No experience with the RobArms rifles, can't recall seeing any of them at all here.

The ADF issue both the SR25 and H&K417 in DMR roles here, the SR25 being phased out (slooooowly). As close mate of mine was part of the sniper weapons trial back in the mid 90s (ultimately the AI AW got the prize - issued as the SR-98) and during that they could not keep the SR25 running long enough without failures (extractors mostly) to tril them properly. They and the H&K PSG were close to the first eliminated (though the PSG1 had been used here since the late 70s with the SASR's CT teams.

Maintenance is still an ongoing issue with the SR25 in the field (hence the move to the 417). That said, from the bipod and fitted with the issue supressor the SR25 is a SWEET shooting rifle...!!!!

The tale of the Owen v Austen is a long and interesting one, the Owen was a private venture and the Austen was "The System's" answer to the problem. The System did everything they could to sabotage the Owen but the thing they could not overcome was that is was by large a MUCH better weapon especially well suited to jungle warfare and the troops LOVED it. By number it won but right till the end The System tried and tried to screw Owen and Lysagts (manufacturer) over and over again. Late in the pacific campaign the US forwarded through an order for 750K Owens chambered for .45ACP (Owen has models in a number of calibres including .45) based on the feedback from troops in PNG. "The System" misplaced the order till such time the US no longer needed the weapons due to the rapid ending of the war. The ONLY version of the Austen that shone over the Owen was the suppressed models. The Owen remained in use well into (and past - with Reserves/CMF) Vietnam when the F1SMG and M16 nominally replaced it.

Andy