The Rifle 7.62mm 2A/2A1
(also known as the Ishapore 2A/2A1
) is a
7.62×51mm NATO calibre
bolt-action rifle
Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed).
Most bolt-action ...
adopted as a reserve arm by the
Indian Armed Forces
The Indian Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of India. It consists of three professional uniformed services: the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force.—— Additionally, the Indian Armed Forces are supported by th ...
in 1963. The rifle is a variant of the
Lee–Enfield
The Lee–Enfield or Enfield is a bolt-action, magazine-fed repeating rifle that served as the main firearm of the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century, and was the British Army's sta ...
rifle. The design of the rifle – initially the Rifle 7.62mm 2A – began at the
Rifle Factory Ishapore
The Rifle Factory Ishapore (also known as Ishapore Arsenal) is an Indian state-owned arms manufacturing unit located at Ichhapur in the state of West Bengal.
History
The first arms manufacturing facility on the site was a gunpowder factory, w ...
of the
Ordnance Factories Board in India, soon after the
Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War took place between China and India from October to November 1962, as a major flare-up of the Sino-Indian border dispute. There had been a series of violent border skirmishes between the two countries after the 1959 Tibet ...
of 1962.
The Ishapore 2A/2A1 has the distinction of being the last bolt-action rifle designed to be used by a regular military force other than specialized
sniper rifles
A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long-range rifle. Requirements include accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment and optics for anti-personnel, anti-materiel and surveillance uses of the military sniper. The modern sniper rifle is a por ...
. While it is no longer in service with the Indian military, the rifle is still used by the Indian police.
History
The 2A was widely used by the Indian Army after the Sino-Indian War in 1962,
despite the use of the SLR after 1965. 2A rifles were previously supplied to Bangladesh during the
Bangladesh Liberation War.
Development
Production of the 2A/2A1 started in 1962 after the
SMLE Mk IIIs* was phased out of service with the Indian military.
The Indian-made SMLE Mk IIIs are known as the Type 56, made between 1956 and 1965 although any rifles made in the latter are rare due to the transition to the 2A.
Externally, the Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifle is based upon (and is almost identical to) the
.303 British
The .303 British (designated as the 303 British by the C.I.P. and SAAMI) or 7.7×56mmR, is a calibre rimmed rifle cartridge. The .303 inch bore diameter is measured between rifling lands as is the common practice in Europe which follows th ...
calibre
SMLE Mk III* rifle, with the exception of the distinctive "square" (10 or 12 round) magazine and the use of the buttplate from the 1A (Indian version of the FN FAL) rifle.
The bolt and receiver were made out of nickel.
[https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=googlescholar&id=GALE, A626205411&v=2.1&it=r&sid=googleScholar&asid=c202113a]
The 2A was designed to allow the British Pattern 1907 (P'07)
sword bayonet
A sword bayonet is any long, knife-bladed bayonet designed for mounting on a musket or rifle. Its use is thought to have begun in the 18th century and to have reached its height of popularity throughout the 19th and into the early 20th centuries. W ...
used on the SMLE MkIII to be attached.
[https://worldbayonets.com/Library/Articles/enfield_bayonets.pdf] Other difference included the use of improved steel (to handle the increased pressures of the 7.62mm NATO round), and a redesigned extractor to cope with the rimless round.
The original (2A) design incorporated the Lee–Enfield rear sight which has graduations out to 2000 yards. The re-designated "Rifle 7.62mm 2A1" incorporated a more realistic 800 meter rear sight
in 1965.
The stock is recycled from the No. 1 Mk. III armory stock, with the addition of a cross screw forward of the magazine well.
Some stocks were salvaged from existing surplus and show artificer repairs where rotted or damaged wood has been replaced. This repair is especially evident with the recoil draws (the area the receiver contacts when recoiling after the shot) that often failed over time due to the rifle being rack-stored butt down / muzzle up, which allowed oils and grease to migrate downwards into this critical area.
The weapon was produced at a rate between 22,000 and 115,000 rifles annually, averaging 70,000 a year.
Around 250,000 rifles were made in total before production ended in 1974.
Variants
Ishapore 2A rifle
The original production rifle has a sight range of 2000 meters.
Ishapore 2A1 rifle
A second production variant with a sight range of 800 meters.
IOF .315 sporting rifle
No. 7 Jungle Carbine
There are 2A1 rifles converted to No. 7
Jungle Carbines, which are mostly commercial-based, made by navy arms.
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ishapore 2a1 Rifle
7.62×51mm NATO rifles
Bolt-action rifles of India
Military equipment introduced in the 1960s