The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Where to find Semi-Auto BAR

dZ · August 9, 2000, 07:59 PM

http://www.valkyriearms.com/bar.htm
Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) .30 caliber
(This Product Has Been Discontinued)

Group Industries BATF approved receiver.
Assembled with all re-conditioned military parts.
Manually Operated Rifle (MOR).
Fires from an open bolt.
Straight pull bolt, magazine-fed repeater. Gas system is disabled.
.30-'06 caliber.
Transfers on a 4473 Yellow form. No tax stamp required.
Includes bipod, flash suppressor, and a 20 round magazine.
Only $1,800.

Note: A true semi-automatic version of the BAR is now manufactured by Ohio Ordnance for $2,650.
They can be contacted at:

Ohio Ordnance
P.O. Box 687
Chardon, Ohio 44024

Phone: (216) 285-3481
Fax: (216) 286-8571

Please mention that you learned about it from Valkyrie Arms.

ding ding!!!
http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/

Semi-Auto BAR
This article appeared in the
1997 Surplus Firearms V5
by Garry James

The genius of John Browning is truly humbling, If I had to choose the greatest firearms inventor in history, it would
have to be the man from Ogden, Utah. He is responsible for more practical military and sporting handgun, shotgun,
rifle and machine gun designs than just about anyone I can bring to mind, including Christopher Spencer, Hiram
Maxim, Paul Mauser, Ferdinand Mannlicher and James Paris Lee.

One of his crowning achievements is probably the best light machine gun ever devised, the Browning Automatic
Rifle, or "BAR". Of course, this 20-shot .30-06 was designed as a full auto arm, and because of its Class III status is
not open to ownership for many of us who live in the more unenlightened states of the Union.

Now, however, thanks to Bob Landies of Ohio Ordnance, we have a semi-automatic version of this famed arm that is
purchasable by just about anyone who can legally own a firearm.

Before we get into a discussion of this new "surplus" rifle, let's take a look at the gun's origins and history.

The Browning Automatic Rifle was designed and built during World War I in response to a need by U.S. forces for
a light "machine rifle" for offensive work. In fact, it was hoped the BAR might help break the stalemate that existed
when Pershing's troops arrived in France. The theory was for large numbers of doughboys armed with BARs to
employ "walking fire" against the Hnu trenches. This consisted of soldiers advancing toward the enemy, firing with
each step of the right foot, producing a torrent of bullets, which would, theoretically, drastically intimidate German
return fire.

Browning demonstrated his prototype BAR on February 27, 1917, about a year after he started work on the design.
It was an immediate hit with ordnance authorities, and was enthusiastically adopted. The first BARs were
manufactured by Colt, Winchester, and Marlin Rockewell, and appeared in the supply line in February, 1918.

The "Browning Automatic Rifle Model of 1918" was a hefty affair, weighing in at some 16 pounds. Chambered for
the U.S. .30-06 service cartridge, it held 20 rounds in its removable box magazine. The gun measured 47 inches
long, with a 24 inch barrel. The butt and forearm were of walnut, and the rifle was set up for sling carry and support.
Sights involved a fron blade and rear ladder style, adjustable to 1500 yards.

BARs were gas-operated and fired from an open bolt, the bolt being locked by a toggle link on the rear of the bolt,
which lifted against a shoulder on the top, inside of the reciever. The cyclic rate of fire was 600 rounds per minute,
but practically, the actual payload was between 80 and 100 rpm.

The Model 1818 had a selector switch that allowed the gun to be fired either full- or semi-auto. Because of the gun's
weight, recoil was not prohibitive in either mode, and accuracy was found to be good.

Some BARs were issued in time to see service at the front, the first occassion being when Lieutenant Val A.
Browning of the U.S. 79th Division, John Browning's son, fired the gun against German lines on September 13,
1918.

Browning Automatic Rifles continued to be used by the 79th through the Meuse-Argonne offensive and in the
capture of Montfaucon. The armistice of November, 1918 silenced all guns, though the BAR proved to be so
popular, it was kept in service. Some 85,000 BARs had been produced under the original contract.

In 1920, Fabrique Nationale in Belgium obtained rights to produce a version of the BAR that they marketed as the
Herstel light machine gun in several calibers.

Though World War I had ended, the BAR continued to make a name for itself during the 1920s with law
enforcement and desperados alike. Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, for instance, was particularly
enamored of them, though, ironically, Deputy Ted Hinton used a BAR as a backup arm when the duo was fatally
ambushed by Special Investigator Frank Hamer.

In June, 1937 the BAR was modified by adding a folding bipod mounted on the gas cylinder and by fitting a hinged
metal flap to the buttplate to help support the gun when it was fired from the shoulder. Designated the BAR Model
1918A1, the arm was now regarded more as a light machine gun than as a "machine rifle."

Three years later the piece was again revamped and retitled the BAR 1918A2. The semi-auto mode was eliminated,
and the gun changed by altering the mechanism to allow two cyclic rates of fire - 550 and 350 rpm. As well, the
bipod was removed from the gas cylinder and repositioned to the muzzle, where it was held in place by a sturdy steel
flash hider. A plastic buttstock was introduced in 1942, and in late 1944 a carrying handle was made available.

August 9, 2000, 07:59 PM	#6
dZ Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 1999 Location: Exiled, Fetid Swamp, DC Posts: 7,548	http://www.valkyriearms.com/bar.htm Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) .30 caliber (This Product Has Been Discontinued) Group Industries BATF approved receiver. Assembled with all re-conditioned military parts. Manually Operated Rifle (MOR). Fires from an open bolt. Straight pull bolt, magazine-fed repeater. Gas system is disabled. .30-'06 caliber. Transfers on a 4473 Yellow form. No tax stamp required. Includes bipod, flash suppressor, and a 20 round magazine. Only $1,800. Note: A true semi-automatic version of the BAR is now manufactured by Ohio Ordnance for $2,650. They can be contacted at: Ohio Ordnance P.O. Box 687 Chardon, Ohio 44024 Phone: (216) 285-3481 Fax: (216) 286-8571 Please mention that you learned about it from Valkyrie Arms. ding ding!!! http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/ Semi-Auto BAR This article appeared in the 1997 Surplus Firearms V5 by Garry James The genius of John Browning is truly humbling, If I had to choose the greatest firearms inventor in history, it would have to be the man from Ogden, Utah. He is responsible for more practical military and sporting handgun, shotgun, rifle and machine gun designs than just about anyone I can bring to mind, including Christopher Spencer, Hiram Maxim, Paul Mauser, Ferdinand Mannlicher and James Paris Lee. One of his crowning achievements is probably the best light machine gun ever devised, the Browning Automatic Rifle, or "BAR". Of course, this 20-shot .30-06 was designed as a full auto arm, and because of its Class III status is not open to ownership for many of us who live in the more unenlightened states of the Union. Now, however, thanks to Bob Landies of Ohio Ordnance, we have a semi-automatic version of this famed arm that is purchasable by just about anyone who can legally own a firearm. Before we get into a discussion of this new "surplus" rifle, let's take a look at the gun's origins and history. The Browning Automatic Rifle was designed and built during World War I in response to a need by U.S. forces for a light "machine rifle" for offensive work. In fact, it was hoped the BAR might help break the stalemate that existed when Pershing's troops arrived in France. The theory was for large numbers of doughboys armed with BARs to employ "walking fire" against the Hnu trenches. This consisted of soldiers advancing toward the enemy, firing with each step of the right foot, producing a torrent of bullets, which would, theoretically, drastically intimidate German return fire. Browning demonstrated his prototype BAR on February 27, 1917, about a year after he started work on the design. It was an immediate hit with ordnance authorities, and was enthusiastically adopted. The first BARs were manufactured by Colt, Winchester, and Marlin Rockewell, and appeared in the supply line in February, 1918. The "Browning Automatic Rifle Model of 1918" was a hefty affair, weighing in at some 16 pounds. Chambered for the U.S. .30-06 service cartridge, it held 20 rounds in its removable box magazine. The gun measured 47 inches long, with a 24 inch barrel. The butt and forearm were of walnut, and the rifle was set up for sling carry and support. Sights involved a fron blade and rear ladder style, adjustable to 1500 yards. BARs were gas-operated and fired from an open bolt, the bolt being locked by a toggle link on the rear of the bolt, which lifted against a shoulder on the top, inside of the reciever. The cyclic rate of fire was 600 rounds per minute, but practically, the actual payload was between 80 and 100 rpm. The Model 1818 had a selector switch that allowed the gun to be fired either full- or semi-auto. Because of the gun's weight, recoil was not prohibitive in either mode, and accuracy was found to be good. Some BARs were issued in time to see service at the front, the first occassion being when Lieutenant Val A. Browning of the U.S. 79th Division, John Browning's son, fired the gun against German lines on September 13, 1918. Browning Automatic Rifles continued to be used by the 79th through the Meuse-Argonne offensive and in the capture of Montfaucon. The armistice of November, 1918 silenced all guns, though the BAR proved to be so popular, it was kept in service. Some 85,000 BARs had been produced under the original contract. In 1920, Fabrique Nationale in Belgium obtained rights to produce a version of the BAR that they marketed as the Herstel light machine gun in several calibers. Though World War I had ended, the BAR continued to make a name for itself during the 1920s with law enforcement and desperados alike. Clyde Barrow, of Bonnie and Clyde fame, for instance, was particularly enamored of them, though, ironically, Deputy Ted Hinton used a BAR as a backup arm when the duo was fatally ambushed by Special Investigator Frank Hamer. In June, 1937 the BAR was modified by adding a folding bipod mounted on the gas cylinder and by fitting a hinged metal flap to the buttplate to help support the gun when it was fired from the shoulder. Designated the BAR Model 1918A1, the arm was now regarded more as a light machine gun than as a "machine rifle." Three years later the piece was again revamped and retitled the BAR 1918A2. The semi-auto mode was eliminated, and the gun changed by altering the mechanism to allow two cyclic rates of fire - 550 and 350 rpm. As well, the bipod was removed from the gas cylinder and repositioned to the muzzle, where it was held in place by a sturdy steel flash hider. A plastic buttstock was introduced in 1942, and in late 1944 a carrying handle was made available.