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The SA80 assault rifle is a British soldier’s key piece of equipment, and is carried everywhere from the parade square in Aldershot to the front line in Afghanistan. Supremely accurate, effective to a distance of almost half a kilometre and able to fire bullets at a staggering 2102mph, the SA80 is an impressive weapon.

When the rifle was introduced into the Army in 1985 it heralded such a major leap forward, particularly in terms of accuracy, that Army marksmanship tests had to be redesigned. Since then it has been improved several times and, in 2002, was given a major makeover. It is now considered by many experts to be one of the most reliable weapons in the world.

No matter where a soldier serves in the Army, whether they’re an Infantry soldier or a chef, the SA80 will be a big part of their life. That’s because every soldier is taught how to hold it, fire it and clean it during Phase 1 training, no matter what role they are planning on following during their Army career. Not only that, everyone has to pass a shooting test every year, hitting a range of targets from a standing, kneeling and ‘prone’ (lying) position.

The rifle fires bullets, also known as rounds, from a cartridge known as a magazine and even though there are 30 in a magazine, the rifle could, in theory, fire 775 bullets in a single minute. It all adds up to a very impressive package – you can see why the SA80 is the British Army’s weapon of choice.