Machine guns

Ah, the Bren.

A wonderful squad auto, made back when they took accuracy even for MG's very seriously. With most Pre WW2 MG's, they are serious contenders for accurate shooting. A friend back in the day had a ZB Vz37 (The Czech standard Tank MG, as well as the original version of the British Besa) that was more accurate than his M14 Match - and I would not hesitate to put it against a quality bolt action piece (Though, to be fair, wouldn't bet too much beer as to which would win). Typically speaking, the majority of the major MG's built just before the start of the first World War and through the interwar period are of like performance. Between the Bren and the Besa, the British Army owes a lot to the firm of Zbrojovka Brno.

Another really underrated MG is, believe it or not, the Italian M37 chambered in the M35 8x59. Got to watch it fired once, and it was shocking just how good it was at long range. Not as accurate as the Vz37, but a serious contender - more than any service rifle in use today.

Armies began preferring a large beaten zone against mass attacks, which rules out pinpoint accuracy against individuals.
Cheers
John

Panther Al wrote:Ah, the Bren.

A wonderful squad auto, made back when they took accuracy even for MG's very seriously. With most Pre WW2 MG's, they are serious contenders for accurate shooting. A friend back in the day had a ZB Vz37 (The Czech standard Tank MG, as well as the original version of the British Besa) that was more accurate than his M14 Match - and I would not hesitate to put it against a quality bolt action piece (Though, to be fair, wouldn't bet too much beer as to which would win). Typically speaking, the majority of the major MG's built just before the start of the first World War and through the interwar period are of like performance. Between the Bren and the Besa, the British Army owes a lot to the firm of Zbrojovka Brno.

Another really underrated MG is, believe it or not, the Italian M37 chambered in the M35 8x59. Got to watch it fired once, and it was shocking just how good it was at long range. Not as accurate as the Vz37, but a serious contender - more than any service rifle in use today.

John Prigent wrote:Armies began preferring a large beaten zone against mass attacks, which rules out pinpoint accuracy against individuals.
Cheers
John

Panther Al wrote:Ah, the Bren.

A wonderful squad auto, made back when they took accuracy even for MG's very seriously. With most Pre WW2 MG's, they are serious contenders for accurate shooting. A friend back in the day had a ZB Vz37 (The Czech standard Tank MG, as well as the original version of the British Besa) that was more accurate than his M14 Match - and I would not hesitate to put it against a quality bolt action piece (Though, to be fair, wouldn't bet too much beer as to which would win). Typically speaking, the majority of the major MG's built just before the start of the first World War and through the interwar period are of like performance. Between the Bren and the Besa, the British Army owes a lot to the firm of Zbrojovka Brno.

Another really underrated MG is, believe it or not, the Italian M37 chambered in the M35 8x59. Got to watch it fired once, and it was shocking just how good it was at long range. Not as accurate as the Vz37, but a serious contender - more than any service rifle in use today.

Oh, to be sure: but I still miss the quality of of the Machine Guns made back then. The ones I carted about was nice and all (M240) when I was playing dismount are quite nice, and beaten zones by GPMG's (Or, as some called the MG42, a Shotgun with a 800m range) is the right call these days.