User Panel
Good read. I’ve owned several BARs, and still have two. The 7mm Magnum is very accurate.
|
|
|
When they finally decided to go with detachable mags, what was the reason for developing a new mag instead of going with the FAL mag like originally intended by the guy who came up with the idea?
I kinda wonder that about the SCAR, too, really, especially since that magazine is close enough to a FAL magazine that FAL magazines can actually be modified to be SCAR-compatible (the feed lips need a bit of relieving at the front, the beak needs to be removed, and the window cut for the mag catch). Would be nice to be able to use a single mag across all of these platforms. The Bushmaster BAR-10 and RRA LAR-8 prove that the magazine can be adapted for use with the favoured push-button, straight insertion loading of magazines like on ARs, as opposed to having to use the rock and lock (not that I mind rock and lock). Appearances aside, is there major design commonality with the Auto 5? |
|
My father-in-law had a BAR Gd II in .30-06. They only made the Gd II's for about 6 years there in the late 60's early 70's (the first run, seems like maybe they began making Gd II's again a few years ago).
Anyway, he didn't hunt with it at that time but he'd kept it. He said it was the only rifle he'd ever shot where you could mix up 180 and 220 grain corloct Remington ammo in the magazine and shoot a 5" group at 300 yds. When he died I got it and I gave it to my youngest son about a year ago. Oh, still had the original box, papers, etc. We don't keep it in the box but I thought it was kind of cool to have the box still. Do you know what smooth is? I have nothing against a Remington 742 (or the various models spawned along the way from the same ideas/design) but it's amazing how you don't notice how rough/draggy the bolt is on a Remington until you pull the bolt back on a Browning BAR. On the Remington you apply pressure, the bolt begins to move, it drags/hangs up/comes loose/moves/drags/moves/hangs up and eventually you get it to the rear. On the Browning you apply pressure and suddenly it stops. You think, damn it's tight and needs some lube, then you look at the bolt handle and see it stopped because it's all the way to the rear. Then you do that two or three more times to convince yourself it really is that smooth. |
|
Really a great read. My BIL had one in 7 mag that stunned a few of us bolt gun guys by producing groups at 100yds that were dime sized with whatever factory ammo he was using at the time. Makes me want one of the new ones.
|
|
Quoted:
When they finally decided to go with detachable mags, what was the reason for developing a new mag instead of going with the FAL mag like originally intended by the guy who came up with the idea? I kinda wonder that about the SCAR, too, really, especially since that magazine is close enough to a FAL magazine that FAL magazines can actually be modified to be SCAR-compatible (the feed lips need a bit of relieving at the front, the beak needs to be removed, and the window cut for the mag catch). Would be nice to be able to use a single mag across all of these platforms. The Bushmaster BAR-10 and RRA LAR-8 prove that the magazine can be adapted for use with the favoured push-button, straight insertion loading of magazines like on ARs, as opposed to having to use the rock and lock (not that I mind rock and lock). Appearances aside, is there major design commonality with the Auto 5? View Quote The BAR and Auto 5 have nothing in common. |
|
The BAR is one of those guns that I've always loved. I've never owned one, but loved seeing them come into my grandpa's shop. One of these days, I'll have one.
|
|
|
|
That was indeed a good morning read. Good enough to make me want one
|
|
|
|
After hunting my whole life with a bolt action I came across a great deal on a Bar in .270 and decided to give autos a shot. First morning I took it out I had a large doe step out a few hundred yards away, I snuggled up tight to the side of the shoot house and squeezed one off, I thought the gun exploded when the casing hit me across my eye and temple, I was about 3 inches from the side wall, It took me a good 15 seconds to figure out WTH happened. I did get the doe.
|
|
I have one I bought in '94--300MW with boss. Impulse buy. I didn't notice it has a 22" barrel until later. I wonder if it's short to improve the muzzle brake.
The boss works as advertised, but after getting it tuned with the first batch of ammo I've since lacked the patients to tune it. Maybe I didn't do it right but for me it was nearly an all day thing to find the optimum. The muzzle brake works very well but it's stupid loud. I'm not carrying hear pro while hunting so I replaced the boss with brake with one without a brake. Dont know if it can be tuned with it...I think it's a Winchester brand. It shoots an unturned group of about 2.5" which is fine with me. I dont hunt with it anyway. |
|
Quoted:
I have one I bought in '94--300MW with boss. Impulse buy. I didn't notice it has a 22" barrel until later. I wonder if it's short to improve the muzzle brake. The boss works as advertised, but after getting it tuned with the first batch of ammo I've since lacked the patients to tune it. Maybe I didn't do it right but for me it was nearly an all day thing to find the optimum. The muzzle brake works very well but it's stupid loud. I'm not carrying hear pro while hunting so I replaced the boss with brake with one without a brake. Dont know if it can be tuned with it...I think it's a Winchester brand. It shoots an unturned group of about 2.5" which is fine with me. I dont hunt with it anyway. View Quote I don't hunt with earpro, and the boss isn't bad for just one shot. When I worked at an LGS I loved playing with our Bars. Easily the best semi auto hunting rifle on the market. |
|
Steve Reichert posted what looked to be an early version of the McMillan stocked BAR from around ‘93. Except it was cambered in 300wm. It looked way more appealing than the monster semi auto 300s out there today.
Anyone have any info on this, it could be a cool project if it’s doable with an off the shelf BAR |
|
Great read. Thanks for sharing. I have 3 BAR's and wish I had a few more. I have a .243, .270 Win and a left hand eject BAR Short-trac .270WSM. I would like to get one of the MKIII eventually.
|
|
Neat.
I've always been fascinated by them even though I've never had one. Browning does make a nice hunting rifle. |
|
Dad gave me his Belgian made BAR 308.
He bought it new in 68/69. Purchased as a deterrent for bears and moose as we had a cabin on Moosehead Lake in Maine. At 8 years old I saw him fire the 1st 3 rounds put thru it. When he gave me the rifle a few years ago I put the next 3 rounds thru it. Still have the 2 original boxes of Winchester 308s and the 6 spent casings. I have the original purchase receipt. +/- $240.00 with beautiful Leupold scope. It has an Elk engraved on it. |
|
Quoted:
I have 2 of them. This is my most recent. Excellent rifle. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/296599/579849CA-F477-430B-8BCF-5D2D51EFEDE8-635908.JPG View Quote |
|
Shot my first deer with an older model 30-06, and I've shot my last few with a new model .270. Love both rifles and they are incredibly accurate and smooth. The new model in .270 feels surprisingly light as well.
|
|
Nice rifle. My dad bought one in .270 around 1991. Still deerhunts with it every year.
|
|
|
I can’t find any pictures online; but I have one of the limited run BAR Stalker Carbines. It has a fluted 18” barrel, front / rear sights, and a non-detachable magazine. It’s light, fast handling, and accurate. The best hunting rifle I have ever owned.
I didn’t know Browning had started making the BAR’s with a detachable magazine. Thank you OP, for another informative post. Accountant |
|
|
|
I am really digging on that model wearing the McMillan stock. I would shoot the hell out of that.
|
|
Quoted:
I can't find any pictures online; but I have one of the limited run BAR Stalker Carbines. It has a fluted 18" barrel, front / rear sights, and a non-detachable magazine. It's light, fast handling, and accurate. The best hunting rifle I have ever owned. I didn't know Browning had started making the BAR's with a detachable magazine. Thank you OP, for another informative post. Accountant View Quote https://www.gunsamerica.com/955172539/Ltd-Edition-Browning-BAR-MKII-Lightweight-Stalker-FLUTED-308-Win-NE.htm |
|
|
Quoted:
I have an Abolt with a boss in 7mm. Its more painful for people next to you than it is for the shooter. View Quote I got bored one day and shot at a stump from my treestand. I was stunned and almost dropped it. That event prompted the brakeless boss purchase. |
|
First shot of my new BPR .308 Yivli av tüfegi betonu parçaladi |
|
|
The Browning Maral is also basically a straight pull version of the BAR.
|
|
I am still pissed at myself for getting rid of my Hogstalker.
|
|
Quoted:
FN had by that time stopped any production of FAL mags, had no tooling, etc... the FAL to them was a legacy product. Also rock in mags were out. The BAR and Auto 5 have nothing in common. View Quote The tooling argument makes no sense. You literally need almost the exact same tooling to produce a SCAR mag as to produce a FAL mag. The mags are basically FAL mags designed to use an AR instead of a FAL mag catch and with the feed lips contoured up front for the SCAR's slightly larger bolt geometry, with a plastic instead of metal follower (which is interchangeable with a FAL follower, in any case). The only things I can think of are that it is more profitable to make two new proprietary mags that you can set the price for and that for at least a time will be available nowhere else, or that the rifle designs are incompatible with the FAL mag in terms of the bolts and such, although this seems less likely with the BAR if a version had been conceived by a designer of a variant of it to use such mags; not sure it holds water with the SCAR, either, especially since it seems to use an AR style bolt, which can be made with FAL-mag compatible geometry. |
|
Quoted:
True that the boss is more punishing to those to its side. I got bored one day and shot at a stump from my treestand. I was stunned and almost dropped it. That event prompted the brakeless boss purchase. View Quote But it is loud. Shooting it under a covered shooting position will clear the entire line at the gun range. I started hunting in a little valley a few years back, the day after I shot my first deer there the neighbors were calling the owner asking him if he was shooting off a cannon. |
|
Quoted:
Arms Tech Ltd. was contracted by SOCOM in the mid 1990s to take the BAR MkII in .300 Win Mag and make it into a long distance semi-auto sniper platform. They came up with the Super Match Interdiction Rifle. http://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/01-5.jpg Also here is a Browning BAR Match from Europe. http://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/01-4.jpg It is a FNAR sold under the Browning name across the pond. View Quote |
|
Quoted:
I wonder what it would take to build a SMIR off of a current BAR View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Arms Tech Ltd. was contracted by SOCOM in the mid 1990s to take the BAR MkII in .300 Win Mag and make it into a long distance semi-auto sniper platform. They came up with the Super Match Interdiction Rifle. http://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/01-5.jpg Also here is a Browning BAR Match from Europe. http://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/01-4.jpg It is a FNAR sold under the Browning name across the pond. |
|
I have a new-ish one in .308 for my deer rifle. I love that gun but wish it had a detchable magazine instead of that stupid hinged contraption.
|
|
Quoted:
The company is still in business. Go ask them. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Arms Tech Ltd. was contracted by SOCOM in the mid 1990s to take the BAR MkII in .300 Win Mag and make it into a long distance semi-auto sniper platform. They came up with the Super Match Interdiction Rifle. http://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/01-5.jpg Also here is a Browning BAR Match from Europe. http://cdn0.thetruthaboutguns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/01-4.jpg It is a FNAR sold under the Browning name across the pond. |
|
My dad loves the Browning BAR.
He's got 3 or 4 of them. All shoot really accurate for being a semi auto rifle. The one he has with a BOSS can shoot 1 hole groups when it's tuned right. |
|
|
LukeDuke had the Hogstalker for a short time. I think he used it for He Man or whatever it is. I also have a BAR 22. It's a heavy sum bitch for a .22. The BAR .22's go for 600$ + last time I looked. I would like to get a BAR in 7 Mag or .300 Win Mag. A couple years they offered the BAR in 25-06 and .270 Weatherby. Would love to find one of those.
|
|
If anyone has a BAR and wants to date it, try this.....https://www.midwestgunworks.com/browning-bar-history.html
|
|
Quoted:
If anyone has a BAR and wants to date it, try this.....https://www.midwestgunworks.com/browning-bar-history.html View Quote |
|
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.