DCA – Ares L2A1 LMG AEG (Real Wood & Steel)

Australia, in co-ordination with Canada, developed a heavy-barrel version of the L1A1 as a fully automatic rifle variant, designated L2A1. The Australian heavy-barrel L2A1 was also known as the “automatic rifle” (AR). The L2A1 was similar to the FN FAL 50.41/42, but with a unique combined bipod-handguard and a receiver dust-cover mounted tangent rear sight from Canada. The L2A1 was intended to serve a role as a light fully automatic rifle or quasi-squad automatic weapon (SAW). The role of the L2A1 and other heavy barrel FAL variants is essentially the same in concept as the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) or Bren, but the Bren is far better suited to the role of a fire support base for a section, being designed for the role from the start. In practice many considered the L2A1 inferior to the Bren, as the Bren had a barrel that could be changed, and so could deliver a better continuous rate of fire, and was more accurate and controllable in the role due to its greater weight and better stock configuration. For this reason, Australia and Britain used the 7.62mm-converted L4 series Bren. Most countries that adopted the FAL rejected the heavy barrel FAL, presumably because it did not perform well in the machine gun role. Countries that did embrace the heavy barrel FAL included Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Canada, and Israel.

Unique 30-round magazines were developed for the L2A1 rifles. These 30-round magazines were essentially lengthened versions of the standard 20-round L1A1 magazines, perfectly straight in design. Curved 30-round magazines from the L4A1 7.62 NATO conversion of the Bren are interchangeable with the 30-round L2A1 magazines, however they reputedly gave feeding difficulties due to the additional friction from the curved design as they must be inserted “upside down” in the L2A1. The L4A1 Bren magazines were developed as a top-mounted gravity-assisted feed magazine, the opposite of what is required for the L2A1 FAL. This was sometimes sorted out by stretching magazine springs.

The Australian L1A1/L2A1 rifles were produced by the Small Arms Factory – Lithgow, with approximately 220,000 L1A1 rifles produced between 1959 and 1986. L2A1 production was approximately 10,000 rifles produced between 1962 and 1982. Lithgow exported a large number of L1A1 rifles to many countries in the region. Among the users were New Zealand, Singapore and Papua New Guinea.

Some of the modifications it has revived

Mild Steel Outer barrel made from a solid tube of Mild Steel

Reworked front sight with L2A1 shaped Front Sight Wings, Wider Barrel Collar and Bi-Pod Brackets

Mild Steel Rear Sight, Non Adjustable

Removal of Standard Rear Sight

Gas Tube Modification

Production of L2A1 Reenforcement carry Handle using 2 L1A1 Handles

Production of ’30rnd’ Magazine from 2 L1A1 Mid Cap Magazines

Sanding, Staining and Oiling Real Wood Parts to match the real Bi-Pod which is Walnut

Laser Engraving L2A1 Markings on the receiver including ‘A’ position on the fire selector

Production of a Barrel bracket to lock the Bipod / handguard in the up position, this is made from 2mm Flat sheet steel bended and welded

Complete Cerakote Black Finish (With the exception of the Front Sight Block)