Browning BAR thoughts?

I've got a bar mk 1 in 338- now if you REALLY want to step up, and can afford the ammo- I reload btw,but there's not much to "improve" upon in the factory loading- ie the 250/2500 or whatever it is- however the 308 in any rifle gives you 2 extra rounds the range has to be less than 250 yards and its usually a bigger animal-
 
Hi Woodlotowner!

Thanks! Happy to belong!
I’ve been back and forth with calibres/rifles .... and I think I’m settling in on the BAR in 300 Win Mag.
A connection through this forum has helped me out!
 
Hi BARguy

I’m a big fan of the .270, and was thinking about the 270 WSM ... but I’m now looking at a BAR Mark II in 300 Win Mag
Any thoughts on them? A friend of mine suggested that I need to get the serial # because there were some quality control issues with Browning a while back!?! I’ve not heard if that ... and always thought the BAR is pretty bullet proof.

Thanks
 
Thanks rascal1

Man they are really nice looking! I’m hopefully going to see a guy about a used BAR Mark II in .300 Win Mag this week.
I’ll keep the thread posted.
Thanks!
 
I have a BAR in 300 Win Mag and am very pleased with it. Has yet to ever jam on me, recoil is noticeably less than other bolt guns in 300 I've shot. It is a touch on the heavy side for me with a decent size scope on it, but not horrible by any stretch. After a full week of lugging it around on foot for 12+ hours a day, I wished it would go on a diet and lose a pound. (This is even with the synthetic stock set and alloy reciever)

I managed to find a good factory load that shot honest to God clover leafs at 100 yards. I haven't reloaded for it yet, but intend to, however I don't think there is much getting better after 3 holes touching out of a semi!
 
I have had 3 bars(30-06,270 & 7mm RM)all safari's.The 30-06 was the best shooter of the 3 with reloads.They all worked great but were hard on brass.I am pretty much a bolt action fan now but always wanted a bar 243 win for coyotes & deer.Think I would buy another if they ever come out in a 6.5 CM or 6 mm CM.There a fun rifle and fairly easy to take down and good shooters also.
 
Hi Potshot21

I hear ya about the weight thing ... and I’m sure there will be moments when I say ... man this thing is heavy, and why did I buy it! Lol.
Curious about which factory load shot the best? I’ve had success with Federal factory loads in the past. I do plan to reload for it.

I spent some time in Kaladar (I see you’re from Napanee). I actually had a 300 in a Remington 700 once upon a time back then. I got to not enjoy shooting after the 4th, 5th shot etc. I’m hopeful that recoil won’t be an issue any longer.
An old timer friend of mine still hunts around in Kaladar with a BAR 300 Winnie. He’s a tough old bird and loves the smack that the 300 dishes out on critters big and small!

Thanks
 
Hi bubba300

Good to hear about the success and reliability of these rifles. They are pricey.
I had a Norinco m305 that really chewed up the brass ... so I’m hopeful that this won’t be as bad!

I have some bolt rifles too, and had a Remington 700 BDL in 300 a Win Mag. Nice looking gun, but I got to flinching a bit with it, so I sold it. I’m hoping that the recoil won’t be as stiff in the BAR.
I’m used to shooting a .270.
Thanks
 
Ive had a several BARs come through and currently own 3 BARs. My currents are a Mk2 Stalker in 7mm Rem mag, along with a 30-06 and 308 both are type 2's. I've had a Safari with sights, Longtrac stalker, Longtrac oilfinish, all in 30-06, Safari with BOSS in 30-06 and 300 win mag. In the family we have a rare 270 weatherby Safari and a new Safari no sights in 30-06. All worked well with smooth actions except a few issues with the Type 2's.

BOSS Safari rifles: BOSS worked as advertised and loads could be tuned nicely. Mild recoil in both calibers. Extremely loud and mad muzzle blast, especially the 300 win mag.

Mk2: Composite stalkers are nice and come with iron sights. I dont have to worry about scratching during bushwhacking. Feels heavier.

Safaris: Nicest of the bunch and older one came with iron's. Feels the heaviest and hard to lug around. 1) protecting the stock 2) its heavy. Solved with a double sling.

Longtracs: Lightest and most accurate of the bunch. More composite parts like trigger guard and floor plate. Not sure how long it will last under heavy use. Should be ok though if taken care of. Never hunted in very cold weather.

Type 2: Oldest and luckiest of the bunch. Least accurate...2-3" avg at 100yrds but Ive seen them at a lucky 1"ish before. Can probably be tuned if I put the effort in. Gives me a few issues. The 06 worked well when bought new in 1991. Up until the mid 2000's, started acting up. Would fail to eject and feed when below freezing. Change out all springs, works fine now but stays home mostly. I keep it because it's got too much sentimental value. It's been everywhere. Approximately 2-3k rounds through it. The 308 had all problems that could go wrong with a BAR. The buttstock loosened up eventually which also caused play in trigger group, scope mount screws protruded, forestock is loose and touching barrel on one side, poor grouping (5" at 100yrds) with all ammo. I decided to work on this gun as it somehow had a soft spot in my heart. I disassembled it all and tightened up the stocks front (took some fitting and woodwork) and back. Forestock screw torqued ( had to to do a lot of testing and tightening) to achieve optimum groups. Scope mount screws filed back. I'm keeping this one as a dedicated iron's shooter. She's good now but groupings still in an honest 2-2.5" avg at 100yrds. Not the best but these two Type 2's have killed everything I've shot at and is why I am keeping them.

Best ammo I've every used in all BAR's is standard factory by many names Federal Classic, powershok, nontypical. Groups better than any reloads I've made. Much cheaper and kills em just as dead. I now keep reloads for my bolt guns only. I have not handled a Mk3 or a pure Made in Belgium, Assembled in Belgium BAR and would like to add to list one day. If I was to pick one BAR, I'd pick the Mk2 Composite Stalker. Comes with irons, still built with metal and has the features of the new and old. Weight falls within the mid range of all BARs and if I had one in 30-06 or 308, I'm sure the weight would come down some. This is why I still have the Mk2 7mm rem mag. Happy BAR shopping!
 
Hi 7.62 Nato

Wow! Thanks so much for the run down and info on the BAR models/options. I’m gonna print that off.
I’m looking at a Mark 2 Safari in 300 a Win Mag ... in near mint condition. Should I get the serial number beforehand to check out the year of manufacturing? Are there years to avoid etc?
I was also thinking about a Short Trac in .270 WSM.
If both guns were the same condition/price- which one would you pick? The Mark 2 Safari in 300 Winnie or a Short Trac in .270 WSM?

Thanks
 
Many years ago there was an article in one of the gun mags, where they took a Belgium BAR in 338 and rebarrelled it to .458 WM, I would like to try this someday !
 
All BARs should be good to go if take care of to some degree. The only ones that gave me some grief was the type 2's and I dont recall hearing anything about QC issues on any BARs. I forgot to mention that my friend's go to rifle is a mossy oak breakup shorttrac in 300wsm and its a blast to shoot as its got very little recoil. If I had my choice (for mountainous terrain here in BC), it would probably be the shortrac 270 over the 300 safari because of its lesser weight and recoil (yes..them shortracs caliber for caliber do have lesser felt recoil even though lighter vs oder BARs). The Safari is real nice but you will hate yourself humping around the rifle all day due to its weight. If you are not on foot all day or in a stand, the Safari wins hands down. On the other hand, you'd probably be taking a lot of breaks anyways to look at and admire such a beautiful rifle it is!
 
The 300 win mag is a great choice...put a Leupold 2-7 or 3-9 on it to keep the weight down and its a pretty nice gun to carry.

I sold mine last year (300 win mag safari) and I regret doing so.
 
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