Browning BAR

[lilguy]

Browning has a beautiful sporting BAR thats available for sale in Illinois. What can anyone tell me about it. It’s 308 caliber, might it function well with 7.62 x 51? We’ve lost most all our semi auto rifles to the new law. This seems interesting.

 

[lightman]

The one I had shot pretty well but you had to keep the sling swivel off of the front bag or it would throw that shot. It had a tight chamber and was one of the rifles that RCBS recommended using small base dies with, which I did. I don't see any reason that you couldn't shoot 7.62X 51 ammo in it. I shot some LC NM in mine with no apparent side effects. It was a beautiful rifle, enjoy yours.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I have a FN branded BAR. For a period of time in the 00s, FN sold a "police sniper" version labeled as the FNAR. It was also sold under the WInchester brand as the SX-AR. They sold three versions of the it, the "Standard", the "Heavy", and the "Competition." I have a FNAR Heavy.

FNAR™ Heavy | FN® Firearms

The FNAR™ Heavy autoloading rifle puts autoloading speed and bolt-action accuracy into one powerful package. Discover all product features here.

fnamerica.com

Mechanically, it is a Browning BAR with an early 00s police package slapped on it. Chambered in .308 Winchester and is a dream to shoot. No recoil, accurate as can be, and very reliable. FN/Browning now sells it as sporter/hunting rifle labeled the "BAR DBM."

BAR MK 3 DBM (Detachable Box Magazine) - Browning

The BAR MK 3 is a multipurpose semi-automatic rifle with an 18" fluted barrel and durable composite stock. Detachable box magazine, lightweight alloy receiver with Picatinny rail scope base and a proven reliable piston gas system.

www.browning.com

I like Browning BARs and I like how my FNAR shoots. She's a bit heavy, but it is a good rifle. Heck, during the 2019 Retrowave Match, a guy used a Browning BAR in .30-06 to compete with against MP5s, ARs, AKs, etc... he did very well.

The BAR is a good gun.

Also, we're (GOA) petitioning SCOTUS to challenge the IL AWB.

 

[usaral63]

Currently own two BAR's..........both are the lightweight versions, one in '06 and one in.338. Both are extremely accurate and I've killed deer and hogs with both. Mine date from the early 2000's, but I've also owned an older one that lacked the bolt hold open device, a feature worth having. All my guns live on a homebrew diet but I believe that you'll find that .308 will live on whatever you feed it..............................I'll note that with over 30 years of using the design I have never had a failure to feed or fire that was not my fault.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

Browning has a beautiful sporting BAR thats available for sale in Illinois. What can anyone tell me about it. It’s 308 caliber, might it function well with 7.62 x 51? We’ve lost most all our semi auto rifles to the new law. This seems interesting.

It really depends on the primers they used. A lot of surplus have very hard primers as they were intended to military arms, especially machine guns. Browning set their guns up to run sporting ammo.

 

[jmr40]

It'll shoot 7.62X51 just fine. The debate about 223 vs 5.56 is because the military 5.56 can be loaded to slightly higher pressure and could theoretically cause problems in 223 chambers. Most everyone uses them interchangeably and I've never heard of an issue. With 308 vs 7.62X51 the civilian 308 is normally loaded to higher pressures than military 7.62X51.

Personally, I don't think you're missing out on anything by not having semi auto rifles to legally hunt with. Even in places where they are legal virtually no one uses them. But if I were going to use a semi-auto sporting rifle to hunt with the Browning is the one I'd choose.

I have AR15's in 223/5.56 and an AR10 in 308 that I COULD hunt with. I've killed one deer with the 223 just to see how it worked. The deer died just the same as the ones I've killed with a 30-06. But normally I'd much prefer one of my bolt guns.

 

[d2wing]

I'd like to have one.

 

[P5 Guy]

Someone was making semi-auto BARs, they were very pricy.

 

[usaral63]

Heck, 4 or 5 grand ain't pricey..............now for a real one, selective fire or full only you are looking at a serious plus 20 grand.....likely considerably more than that. Stuff referred to here is the sporting version.

Real originals are neat tho, but had real limitations for a squad auto...........that mag feeding from the bottom being not the least issue..........then the all knowing powers that be decided to jury rig the m/14 to that role and found it a miserable failure.

Sporting style BARs are good guns and will generally hold right with notable bolt guns...........they find favor where conditions dictate fast and reliable repeat shots...................I deer hunt with dogs and in that circumstance you gotta be quick !

 

[Steve Milbocker]

My Dad was a Marine. He carried the BAR in Korea. He thought quite highly of it!

 

[Lennyjoe]

View attachment 1199254
Someone was making semi-auto BARs, they were very pricy.

Something close to it by Ohio Ordinance. https://www.oowinc.com/exclusives/semi-auto/1918a3-slr/

 

[lilguy]

“The BAR is a good gun.“

“Also, we're (GOA) petitioning SCOTUS to challenge the IL AWB.”



Thank you, thank you. Darkness has settle over my homeland.

 

[hps1]

I work on predator control on three ranches owned by one family and my favorite coyote rifle was a 243 WSSM AR. The semi auto was perfect for the occasional doubles that came into the call. The AR pistol grip made sitting w/rifle on sticks pointing down a sendero for extended periods of time in order to get quick shots off bearable. The standard sporter pistol grip doesn't work well in that department. The AR was superbly accurate, producing .5 MOA on demand @ 100 off bags.

So, when the landowners banned AR's on their ranches, I wound up with with a 308 BAR DBM, which has proven to be the most finicky rifle I have ever owned. It will eat anything I feed it, 100% of the time, however the best accuracy I have gotten out of it with any of the dozens of handloads (or a few factory) has been spotty and 1.5 - 1.75 MOA. After much gnashing of teeth, I finally found a load w/125 gr NBT's that will produce a tad over moa most of the time, w/an occasion 1.25 moa. (All the above are 5 shot groups.)

I even added an adjustable cheek piece to improve cheek weld.


I wonder if this stock is still available, and if so if it would fit the DBM??? If so it would not help accuracy, but sure would make a difference in comfort on sticks.

The one I had shot pretty well but you had to keep the sling swivel off of the front bag or it would throw that shot.

I've been shooting long enough (over 70 years) to know this, but thanks for the reminder!!! This rifle often puts three, sometimes four shots in under an inch but the one or two fliers always open groups up to 1.5 moa or more. You can bet I'll be paying attention to where the sling swivel stud is next time I go to the range.

 

[6.8 hunter]

I thought about one and almost bought it, but in the end I bought another S&W M&P 10 instead, which functionally is a superior rifle. I am looking to put a LaRue MBT 2S in it which is a very nice trigger. Lucky to live in a Constitutional state where this is all none of the governments concern.

 

[6.8 hunter]

I work on predator control on three ranches owned by one family and my favorite coyote rifle was a 243 WSSM AR. The semi auto was perfect for the occasional doubles that came into the call. The AR pistol grip made sitting w/rifle on sticks pointing down a sendero for extended periods of time in order to get quick shots off bearable. The standard sporter pistol grip doesn't work well in that department. The AR was superbly accurate, producing .5 MOA on demand @ 100 off bags.

So, when the landowners banned AR's on their ranches, I wound up with with a 308 BAR DBM, which has proven to be the most finicky rifle I have ever owned. It will eat anything I feed it, 100% of the time, however the best accuracy I have gotten out of it with any of the dozens of handloads (or a few factory) has been spotty and 1.5 - 1.75 MOA. After much gnashing of teeth, I finally found a load w/125 gr NBT's that will produce a tad over moa most of the time, w/an occasion 1.25 moa. (All the above are 5 shot groups.)

I even added an adjustable cheek piece to improve cheek weld.

View attachment 1199481
I wonder if this stock is still available, and if so if it would fit the DBM??? If so it would not help accuracy, but sure would make a difference in comfort on sticks.

View attachment 1199484

I've been shooting long enough (over 70 years) to know this, but thanks for the reminder!!! This rifle often puts three, sometimes four shots in under an inch but the one or two fliers always open groups up to 1.5 moa or more. You can bet I'll be paying attention to where the sling swivel stud is next time I go to the range.

Landowners banned ARs on their ranches? Let the coyotes overrun them then, in my book.

 

[Show Me]

I work on predator control on three ranches owned by one family and my favorite coyote rifle was a 243 WSSM AR. The semi auto was perfect for the occasional doubles that came into the call. The AR pistol grip made sitting w/rifle on sticks pointing down a sendero for extended periods of time in order to get quick shots off bearable. The standard sporter pistol grip doesn't work well in that department. The AR was superbly accurate, producing .5 MOA on demand @ 100 off bags.

So, when the landowners banned AR's on their ranches, I wound up with with a 308 BAR DBM, which has proven to be the most finicky rifle I have ever owned. It will eat anything I feed it, 100% of the time, however the best accuracy I have gotten out of it with any of the dozens of handloads (or a few factory) has been spotty and 1.5 - 1.75 MOA. After much gnashing of teeth, I finally found a load w/125 gr NBT's that will produce a tad over moa most of the time, w/an occasion 1.25 moa. (All the above are 5 shot groups.)

I even added an adjustable cheek piece to improve cheek weld.

View attachment 1199481
I wonder if this stock is still available, and if so if it would fit the DBM??? If so it would not help accuracy, but sure would make a difference in comfort on sticks.

View attachment 1199484

I've been shooting long enough (over 70 years) to know this, but thanks for the reminder!!! This rifle often puts three, sometimes four shots in under an inch but the one or two fliers always open groups up to 1.5 moa or more. You can bet I'll be paying attention to where the sling swivel stud is next time I go to the range.

Rifle , like. Book shelf , like.

 

[lilguy]

The BAR is one of the few SA rifles not on the states list at this point. Thanks to you all for the information.