Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles BROWNING BAR SURPRISE

I've owned a few over the years, never could get them to break even 1.5" at best. I recently picked up at a good price an older, Belgian made in 300 Winchester. Started playing with loads using my"go to loads" of 180 Partitions , 75.5gr of RL-22 or 76 H831, both with Fed 210 Match primers and WW brass, but I had some Remington brass so on a whim, i tried them and this is what I got (RL-22 lower group)



So then, I saw Norma had their ammo on sale for 24 bucks/box, so what the hell and this is how they did:


Now I don't know how they'll hold up at 300 mag velocities on elk, but I think I got myself a good elk "timber rifle", but either way, I was pleasantly surprised.

No surprise to me.

I've had a couple BAR's that would shoot that well.

And my current BAR 308 shoots the 150gr Norma Whitetail about like your rifle does.

WOW!

I have a Browning Bar in 270 Win. that will do that with factory Winchester Power Point 130gr ammo if I do my part.....other than being a little heavy they are really nice guns

My 270 shoots lights out also.

It’s crazy.

My old 300 would shoot 5 shots into a group that could be covered by a Copenhagen can. I don’t recall the load other then 165 grain bullets.

I've been looking for an Belgian BAR in 308 for a while now...

If it were a "timber rifle" why not use the NP load? Any load shooting under 2 MOA would seem to be fine on elk quite a ways out. I'd gladly give up some precision to have a stouter bullet for large game. Isn't a typical 150 grain slug at 300WM velocity just asking for trouble on close range elk?

Edited to add: I reread your post and maybe you are thinking of the NP load for elk. Actually, other than long range deer, I can't think of much use for a 300 with C&C 150's.

Completely agree. If you look, the RL-22 NP load is a bit under MOA.. I bought the Norma because it was cheap and plentiful and as you say, for deer and even hogs, will probably suffice.