The 40-round magazine was developed alongside the M1918 BAR in the late stages of World War I, serving as a high-capacity alternative to the standard 20-round magazine. It was never meant for regular infantry, but rather for anti-aircraft use. The idea was that the extra rounds would allow for more sustained against aerial targets, whether fired from aircraft or the ground. That said, the magazine never saw widespread adoption. According to records, it was removed from U.S. military service after 1927.
Regarding this particular field-made magazine, I’ve heard that two combined springs from two combined mags don’t equal twice the number of rounds. The springs can’t handle that amount of ammo. And this thing holds 30, not 40.
The 15-round magazine from the AVT-40 was also made from two SVT magazines, but it doesn’t hold 20 rounds. Incidentally, the filed weld seam on the older model indicated this. It looked like a light, round spot in the middle.
I think it should be the BR4. The closest equivalent is the Ke-7/50. The BR-3 is a machine gun with an extended magazine, which was used for the BR4. Unless, of course, we’re talking about a magazine that actually holds 40 rounds.
This BAR could indeed hold 40 rounds, not from a single 40-round magazine, but by welding two standard 20-round magazines together. You would fire through the top one first, then switch to the lower one. Experts have actually compared two 20-round magazines side by side and confirmed it works.
Since blueprints exist and historical photos confirm the feasibility of a 40-round BAR, outfitting it with an extended magazine is entirely possible. After all, firearms like Japan’s Type 2a, which only existed on paper, have already made their way into games.
The combined force of two springs can’t feed twice as many rounds. If I’m not mistaken, it’s scientifically called the square-cube law. Double the amount of something can’t handle double the load. That’s what I was trying to say. And I also heard that this particular magazine only held thirty.
I haven’t heard about that. Did they exactly replicate that field mag? And did the soldiers in the field have the same equipment as these experts?
And I’d quite like to read the ones stating that they did…?
Because, the last image you provided isn’t the same magazine type as the pre-war one, it’s clearly one that’s just two mags welded together… Do we even know the capacity of it…?
I think you should specify which version you want added, too.
I’m actually fine with either, I just want to know what I am voting for.
The inter-war curved one looks sleeker and more professional, so I prefer that one. But that’s only because I like acting like a Major in charge of my own company when making my loadouts… I prefer to avoid giving my men scrap-metal when I can, I want my soldiers to have confidence-inspiring gear.
Information on this weapon is very scarce, hence my use of the phrase “might be added to the game ”in the main text. The only thing I can confirm is that the BAR in the image is equipped with a 40-round magazine.
but br3 or 4, not below
