Semi-auto hunting rifles

[elktrout]

I am considering a semi-auto 30-06 for hunting big game. I am interested in your comments if you own a Benelli R-1 or Browning B.A.R. Specifically, my questions are:

1. How bad are the trigger pulls? I know that a semi cannot be set like a bolt gun, but does the trigger pull on your semi affect your ability to shoot accurately with it? I realize this is opinion, but I value your input.

2. How accurate is your semi? Is its accuracy specific to one bullet weight? I have reloaded 30-06 for many years, so custom tailoring a load is not a problem, but I am curious about it.

3. How dependable is the function? Is it dependable with various bullet weights or specifically more so with one or two? Is it dirt/dust sensitive at all? I hunt in Colorado and the elements can wreak havoc on the rifle over a few days. So, I need one that can work in bad conditions.

4. How badly does the action beat up the cartridge brass? Since I reload, I like to get the most value for my money with the brass I buy. If you have experience with brass longevity, I am interested in what that may be.

5. Now the big question. If you had it do over again, would you buy your semi again? Why or why not?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Smith357]

I can answer a few questions on the BAR as i had a BAR MKII Safari in .30-06 for quite a while.

1. the trigger on the BAR was pretty darn crisp, I never had a need to mess with it. the 4 lb pull was perfect for an 8lb hunitng rifle.

2. It was plenty accurate for big game, right at MOA +- a smidge.

3. My BAR was the one and only semi automatic firearm that never jammed on me, but then I only fired about 2-300 rounds through it. Take care not to neglect your duties and it will function fine.

4. The brass was not dinged up at all, the big problem was finding it after the rifle threw it 20 feet away.

5. Yes, but only if I were hunting dangerous game where my life depended on fast second shot.

 

[TexasRifleman]

My favorite hunting rifle is a BAR Safari in .30-06.

1. I think the trigger on mine, straight from the factory, is fantastic. Very clean break and not heavy at all. Very little overtravel either.

2. Certainly accurate enough for any hunting you'd do with an '06. I can get down to 1" groups if I really work at it. My usual shooting load averages in the 1.5" groups under various temperature conditions. The BOSS thing really does seem to help but it takes a while to tune it in to a particular load.

3. I've never had or even heard of any BAR having reliability issues. Don't know about other semi hunting rifles.

4. No brass damage at all from mine, I have some I've reloaded 10 or more times.

I'd buy another one without a doubt. If I were going to do it again I'd probably buy a .308 instead of the '06 but that has nothing to do with the rifle.

 

[hometheaterman]

Okay, so I own a Browning BAR in 30-06. Mine is a pre 93 one. I will try to answer your questions as best as I can.

1. The trigger on mine is decent, but not great. It's pretty crisp as mentioned above and not a ton of travel before it breaks like some triggers I've seen. You know when this one is going to go off and I like that. However, imo it's a little too heavy. I've not measured it, but it's not a very light trigger and this sometimes makes me pull when I shoot. Now I know a lot of guys like a trigger like this, but to me I like really light triggers. I want about a 2.5lb trigger at most, and sometimes lighter than that. If I had to guess I'd guess this was more of a 4.5-5lb trigger, but that's purely a guess. Anyway, it's not a bad trigger, but I wish it was lighter.

2. Accuracy is this firearms biggest downfall to me. I've tried all sorts of factory ammo and most of it shoots like crap. I tried to sight it in using Winchester Ballistic Silvertips and was getting about 5-6" groups. I couldn't figure out what was going on. I tried Winchester Power Points in both 150 and 165 Grain, Remignton Core Lokts in 165 Grain( or was it 168, I can't remember), Winchester classic Silvertips in 150 grain (these shot great at 50 yards, but horrible at 100), Federal Power Shoks in 150 grain, and Federal Fusions in 150 grains and 165. I'm probably forgetting a few others. Most of them shot like crap then I found the 150 grain Federal Fusions. With those I got this gun down to about a 2" gun on most days. Sometimes groups are larger, but I can usually hold the groups down to 2" groups which is decent. The Federal Power Shoks were the next best and I got about 3" groups with them. To me even 2" groups aren't great, but I think I just have to realize that this is a hunting rifle not a target rifle. I've tried everything I can think of as well as most of what's been recommended online and locally to try and get it more accurate and I just haven't had any luck. I've read posts of guys claiming theirs shoot MOA, however I've talked to a ton more people that claim theirs shoot like mine.

I've also tried to work up some re loads, but so far have not found a combo that shoots well in it.

3. As far as how reliable this thing is, it's very reliable imo. I've had it jam, but not often. I've also never cleaned the gas system in mine and I've probably put at least 5-600 rounds through it since I've had it. That's just a guess, but I've shot it a lot. Anyway, when it's jammed it's been with the Federal Power Shok ammo, and that's the only time I've had it jam so I'm not sure if it's the ammo, or just a fluke or what. The jams were stovepipes, and it's happened maybe 3 times out of the 5-600 rounds I've shot. It's just as reliable as most bolt actions I've seen.

4. As for the action beating up the cartridge the two things mine does is it often bends in the case mouth some on the way out so that it's not perfectly round. The resizing die fixes this, but I'm not sure how much it shortens brass life as I've not reloaded much for this rifle. Also where the extractor goes over the lip of the case, it leaves a slight bit of metal shaved off. I'm not sure if that's what I should call it as I'm not sure it shaves it off as I don't see shavings, but anyway it leaves a mark on the rim of the case. This so far has not been a problem for me, and I don't see it ever being a problem. The cases are perfectly fine to reload, but like I said I've not reloaded much, so I'm not sure how long the cases will last.

5. If I had to do it over again I would probably buy it again. I like the rifle, it feels great, is reliable, and is just a great hunting rifle. The only thing I don't like about it is accuracy. I like accurate guns and the BAR by my standards isn't one. If you realize this before going into it and expect it to be a good hunting rifle and not a target rifle, it's a great gun. Can't say anything at all bad about it other than the accuracy and once you find ammo it's not horrible.

 

[Olympus]

I used to own a Browning BAR Safari Grade in .25-06. No matter what ammo, the thing would not group consistently. It would go from one side of the paper to the complete opposite in a matter of a couple shots. That was even using a Lead Sled. I don't remember having any qualms about the trigger. But a rifle that won't group is worthless to me, so I ended up selling it.

I've never bought another BAR and I've never bought another semi-auto for hunting use. I'll stick with my bolt actions.

I should say that I didn't knowingly sell a gun that wouldn't group to someone. I sold it to a buddy of mine who knew all about it. He said he had read up on all kinds of ways to fix it and thought for sure he could fix it. Last I heard, he still had it and it still wouldn't group.

 

[smartshot]

In Colorado, I used a 338 win mag BAR from the 70's in mint condition. I shot a 5x5 on the run and had to shoot two mags at it before I put it down at about 200 yards, considering myself an expert shot!!! It took me two mags because the initial trigger pull did not go off because I had to hand feed the first round as per the guide's instructions and the round did not set all the way, then I had a stovepipe jam after the 3rd shot and I maintain my rifle to the highlest level when cleaning. The first fired shot was the only one that struck home. If I had to do it again and when I hunt in mountainous bad weather or somewhere that cost alot of money, I would take my 30-30 bolt action or my 270 bolt action, two calibers that have proven themselves and I don't know of anyone who ever had a malfunction or fail to fire with a bolt action. Semi-auto's are attractive, neat and cool, and I will never trade mine, but the bolt actions are real!!!!! AND by the way, factory ammo held a 6 inch group @100 yards, I had to handload nosler accubonds with IMR 4831 in the 338 cal, just to keep under 1 1/2 in groups!!!! Bolt actions give you inherent accuracy, don't listen to the sales pitches k?

 

[jmorris]

I have an older Remington semi auto in 30-06 and it leaves a lot to be desired. I also have a BAR in 300 win mag and I like everything about it until I have to fetch my brass. The trigger on the BAR is better than a lot of bolt guns.

 

[stsimons]

I recently came into a virtually new 742 woodsmaster in 30.06, my first semi auto hunting rifle. I decided to scope it with a 1.5-5 shotgun scope (mainly for the 5in eye relief... and I hunt in the South GA swamps so my "long shots" are 100yds)

Here is my take on hunting with a semi auto in my limited experience...

1) The trigger pull is not bad at all, a little heavy, but completely a non issue at ranges of less than 200 yds. The trigger pull on the 742 is about 5lbs, a good smith can fix just about anything though...

2) So far the most accurate load in my 742 is a plain jane 180gr Remington core lokt, yup I said it, factory ammo. I finally just bought the bulk Remington bullets and duplicated the old school factory load on the cheap and the results are the same. 1.5 inch groups at 100 yds. In other words, minute of Bambi's daddy...

3) Clean it well... seriously... I have not had a single jam with my 742, which is a NOTORIOUSLY bad jammer. I keep it squeaky clean. The elements do not really affect the function, and its usually 100% humidity in the salt air around here. I keep a little bottle of Hoppes elite in the case and spray the action and the chamber every couple of day when I'm in the woods.

4) Can't comment on the brass longevity. I am only on the third set of 50, so 3 times so far... I can only say that the 742 is a FAST reloader and the cases come out on fire!

5) I would buy a Browning BAR, because I have shot one a few times and like it more than my 742. In my opinion, its everything my 742 aspires to be... and its no slouch when it comes to hunting, but I got the 742 for free... and the BAR is 1K... so I will NEVER complain about not having a BAR! HA!