HCAR: The Return Of The BAR In .30-06 Caliber

HCAR: the modern version of a gun that has made history

With the acronym HCAR, or "Heavy Counter Assault Rifle", Ohio Ordnance Works offers a modernized version of the BAR, with some changes to reduce weight – the real Achilles heel of the original weapon – and to improve operation.

Let's start with the weight: the original version weighed 19 lb/8.30 kg, almost as much as two Garands, its fire power limited by a 20-round magazine. The new version weighs "only" 11.75 lb/5.3 kg with 16" barrel or 12.5 lb/5.6 kg with 20" barrel and that already makes a big difference.

The HCAR. is built around a robust steel receiver, which has been lightened with some millings on the sides, and maintains the adjustable gas-operated system with closed bolt that allows an excellent level of safety and reliability even with high pressure cartridges. An internal hydraulic buffer system helps reduce felt recoil on the shooter's shoulder. In semi-automatic fire the gun fed by a proprietary 30-round double-stack magazine, which is not interchangeable with that of the original weapon. The wooden stock has been replaced with a telescoping AR-15 style buttstock, while the pistol grip, made of carbon fiber reinforced nylon, provides a firm grip without overly adding to the weight of the gun. The HCAR  compatible with any mil-spec pattern AR-15 stock. Even the free-floating hand guard, featuring an effective checkering, is made of carbon-fiber reinforced nylon and has three Picatinny accessory rails at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. There are no factory sights, but the Picatinny rail on the receiver's top allows the mounting of any type of iron, optical or electronic sight.

As we said, the gun is available in two barrel lengths, 16 and 20 inches (405 and 508 millimeters). In both cases barrel twist is 1:10. As usual, the muzzle is threaded for the mounting of accessories such as muzzle brakes or suppressor (where allowed). For the moment, the gun is available only in .30-06 Springfield caliber. In the USA the price of the HCAR is 4,800/5,300 bucks (about 4,300/4,600 euros), while the price of the 1918 A3 model is around 5,500 dollars (4,900 euros).

Watch the HCAR in action in a video