I have a Browning BAR in 338WM. It is a Beautiful rifle but a heart breaker…
I can not get the groups down below 3 inches… I have had a very good gun smith look at it who could get it between 2.5-3.0 inches… So I sent it back to Browning, and the Scope to back to Leopold (just to be sure). Browning replaced parts and $300.00 later it back with some targets which show ½ inch groups (WOW).
Last weekend I took it & the newly serviced scope out and 2.5-3.0 inch groups…
Before I trade it in, does any one have any advice… Note, my 22 year old son has the same results… I have a bolt gun which allows us to shoots .5 – 1 inch groups all day .

I had a .338 BAR Mark I assembled in Portugal that was VERY unhappy with anything but 250 gr bullets. It did not like 225's AT ALL!

But it would shoot 250 corelokt's to 3" at 300 yards! Fine for Elk or bear.

Might try those.

Exactly: Vary the load to vary the results.

quote:

Originally posted by temmi:
I have a Browning BAR in 338WM. It is a Beautiful rifle but a heart breaker…
I can not get the groups down below 3 inches… I have had a very good gun smith look at it who could get it between 2.5-3.0 inches… So I sent it back to Browning, and the Scope to back to Leopold (just to be sure). Browning replaced parts and $300.00 later it back with some targets which show ½ inch groups (WOW).
Last weekend I took it & the newly serviced scope out and 2.5-3.0 inch groups…
Before I trade it in, does any one have any advice… Note, my 22 year old son has the same results… I have a bolt gun which allows us to shoots .5 – 1 inch groups all day .

temmi,
Is there anyway you could find out what the loads were that Browning used to get those 1/2" groups?

Sell it and get an a-bolt. You'll be alot happier.

Well you certainly won't be happier with an a-bolt, so as the others mentioned try different weight bullets. My BAR in 30-06 will only shoot 180's, loves the Hornady SST factory load, the 270 is happiest with 140 gr. loads, just about any bullet.



If you shot my 30-06 with 150 grain loads you would be tempted to give up hunting, it won't even come close to 3" groups, but the 180's stay around 1-1.25" consistantly.

quote:

Originally posted by browningguy:
Well you certainly won't be happier with an a-bolt, so as the others mentioned try different weight bullets. My BAR in 30-06 will only shoot 180's, loves the Hornady SST factory load, the 270 is happiest with 140 gr. loads, just about any bullet.

.....pic

If you shot my 30-06 with 150 grain loads you would be tempted to give up hunting, it won't even come close to 3" groups, but the 180's stay around 1-1.25" consistantly.

BG,
I had the same experience with a grade1 BAR in 30-06. It liked the Winchester RN power point 180 grain loads but hated any & all 150s I tried.

I've got a Mark I BAR in 06 and .338 win mag. For the 06, I use a 165 Nosler BT and get 1 to 1.25 groups at 100 yards with IMR 4064. For the 338, I'm still working on a pet load with the 230 Failsafe bullets. I've had good groups with IMR 4831, but think I could do better with Reloader 19. Don't give up on the BAR, the 338 cartridge is a lot of powder and bullet. Everyone I know that has shot the gun (Even the BAR) stills is awe struck by the sound and recoil. However, when they they see a bullet strike a gallon or 2 liter water jug at 100 or at 300 yards, they are stunned at the reaction of the bullets. I also have a Magna-ported 338 A-Bolt that shoots very good with 4831 charges.
Hang in there..

quote:

Last weekend I took it & the newly serviced scope out and 2.5-3.0 inch groups

How many loads did you try?

I had one about 20 years ago. Had to get rid of it. Just could not make it group less than about 2.5 inches. Other than a Ruger 10/22, that was my LAST ever automatic.

My old BAR II (portuguese), was definitely more accurate than my actual "Evolve" (belgian); both are in 300 WM. Anyway, there is a big difference with BARs if you shoot chambering manually each cartridge or let it cycle/feed automatically; this way, groups can double or triple their diameter.

Call browning, tell them that the gun still shoots for rubbish, and that you paid $300 for it to be "fixed"

ask them which load (down to the lot number) they used to test fire your rifle for the great groups.. and if they used a mechincal rest....

buy said ammo, as they only test groups with factory ammo, THEY SAY, and see what your groups are.

if they are acceptable, either buy that load, or build that exact load...


if not, send it back, inform them you have already paid, and the RIFLE still patterns like a shotgun, and you won't be paying for a second "fix"

jeffe

I have a BAR in 300WSM. I had this rifle shooting less than 1 inch at 100 yards. I took it all apart and gave it a good cleaning. After that it wouldn't shoot for shit. Best I could do was just over 2.5 inches at 100 yards. Some helpful members here told me to check the front fore arm screw. I backed it off a bit and it now shoots MOA again.
Does your BAR have a BOSS?

Thank you all for your advice.

I changed the load from IMR 4831 to IMR 4350 and from Horn 200gr to Nosler 200gr BT and tightened the Fore Arm Stock… we are at 1.5 inch groups for me, and 1 inch groups for my oldest son. We shot a total of 40 rounds.