Browning Bar accuracy

[TSchwab25]

I'm thinking about getting one, but want to know how accurate they are. I only want to know about the MK2 safari, or mk3 with the wood stock and forend. I want one for hunting, and want 1 moa or better with the right loads. So, how accurate are they? Is there something else I should check out? Thanks for any help

 

[denton]

Several years ago, I was hearing complaints about 2 1/2" groups at 100. A lot may have changed since then.

 

[Captcurt]

I scoped and sighted-in a friend's 30-06. It shot as well as my own bolt guns. FYI, if my guns don't shoot MOA it is time to say adios.

 

[LoonWulf]

Near moa is about what id expect. The one I had for a while was about MOA with good handloads. Most factory ammo was slightly larger in the 1.5 range.

 

[lightman]

I had one in 308 in the late 70's and into the early 80's. 1 MOA was the best I could squeeze out of mine, and the average would be a little more. Thats with working up a good handload for it. If I let the front sling swivel stud touch the bag it would throw that shot out of the group. It was a beautiful rifle, with deep rich blueing and nice figure to the wood.

 

[hitpure]

I just sold my Browning BAR Mark II Safari in 7mmRM, because of disappointing accuracy on the bench. I bought it used, and I suspect it had been "shot out." A new unused rifle may perform better.

 

[HowieG]

My friend has a 270. It shoots between 1 and 1.5 inches with cheap ordinary handloads. Plenty fine for the deer he hunts with it. It might do better if I really worked on the loads, but I didn't see the reason to spend the time. He is the type that shoots at game if he gets a hunt and sees anything. Otherwise, that gun doesn't get touched.

 

[Slamfire]

I got to shoot one at the range. I am sure that with ten shot or larger groups, it is a 2 to 3 moa rifle. Which is fine for a hunting rifle. Browning automatics were not target rifles, and did not need target grade accuracy. They needed to go bang.

 

[HowieG]

I got to shoot one at the range. I am sure that with ten shot or larger groups, it is a 2 to 3 moa rifle. Which is fine for a hunting rifle. Browning automatics were not target rifles, and did not need target grade accuracy. They needed to go bang.

What Mark was yours? My experience is with a Mark II. I imagine the Mark I's didn't shoot as well.

 

[Mn Fats]

I'm thinking about getting one, but want to know how accurate they are. I only want to know about the MK2 safari, or mk3 with the wood stock and forend. I want one for hunting, and want 1 moa or better with the right loads. So, how accurate are they?

My Safari MK 2 was hitting about 3" @100yds with factory loads off a bench, and I know for a fact the scope, mount, everything was tight and right and had only 1 box of 165gr Core Lokt through it when I purchased it. So I experimented...

Scope mounts, bases, scopes themselves. I tried real hard to dial down the groups with various reloads and got it down to just under 2". Good enough for where I hunt.

But as a sub moa shooter? I'd look elsewhere. Often for much cheaper (like a 1/3) you can find a brand new bolt action rifle that will run circles around a BAR. They're just not as beautiful.

 

[HowieG]

My Safari MK 2 was hitting about 3" @100yds with factory loads off a bench, and I know for a fact the scope, mount, everything was tight and right and had only 1 box of 165gr Core Lokt through it when I purchased it. So I experimented...

Scope mounts, bases, scopes themselves. I tried real hard to dial down the groups with various reloads and got it down to just under 2". Good enough for where I hunt.

But as a sub moa shooter? I'd look elsewhere. Often for much cheaper (like a 1/3) you can find a brand new bolt action rifle that will run circles around a BAR. They're just not as beautiful.

Not only will the bolt gun run accuracy circles around the BAR, but it will also most likely be lighter to carry too.

 

[JDeere]

Had one in .270 back in the 70's. Sold it not long after. Accuracy and weight not to mention having to let that bolt slam home when you are trying to be quiet. Cost me a nice buck once and only once trying to be quiet...

 

[SunnySlopes]

Not only will the bolt gun run accuracy circles around the BAR, but it will also most likely be lighter to carry too.

Definitely. If OP is concerned about target accuracy, he doesn't need the BAR. If it's target accuracy, a bolt is the only way to go.

Then again, unless we're talking about open ground, plains type hunting, the BAR is fine for big game. Minute of pie pan.

Depends upon the intended use.

 

[Slamfire]

What Mark was yours? My experience is with a Mark II. I imagine the Mark I's didn't shoot as well.

I don't remember. A buddy at work wanted me to develop some loads he could use hunting. I did, and I did shoot the thing, and I don't have any records of the groups, loads, or the rifle.

I do not have experience with all semi autos, but as a rule, it is much more difficult to build an accurate semi auto than a bolt rifle. And semi autos shoot best within a more limited range of bullets and velocities. I am amazed how well AR10's shot, the platform is accurate.

Accuracy is what we read on forums and the press, but read Lee Roy's ramblings on the Rem M742, a semi auto hunting rifle, and it becomes apparent the average user is not some F Class champion, nor much of a maintainer! Lee Roy encountered sufficient Rem 742's with rusted chambers to write about it.

Surely someone who never cleans their barrel, or chamber, is not going to be someone who can tell the difference between quarter MOA and half MOA ammunition out of his semi auto. More likely the shooter will be able to tell the difference between ammunition that goes bang, extracts and feeds, and ammunition that no go bang, extract or feed. And yet, these guys bring home the bacon every year.

 

[HowieG]

Definitely. If OP is concerned about target accuracy, he doesn't need the BAR. If it's target accuracy, a bolt is the only way to go.

Then again, unless we're talking about open ground, plains type hunting, the BAR is fine for big game. Minute of pie pan.

Depends upon the intended use.

Yeah, good for denser stuff where a quick repeat shot might come in handy.

 

[stringnut]

A friend of my uncles had an old one. It did not shoot as well as the bolts my dad and uncles had. Didn’t matter who was shooting it, or, what ammo. This is just something I remember as kid and young man. It was reliable and more than accurate enough for normal hunting. It was no long range wonder, but, that was not popular back in the 70’s. I carried it a few times and the deer never said anything about the lack of precision.

Knew a guy who had 2. Both shot around an 1.25 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards. One was his first one. The other his fourth! Two in between did not meet his accuracy standard. He said it took considerable experimentation to find a good load for them.

 

[EIB0879]

I had a 7mm RM BAR that would do no better than 1 1/2" at 1 00 yds three shot group with factory loads. I sold it when I got tight for money eighteen years ago. My wife liked that rifle.

It was one of those made with Belgium parts but assembled in Portugal.

 

[jmr40]

If you want a hunting rifle, buy a bolt gun. For 1/2 the money you'll get better accuracy, less weight, better reliability and the ability to shoot a much wider range of loads. All semi autos need their ammo to be loaded to within a fairly narrow pressure range in order to cycle the action. Since almost no one shoots semi-autos anymore ammo manufacturers don't take this into consideration. You'll run into some factory loads that simply won't function in a semi-auto. And if you hand load you limit the possibilities.

The only alleged advantage to a semi-auto is faster rate of fire. If you're just throwing lead downrange a semi-auto is faster. But if you take time to aim between shots there isn't any real difference. Especially with cartridges that recoil as much as most big game cartridges. The recoil of an AR chambered on 5.56 is light enough to make a difference.

 

[redneck2]

Couple lifetimes ago I worked at the LGS. We had two guys that were going bear hunting in Alaska. They thought the BAR in .300 Win Mag would be perfect.

Weather was rain/ice/sleet. Both rifles froze up and they had to use the guides rifle.

But, I love Browning rifles and they sure look great.

 

[Eagle103]

I bought a new BAR MKII Safari in 30-06 just over a year ago and it's a shooter. Sub MOA without much work at all. For a mountain hunt out in the elements, no. It's a beautiful gun and a little heavy for that. I bought mine for deer hunting, primarily out of a stand. Where it really shines is in follow up shots on multiple deer at once. We call it the last day of the hunt "doe blast". Very pleased with mine.

 

[jmorris]

I have shot MOA and smaller groups with my 300 WM BAR but it wouldn’t be the rifle I’d grab if I wanted to make sure all of my groups were MOA or better.

 

[Sammy_joe]

I acquired a Mark I .308 some years back. 1969 model, Belgium made. A bucket list rifle. I have spent those years trying to nail down a load as accurate as a bolt rifle. I have been successful (by my standards) of developing accurate loads for all my bolt rifles, but that BAR has been the bane of me. The best accuracy from factory ammo has been 1” or slightly larger. The best handload accuracy has been around 1-1/2. I have come to believe this is the best the ol gal will give. However, it comes to the shoulder and eye with no effort. With that said, I hunt with it in the woods only (Alabama), and have killed quite a few deer with both handloads and factory ammo. About a fourth of those deer have been from follow-up shots I may not have gotten with a bolt rifle. My conclusion: the BAR is for the woods and not a bean field. Once I gave up my obsession with accuracy for this rifle, she has become a trustworthy partner and a joy to hunt with…in the right setting. BTW…got to keep it CLEAN!

 

[HowieG]

When I was developing loads for my buddy's Mk2, we were shooting 3 round groups and like I stated earlier, they were going between 1" and 1.5". I considered that acceptable for a big game rifle inside 300 yards.

Later, we went on a deer hunt with another friend. One Mk2 BAR, one older Remington bolt gun in 7mm Mag, and my Tikka T3 hunter (walnut) 260 Rem. We were climbing rocky desert mountains a LOT. My friends weren't too happy with the weight, especially when we crossed a barb wire fence and did the rifle hand off. They were amazed at how light my rifle was. I basically told them, "You idiots have 20 years on me and you are whining about the weight? You both need to think about your choices before you buy stuff." My gun was basically 1.5 to 2 lbs lighter than theirs. That Mk2 is a very nice looking rifle though.

 

[RainDodger]

I have a Mark II Safari in .243 Win. It's a gorgeous rifle. It's not a target rifle, but it's not designed to be such. It has acceptable accuracy for what it is. I've worked up good hunting loads for mine and I see groups 1"-1.5". With factory loads, you should not have a problem on game at "reasonable" distances. As others have mentioned, it's not a light rifle by today's standards but if it's something you want, it's something you need. I needed a BAR... that's just the way it was when I bought mine. It's beautifully made and it's a classic design. I don't even hunt anymore, but I do shoot weekly. The BAR is enjoyable to shoot and pretty easy on the shoulder, so I do shoot mine, just for fun. If I were to go hiking in the mountains with a rifle, I would likely carry my Tikka though.

 

[HowieG]

I have a Mark II Safari in .243 Win. It's a gorgeous rifle. It's not a target rifle, but it's not designed to be such. It has acceptable accuracy for what it is. I've worked up good hunting loads for mine and I see groups 1"-1.5". With factory loads, you should not have a problem on game at "reasonable" distances. As others have mentioned, it's not a light rifle by today's standards but if it's something you want, it's something you need. I needed a BAR... that's just the way it was when I bought mine. It's beautifully made and it's a classic design. I don't even hunt anymore, but I do shoot weekly. The BAR is enjoyable to shoot and pretty easy on the shoulder, so I do shoot mine, just for fun. If I were to go hiking in the mountains with a rifle, I would likely carry my Tikka though.

If that is the standard, I need a Browning BLR '81.