Browning BAR

[stlcardinalfan]

How do I accurize a Browning BAR Short Trac .243 Win?? I really want to make this a tack driver. Any suggestions would be helpful.

[sureshots]

First thing I would do is try lots of different Ammo. You may already have A good shooter. (I assume you already have A good scope on the gun.) Next A trigger job(Even though it may already be A good shooter almost always A trigger job will make it even better). If you're lucky you should be able to stop here.

[44 AMP]

Every rifle is an individual, and your results can vary. Be aware that while the BAR should be able to give you good (or maybe very good) hunting accuracy, it is not a benchrest gun, and you may not be able to get sub-MOA accuracy from it, no matter what you do.

You might be able to get that kind of accuracy from your rifle and a certain ammo, but that would be beyond the expected norms. This is not a fault or flaw in your rifle, simply a limitation of the design, and manufacture. Many semi auto, pump, and lever guns simply can not perform to the accuracy standards of a high grade bolt actions (or some tuned single shots). This has to do with the design of the parts, and the way the parts move and vibrate when the rifle is fired.

The original AR 15 design was never noted for great accuracy, but the current generation of AR rifles do very well in this regard, because of changes in the design of the rifle from the original.

Your BAR is a fine hunting gun, and making a "real tackdriver" can be done, as long as you understand that it can only be done within the limitations of the rifle's design. There is no free lunch, so everything has a cost. The cost of your rifle's semi auto action may be that it will not be able to shoot 1/2 inch groups (for example), and may only do 1 1/2 or maybe 1 inch groups at its best. Quite good enough for hunting, but not quite good enough for benchrest competition.

The key to getting the best accuracy any rifle is capable of is matching the rifle to the ammunition it "likes" best, and (if needed) uprgrading the rifle itself for best performance. Each rifle will usually show a certain preference for a particular weight of bullet, and powder charge and weight. For non handloaders, this means a certain brand of ammo, and bullet weight. In some cases the difference between group sizes will be small, and in others it may be much greater. Each individual rifle behaves as it will, and there is no way of predicting what it will shoot the best, or by how much. A rifle may put everything you shoot through it into a 2" group, or it may put brand A ammo into a 1 1/2 inch group, brand B into 1 inch and brand C into one ragged hole, or any possible variation inbetween.

Accuracy is a combination of how well the rifle shoots its ammo, and how well the shooter shoots the rifle. A good trigger is important, as are good sights (scope). They make it easier for the shooter to be consistant, and consistancy is the key to accuracy. I am not trying to discourage you, I just don't want you to have false hopes. Enjoy your BAR, try different brands of ammo, and bullet weights to see if your gun shoots one significantly better than the others. Remember it is a hunting rifle, so expect groups to open up as the rifle heats up. 3 shots in a small group is great, but shots 4 and 5 may open it up more than you want. Is your rifle inaccurate? No. Not if it puts the first shot where you want it, and the next one or two very close. Target guns are made to put large numbers of shots in the same hole, but hunting rifles generally aren't.

You can go really fast in a Corvette, but you can't haul furniture in one very well. Generally guns are made to do one thing very well, and other things well enough. Your BAR is meant to carry well, give you fast follow-up shots, mild recoil, and be accurate enough. A fine blend for most hunting, but not usually a stellar performer on the target range.

[trekkie951]

BOSS system

[YoungBuckHunter]

I want to thank you for this thread it is alot of help to me right now. I have learned much of it the hard way, and what I've learned matches what I read here. Ammo is a huge game changer, I was just shooting the off the shelf 100 grain from walmart and my groupings were 12 to 18 inches. I bought a brand new leupold scope and high dollar mounts and used the same bullet 100grain, then I figured the barrel was bad, since I dated my BAR to 1969, my grandpa might have shot it out. I called an old man gunsmith and asked him to put a new barrel on it since I shot it out, he laughed then scolded me saying he didn't think so and that I should be shooting a 70 to 75 grain. Ihe said the best grouping I will get out of this semi rifle is 2inches. I fount a box of 80 grain and I got a 3 shot grouping of 2inches, I nearly cried I was so happy. I can't wait to shoot some 70 grains.I also found out that the boss system is matched to a particular barrel and is custom, it's not just a universal accessory like a flash suppressor. I'm going to adjust the forearm like you've said not to touch the barrel. I do have a question on ammo, does a higher velocity mean more ft lbs on an ammo box as the 100 grain would cycle well in this BAR, but the 70 grain I would half to cocktail by hand because the firing pin would only tap the primer. I'm thinking it only retracted back part way since when I record it by hand the firing pin stamps the primer great. Thanks again for this thread, this family heirloom will go back into use thanks to curing my ignorance.

[jmr40]

Trade it for a bolt gun. You can throw more money at than 3 of them are worth and simply never attain the same level of accuracy you'd get with a lot of $400 bolt rifles.

[YoungBuckHunter]

Well I know you're right, but Grandpa gave it to me and I looked up to him very much. I just read about another BAR .243 getting .37" groups with a Hornady moly 58 grain. I am curious if this gun can shoot a 6mm, as I've seen many barrels call for both .243/6mm. I hope to send some rounds down range next weekend. I will try 58,70,75gr, best will get my investment, the rest will go to a bolt gun.

[fourbore]

The name of the round is 243 Winchester.

The bullet diameter is 0.243 inches in English system. The SAME bullet diameter is 6mm in the metric system.

[BoogieMan]

I think your question has been nswered already. But, I have to ask. What do you consider a tactical driver? I have a blueprinted and tused remy 700 in 6.5x55. 1/2 to 3/4 moan with factory ammo. That's all rounds on a 3/4" dot at 100yds. I call that a tac driver. My garand will put a magazine in a 3" circles at 100yds. IMO that's also a tactical driver. My expectations for each rifle varies.