piston inside the handguard - Pop the handguard open to see it
• Reversible front sling point - Mount your sling on the left or right side
• Olive green polymer furniture - Matches the real L85A2 perfectly, great quality polymer
• Steel upper & lower receiver - Stamped steel, just like the real thing
• Push through safety button - Just above the pistol grip, easily accessed from a firing grip
• Tool storage compartment inside the grip - Pop the bottom cap off and use it for tactical snacks
• Adjustable aperture iron sights - Two apertures to choose from, removable via screws
• 19mm NATO STANAG Dovetail rail - Requires a rail adapter to mount standard 20mm Picatinny sights
• Extended "A2" charging handle - Easily accessible either over or under the rifle
• Functional bolt release - Square button on the centre left of the receiver
• Mock bolt lock catch - A green lever on the right side, non-functional only included for realism
• Adjustable HOP-up - Grub key type inside the ejection port, above the chamber, 1.3mm Allen key required
• "A2" Magazine release fence - Protects the magazine release from accidental presses
• Polymer cheek rest - Allows for a comfortable cheek weld
• Ambidextrous rear sling point - On each side, ideally used with an L85/SA80 sling
• Two position fire selector - On the left side of the stock, "R" for repetition (semi), "A" for automatic (full auto)
• Rubber butt plate - Deep serrations, proper grippy butt plate, ideal for wet weather
• VSR/GBB Cut inner barrel - Compatible with aftermarket VSR/GBB cut tightbore inner barrels
• VSR/GBB HOP-up bucking - Compatible with aftermarket HOP-up buckings for VSR-10/GBB pistols
• Compatible with WE M4/AR-15 Open Bolt Green Gas and CO2 GBBR Magazines

Package Includes

• WE L85A2 SA80 Replica GBBR
• 30rnd Green Gas Magazine
• Loading tool

Special Instructions

This is a Gas Blowback Rifle. GBBRs require maintenance and careful handling and we do not recommend them for new skirmishers. Things to watch out for if this is your first GBBR:

• The HOP-up adjuster for this WE L85A2 GBBR is inside the upper receiver and is accessible through the ejection port using a 1.3mm Allen key when the bolt is locked open. There is potential you will experience feeding issues and low FPS with no HOP-up applied, we recommend adding a bit of HOP-up before shooting as this should cure any issues.
• GBBRs need to be cocked before the first shot, just like a GBB pistol. It is important that you do not double load a GBBR as this can break the nozzle. We recommend clearing the chamber of BBs with a cleaning rod in the event that you finish firing mid-magazine and the bolt does not lock back and show an empty chamber.
• GBBRs generally use higher-pressure gas than GBB pistols due to the extra weight of the bolt. We recommend Green Gas (NUPROL 2.0, VORSK V6, ASG Ultraair) for general use and Red Gas (NUPROL 3.0, VORSK V8) for cold weather use.
• The faster you shoot a GBBR, the less accurate it will be. This is due to pressure variance as the gas reservoir cools down. Full auto is basically for fun, and these rifles run far better when used in semi-auto mode.
• Like a GBB pistol, GBBR magazines require maintenance. We recommend leaving a small amount of gas inside the magazine when stored, and not storing the magazines in a cold or damp environment. Magazine seals and valves will need lubrication and to be kept clear of dust and debris.