I've owned them both and they're both great. Again, apples and oranges. Automatic rifle v/s light machine gun. 30rd v/s 20, fixed barrel v/s replaceable. Unskilled user, unfamiliar with BOTH weapons. You can see that by his equal fumbling...a trained hand can make them both sing. And both show their stuff far better at distance...both very accurate. Right up to the point you mount the Bren on the mount...and register targets.
Chalk and cheese. A point to ponder is that the Bren turned out to be the longest serving piece of kit in the British Army. Went from 1938 until Feb 2002 when the very last were withdrawn without fuss or ceremony. As a matter of interest, anyone know how long the BAR served in the US Army
There's a great deal about the BAR published, starting with Rock in a Hard Place by Ballou. Good book. The dates vary but it started at the end of WW1 seeing a bit of service with the U.S. Army's 79th Infantry Division, which took them into action for the first time on 13 September 1918. I have pics of it in the armory repair racks in the late '60s in USAF possession. Actual combat use existed beyond that of course, but not with the US I think. There's some stories about it being used in early RVN by U.S. forces...I believe that. Lots of older stuff went.
I'm hoping we get some more people jumping in on this particular spot...
Last edited by browningautorifle; 11-25-2013 at 11:53 AM.
I remember Bob Faris telling a story of how he despised the BAR as an Armorer in the Korean War. It was all because of the barrel which was near impossible to change in the field although it was done through sheer butchery from time to time. To think of all the MG's he owned during his long and interesting career and life and he refused to own a BAR. I rented one at Knob Creek the first time I visited the show as a patron in 2000 and enjoyed my couple of magazines immensely. However, compared to the Bren it's really apple and oranges or chalk and cheese as already stated. Obviously a rifle as Jim says as compared to a LMG.
The downside with calling anything a "Rifle" is that its magazine is fed from below. It certainly was a revolution in its day in 1919 and well ahead of the times, but with all things weaponry, something comes along which performs as a Light machine gun, slightly better, and thats what the Bren did. A different role but just what the doctor ordered.
Gravity fed and easy to change anything at a quick touch and fumble.........love it, and a weapon that will rise in value
Last edited by Gil Boyd; 12-09-2013 at 12:31 PM.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
BREN gun versus American B.A.R (History Channel video by Lee Ermey)
PM
