I often hear various semi autos maligned for jamming and poor accuracy. I have to admit, I don't have a great deal of experience with semi auto hunting style rifles. What of these Browning BARs, Rem 7400s, Win 100s? Are any of the "Civilian" semis good shooters?
Good semi-auto "hunting" rifles?
- Thread starter abbaswede
- Start date
Yes, the BAR is in a different league than the rest. IMHO the only comparable semi-auto is the Benelli Argo, but even that hasn't been proven in the field. The BAR has been with us since the '60s. Maintain it well and you won't have any problems. Try to find a nice Belgian made (and assembled) one in good shape. I had one in .270 and wish I never sold it.
death-junky
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Moose Jaw SK
M-305 is a great semi-auto hunting rifle.
i use it and it hasnt let me down yet
talk to ya all later
Riley
i use it and it hasnt let me down yet
talk to ya all later
Riley
Many Semi autos are really accurate, and work well.
But stil, I think *GAG* when they are brought up..Not as versatile as a bolt gun, and usually more heavy an complicated.
However, they are perfectly fine for many hunters, although I don't see many semis in multiple day, wilderness areas.
I haven't used a BEnneli auto rifle, but I have used BIGGREDS Benelli shotgun, and we dissasembled it...It was surprisingly light and simple when you looked at it's inner guts...A real diffeence form the zillion bits on many semis...
But put it this way- I wouldn't take a semi auto on a fly in hunt in the middle of nowheresville...
But stil, I think *GAG* when they are brought up..Not as versatile as a bolt gun, and usually more heavy an complicated.
However, they are perfectly fine for many hunters, although I don't see many semis in multiple day, wilderness areas.
I haven't used a BEnneli auto rifle, but I have used BIGGREDS Benelli shotgun, and we dissasembled it...It was surprisingly light and simple when you looked at it's inner guts...A real diffeence form the zillion bits on many semis...
But put it this way- I wouldn't take a semi auto on a fly in hunt in the middle of nowheresville...
I think geography and hunting styles both play a part in out attitudes towards firearms.
Ontario Hunters have a different attitude towards Semis, Pumps and levers than most hunters out west. We generally hunt thicker cover and spot and stalk is rarely practiced.
Confidence in a firearm is born of experience and I have confidence in many semi-auto firearms... but not all!
The Remington Semi's are unreliable... period... don't buy one!
The Winchester 100's are good reliable semis "when properly and regularly maintained"
The Browning BAR is one of the best semi's made and problems with these rifles are rare... usually due to negligence as well!
I recently tested a new Benelli R1.... top drawer... I will be buying one... here is the link to the report I made.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34064&highlight=Benelli+R1
Ontario Hunters have a different attitude towards Semis, Pumps and levers than most hunters out west. We generally hunt thicker cover and spot and stalk is rarely practiced.
Confidence in a firearm is born of experience and I have confidence in many semi-auto firearms... but not all!
The Remington Semi's are unreliable... period... don't buy one!
The Winchester 100's are good reliable semis "when properly and regularly maintained"
The Browning BAR is one of the best semi's made and problems with these rifles are rare... usually due to negligence as well!
I recently tested a new Benelli R1.... top drawer... I will be buying one... here is the link to the report I made.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34064&highlight=Benelli+R1
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Don't overlook the HK 770 and the bigger version (can't remember the model now) in long action. The Old Man has a 770 in 308 and it's a great rifle.
I remember the good old days when you could wander the woods with the 10 round mags all loaded up hoping to fall into a bunch of cariboo or wolves...those were the days.
I remember the good old days when you could wander the woods with the 10 round mags all loaded up hoping to fall into a bunch of cariboo or wolves...those were the days.
"I think geography and hunting styles both play a part in out attitudes towards firearms."
Very true & for that reason I don't like to pass judgement on what others use! I actually tried a Ruger #3 in .375 one time but when those 3 deer came running by it's wasn't good & a few choice cuss words kept 2 of them going
Of the autos I've tried the Belgum BAR is by far the most accurate & reliable. I had a 308 that you probably wouldn't believe the groups if I did show you, but I also had a 300wm that was only average @ 1 1/2". NEVER had a miss cycle on one, but they're just too heavy to carry & clumsy to reload, which too is something that can be neccesity depending on hunting style!
I personally prefer the M-100 win, they are not completely 100% reliable cyclers but it rare enough to not be a concern. My rifle shoots 1 1/2" all
day , my carbine on the other hand is not that good! Upside is very light, with excellent clip systems
Rem auto's my expierance is not that good but I know of a couple 7400s that are reliable & good shooters. Again they are heavy, with fumbling type clip systems
I don't have a Benni auto yet I've managed to put off the expence for the short hunting seasons we have but I'm thinkin it's only a matter of time or....$$$
Very true & for that reason I don't like to pass judgement on what others use! I actually tried a Ruger #3 in .375 one time but when those 3 deer came running by it's wasn't good & a few choice cuss words kept 2 of them going
Of the autos I've tried the Belgum BAR is by far the most accurate & reliable. I had a 308 that you probably wouldn't believe the groups if I did show you, but I also had a 300wm that was only average @ 1 1/2". NEVER had a miss cycle on one, but they're just too heavy to carry & clumsy to reload, which too is something that can be neccesity depending on hunting style!
I personally prefer the M-100 win, they are not completely 100% reliable cyclers but it rare enough to not be a concern. My rifle shoots 1 1/2" all
day
, my carbine on the other hand is not that good! Upside is very light, with excellent clip systems Rem auto's
my expierance is not that good but I know of a couple 7400s that are reliable & good shooters. Again they are heavy, with fumbling type clip systems I don't have a Benni auto yet
I've managed to put off the expence for the short hunting seasons we have but I'm thinkin it's only a matter of time or....$$$
I had a Belgium BAR in .30-06
It did not like Winchester Silver Tips (Jammed like crazy), other ammo fed fine, but even with Federal and handloads, I could not get the longer range accuracy I wanted.
Great hunting rifle for the bush work we get in Ontario.
It did not like Winchester Silver Tips (Jammed like crazy), other ammo fed fine, but even with Federal and handloads, I could not get the longer range accuracy I wanted.
Great hunting rifle for the bush work we get in Ontario.
I've used a few semi's for hunting and the worst for reliabilty was a remington although it was accurate.My buddy has a bar in 308 wich is also very accurate but reliability is superb.One of my favorate semis I use for hunting ontario whitetails is the mini 30.Now I might be the only guy on cgn to suggest the mini 30 because most folks think there inaccurate crap..lol,and I can't argue the fact they ain't tack drivers.But for deer under a hundred yards its worked for me and worked very well on many hunts.The little ruger 44carbine also has some fans although can't say i've ever used one.
I carried my m14 moose hunting this year wich is accurate and super reliable but she is a heavy ol thing to carry around....next year i'm planing on a new savage bolt gun ,a lot lighter and super accurate.
I carried my m14 moose hunting this year wich is accurate and super reliable but she is a heavy ol thing to carry around....next year i'm planing on a new savage bolt gun ,a lot lighter and super accurate.
What caliber you're talking about?
There are quite a few options out there.
In Canada: BAR, M14/305, and the Czech vz 7.62x39.
In the States, welll let's not talk about it !!!!!
The design choice is important, but also important is the caliber.
Most of them are not designed to feed in semis.
And to all of you who bash hunting with a semiauto.........
Is just like hunting with a milsurp. Mauser 96.
Different.
Not all of us have/want a Kimber.
The same could be said about the Remington lovers.
There are quite a few options out there.
In Canada: BAR, M14/305, and the Czech vz 7.62x39.
In the States, welll let's not talk about it !!!!!
The design choice is important, but also important is the caliber.
Most of them are not designed to feed in semis.
And to all of you who bash hunting with a semiauto.........
Is just like hunting with a milsurp. Mauser 96.
Different.
Not all of us have/want a Kimber.
The same could be said about the Remington lovers.
I had 2 clients show up for a moose hunt this fall with semi autos....
when I asked them why they chose that particular action type...
"Well, I;m getting old and my marksmanship isn't what it used to be..."
This is the problem I have with semi & hunting. to often it is a crutch for poor shooting. Just keep throwing lead down range at a fast pace and you're bound to hit something!
you need a "fast handling" rifle? why a semiauto? bet a bolt gun swings just as easy as a semi... and the the time it takes you to pull the trigger is the same... .. oh you mean Fast RATE of firing... ah.... gotcha..... hmmmm....
if you like the idea of having a quick second shot, well good for you. if you NEED a quick second shot, maybe you should spend more time at the range....
FLAME ON!!!
when I asked them why they chose that particular action type...
"Well, I;m getting old and my marksmanship isn't what it used to be..."
This is the problem I have with semi & hunting. to often it is a crutch for poor shooting. Just keep throwing lead down range at a fast pace and you're bound to hit something!
you need a "fast handling" rifle? why a semiauto? bet a bolt gun swings just as easy as a semi... and the the time it takes you to pull the trigger is the same... .. oh you mean Fast RATE of firing... ah.... gotcha..... hmmmm....
if you like the idea of having a quick second shot, well good for you. if you NEED a quick second shot, maybe you should spend more time at the range....
FLAME ON!!!
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I used my bar this season.first shot hit a twig after waiting 15 minutes for abuck to clear the brush.then a doe and a 4x4 came my way from 600 yds.she stopped at 220yds and he at 270yds.Took the buck with the first shot and the doe looked back to see him ,took her with the second shot.Damn ,hunting season over and home by 12:30.semi autos work well in the right hands!cheers.
