Browning BAR in 243

SF VET

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Some years, more likely decades ago, my now deceased father in law bought this first generation Belgium BAR in 243, from the gun store in his small town in SE Nebraska. I am pretty sure his wife never knew about it, nor several others he bought and stashed away, to be found when we helped clean out his back closets.

Gerhard carried a BAR with the 32nd Infantry Div, when they and the Aussie's took back Buna Station, on the coast of New Gineau. It was an awful battle, huge losses and near complete annihilation of the Japanese Garrison. I suspect that Gerhard wanted to have a BAR again, although he told me he could not keep it operating in the mud, and gave his BAR up for a Garand.

He put an old scope on it, zeroed it with three rounds, shot one more to kill a deer on the edge of town, and cased it ever since. I have the box of Sivertips with 4 rounds gone. I reload and shoot several different bullets in it, with a different scope, and off a sand bag, it is an incredibly accurate rifle.

It is a first generation BAR, without a bolt hold-open ability without a mag in it. Beautiful bluing and stock, easy on the recoil as it is a gas gun. I have sourced three more magazines for it, just in case they someday become hard to get.

When I lay it on a sandbag and click three rounds into the mag, and snap it in, and line up behind the reticle, I remember Gerhard, who was a great father in law, and who treated me like his own son.

So, here it is....

Stay Safe, SF. VET

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Nice to hear the story. Beautiful and expensive gun today I bet. That .243 caliber must be a gem to shoot in this gun. Like the looks of the walnut from here too! Looks like a real keeper.
 
When I zoom in on the photo, I can see the scroll and antelope engraving on the receiver. That means it’s not a standard Belgium BAR, but a “Grade II”.

Wonderful gun! Some of those suffered from salt wood, which can cause varying degrees of metal corrosion (rust) where the wood makes contact with the steel. Nothing short of replacing the wood will stop it. The easiest and simplest way to tell is to remove a buttplate screw. If it’s clean and not damaged, you have no problem. If the screw is corroded and eaten away, the issue will only get worse.
 
'chad, many thanks for our. caution about the possibility of rust under the wood. So went out to my bench, and used a 9mm wrench (it is a Belgian gun, of course), and removed the fore end, it still has the original Belgian grease on the under barrel, and after wiping it off, the bluing is perfect.

Whew....

so all isok, and it is back together after cleaning and applying some good preservative oil to it. It really is a gorgeous rifle. Out in Nebraska where he lived, I tend to think many rifles are in calibers for long range deer and antelope hunting. Not "brush" gun calibers .

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programing....

SF VET
 
I have one in .270 (It's the MK2 though) Son has the MK3 in .308 they are great guns,Most everyone in our Hunting Group shoots a BAR .270 is the most popular caliber in our group
 
Has the "blonde" walnut typical of the early BARs. I had one in . 30-06 that I let a guy talk me out of along with a pristine pre-64 Model 100 Winchester . 308.
 
Was out at my range recently, in a National Forest, and a shooter there had several rifles, one a BAR in 30-06. Hadn't shot it, or cleaned it, in years for sure. I think it was his father's rifle. It was very sluggish, so I sprayed some CLP into the action, and it was much more free. But his BAR had not been stored correctly, and it ha some faint rust on the sides of the receiver.

Sad that that his nice BAR had been incorrectly stored at some time it its past, and now is not really "collectable" anymore. He is just getting into reloading for his 300 Win mag, so had him come over to my place to see how to do this. Had him bring his BAR along, and I did what I could to clean it up a bit. But can't wipe off rust...

NV
 
I have one in .270 (It's the MK2 though) Son has the MK3 in .308 they are great guns,Most everyone in our Hunting Group shoots a BAR .270 is the most popular caliber in our group

I, too, have a BAR Safari in .270. I think it is a MK2 also. It has the BOSS (Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System). The BOSS simply tunes the vibrations of your barrel. This allows the bullet to leave the barrel the split second it is stationary. Your BOSS manual has a list of settings for each caliber and bullet weight. Adjusting your BOSS to these "Sweet Spot" settings allows you to find the instant your barrel is stationary. The result is accuracy never achieved before by an out-of-the-box rifle.
Larry
 
BAR grade II .300 mag

I bought mine years ago at a pawn shop going out of business. Missed the .338 by an hour but the .300 was still there so... Never fired it. Belgian,NIB, blond wood. Grade II. Just a real beauty. Thought of trading it away many times for a caliber I shoot 30-06 or .308 but another right one never came along. Beautiful guns!

Ischia
 
Ischia, it is perfectly fine to have firearms you never intend to actually shoot. I have a 1915 straw blued Luger, with original magazine; if it was ever fired, it sure doesn't show it. My father in law bought it about 35 or so years ago, and when he died, it came to me. I won't shoot it. If something were to damage it I could never find a way to make it perfect again.


then again, my wife has some expensive jewelry which she has never worn.

It is OK to have something we never intend or need to use. Taking time for a lunch break, in between making about 150 243 cartridges, 105 grain over 32 of Varget, because that is what I have, tickle charging.

All the best,,, SF VET
 
Nice rifle SF VET, and the back story adds to its desirability. I had an original version in 7mm mag. Took a few Maine whitetail with it. Beautifully made rifle, but I found it heavy, and when I moved to PA, I sold it, as semi's are not permitted for big game hunting here.

I think the wood used in most 1st gen Belgian guns is French Walnut, often blonde, with dark mineral streaking.

Larry
 
Coincidentally

My father in law entered hospice care at home a couple weeks ago; yesterday he gave me his .243 BAR Lightweight. He's doing fairly well and we hope to have him with us for some time yet.
 

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Fantastic!! They are wonderful rifles. My hunting buddy won one in a gun show raffle, in 7mm Mag. A $2 ticket! We call it the 2 dollar gun. He's taken Caribou, Deer, and Anteolpe with it. Glad you have such a story with yours.
 
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