Browning Automatic Rifle
From Gunpedia
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BAR M1918, aka Browning Automatic Rifle, is commonly recognized as a Machine Gun. However, it would be correct to say, that BAR is also one of the very first attempts at an assault rifle.
[edit] History
In 1917, John Moses Browning was commissioned to create an automatic infantry firearm by the US military. The BAR was initially intended to be used by infantry during advance actions and fired from the shoulder or even from the hip. Automatic fire capabilities were supposed to allow supression fire during the attack.
In 1918, the BAR was patented, tested, and launched into production, receiving M1918 designation in the US military. Early models had no bipods, nor support leg under the buttstock.
New guns were immediately field-tested on the Western Front during the First World War. Battle experience showed, that the BAR was too heavy (twice the weight of the M1 Garand), yet automatic fire off the shoulder or hip was hard to control due to the powerful ammunition used (.30-06 aka 7.62X63).
However, the gun had proved to be robust enough otherwise, and had been reassigned to the role of support machinegun. In 1922, the BAR had been modified to be used as a machine gun, and new modification had received the designation M1922. Modifications included bipod, support leg under the buttstock, finned barrel and different sights. These Modifications had been specifically requested by US Cavalry.
Later in 1937, the BAR had been modified again - this time becoming M1918A1. This time, modifications had been geared towards cutting the cost and ergonomics. Barrel fins and the support leg under stock were removed, and stock shape had been changed for easier handling. Neither the M1922 nor the M1918A1 had been manufactured in big quantities.
In 1940, the BAR had been modified for the last time, becoming the M1918A2, which was the most popular model, staying in production from 1940s till mid-1950s. These modifications included more ergonomic changes, such as heat shield, carrying handle, return of buttstock support leg and new bipod placement. Also, in this modification, the BAR had no single shot mode - instead it had high and low rates (650 RPM and 450 RPM, respectively).
Ever since the introduction of 7.62X51 NATO standard ammo, the BAR had been gradually pulled out of active service, and by 1960, was mostly retired. Attempts to redesign it to accept 7.62 NATO ammunition were unsuccessful.
[edit] Description
The BAR is gas-operated, magazine-fed and air-cooled. It uses .30-06 M2 ammunition (7.62X63), also found in M1 Garand self-loading rifle, and the M1903 Springfield bolt action rifle. 20-round double-stacked magazines are used for feeding. Barrel is fixed. Most versions of BAR have bipods, however in the M1918A2 they were frequently removed as a weight saving measure.
It is hard to classify the BAR as a certain kind of weapon. Officially, it is considered a machine gun. In practice, however, it's small magazine capacity, (20 rounds is little for machinegun) and fixed barrel (which is changeable on most of machine guns) leave the BAR at a disadvantage against the Bren or the Degtyarov DP-27. On the other hand, usage of rifle ammo and sheer weight don`t allow to define BAR as assault rifle.
