Talk:M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle

BARs in Abyssinia

I recently came across a photograph from the Italian invasion of Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). The photo shows two deceased Ethiopian soldiers and what is clearly two early-style (1918) BARs propped up on their position.

Anyone know how BARs ended up in Ethiopia during that period (late 1930s)? The photo in question is in a book; if I could find it online I would provide a link.

How long were they in inventory?

I have a relative who went through USAF basic training in 1977 and was trained on the BAR. Seems like a long time after it would be frontline issue.

Just out of curiousity, how long were they officially in service?

i dont no the exact date it was retired but i no it was probaly retired soon after reltive used it or 80's, but i no it might be still in stocks. they still have original m16

.303 SAA Ball Variant

I seen an M1918 Bar in .303 Calibre, Was this a proposed version for the British before using the bren?User:EX STAB

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Possible .280 variant of the BAR

A document detailing the Braschaat demonstrations makes note of a B.A.R (converted to run 7mm) being tested alongside a Bren Light Machine Gun of what appears to be the same conversion. I would appreciate a second set of eyes to confirm or deny my suspicions that this is indeed a .280 British conversion of the Browning Automatic Rifle being referenced rather than 7mm Mauser.

An excerpt from the document:

Firing with Light Machine Guns Converted to 7mm:

"A Browning Automatic Rifle (FN model) and a British Bren Light Machine Gun converted to 7mm both fired satisfactorily. . ."

General Comments on Demonstration:

"The object of this demonstration. . . was in reality to introduce and advertise Fabrique Nationale d'Armes de Guerre's 7mm lightweight automatic rifle. Further, it was designed to correct the erroneous impression created by the UK demonstration of August 10th that the new UK's 7mm (.28 cal) small arms ammunition was completely of UK origin and design."

Given one aim of this trial was dispelling notions that the .280/7mm(*) round was entirely British development, I came to wonder if '7mm B.A.R' might actually be referencing a .280 variant, instead of say 7mm Mauser. It would make some sense considering the rifle placed against it for demonstration (the Bren gun) is well known in some circles to have been chambered in .280 British for trials purposes.

The only other round that 7mm is referencing in my mind is 7mm Mauser which is brought up a couple of times in the document regarding ballistics design of the .280 British.

I am not aware of a 7mm Mauser conversion of the Bren gun but I am of the .280 British conversions. Therefore adding to my suspicion that the two mentioned competing rifles were both chambered in .280 British.

It may be poor grammatical interpretation on my part but, given the heavily .280-centric nature of the demonstrations and a few other ancillary elements to it which exist in the document, it doesn't seem farfetched to interpret the .280 British conversion.

Unfortunately, my certainty of this possibility is rather limited. So, I am hoping someone may be able to cast eyes over it.

I would also love to share the wider document yet, I cannot find a web link to it. So, I will have to find means to upload my copy.

(*) - The document appears to interchange the use of the terms '.280' and '7mm' regarding .280 British. Meanwhile it also exhibits use of the term '7mm' in other places without specifying reference to .280 British. Therefore leading to some of my uncertainty. Engliſh Antics (talk) 12:19, 8 December 2023 (UTC)