Browing BAR alternatives

[Housezealot]

I have been looking at Browing BAR's and would like one... but, I have already spent WAY too much on new toy's this year, Is there any good more affordable, alternatives, I might just break down and buy a remington 700 but being a lefty I dont really want a bolt action and don't like the idea of buying lefty guns (resale, parts availabilty etc.) any advice?

[jgcoastie]

As a fellow lefty, I will recommend that you buy a BAR MkII Safari in whatever caliber suits your fancy. You will not find a more reliable or accurate semi-auto hunting rifle. I've had mine for a long time and it's my favorite rifle... Very handy and easy to shoot from either shoulder. Save up a couple of more months, you won't regret it...

I don't recommend a Remington 700 lefty to anyone based solely on the price tag... For less money you can get an A-Bolt Stainless Stalker lefty and it will shoot just as well or better than a 700 lefty...

I've been down this road before, pick the BAR...

[Shaun_300]

Do you like Lever actions? The Browning BLR is a very common rifle up here, and wouldn't be a problem for a lefty. I own one and love it!

[HuntAndFish]

If you are looking for an autoloader, remington's model 750 is normally cheaper than the BAR.


http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_750_woodsmaster.asp

[jgcoastie]

Do you like Lever actions? The Browning BLR is a very common rifle up here, and wouldn't be a problem for a lefty. I own one and love it!

The BLR is good, only thing I'd worry about is that alloy receiver... I'm not sure it would hold up to a lifetime of use if it's a magnum caliber... Maybe it will, maybe it won't... Only time will tell... For the money, I'd go with a BAR MkII... Steel receiver = a lot tougher than alloy... If a lever is desired, go with a Marlin IMO...

[Housezealot]

I think I am going to end up with the BAR, I am going to layaway it with one other gun, and then I swear no more toys untill january 1st of next year
(did you guys belive it? my wife won't;))
thanks for the input everyone

[jgcoastie]

Great choice... You won't be disappointed...

[pilothunter]

I agree, great decision to stick with the BAR. It's a very fine rifle and I'm sure you'll be very happy with it. Congrats.

By the way, what caliber?

[joe1347]

How about a Benelli

http://www.benelliusa.com/assets/wallpaper/standard/benelli_r1_apg_1024x768.jpg

[kscardsfan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't browning switch to an alloy receiver for the BAR also?

[impalacustom]

There is no substitute for a BAR, and if you get the Safari grade they are steel yet.

[jgcoastie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't browning switch to an alloy receiver for the BAR also?

Not the "real" BAR's (MkII Safari) they're steel... The Winchester clones known as the ShortTrac and LongTrac are both alloy...

I wouldn't mind having a ShortTrac in 7mm-08, but I would not entertain the thought of having a magnum in one... Most of the guns I buy, I buy for life... I don't think alloy would hold up to constant use over the years in a magnum caliber... I would not hesitate to buy a MkII Safari (if I could find one) in 7mm Rem Mag though... It's on my wish list...

[jgcoastie]

As far as the Benelli R1 goes; it's way too new and I've heard tell of many glitches yet to be worked out...

Benelli makes a great shotgun, but for one of my rifles that will see hard use all across this country... I'll take a proven rifle by a tried and true manufacturer...

Browning BAR or A-Bolt
Any Weatherby
Marlin Levers
etc...

[GeauxTide]

Being a lefty, I got two BAR's when they first came out, a .308 and a 7mmRM. Then, I started reloading. I replaced them with a 7mm Weatherby and haven't looked back. If you're going to get an auto, the short actions are lighter.

[Housezealot]

lots of great suggestions to consider, mabey I'll think on it a little more

[pilothunter]

The BAR Safari, as already mentioned, has a steel receiver. The action is built for L/A calibers and there is not a S/A specific to S/A calibers. The BAR "Lightweight Stalker" has an aluminum alloy reciver, to save weight. I have owned several BARs, Both Beligian and Japanese, including a Lightweight model. All have been great guns. I'm personally not a fan of either the LongTrac or ShortTrac models. They both have aluminum receivers.

[Apache6]

STAY THE H**L AWAY FROM THE REMINGTON 750. I got rid of mine after 2 months. It was basically a single shot. Even Remington couldn't get it fixed. I bought a BAR. Sweetest rifle I own, and I own a couple. It will eat anything I feed it.

The R1 is sweet, but no less expensive than the BAR.

[jammin1237]

purchased a bar mark II safari in the 25-06 and put a 90 dollar alpen kodiak scope on it... its a heavier rifle, and has virtually no recoil... the stock/receiver is mid to high grade pretty... the trigger is what i consider to be perfect...i would bet on a 400-500 yard kill up to mid size game....

i have no other rifle that i can pull up and target that fast with, it is just plain sweet! ...it pains me to take it out in the woods, but i have to remember it is a hunting rifle after all...

shoot one before you buy if you can....





cheers

[jgcoastie]

My father has a BAR MkII Safari in 25/06 with a VXII 3x9x40 and has taken it to Colorado on two of his five elk trips over the years...

He took a cow at about 350yds and a 6x6 bull at about 275. Neither ran more than 50 yards...

[jammin1237]

jg, i can only dream about a day like that for now but maybe someday?;)

[jgcoastie]

I'm planning an elk hunt later this year on one of the outlying islands here...

I have retired my BAR MkII Safari in 30/06 as I have recently acquired a Weatherby Vanguard in .300 Wby Mag... The BAR holds great sentimental value to me and it's it pristine condition, only a few minor scratches on the stock... I took it apart last week and gave it a very thorough cleaning and oiling... It's home is now in the gun cabinet until it's time to pass it on to my children... Pains me to put it away, but I don't want to subject it to any more of the harsh weather and terrain up here...

[impalacustom]

Don't forget about the BAR in 270Wby Mag. I have seen a couple of them out there and actually shot one, but I am sure the used price on it is really high as it was a rare one when they were making it.

[Love_My_Nagant]

So...I guess I'm thinking of a different BAR then, right. I'm thinking of the WW1 and WW 2 Browning Automatic Rifle. What are you guys talking about?

[Housezealot]

here is what we are talking about
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=002B&cat_id=031&type_id=008
not as different as you might think, semi auto version of course, little bit different design, If i recall correctly (and I may not) they were released after the war in this configuration and called the BAR SLR (self loading Rifle)
I am sure there is probably a browning guy here that can set me straight as my memory on this is fuzzy at best.

[KROIL]

Go with the BAR. It will last. It will give you no problems. It will be far more accurate than you. My Safari 2 in .300 w/m with my hand loads will easily do under an inch at 100 yds benched. It has the BOSS muzzle brake/tuner which I would recomend. It cuts recoil by 30% , but its freakin LOUD. Wear your muffs.

[jammin1237]

love_my_nagant... here is a pic of what i am talking about...

http://thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=46005&stc=1&d=1240534970

[Love_My_Nagant]

Hope the image came up...but this is what I want. Number 2 on my dream list of guns....

[robctwo]

I have the BAR lightweight stalker in 300WSM with the BOSS and the same gun in .308 without. The 300WSM has significantly less felt recoil, but is loud. The BOSS is more accurate, but LOUD.

I didn't hesitate to get the alloy receiver. I expect to put 50-100 rounds a year through each gun working on loads and fiddling around. I have other guns for volume shooting. Heavier barrels and lighter calibers for the most part.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e186/robctwo/PICT2083.jpg

[Ruthless4christ]

How many rounds do the box magazines hold?

[jgcoastie]

Don't forget about the BAR in 270Wby Mag. I have seen a couple of them out there and actually shot one, but I am sure the used price on it is really high as it was a rare one when they were making it.

These must be really rare indeed... I've never seen one and cannot find any info on the web for one... Maybe a product of someone's custom work??? If I wanted a .270 with more zing than a standard win, I'd probably go with the WSM as ammo is cheaper and ballistics are similar...

How many rounds do the box magazines hold?

Anywhere from 4 to 2 rounds, depending on caliber... The 30/06 and below hold 4, the standard magnums hold 3, the WSM's hold 2.

[kraigwy]

Guess no one ever heard of a M1

[jgcoastie]

Guess no one ever heard of a M1

Last time I checked, you couldn't get an M1 in .243 Win, or .270 Win, or 25/06, or .300 Win Mag, or .338 Win Mag, or any of the WSM versions of the above...

The M1 is a great .308 (30/06 if you can find an original) but the caliber choices are somewhat limited...

It's hard to beat a Belgium Browning... The BAR isn't a lightweight, but doesn't an M1 weigh somewhere around 10lbs bone stock??? That's a lot of weight to lug around in the field... Not to mention that BAR's are more friendly to optics mounting...

[impalacustom]

Coastie they are factory chamberings, my uncle owns one and I am sure there are a few out there yet for sale. Here is one that sold, not sure how old the ad is though http://www.gunsamerica.com/987597588/Guns/Rifles/Browning-Rifles/Semi-Auto/Hunting/Browning_BAR_Safari_II_270_Weatherby_Mag.htm

Here is another one about 6 months ago http://forum.gon.com/showthread.php?t=250572

[jgcoastie]

Wow! $800 for a BAR :eek: You'd be hard pressed to find one in that condition for less than $1k around here...

That's pretty neat about the factory rechambering... I didn't know Browning offered that... I wonder if a .300 Wby Mag would work??? :):cool:

Learn something new every day... Thanks for the info...