rufrdr wrote:breacher wrote:I remember reading another similar story in a novel I read years ago. Set in Vietnam, the author referred to using a round file horizontally across the muzzle of his M16 to create what he called a "boars tooth". And this was supposed to make the bullet tumble a LOT. Now, that one surely must be myth or creativity on the part of the author ?
Nonsense supreme.
However, GI's did use the open flash suppressor on M16s to break the metal band on C ration boxes. Insert band between two prongs of the flash suppressor, grasp rifle firmly, twist. That, and using the barrel as a pry bar didn't do the rifle much favors!
The AR15 was originally trialled with the montangard under US advisers. They used to have trouble handling the M14s, but the AR was obviously better suited. They created some hideous injuries, well out of line with what you might expect with the small calibre. They attributed this to the ( then) 55gr bullet tumbling on impact.
As regards the Bren ( or LMG in 7.62 NATO), I have carried and fired both .303 and 7.62, as well as the GPMG.
I think it's a case of comparison. Its rival at the time was the MG34. Known for it's high rate of fire. I have it on good authority that the GPMG owed a bit to the 34, but the one real minus of the Bren was a comparatively low rate of fire and 30rd box mags. The Bren chugged...so more accurate placement was likely, designed or otherwise. Both the Bren and the GPMG were used in light, mounted, AAAD or SF role. In any ground role the idea is to provide suppressive fire and create a beaten zone ( bit like long bows or the old volley fire idea). In the SF role proper, you would see the ground literally churn as the rounds boiled in and you would be changing barrels. In the AAAD role, you hosed the aircraft in a spiral manner. With 1 bit tracer this ideally scared the hell out of the pilot and at least beat the attack off. Normally we would use a 4 gun box together. I think the question is less of accuracy and more to do with flexibility and suitability. Once the disintegrating belt fired guns became available, the Bren was on the back foot. I am not sure if the stellite lined barrels were about when the Bren was designed, but that development would also have lead to coping with higher rates of fire.