Parker-Hale T4 Rifle .................. Parker-Hale Excel Rifle ..................Parker-Hale M84 Rifle ..................

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The L81A1 rifle stemmed from Parker-Hale's 1200 TX target rifle, built on a Mauser 98 action.

However, the L81A1, also known as the Parker-Hale Model 83, was not introduced until 1983.

Advertised in Alfred. J. Parker's 1970 catalogue, the first mark of 1200TX is shown below.

In common with the L81A1 rifle, the 1200TX had an integral five-round magazine.

The configuration was similar to that employed originally on the Pattern '14 or Enfield Rifle No.3.

Sadly, whilst the 1200TX enjoyed a good reputation in the civilian target shooting world, after its introduction in 1983 the L81A1 proved to have serious faults.

For reasons never fully publicly explained, ten years on the actions used proved weak, with fracturing taking place; on top of this, the barrels had shown a propensity for bulging.

The rifle was necessarily withdrawn, and a replacement took some time to make its way to the Cadet Units who lost their L81A1s.

The L81A2 did not appear until 1999, and, in the meantime, units used the L98A1 GP Cadet Rifle, that had been introduced in 1987,

and was the straight-pull version of the services Individual Weapon, the L85A1, more widely known as the SA80, that was taken into service in 1985.

The problematic L85A1 was superceded by the L85A2 in 2001, after modifications to the design had been made by Heckler & Koch.

 

Back in 1970, the 1200TX rifle naturally appeared in Parker-Hale's own catalogue.

In their 1973 catalogue they also included a useful parts list and 'exploded' drawing of the three series of rifle including that of the 1200 model.

That same year Parker-Hale published a leaflet for the rifle.

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Also, in 1970, came the Parker-Hale T4 target rifle. A model built on the Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle action in its 7.62mm NATo calibre form.

The barrel markings are shown below.

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The Lee-Enfield No.4 rifle heritage of the T4 is thorougly evident in the following four images.

 

The Monte-Carlo stocking gives an almost sporting rifle appearance.

The squared-off 7.62mm cartridge magazine is clearly shown above.

These magazines have become quite rare, and originals are much sought-after,

commanding prices that are a significant proportion of the current value of a complete rifle.

Fitted with an accessory rail, to which a hand-stop and sling-swivel can be added,

affords the rifle a workable target rifle configuration.

It was not unusual for these rifle to be fitted with the robust and accurate A.G./ A.J. Parker or Parker-Hale target sights,

such as the Model No.5 and Twin Zero 4/47 target sights; the latter on this example.

Their famous Matchmaker tunnel fore-sight was a common fitment at the muzzle end.

 

The T4 was still available in the 1973 catalogue.

A more elaborate, and commercialy directed, 1970 alternative to the T4 was Parker-Hale's "Excel" rifle.

This model had a specially bedded selected barrel, and was fitted with the Twin Zero 4/47 rear-sight as standard.

As was the Parker-Hale "Sniper" rifle, the M84, a follow-on model from the M82

which latter model had formed the basis for the L81A2 rifle that superceded the failed L81A1.

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An anonymous critique of the L81A2 rifle has recently appeared online.

Whilst we do not usually quote such pieces, and the gist of this one is clear,

it does provide a colourful and sarcastic history of the rifles which is perhaps not entirely irrelevant.

The L81A2 was actually a modified and shortened version of the Parker-Hale M82 rifle.

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They adopted, in around 1981[sic], an up-rated Mauser. At the time, this was also not too terrible, although a little out-dated; the action being almost identical to Mauser's 1898 pattern.

This rifle was supplied by Parker-Hale, and it was called the L81A1. This in itself, at the time, was also not too terrible.

And then, in 1994 (IIRC), some problems appeared - some faulty metallurgy led to a receiver cracking. This is a bad thing - a very very bad thing. And a totally unavoidable thing, and not a problem reported in the original 1898 Mauser.

So they were all withdrawn, and Cadet target shooting continued with the L98A1 Cadet GP rifle.

The Bisley school of thought did not like this, all sights other than ring-sights being an abomination before Century range, and anything other than 7.62mm being unthinkable.

At about this time, it appeared that our friends Parker-Hale were going to the dogs (where have we heard this before?)

So, some bright spark at the MoD decided that Parker-Hale would "re-engineer" the rifles to be "safer".

After about 6 years (IIRC), the new, all-singing all-dancing L81A2 appeared. It contained the following, excellent features:

* The barrel was too short (26") for serious long-range shooting

* Since Cadets are alledgedly small, the stock is too short for many of them approaching full-size. The butt could be lengthened with spacers, but not necessarily enough for many of the aforementioned large cadets.

* The rifle was poorly parkerised, and rusted at the slightest hint of moisture

* The bedding was made from some dodgy compound, which also rusts at the slightest hint of water

* The receiver walls were many times thicker than required

* The sights were badly designed and had to be precisely torqued - this torquing is lost under repeated recoil and can lead to a need for re-zeroing. The windage scale cannot be read from the prone position.

* The bolts were re-cycled from the old L81s and are thus of an out-of-date design, leading to a lock-time which is significantly longer than other modern designs

* Since 10% of people are left-handed, the stock was ambidexterous, thereby making it equally bad for both.

* The cheek comb was too low for the job

* The rifle could only be taken out its bedding for drying (necessary after a wet shoot) by Parker-Hale (now ABRO, since PH folded), and not at the units (not even by the armourers or adult staff - this is an exceptionally easy thing to do - I taught 16 year olds to do it)

* Cost around £1800 (so I have been told) per unit once one more recall (alledgedly to sort out the sights - but nothing had changed & they were still just as crap) had been factored in

A civilian version called the "elite" with a more sensible length barrel, better, non-ambidexterous stock, but still with the same action and sights was marketted by PH at around £1000 - I do not know of anybody who has bought one, especially as you could buy a 2nd hand Swing or Musgrave which will shoot far better for far less money.

After having spent so much money, they could have had, off the shelf, Musgraves, or possibly even RPAs (this is what the Royal Canadian Army Cadets recently bought) for that kind of money, and they would have worked 1st time with no issues and would have been exactly the same rifles as the International level shooters use. "