L81A1 The
Parker Hale L81A1 is a shorter version of the Parker Hale M82 rifle
7.62×51mm (.308) rifle, adopted as a
cadet rifle in addition to the
.22 LR Rifle No.8. It can trace its lineage back through both the M82 sniper rifle and the
Parker-Hale 1200TX target rifle.
L81A2 The
Parker Hale L81A2, officially known as the L81A2 Cadet Target Rifle (CTR), the L81A2 replaced the L81A1 following reports of technical safety issues, including bulges in the barrel and is used by the
ATC,
ACF,
SCC and
CCF in competitions such as the
Ashburton Shield staged annually in July by the Council for Cadet Rifle Shooting (CCRS), and the Inter Service Cadet Rifle Meeting (ISCRM), held at
Bisley ranges. It is to be withdrawn without replacement in 2026
C3 The
C3 was adopted by the Canadians in 1972 and was based on the Parker Hale M82. Its stock was made of wood with a front beavertail and an accessories rail. It had a Kahles Helios ZF 69 6×42 scope. After a couple of years, it was upgraded to the C3A1 with a few modifications.
C3A1 The C3 was updated to the
C3A1 and a number of modifications were made including the addition of a 10× Unertl scope currently in use by the
United States Marine Corps. A fiberglass McMillan A2 stock was fitted along with a Parker-Hale made
bipod for more stability and support while aiming in the
prone position. During
Operation APOLLO Canadian
sniper Master Corporal
Graham Ragsdale recorded 20 confirmed kills with the C3A1. The C3A1 has been withdrawn from the
Canadian Army and has been replaced by the
C14 Timberwolf rifle Medium Range Sniper Weapon System. Instead it is used for the training of snipers due to its similarities with the C14 Timberwolf rifle. Its decline was due to a lack of parts due to the ending of production of firearms by Parker Hale in 2000 and the cessation of C3A1 production in 1984. Parker Hale offered the C3A1 as a complete kit known as the M85 on the civilian market. Common confusion occurs but no M82 was fitted with detachable magazines or enlarged bolt knob. Other Canadian snipers recorded high hit ratios and some extremely difficult shots. These marksmen remain anonymous. ==Users==