Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Anyone here shoot a Browning BAR?

Opinions?
And why don't they make one in 7mm-08?

Cuz they know that you can shoot a bull between the eyes with the 7mm-08 and not even give him a bloody nose.:)

Because they chamber it in .308?

Probably because they do not believe they will sell enough of them to justify offering one in 7/08 and I have to say that they are probably correct. There is nothing wrong with a 7/08 but guys buying BAR's would prefer a more standard caliber.

I was thinking the same thing - I've got a BAR lightweight stalker (243 win) on order but I would have gone for a 7-08 if they had one.

In fact I have been checking around to see if I can find a gun smith that might be able to change one out, or rebore it...

Spot

don't own one but two guys I hunt with like them in 30-06.

Nice to look at. Too heavy and clumsy to tote. They are popular with the dog hunting crowd that use pick-up trucks as their deer stand. Not for me (the rifle or that way to hunt deer).

They have a bad habit of throwing a flyer out of a group. I have owned 2, and a bud had one. Same complaints. Just my opinion, and no doubt others may disagree.

Got good news and bad news for ya. The good: The '09 Browning catalog lists the BAR in 7mm-08. The Bad: It's in the "ugly" ShortTrac configuration (wood, synthetic & camo), rather than the traditional BAR. Of course some may be ok with this or even prefer the newer "Euro" styled BARs but I'm still trying to warm up to their looks. Reason being, I thought a BAR in .325 WSM would be cool and it too is listed in the ShortTrac for '09. I'll cross that bridge if I have any mad money when they start shipping them.

I have owned 2, the 1st was a 300 win mag. It was the older model. My 2nd is the safari model with the BOSS in 30-06. They are great rifles (classics) I think. Also the '06 is very accurate with the boss system.

I have three BARs, blue/wood .243, camo synthetic .270, and camo synthetic .30-06. So far all shoot more than accetable groups, consistent shooters, magazine loading is a plus.

They are a heavy rifle.

The calibers I sold were all in blue/wood, .25-06, .30-06, and .270. Prefer the synthetic camo.

Thanks, SCGunNut. I'm not too fond of those ShortTracs/LongTracs either - besides being butt-ugly, they've got "composite" (in other words, "plastic") trigger guards.

the short trac in camo is 6.5 pounds with a Leupold scope in talley LW rings at about 1 pound more its a 7.5 pound rifle, add a sling and 4 shells...8 pounds?? not that bad.

Problem its a 22 inch gun, this would be about a perfect gun in .308 with a 20 inch barrel on it.

Does anyone reload for their BAR or Short/Longtrac?

If not reloading, the 7/08 would be dearer to run than a 308, for example. As stated above, if they don't see enough demand for the chambering, they won't make it.

A good gunsmith should be able to rebarrel one for you though.

Do they have any Stainless ones in that 2009 catalogue?

BTW,
Where can one get a 2009 catalog? I just requested a catalog 2 weeks ago from Browning and received the '08 catalog.

We received our dealer catalog at the gun shop a couple weeks ago. Don't know when the standard catalogs will be available, maybe not until after SHOT.

I've had two BARs and both were in .270. Both were great guns and over the course of four years I basically never cleaned them and I only had one jam in four years. I reloaded for mine using small base dies and both of mine shot very well. I never thought they were heavy. Like yourself, I have often wondered why the 7mm-08 was not offered. If they offered it in the Safari model I would definitly buy one, but not so sure about the Short tracs. I haven't heard anything good or bad about the Short tracs, just don't know that much about them.

The Safari model is really nice, its not a lightweight by any means but, I find it sits perfect on my door when I cruise up on a big one in eastern NC! Believe me they are the perfect rifle for a good dog hunt right up there with a mini 14.

Mine's an older one in 30.06. Killed more deer with it than anything else. Smooth and accurate.

Had one years ago. Great rifle. Only rifle I ever had that made my shoulder hurt from carrying it slung though!

My dad has one in .270 and besides being a great shooter and a joy to look at, it is wicked heavy! If you aren't gonna be doing too much walking it would be great.

Brett (Mac)