- Yes
- No
In actual combat any exp. solider would remove the bi pod at the end of the barrel to reduce weight and increase accuracy. It was common with American forces because sitting in prone was a good way to get shot.
Two BAR gunners of the 29th Infantry Division at Julich, Germany, during early 1945. The gunners have stripped down their guns, only retaining the flash hider. Photo courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration.
The BAR on Guadalcanal in 1942. Note the bipod in the foreground, along with the rarely seen monopod. On the left, a Marine holds a Reising Model 50 SMG. Photo courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration.
“Tokyo Terror”, a stripped-down BAR (only retaining the shoulder rest) of the 503rd Parachute Infantry on Mindoro in the Philippine Islands, late 1944. Photo courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration.
The BAR for example because it was designed as an assault rifle, but the army wanted it to be a machine gun. The guys on the ground realized it was an assault rifle and would remove as much weight as possible because they were putting there lives on the front line. This was do to restrictions put in place because of the treaty of Versailles and wanting to limit weapons of mass destruction.
This Marine BAR gunner in Korea has removed the bipod and flash hider from his weapon but has retained the carrying handle—often considered a hinderance to balance and accuracy. Photo courtesy of National Archives and Records Administration.
This weight problem was recognized early on with ambush jungle fighting that took place in Nicaragua fighting guerillas. They had to save weight to deal with ambushes. And followed into Vietnam. This led to developments as such rifles as Jungle BAR, Johnson Rifles and M16. The Jungle BAR was cut down to save weight and making aiming faster. The Johnson Rifles had a direct impingement system to save weight that would later influence the M16. My point is people wouldn’t go into combat with bi pods hanging off there weapons… It adds weight on the front of the barrell and reduces accuaracy and makes aiming harder. Especially the weapons with front barrell mounted bi pods and not receiver mounted bi pods. either way there is still a weigh problem. Some people don’t realize as you fire a weapon the weapon gets hotter. Having that waight on the tip of the barrell is really going to hurt accuracy as the gun heats hup. Guns are made out of metal and flex as they’re shot.
A Johnson LMG
Johnson isn’t as bad becasue the bi pod is more light weight and is mounted to the receiver…
You can see in the images they’re training w/o bipods… This is 1941/2…
