BAR quick change barrel

johng · Post by **johng** » February 8th, 2008, 3:17 am

Ranger Tater Nuts, Sir,
Thank you for your comments . Here is what I found.
The BAR was used from WWI through the Vietnam War. The barrel was too thin , heated up and ruined. After WWII FN introduced the Model with a quick change barrel and simplified assembly.
In 1937 Sweden developed a model of the BAR with a quick change barrel and pistol grip.
Dad said he carried two or three extra barrels , a barrel changing wrench , and an asbestos glove on his belt for barrel changing.
BAR barrels seemed to ruin after about 1000rds. at 75 to 100 rds a minute.
The Old Man told me some crazy stuff ,but, it always turned out to be true.
Oh, I believe the 50 cal weighed about 28 lbs. My dad' ammo bearers learned to carry a 90 lb. box in each hand. I just figured thats why they were Rangers and the rest weren't.

Rock Island Ranger · February 8th, 2008, 10:53 am

For the record, young man....Tater Nuts while a calm and easy going man, is not someone you want to shoot inacurracies at. His name, while giving him a jovial aura, does not speak to his storehouse of IQ. Were it me, I would cease and desist with the assumptions and back away, quietly and respectfully because if there is a man on this board slow to rile, it is he. But should you accomplish the feat, you will find him about as contentious and vile as any man you have ever encountered. Paraphrased.....shut the fuck up.

Jim · Post by **Jim** » February 8th, 2008, 11:52 am

Here is a site. Having fired the BAR, I can tell you that it is a very effective and accurate weapon -- but it does heat up quickly. And it is heavy. However, the US Army did not have "quick release" barrels foor the BAR.

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/infa ... M1918.html

consider this wikipedia entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Browning_Automatic_Rifle

Here is the reference to the swedish "quick release" barrel.

http://gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/kg/swedish_kg2.htm

These were not used by the US Army, however.

johng · Post by **johng** » February 8th, 2008, 4:50 pm

Ranger Tater Nuts,
You are right. My response is full of mistakes and misinformation. I am not unwilling to find the facts. I am just an ignorant civilian. My information is from memory of conversations from decades ago. If I can recover his records , then , I will return and tell an accurate story. So, the cloud is on me , not the Ranger.

Rock Island Ranger · February 8th, 2008, 4:56 pm

johng wrote:Ranger Tater Nuts,
You are right. My response is full of mistakes and misinformation. I am not unwilling to find the facts. I am just an ignorant civilian. My information is from memory of conversations from decades ago. If I can recover his records , then , I will return and tell an accurate story. So, the cloud is on me , not the Ranger.

This is true...good job on the man up. Forget the records, bud...just remember your Father the way you want to. You have nothing to prove to us nor does your father. He did his, good enough for all of us. And forget the cloud, just understand when you deal with this crowd....you WILL get the truth.

Good luck in your life.

K.Ingraham · Post by **K.Ingraham** » February 9th, 2008, 7:20 am

johng wrote:Ranger Tater Nuts,
You are right. My response is full of mistakes and misinformation. I am not unwilling to find the facts. I am just an ignorant civilian. My information is from memory of conversations from decades ago. If I can recover his records , then , I will return and tell an accurate story. So, the cloud is on me , not the Ranger.

John,
I'd suspect that your fathers memory mightve been playing tricks on him as well. I've had many a talk with old vets who couldn't remember jack concerning the technical stuff the likes of us here delight in.
He might've been referring to his trusty 1919A4 as a 'BAR'.
I'm speaking as an old guy who sometimes has to struggle to recall some trivia that was once second nature that "no Ranger could ever forget".
Anyway, I haven't read the entire thread, there are ways to recover your fathers records, I can offer a little experience with this.
Item 1: DO NOT BELIEVE any crap about the 1971 fire having destroyed his records. It's the oldest excuse in the book for the old DA civilians to use who don't feel like walking back into the archives. I know this firsthand. Be persistant and don't be afraid to use your congressional reps after, say, your third rebuff.

Kilted Heathen · Post by **Kilted Heathen** » February 9th, 2008, 7:36 am

johng wrote:Ranger Tater Nuts,
You are right. My response is full of mistakes and misinformation. I am not unwilling to find the facts. I am just an ignorant civilian. My information is from memory of conversations from decades ago. If I can recover his records , then , I will return and tell an accurate story. So, the cloud is on me , not the Ranger.

Please...don't feel compelled.