Browning BAR ShortTrac .325 WSM - 09/12/14
A bunch of rifles live at my house - far more than I really "need". I am primarily a bolt gun, single shot and lever gun guy, but also have an affinity for the Remington pumps. Other than a couple of old Winchester Self-Loaders in .351 & .401, not a single semi-auto centerfire has taken up residence in my stable since a Winchester 100 .284 that wouldn't shoot for sh*t was sent packing over 20 years ago. It would be a mighty cold day in Hades before I'd buy a Remington 740/742/7400/74/Four/750 (although I'd like to have a nice old model 81). Being in the gun business for over 20 years, I've seen very few problems with the Browning BARs and had always toyed with the idea of buying one just to fill that semi-auto hunting rifle "void" in my battery. Problem was, they never made them in any chamberings that interested me. Well, a few years ago they announced the new "ShortTrac" in .325 WSM. None of the Short Mags blew my skirt up until the .325 was introduced. I like 8mms but wanted a .325 in something "different" because I already had numerous bolt guns in that same performance class. I decided I wanted it in either the Browning auto or the Winchester 1885 High Wall single shot. I put it on the back burner until a couple weeks ago when this like new ShortTrac popped up on GunBroker for a what I considered a steal. I really wish they'd have offered the .325 in the original styled steel receiver BAR but the satin nickel receiver and fairly nice wood make the ShortTrac rather fetching. I hope it'll shoot up to snuff. I'll be thrilled if it'll do 1 1/2" @ 100 but it's always a crap shoot with self-shuckers. We shall see...