Help with Browning BAR

Cbob said:
That’s the one. Son of a. It was brand new Hornady brass. No go. Beautiful rifle. I paid $875 thinking I could
Fix the cycling issues. If I understood it wouldn’t chamber I don’t think I would have taken the risk. Well thanks for the
Good info. Not sure what I’ll do.
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It did chamber & fire 2 types of factory ammo... But it also jammed. I was BUMMED about it as it's a beauty of a rifle.

DGY said:
Jay, where did you get the rifle in the first place?
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From a member on here, not off the EE. I messaged him & he said he'd sell it as he had problems with his handloads in it. I thought the handloads were the issue & went factory. Nope, still had jams.
 
I was wondering where it came from originally, which store sold it? Wondering if it always was like that? Anyway it will be interesting to see what the op finds out or the next owner!!
 
There is a world of difference between chambering, firing and jamming with factory ammunition and refusing to chamber handloads.
If the thing accepted and fired two different brands of factory ammunition, chamber dimensions are OK.
If it won't chamber handloads, find out what it is about the handloads that prevents them from chambering in a barrel that accepts factory.
 
I was the guy who first bought it. I made up some hand loads that I tried to taper crimp. I bumped a few of the shoulders, as I was in a rush to try and get it out hunting in November. I thought my ammo was at fault, because I had made that mistake previously. I managed 6 rounds before I gave up. I couldn’t imagine that a tested design with an easy to feed cartridge could be as problematic.
 
There is a small but ongoing trend over recent years I observe with newer propriatory chamberings from companies such as Hornady that do not have a long history of ammo manufacturing such as Remington (UMC) or Winchester Olin, or even Federal /Frontier.

Take for example 28 Nosler or 375 Ruger, 458 Lott.
I seen a few newer rifles in these unusual chamberings that will not chamber the same caliber from another manufacturer. Yet one rarely sees an issue with 243, 30-06 etc.

Giving the appearance that SAAMI specs are slipping under the waves due to poor management.
 
Brutus said:
Okay.

But could it be both dodgy rifle chambering/rough chamber combined with sketchy ammo?
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I don’t disagree. A gunsmith I know told me one time about a gun that had issues with extraction. Said the owner tried polishing the chamber to solve it. Ended up bellying out the middle of the chamber and it just got worse and worse. I’ve also heard the solution to Remington 742s that wouldn’t cycle was a bigger gas port hole...I dunno. I’m spitballing here.
 
dilly said:
I don’t disagree. A gunsmith I know told me one time about a gun that had issues with extraction. Said the owner tried polishing the chamber to solve it. Ended up bellying out the middle of the chamber and it just got worse and worse. I’ve also heard the solution to Remington 742s that wouldn’t cycle was a bigger gas port hole...I dunno. I’m spitballing here.
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Me too friend. I am not a gunsmith either.

Cheers
 
Jay said:
Cbob, do you have an update on this BAR?

Cheers
Jay
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Zero progress. Trying to find the time to drop off at local Smith. Not wanting to invest much into it right now though. Buyer beware! If only it didn’t cycle like the seller said. I think a re chamber would be the simplest. Will let you know.
 
mark k said:
I was the guy who first bought it. I made up some hand loads that I tried to taper crimp. I bumped a few of the shoulders, as I was in a rush to try and get it out hunting in November. I thought my ammo was at fault, because I had made that mistake previously. I managed 6 rounds before I gave up. I couldn’t imagine that a tested design with an easy to feed cartridge could be as problematic.
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Yeah. Such a shame. Hoping to drop it off end of month when I have time off. Really want to shoot it.
 
I had an experience with a .338 Win Mag BAR. After many years of reliable service using factory ammo the owner started getting failure to cycle reliably... I went through that rifle from top to bottom and replaced a few things... chamber was fine... I never could get it reliable again and told him to send it to Browning... I don't know the end result.
 
I will be honest and say that I still wish that this rifle worked for me & that I still had it.

What a gorgeous gun, that didn't work.
 
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