I am looking for opinions on the Browning BAR rifle.
Specifically what I am looking at is the ShortTrac Hog Stalker.
I really like the lighter weight as compared to an AR platform.
I had traded into a R25 in 308, but was miserable to carry. So down the road it went.
Performace/durability issues etc? Any thoughts appreciated.
I've had a .308 ShortTrac for several years, never had any issues, shoots great, cycles every time. Great rifle.
One problem, the wife stole it..she thinks it's hers now. She might be right.
It's great for women and kids. Short LOP and minimal recoil since an autoloader.
don't get it wet, bare steel chamber rusts, you never get all the rust out chamber becomes rough, becomes a single shot at times. I got a MP10 with the pencil barrel that is 10 pounds full up with LT-104, 3x9x36, and 10 rounds of ammo. If you add a 1 pound scope to the BAR, put 5 rounds in the belly and a sling on it 8 pounds??
I have had BARs since the early seventies. When I was a strapping young guy, the weight was no problem. Most shot from excellently to plenty good for game.
Age has changed all that. I have only a Grade III, .30-06 left.
I am trying to get a light weight Zenith model (shorter, fluted barrel-just over six pounds) imported from Europe. Failing that, a short trac .308 is my next choice. Realistically, I'm ok with the one I have. I don't walk far anymore.
Add: are not most chambers bare steel? I know that chrome chambers carried over from the M-16 to some AR makers. Most bolt and lever guns are raw steel.
Jack
I am thinking I can get under 8# all up with a browning. The Hog Stalker has a heavy non-fluted barrel. I could get it fluted to easily knock another 1/2 to 3/4# off.
Not worried about getting it wet, simple maintenance is easy. I have hunted all sorts of weather and have not rusted a chamber yet.
I actually prefer approx. 7.5#. Light enough to carry all day and heavy enough to settle down.
I have also thought about building a 6.8 SPC on an AR platform. Weight is extremely important factor. I do not need super lightweight, just do not want anything over 8. 10 is out of the question.
Mine weighed 6 lb 10 oz. Without scope/bases and rings.
yes most chambers are bare steel but it don't matter so much in a bolt gun if it gets a dust of rust in it. I have seen a dozen Remington auto's and 1 BAR that were single shots.
don't get it wet, bare steel chamber rusts, you never get all the rust out chamber becomes rough, becomes a single shot at times.
Huh??? Where are these BAR rifles with bare, non-lined chambers?
BARs have a chrome-lined chamber, see below. As far as I know, all vintages came this way.
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=98
What "can" rust and be a problem are the gas piston and cylinder. This assembly should not be heavily lubed or it will foul and get gummed-up. You also don't want to let bore solvent run down the barrel and collect in the piston/cylinder assembly.
I had one BAR MKII in 270 Win. It shot 140gr NAB handloads at 1-1.25", 5-shots at 100 yards. When I got it (used) the barrel had finish wear along the left side where the fore-end made contact. I removed wood so it no longer made contact.
The trigger was heavier than I normally like, but the shape of the grip really made controlling the heavy trigger easy. I was going to have a gunsmith work the trigger, but in the end I didn't bother. I still like that grip.
Downsides are that the MKII is heavy, scopes mount a touch higher than I like, and I didn't like having to remove the fore-end for maintenance. I know several BAR owners that clean/inspect before hunting season, check zero, and then don't mess with the fore-end until after the season is done. They don't want changes to the POI.
I sold the BAR to a buddy and suggested that he get 130gr and 150gr Core-Lokts. He's not really a hunter, but I wanted him to zero his scope with readily available ammo "if" he ever went on a hunt. On the first outing, he had 8 rounds, 130gr and 150gr mixed, which measured 5/8". Shot better than my handloads!
Thanks for all the input, upon further research, I think the Hog Stalker actually weighs 9.5#. Not an option, will have to look at the lightweight stalker. Which is fine by me, as I can get one in 7mm-08 which is preferred over a 308.
Sounds like the mechanics of a BAR are solid. Just need maintenance like any other semi.
The BAR is by far the best performing semi-auto centerfire hunting rifle there is.. Just keep 'em clean, chamber especially, and they'll run for years. The ONLY thing I run into from time to time as an issue will be you'll eventually need a new timing latch pin. A $5.00 item and it takes about a half-hour to install..
Piece of cake.
no they don't have chrome lined chambers, the idiot at Browning that put this on the website is wrong as I have two friends with BAR's with rust in them. and I just called Browning, no stainless guns, no chrome lined BAR chambers....
get one of these for the same weight with nitrited corrosion resistant barrel and easy 3 times more accurate than what I have seen out of BAR's.
SW MP10.
I just don't see a non chrome lined chamber as an issue in a hunting rifle. If it gets wet I clean it.
As far as accuracy goes my current BAR is a 1/2" gun with factory Barnes VOR-TX ammo (.243) for 3 shots.
If I'm going to hunt with a AR I'll take a 16" AR-15 in 6.8 w/ Hornady 120gr. SST's. Much lighter. ymmv
Every BAR that I've bought has had a chrome plated chamber and I've been buying them since 1972. My Shorttrac 7mm-08 is an excellent rifle.
Great discussion, I really appreciate the info.
you are flat wrong. Call Browning.
where do you live? If west of Mississippi chromed chamber is probably not an issue.
call Browning and speak to the technician, the website is wrong.
I live in western SD. Not a lot of humidity out here. But I am not afraid to get out and hunt in snow/sleet/rain.
jimmyp has swayed me, as if I am going to be spending that kind of money, an AR based variant could work. I just do not want an rifle that weighs 9 plus pounds.
The Browning BAR Hog Stalker is 9.5 bare.
The MP10 is 7.7 pounds, I would like to keep it under 8.
A MP10 would be absolutely functional and some parts could be changed out at a later date for some weight savings. IF I decided it needed it.
Oh good LORD! If you take even a little care of the damn thing and don't treat it like a tomato stake it ain't gonna rust! GEEZ!
If it gets wet, do a field strip on it and wipe it down with an oily rag and run a patch through the barrel.....just like anyone should do with any kind of firearm. Like I said before....GEEEEEZ!