The BAR

General Firearms Other Semi-Automatic Rifles
21

Here’s my BAR story.

Lots of Chicago-area departments have Thompsons and some have BARs buried in the arms room. One day a student brought a 1918A1 (I think–? Safe-slow-fast, no semi) for some after-class fun.

On this particular day we had taken some 1033 / DRMO M-16’s and swapped FCG’s to make them semi-auto only.

Class is over, out comes the Beautiful, Awesome Rifle and everyone’s ga-ga. Some lucky devil gets first dibs. Load mag, go prone, back comes the bolt, safety off, big smile, CLICK.

Rack, fiddle, prone… CLICK. Disappointment and consternation. Frustration! Tarnation! Testicular inflammation!

The BAR was unloaded and there was a big huddle around it. The class armorer (me) could not bust through to get a look, they were so tightly packed. Finally the trigger group is passed finger tip to finger tip, towards me… I grab it and take a look.

Hmmm, there’s a missing pin. Bet that has something to do with it.

I manage to make myself heard above the din of recommendations: “Who’s got those auto sears and pins we took outta the M16’s this morning?” Out of somebody’s pocket come the parts. Gimma a pin, sez me.

A perfect fit! Except for the retention grooves, it coulda been original equipment.

“Eugene Stoner, meet John Browning,” I said.

And they all shot happily ever after!

22

I grew up listening to my dad telling me stories of the BAR he used to hump in the Chilean Army. Since he never used it in combat it was just a heavy SOB that during one FTX he left outside his tent only to discover the next morning it was covered with rust… as if life doesn’t suck enough in the field.
When I became a SAW gunner in Afghanistan I figured I was carrying on the family tradition…

real men carry machine guns.

23

Live by the gun, die by the gun right!

24

What’s interesting to note, according to LAV in that vid, most removed the handles, bipods. etc and used it as balls out battle rifle. Guess they realized its potential and ignored the intended SAW role. Cool pic of JMBs son.

25

Great story, thanx for sharing. :cool:

26

A good article on the Colt Monitor (LE BAR):
http://www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/Monitor.pdf

I always liked the BAR, but to me it makes sense mostly as a full power semiauto rifle.

The Bren is my favorite light machine gun.

In the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia 1932-35, the LMGs (Madsen, ZB 26, and Vickers-Berthier) ruled the battlefield.

27

+1 on the BREN. The BAR is a great weapon, but lacks a quick change barrel, only had a 20 rd magazine and the bipod was located to close to the muzzle for rapid engagement of closer targets. The BREN’s top fed magazine looks awkward, but has a 50% larger capacity and is gravity aided for improved reliability. It also is very quick to reload. The assistant gunner would position himself to the right of the gunner and reload the gun. I watched some WWII combat film and was impressed by the rate of fire. The Royal Marines used the BREN in the 7.62mm NATO configuration to the 1980’s/ Falklands War. The South Africans have made good use of them.

28

A full auto BAR only cost $20,000 over at gunbroker:big_boss:

29

Ohio Ordnance Works has been manufacturing semi-auto BAR’s for years.

When I win the lottery, I will buy one.

http://ohioordnanceworks.com/Firearms/OOWExclusiveFirearms/1918A3_SLR.rif

30

It was a toss up between one of those and a Barrett M99… I should have bought the OOW BAR.

Spooky

31

Needs to be a motivational poster.

Can you imagine the thoughts going through that guys noggin? “I’m gonna get me some! I’m gonna get me some!”

32

Especially since he’s holding the weapon that his own father designed for him to kick the Huns back to Berlin.

:cool:

33

“That’s not a gun… Now this, is a gun…”

34

Probably “Thanks, dad.”

35

36

I’ve always wanted to shoot one and finally got a chance this summer in Lake Havasu… that was the highlight of my trip.

37

Gech youre booger hooks offa them dam bang switches gentlemen!

I saw one at the range a couple of months ago, semi-auto only. I think he paid about $4K for it.

38

That was a different breed of man! Talk about “true grit”. I’ll even bet that that finger on the trigger was the “style” back in the day… and wearing an onion on your belt. (obscure simpsons ref.) If you got shot standing next to someone with a BAR, it was probablly your own damn fault! “just put some mud on it, it’ll be ok”

39

You should look for a local machine gun shoot. I bet anyone with a BAR would let Gramps shoot theirs.

In the early '90’s I bought a surplus BAR belt and had grouments added so I could wear web gear suspenders. I had the damn thing loaded with M14 clips it was HEAVY! My belt did not have the holder for the stock. That is a gun I wish I had back.

40

I am late to this thread, I am glad that you mentioned this.

Here is a pic of Frank Hamer’s Colt Monitor, the one he shot Clyde Barrow’s and Bonnie Parker’s murdering asses with. . .

I highly recommend anyone to visit theTexas Ranger Hall Of Fame and Museum in Waco, TX. These guns as well as so many others are on display there, to include an original all matching Walker Colt. :eek: