stug3
Staff Sergeant
A Bren gunner and rifleman take up defensive positions on the beach during combined operations training in the Gulf of Aqaba, 1943.
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A friend and I have discussed this for some time. He makes the point that the Bren is easier to load dure to the top mag. I favor the BAR pointing out that of all guns developed the top mag has shown not to be a great advantage. I'd love to get a fresh set of eyes on this one. What do you think. I would call them about even with no clear advantage to set one above the other.
But the Bren is a heavier gun and needs more support from the squad to do it's best work.
You are right, the early Brens ( MK I II) were 2-3lbs (?) heavier than the later ones. The Bren was also issued with 25 magazines which, when full, went about another 85lbs. I believe some of them were spread around to other squad members besides the gunner and his assistant, at least in WW II or until some magazines were lost? Add the weight of the spare barrel (around 6lbs depending on model) and parts kit and the load on the squad was somewhat higher than the load imposed by one BAR ( I doubt the BAR had 35 magazines issued for it for even 700 rounds in magazines).
I believe the main reason for the high rate of fire of the MG-42 was the brilliant German design of having the bolt run on rollers, perhaps the first usage of that design. I do not know if it was continued on the MG3-had to involve more machining costs on the MG-42. Did the Germans use Stellite barrel linings on either of these WW11 MG's- as America did later on with its 1959 developed "clone" which was the MG-60 (in 7.62x51 NATO cal.)Hi,
You are right: the main difference between the MG42 and the new MG3 is the rate of fire. The WWII gun was capable to fire at 1.200 rpm rate.
Douglas.