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BAR M1918


Browning Automatic Rifle


Overview


M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle

Left side view of a M1918A2 pattern Browning Automatic Rifle with bipod in stowed position.
Source: Rock Island Auction House - © Copyright lies with original owner

Origin
United States
Type
Automatic rifle
Light machine gun
Entered service
1918
Status
Obsolete
Development
1917
Developer
United States
John Browning
Production
1917 - 1950's
Producer
United States - Colt
United States - Marlin-Rockwell
United States - Winchester
Number produced
Over 100.000 M1918 by 1919
About 250.000 M1918A2
Designations
Rifle, Caliber .30, Automatic, Browning, M1918
M1918 | United States service
Automatic Machine Rifle Model 1919 | commercial model
Fusil-mitrailleur 7 mm 62 (C. 30) M. 18 (B. A. R.) | French service

Description


Introduction

The BAR is a pre-World War 2 era light machine gun of US origin. The BAR was developed by John Browning in 1917 and was actively used until the mid 20th century. The name BAR stands for "Browning Automatic Rifle", but it is also known under the US military designation M1918. Aside from the M1918 pattern various law enforcement and military derivatives of th

Design

The BAR is a magazine fed gas operated automatic weapon. Although classified by modern standards as a light machine gun, it was conceived as an automatic rifle, just as the name implies. The BAR was to bring man portable and highly mobile firepower, whereas machineguns at that time were still It features a large metal receiver with a short wooden forearm. The long barrel is fully exposed for better air cooling. Most BAR have a wooden stock, but the latest models were fitted with a plastic stock.

Firepower

The BAR fires the .30-06 round from a 20 round magazine. Early versions were select fire. Later versions were fully automatic only, with a selectable slow and high rate of fire of about 400 rpm and 650 rpm respectively. Due to the weight and limited rate of fire the BAR is quite controllable. The effective range is well over 400 meters against point targets.

Users

The BAR was widely used before World War 2 and was actively used by various nations during World War 2, most notably by the United States. After World War 2 the BAR quickly became obsolete with the widespread introduction of battle rifles and general purpose machine guns. In some nations the BAR was used until the 1980's.

Variants


BAR M1918

Original US military version of the Browning Automatic Rifle, first adopted in 1918. This original version was fully envisioned as an automatic rifle, being fired from the shoulder or the hip. The M1918 is also the only model without any bipod. This version is also select-fire, firing semi-automatic or fully automatic.

BAR M1918A1

The M1918A1 is a modified version of the Browning Automatic Rifle that is designed to make it more suitable in the light machine gun role. A spiked bipod is added just in front of the handguard and a hinged butt plate is added as well.

This version of the BAR was not produced new, but was converted from existing stock of M1918. Being adopted in 1937 relatively few M1918 were converted to A1 standard before adoption of the M1918A2.

BAR M1918A2

The A2 model is known as the World War 2 variant of the BAR, being adopted in 1940. With a quarter million produced this is the most common variant of the BAR.

The M1918A2 has a foldable bipod attached to the barrel and is no longer select fire. The M1918A2 has the option to select the standard rate of fire and a reduced rate of fire.

Details


Facts BAR M1918 BAR M1918A1 BAR M1918A2
General
Origin
United States
Type
Automatic rifle
Caliber
Caliber
.30-06 Springfield
Feed system
20 round detachable box magazine
Barrel length
610 mm
Rifling
4 grooves, 254 mm right hand twist
Muzzle velocity
855 m/s
Operation
Action
Gas operated
Locking
Tilting bolt
Fire selector
0 - 1 - F
Rate of fire
550 rpm
Dimensions
Stock type
Fixed
Length
1.194 mm
Weight
7.3 kg empty
7.5 kg with empty magazine
8.0 kg loaded
Sights
Mechanical
Iron sights, blade front and leaf aperture rear
Sight radius
784 mm
Adjustment
100 to 1.500 yards
Accessories
Bipod
No

Media


Derivatives of the BAR design


Colt Monitor

The Colt Monitor is a derivative of the BAR for law enforcement use. This iconic weapon was produced in limited numbers

FN Type D

Further development of the Browning Automatic Rifle by FN of Belgium as a light machine gun. Features a quick change barrel.

Related articles


Browning M1919

The BAR was used alongside the belt-fed M1919A4. This tripod mounted machine gun is much less portable than the BAR.

Bren

The Bren fulfilled a similar role during World War 2 for Commonwealth forces as the M1918A2 Browning Automatic Rifle for US forces.