Help please! I just bought a BAR chambered in 9.3x62. Bought it here of the EE used and seller said in the ad that it didn’t cycle well when out in -22 weather. I thought I’d be up for the challenge. Could be feed lips or other simple things like even dirty so I take the chance. Rifle comes and looks almost like new. So I buy some dies and some brand new Hornady brass and start to load. I load a round and it doesn’t chamber all the way and the bolt won’t close. So not really that it won’t cycle. It won’t load first round. So the Round is stuck and need to whack the ejection handle to get it to eject. Not for the life of me can I get it to chamber a round. Things I’ve tried. FL sizing new brass. Chamfering brass. Bore scoping looking for anything obvious. Cleaning chamber. Any suggestions before I need to bring it to a gunsmith? Thanks
Help with Browning BAR
- Thread starter Cbob
- Start date
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I had kind of similar issues with a European semi auto in 30-06. I tell u what I discovered. Number one was match grade chamber. Odd and unexpected for any big game hunting rifle. Now if this is true u need to prep your brass will full length resizing using small base dies.
This is typical for handloads of centrefire semi auto rifles. But not universally known by all. Nor is it a requirement for all of these rifles yet it's a good step to increase the reliabity of your rifle feed fire extract reload.
In my case as well I discovered my rifle had a short throat. If I handloaded bullets to Garand pressures it worked like a charm. Also my rifle refused to group any bullet weight surpassing 168-170 grains. Also had to be at Garand pressures.
Sir I suggest you prep your brass will small base dies as your first step and most easiest step to resolve your problem.
My two bits.
This is typical for handloads of centrefire semi auto rifles. But not universally known by all. Nor is it a requirement for all of these rifles yet it's a good step to increase the reliabity of your rifle feed fire extract reload.
In my case as well I discovered my rifle had a short throat. If I handloaded bullets to Garand pressures it worked like a charm. Also my rifle refused to group any bullet weight surpassing 168-170 grains. Also had to be at Garand pressures.
Sir I suggest you prep your brass will small base dies as your first step and most easiest step to resolve your problem.
My two bits.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Problem I foresee re reading your post maybe that chamber is below minimum spec' for reliable feeding of ammo.
If is true only a highly experienced gunsmith could make the call, polishing your chamber could possibly resolve your issue.
Biggest problem here there's not a lot of corporate knowledge in North America with any semi auto rifle 9.3mm.
When I resolved my problem I researched Euro semi auto hunting rifles YouTube.
Never seen a 223, 308 or 30-06 hickup.
Seems it was the bigger Euro calibers that sometimes got sick.
If is true only a highly experienced gunsmith could make the call, polishing your chamber could possibly resolve your issue.
Biggest problem here there's not a lot of corporate knowledge in North America with any semi auto rifle 9.3mm.
When I resolved my problem I researched Euro semi auto hunting rifles YouTube.
Never seen a 223, 308 or 30-06 hickup.
Seems it was the bigger Euro calibers that sometimes got sick.
gunrunner100
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- NW Ontario
Does it close on factory loaded ammunition? The suggestion of small-base dies is a good one and would be the next step after finding out if it feeds factory. If it does, measure a factory unfired round vs your reloads. Guessing you're going to find that the web isn't being sized down enough.
nowarningshot
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I'm wondering if it's a 338wm. Case length would be ok, but the neck and bullet would jam, some 28 thou oversized.
Cbob, is this the rifle?
IIRC it had one small dent on the left side somewhere, like a flat head screwdriver dent but the finish isn't affected...
Here's my ad from the EE:
Furthermore on this rifle, if it is the one I had, I brought it to the gunsmith after the jamming range session & his only suggestion was to try it with different types of ammo. I had tried Hornady & PPU & it did chamber, fire, extract and eject BOTH types, but it also had jams with both as well.
I decided that I didn't want to trouble shoot the gun buying various ammo & going back and forth to the range and gunsmith, so I sold it and disclosed it was jamming.
Cheers
Jay
IIRC it had one small dent on the left side somewhere, like a flat head screwdriver dent but the finish isn't affected...
Here's my ad from the EE:
Furthermore on this rifle, if it is the one I had, I brought it to the gunsmith after the jamming range session & his only suggestion was to try it with different types of ammo. I had tried Hornady & PPU & it did chamber, fire, extract and eject BOTH types, but it also had jams with both as well.
I decided that I didn't want to trouble shoot the gun buying various ammo & going back and forth to the range and gunsmith, so I sold it and disclosed it was jamming.
Cheers
Jay
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Have you taken a really good look in chamber? I have a few come in every year with rust in them. More old Remington semis, but a few BAR also. A good polishing is usually in order. If you can't get a factory round to chamber, there is obviously a problem with the chamber. It's very unlikely that it wasn't reamed or stamped correctly, most likely corrosion.
Its an older BAR, if the chamber is good I would suspect an overhaul might be in order. Not uncommon to need new buffer, spring, good cleaning etc. On older BARs i would often do a complete teardown and clean, including bolt removal, rail guides etc. I have seen internal damage on the guides etc cause the problems you are describing in the past.
