Bar 1918a2 Fire Rates

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

Hi

I bought a BAR 1918A2 but as I shot with it

I remark that it didn't have two fire rates.

The position "A" of the selector is full auto and "F" is semi auto.

Is this malfunction or are there 1918A2's with a semi auto position?

 

Thanks for any answers.

[leid]

STG,

You probably have an M1918 trigger group or trigger group parts in your M1918A2 BAR. The M1918 was select fire whereas the M1918A2 was Full Auto only with a fast & a slow rate of fire. There is a rate reducer mechanism in the trigger group and buffer on the M1918A2.

HTH,

Carey

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

Thanks for the Answer and yes I could need some help to identify my trigger group.

 

Here are some pictures.

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2794.gif

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2797.gif

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2798.gif

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2799.gif

[leid]

STG,

That is a factory M1918A2 trigger group, looks like a NESA made assembly. Your trouble must be in the slow down mechanism in the buffer assembly. If you have never stripped it down and cleaned it, you should do so now.

When a BAR is cleaned with the muzzle pointing up, all the fouling drains into the buffer group and renders the slow down mechanism inoperable. Take it apart, clean it and post a pic of those parts so I can be sure you have all of the M1918A2 parts necessary to make it work. The long, slender actuator spring in the cap tube assembly is rather delicate. If the buffer assembly has not been cleaned in a long time, some of the parts may be rusted badly. You will need a BAR combination tool to disassemble the buffer group.

Great pictures! Makes it easy.

Carey

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

Thanks for the quick and useful answer.

 

I have take off the buttstock and a spring from the buffer (there is a lot of old grease)

but I don't know how to continue.

Can I do that without the BAR tool?

[leid]

STG,

If there is a lot of grease instead of rust, that is a very good thing! Post a picture of the buffer tube assembly so I can see which type you have. There are 3 types I know of. See pic below. M1918 Combination tool is at the top, Colt Commercial, M1918A2, & M1918 buffer assemblies are below.

You can use a pair of vice grips to remove the cap tube assembly, but if it is on tight you will damage the appearance.

Carey

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a72/leid/ColtCommercial1918A21918Buffers.jpg

 

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

Here are the pictures.

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2801.gif

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2806.gif

[leid]

STG,

It all looks correct and in very good condition. You need to remove the cap tube assembly to clean the buffer head, actuator, and sear release. The cap tube assembly is the part on the rear of the large tube with the hole in it for the combo tool to fit into. The actuator should be in the tube just in front to the long actuator spring. Try and dump it out of the tube at this point. Make sure the actuator is not missing. It should really have been attached to the end of the actuator spring. If it is missing, we have found the problem and there is no reason to continue without the combo tool. Also make sure the sear release, that is the bright part in your buffer head, moves freely.

Carey

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

 

Here is the picture of the complete assembly.

 

By the way, Thanks leid for the great support.

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2808.gif

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2809.gif

[leid]

STG,

There is the actuator and all other required parts to give you a slow rate of fire. The heavy grease may have prevented the actuator from moving in the tube freely. Clean everything up and use oil instead of grease in the cap tube assembly. Also check the bore of the cap tube and make sure it is smooth. The brass cups and steel cones go in just like you have them layed out: brass cup first then steel cone. I posted a more detailed picture above for reference.

While you do that, I will take a closer look at the trigger assembly and see if I notice anything out of the ordinary. Your rifle has all the correct parts.

Is your rifle a NESA? The buffer head is marked NE5, so it was made by NESA (New England Small Arms).

Carey

[leid]

STG,

I can see nothing wrong with your trigger assembly. Once you clean and lubricate everything correctly, your BAR should work in Fast & Slow FA modes. Make sure to clean and lubricate the trigger assembly also. The Slow FA mode on 1918A2s is infamous for being erratic unless everything is just right.

Carey

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

Leid,

Thanks again for the Help and the information about the orign of my BAR.

I will clean everything and test it next saturday, I hope it will work.

If you want I will tell you whether it works or not.

Björn

Edited December 13, 2005 by swiss_tommy_gunner

[leid]

Bjorn,

Glad to help and yes, please LMK if it works in Slow mode. If it doesn't, we will try again. Also, go here for many BAR owners: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WWIIBARMAN/

Good luck,

Carey Leidenheimer (leid)

[Junkyardslug]

Björn, Leid is very knowledgeable in these things, he will have you up and running without a doubt. There is one thing I notice though (and I must apologies, it has nothing to do with your problem). I don't think the trigger group you have is manufactured by NESA. Here is the photo of yours:

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/IMG_2799.gif

 

Here are some photos from my collection, notice the similar bulbous contour in the Mag guides on the middle trigger group. The middle one is Cast and is either a IBM (which are rare if they even exist), or a rarer NESA or Royal Typewriter that was from a different mold than the more common versions. The Numbers on mine are worn off, if you can post the numbers on the bottom of yours and if there is a maker stamped on it that would be great! I have been trying to figure out who made this trigger group for a long time!

George

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Junkyardslug/BAR%20photos/TRGGRD2.jpg

 

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/Junkyardslug/BAR%20photos/TRGGRD1.jpg

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

Junkyardslug,

I have taken a better look on the trigger group, on the bottom is the number D35470 and in the front of the Mag guide is the

number B-19639-6 and the mark NE4.

I hope it helps you.

Edited December 10, 2005 by swiss_tommy_gunner

[Junkyardslug]

Thanks Björn. The number B-19639-6 is the extractor. The number D35470 helps, but I was hoping there was a maker stamp also. Oh well the search continues. Thanks so much for looking!

 

George

Edited December 5, 2005 by Junkyardslug

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

It works!!

It shoots in slow mode.

Thanks again carey.

[leid]

Hi Bjorn,

You are very welcome. Please post some pics of your BAR for us to envy when you have time.

Happy Holidays!

Carey

[swiss_tommy_gunner]

See and are astonished.

Merry shooting.

Björn

 

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR1.gif

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR7.gif

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR3.gif

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR4.gif

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR5.gif

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR6.gif

http://homepage.hispeed.ch/csck/Bilder/BAR2.gif

[Tman]

Very nice!!

[leid]

Very Nice Indeed!

Thanks Bjorn!

Carey