« | The L86A1 LSW is the variant of the L85 rifle, but features longer barrel than the L85A1 rifle, which gives it a greater effective range. This rifle was intended to provide fire support at a fireteam level. This rifle features the ACOG (Advancet Combat Optical Gunsight). Armoury Description[1]
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The L86A2 LSW (full name: Light Support Weapon[2]) is a 5.56 mm marksman rifle exclusively used by the British Army in ArmA 2. It was added with the release of the British Armed Forces DLC.
Overview[]
The L86A2 LSW is a selective-fire, gas operated, bullpup marksman rifle that is chambered to fire the 5.56×45 mm NATO cartridge.
It can only load 30-round STANAG magazines[CfgWp 9] and has a muzzle velocity of 930 m/s.[CfgMa 2] The L86A2 can attain a fire rate of up to ~ 705 rounds per minute on semi-auto[CfgWp 10][Formula 1] or ~ 667 rounds per minute on full auto.[CfgWp 11][Formula 2] It has a (non-functional) bipod, and is always fitted with an ACOG riflescope by default. The L86A2 does not have the ability to mount a sound suppressor.
The L86A2 is a modified variant of the baseline L85A2 assault rifle. The overall layout of the L86A2 remains mostly the same as the L85A2 aside from using a longer barrel and folding bipod. With regards to handling, the L86A2 has almost no difference to the L85A2 recoil-wise.
While the L86A2 works well as a medium-ranged marksman rifle, it suffers from the same drawbacks faced by the American-made Mk12 SPR since it is chambered in 5.56 mm. 7.62 mm marksman rifles like the DMR or the Mk17 Sniper will always outperform the L86A2 not only in terms of stopping power but also because they have a longer reach and better magnified optics.
To make matters worse, the L86A2 is restricted to being able to load only 30-rounder STANAG magazines and nothing else, as not even 20-round STANAG magazines are supported.[CfgWp 9] This limitation cuts into the L86A2's usefulness as the Mk12 SPR can feed from the MG36's 100-round Beta-C drums if they are available, whereas the L86A2 isn't even able to load 30-round G36-type magazines (let alone 100-round drums).
Variants[]
L85A2[]
- Main article: L85A2
Optics[]

Though it does not have any enhanced vision modes, it is possible for the user to wear their own night vision goggles while looking through the scope.

Recoil curves[]
Standing
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Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.
|
Prone
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Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.
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Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.
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Ammunition[]
Ammo parameter | 5.56 mm NATO (Ball) | 5.56 mm NATO SD (Ball) |
---|---|---|
Base damage value | 8[CfgAm 1] | 7[CfgAm 2] |
Aerodynamic friction | -0.001425[CfgAm 3] | -0.0006[CfgAm 4] |
Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 930[CfgMa 2] | 320[CfgMa 3] |
Expected velocity (m/s) | 900 [CfgAm 5][note 1] |
320 [CfgAm 6][note 1] |
Deflection angle (degrees) | 10°[CfgAm 7] | 10°[CfgAm 8] |
The L86A2 can only load two types of magazines (G36-type plastic magazines and 100-rounder drums are not compatible).[CfgWp 9] Both require at least one[CfgMa 4][CfgMa 5] free inventory slot:
30Rnd. STANAG[]

30-round STANAG magazine used primarily by M16-type assault rifles and carbines. Loaded exclusively with 5.56 mm NATO ball ammunition.[CfgMa 6]
None of the rounds fired will emit visible tracers.
30Rnd. STANAG SD[]

Special 30-round STANAG magazine loaded with subsonic 5.56 mm NATO ammunition.[CfgMa 7] Rounds fired from this magazine specifically have a reduced muzzle velocity of 320 m/s.[CfgMa 3]
As with the stock 30-rounder STANAGs, it does not contain any visible tracer rounds.
Magazine compatibility[]
Weapon name (Classname) |
30Rnd. STANAG![]() |
30Rnd. STANAG SD![]() |
---|---|---|
L86A2 LSW (BAF_L86A2_ACOG) |
✔ | ✔ |
Trivia[]
- The L86A2 is referred to as the L86A1 by its in-game Armoury Description.[3] However, this is a misnomer as the real-world "L86A1" is a completely separate model of the L86A2 (which is an upgrade of the A1) and was notorious for the reliability and performance issues that plagued it.[4]
- As part of the latest Steam version changes (CorePatch), the L86A2's ACOG allows the user to activate night vision while looking through the primary scope.[5] Prior to CorePatch, it was not possible to look through the scope and toggle night vision simultaneously.
Gallery[]
Config/script references[]
CfgAmmo
CfgMagazines
CfgWeapons
Formulae |
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., 2010, Weaponry, Arma 2, viewed 5 March 2025, <https://www.arma2.com/arma-2-baf-weaponry/arma2-baf-weapons>.
- ↑ Ministry of Defence 2018, Small arms and support weapons, The British Army, viewed 21 May 2024, <http://web.archive.org/web/20180312144741/https://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/small-arms-and-support-weapons/>. (archived link)
- ↑ ARMA 2: British Armed Forces 2010 [Video Game], Bohemia Interactive a.s., Armoury/Weapons/L86A2 LSW, "The L86A1 LSW is the variant of the L85 rifle, but features longer barrel than the L85A1 rifle, which gives it a greater effective range. This rifle was intended to provide fire support at a fireteam level. This rifle features the ACOG (Advancet Combat Optical Gunsight)."
- ↑ Ferguson, J 2017, British Enfield SA80 Part 5: SA80 A1 vs A2, Armament Research Services, viewed 30 March 2018, <https://armamentresearch.com/british-enfield-sa80-part-5-sa80-a1vsa2/>.
- ↑ Mazzon, M et al. 2019, CorePatch, GitHub, viewed 9 May 2024, <https://github.com/Goliath86/CorePatch/blob/master/Changelog.txt>.
External links[]
See also[]
Variants[]
Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]
- Mk12 SPR (USMC counterpart)
- Mk17 Sniper (U.S. Army counterpart, ArmA 2: OA only)
- MXM (NATO counterpart, ArmA 3 only)
![]() | |
---|---|
Handguns | M1911 .45 |
Assault rifles | L85A2 5.56 mm (L85A2 UGL) |
Designated marksman rifles | L86A2 LSW 5.56 mm |
Sniper rifles | AS50 12.7 mm • LRR .338 |
Squad automatic weapons | L110A1 5.56 mm |
Machineguns | L7A2 GPMG 7.62 mm |
Launchers | FGM-148 Javelin • FIM-92F Stinger • NLAW |
Static | L111A1 • L134A1 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. British Armed Forces |