The EM85A3 Rifle - American Made British History

At SHOT Show 2026, I had the chance to visit Murdoch & Co and see something I honestly never thought I’d witness in the civilian market.

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Murdoch & Co is bringing the legacy of the L85 and SA80 platform to life for American shooters, and they’re doing it properly. On display were their EM85A1, EM85A2, and the flagship EM85A3 variants, all built for civilian ownership while staying true to the iconic British service rifle lineage.

I met with Even from Murdoch & Co, who walked us through the entire collection. He broke down the engineering decisions, the evolution from A1 to A3, and how their American manufacturing operation is faithfully recreating the history, ergonomics, and character of the original platform while adapting it for the U.S. commercial market.

What stood out most was the attention to detail. From the external geometry to the updated materials and refinements, the EM85 series captures the unmistakable SA80 profile while being purpose built for civilian shooters. It is not just a cosmetic clone. It is a serious effort to revive one of the most recognizable bullpup rifle families ever fielded.

For anyone who grew up seeing the L85 in British service or has followed the SA80’s long and controversial journey, seeing it reborn through an American company committed to quality and historical respect was something special.

Murdoch & Co is not just selling rifles. They are preserving a piece of military firearms history and making it accessible in a way that has never been done before.

Let me know what you think of the EM85A3 and whether you would run one.

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