The Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) was designed in 1917 by the weapons designer John Browning as a replacement for the French-made Chauchat Light Machine Gun, which was plagued by design flaws that made the weapon ineffective.

The BAR rifle is a gas operated, air cooled, magazine fed weapon. As built for the US military the BAR was chambered for the standard service round of that period, the .30-`06 Springfield. It weighed from 16 to 19 pounds (7.3 to 8.6 kg) empty, depending upon the model. Magazine capacity was 20 rounds.

The Browning BAR M1918 was a select fire weapon allowing the user to choose either semi or fully automatic fire. First issued in February 1918, it was hoped the BAR might help break the stalemate of the trenches by the concept of "marching fire". Soldiers were issued a "cup" that held the stock of the rifle up to the hip. This allowed the soldier to lay suppressive fire while walking forward, keeping the enemy's head down until it was too late. 85,000 were built by war's end.

In June of 1937, small numbers of the M1918 were modified to include a spiked bipod attached to the gas cylinder and a hinged buttplate. These guns were designated the M1918A1.

In 1940 the final BAR model, the M1918A2, was introduced. This model did away with the semi auto mode in favor of full automatic fire only. The rate of fire was adjustable, the user having a choice between "fast" (500-650 round/min) and "slow" (300-450 round/min). The bipod was now attached to the barrel and being easily removed was often discarded by troops when on the offensive. In 1942 a plastic buttstock replaced the walnut, and in late World War II a carrying handle was issued that mounted to the barrel.

While not without its design flaws, namely a fixed barrel and limited magazine capacity, it proved itself to be rugged and reliable. It served from the latter days of World War I through World War II and the Korean War as well. It was last seen soldiering into the early years of the Vietnam War when the U.S. sold a quantity of BARs to the South Vietnamese.

The BAR also has its place in civilian history. Clyde Barrow of Bonnie and Clyde fame was known to prefer the use of a shortened Browning during his spree in the thirties, rather than the stereotypical tommy gun.

Browning contiues to make BAR variants as large caliber auto loading hunting rifles.

A modern manufacturer of firearms has seen fit to pay tribute to one of Browning's greatest designs by producing a semi automatic version of the Browning Automatic Rifle. Known as the 1918A3 SLR (self loading rifle), its specs are listed below:

1918A3 SLR SPECIFICATIONS

Caliber .30-06 (7.62 mm)

Operation Locked-breech, gas-operated with three-position regulator. Semi-automatic, closed-bolt, hammer-fired. Two-position Selector lever.

Feed mechanism 20 round, staggered-column, detachable box-type magazine.

Mass, empty 19.4 lb (8.8 kg)

Length, overall 47.8 inches (1214 mm) with flash hider.

Barrel Four grooves with a right-hand twist of one turn in 10 inches (254 mm).

Barrel length 24 inches (610 mm)

Sights Leaf-type rear sight with open U-notch battle sight and peep aperture adjustable for windage and elevation from 100 to 1,500 yd (91 to 1372 m); reverse ramp-type front sight blade with protective hood.

Finish Phosphate (Parkerized) or Blued

Rate of Fire 20 rounds in 2.7 seconds.