The SA 80 is designed to shoot accurately out to 300m and be easily handled in combat situations. With the disappearance of the .303, the skill of shooting accurately above 400m has largely died away. 

The 7.62 Sniper Rifle filled the gap for a while, but the vulnerability of the round to wind deflection over longer ranges, made it desirable to come up with a weapon which could be fired with some precision in all phases of modern warfare.

The result has been the development, by Accuracy International UK, of the 6.8mm (.338) Long-Range Large Calibre Rifle. Capable of shooting accurately out to 1100m, the LCR came into service in 2000. The weapon has been issued to JRRF (Joint Rapid Reaction Force) units on the basis of 14 per battalion, with one per platoon and a small pool for snipers in the battalion recce platoons.

Photo Crown Copyright