BAR accuracy

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Shawnbob

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Looking for some advice here, a younger fellow at work just bought a bar in 243, mounted a vx2 4-12x40 and took it shooting the other day. His dad happens to be an old boy who bought a remington in the 60's and hasn't cleaned it since, so when he got his new browning they shot without cleaning and now have 40 rounds through it and can't get it to shoot, he said 4" at 50 and a 6" best 5 shot groups at 100. I said to him it's likely because they haven't cleaned it and build up in a fresh barrell and so on but who am I? Ha i also made sure that all the mounts and rings were tight, what is expects from these rifles? And they were using cheap remington ammo. Thanks in advance
 
Its a hunting rifle, try 3 shot groups for starters, The barrel could be heating up and making those un impressive 5 shot groups. Clean the gun for sure including a good copper solvent there may be factory fouling in there.
Remington corelocts can really shoot in some guns, but it may need some different loads tried in it to find what it likes.
The BAR is known for being accurate, capable of rivaling a lot of factory hunting bolt actions. Maybe trigger pull is an issue and needs to be adjusted.
 
BAR should be shooting 1 - 1.5" with any ammo that it doesn't hate.

Something is off there.

An original cleaning after buying, or cleaning after the first few rounds from the factory is always a good idea, but (after an original thorough cleaning), no BAR needs cleaning every 40 rounds.

I'm thinking maybe it's something major like a scope on loose bases, or a broken scope, or maybe stop shooting from horseback blindfolded :).
 
Northman raises and excellent point I can't believe I over looked, it very easy to not notice loose scope bases or rings. Did the "younger fellow" install the scope himself? He may want to add some locktite to the screws for the bases. This would definitely explain the accuracy issues he's having.
 
My personal experience with the Browning BAR, while not extensive, is sufficient to
have me believe that there are a few "duds" out there.

I have seen 3 that were anything but accurate. [3" @ 100M]
I have also seen some that were surprisingly accurate.

4" at 50 yards is horrendous, though, and it should do better than that, regardless.

I would clean it up thoroughly, recheck scope bases, and swap out the scope for a known good one
before condemning the BAR.

Try several types of ammo as well, since it may be fussy.

Hope he can get the issue resolved.
Eagleye.
 
The guy's done everything wrong. Needs to clean it before he does anything else. Then move out to 100, then try a box of every brand and bullet weight he can to find the ammo the rifle shoots best. Suspect the guy could use some shooting lessons too.
"...and hasn't cleaned it since..." Very likely only shoots it when/if he sees a deer and never practices.
"...on average it's..." With what ammo?
 
The next time he takes the rifle out, I would go with him, and if he is still having diffculties, loan him another rifle, a known shooter, preferably the smallest caliber available and see how he does with it. Perhaps he just needs a little trigger time and some coaching.
Just a thought.
 
I have 2 BAR's,30-06 & 7mm,I have yet to find a factory load that they like, 3 or 4 inch groups at 100 yrds, I was ready to give up on them then I started reloading. Now they shoot moa and sometimes better.Very happy with them now.
 
Northman999 said:
BAR should be shooting 1 - 1.5" with any ammo that it doesn't hate.

Something is off there.

An original cleaning after buying, or cleaning after the first few rounds from the factory is always a good idea, but (after an original thorough cleaning), no BAR needs cleaning every 40 rounds.

I'm thinking maybe it's something major like a scope on loose bases, or a broken scope, or maybe stop shooting from horseback blindfolded :).
Click to expand...


Yes, this. ^^^^
 
I've owned 3 BAR's over the years ( 308,30-06, and 300WM...... I like 30 cals ) that would keep most ammo inside 1.5 to 2 inches at a hundred yrds, as above 3 shot groups. The BAR has one accuracy gremlin that sometimes gets over-looked. Its the front sling swivel base. If you have a look at it, it is also has a lock nut that secures the fore-end to the gas piston assembly. If it isn't tightened snuggly, NOT torqued on !!!, it will throw shots everywhere. All of the BAR's I've owned were very sensitive when it came to this.

If the rifle was taken apart for cleaning, or if the sling swivel has been fiddled with and the fore-end nut wasn't installed properly it would cause the rifle throw shots.Since the rifle has such a low round and the bore looks good, I suspect this may be the problem. Hope this helps.

A2
 
anglia2 said:
I've owned 3 BAR's over the years ( 308,30-06, and 300WM...... I like 30 cals ) that would keep most ammo inside 1.5 to 2 inches at a hundred yrds, as above 3 shot groups. The BAR has one accuracy gremlin that sometimes gets over-looked. Its the front sling swivel base. If you have a look at it, it is also has a lock nut that secures the fore-end to the gas piston assembly. If it isn't tightened snuggly, NOT torqued on !!!, it will throw shots everywhere. All of the BAR's I've owned were very sensitive when it came to this.

If the rifle was taken apart for cleaning, or if the sling swivel has been fiddled with and the fore-end nut wasn't installed properly it would cause the rifle throw shots.Since the rifle has such a low round and the bore looks good, I suspect this may be the problem. Hope this helps.

A2
Click to expand...
very good advice, I have had three as well all under 1" with the right handloads my present 30-06 is one ragged hole with nosler etips
 
I have two BARs 69'&70' twins both in 3006 made in Belgium and assembled in Belgium. Both have their bolts running on the "ball bearings". The 69' one is my 20years+ hunting veteran with truckload of game to its account shooting very consistent 3"-4" four shot group at 200m with 180gr Remington CL in front of H414 powder and WLR primer. Reliability is unreal, not even one glitch in all those years. The 70' one is like new with only two boxes af ammo shot waiting to replace the veteran but I don't think that will ever be needed. I propably could get better accuracy with one I hunt with but.... I still have 450+ bullets left from the same lot (there is nothing wrong with 180gr Rem CR) and reliability IMHO trumps marginal improovement in accuracy any day.
I think they don't make them (semi auto's) as good anymore. Do they?
 
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