What are your thoughts on the BAR sporter?

[sigp220.45]

Not the famous military gun - the hunting rifle.

One of my spots has a Browning BAR, 1985, Belgium/Portugal, .30/06, nice shape, Redfield mount and rings, cheap Simmons scope, recoil pad is flattened a little at the top probably from sitting upright in Dad’s gun cabinet for 25 years.

I’m not looking for one, but the price tag caught my eye: $349.

There’s a nearly identical one in the next rack with a better scope for $700. Consignment guns, maybe from the same owner.

This is Tactical Timmy place that sometimes gets in older stuff.

I like to buy undervalued guns so if I don’t like it, I can trade it off for something else. But I’ve also always liked these, and have never owned one. This seems like a good deal

Thoughts?

 

[Hairtrigger]

I would have purchased the rifle at that price without a second thought

 

[Charlie Foxtrott]

If it is not all beat up.

I would likely buy it for that price. But I bought one just like it some years ago for cheap myself. And for some reason I never really warmed to it. Pretty heavy, plus I have over a dozen other guns in 30-06 that I like better. Everything from a Winchester model 1895 to M-1 Garands. Nothing wrong with them.

 

[bulletslap]

The best of Sporter Style autoloading rifles at the time it was introduced and it will still hold it’s own today.

Many years ago the gentleman that mentored me on all things related to firearms had one in 338 Win Mag, that thing would shoot !

 

[Oscar Zulu]

I owned a .300 magnum version briefly, just from the time I bid on at the Ducks Unlimited auction till my next trip to the men's room. Bid 600, sold it for 600 + 10 cases of Coors to the guy next to me at the urinal. (He drove a Coors truck, go figure.....) Shortest time span I have owned a firearm.

A good friend of mine hunted with one for years. Heavy, blocky looking yet still fairly attractive, seemed kind of awkward to load, but could he shoot that thing! Probably the only semi auto I wouldn't count on having a hunt ruined by. The cheaper one would be a buy, if nothing more than a "proof of concept" experiment.

OZ

 

[beagleye]

Fantastic deal.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

I hunt with one in 30/06. The recoil is very mild and it kills deer dead!

 

[Rock185]

I can only add that I bought a new BAR in .308, sometime in the '70s or early '80s IIRC. Beautiful metal finish and wood, never a malfunction. I don't know current values, but the BAR is one I wish I'd never sold. I'm surprised one could be had in serviceable condition for as little as $349.00...

 

[Wyo]

Seems like they’ve never been very popular in this part of the country, and I’ve only known one person that actually owned one and hunted with it. Hers was a .243 and she loved it. I‘Ve always been intrigued by them but never found one at a price like that. For that kind of money I would probably buy it just to try it out. Seems like I recall a fairly long article about making them shoot some years back, maybe in a Gun Digest annual? Let us know if you buy it and I’ll see if I can find it to send you.

 

[LVSteve]

There were different grades of BAR according to this page.

A brief history of the Browning BAR.

There's a nice little Chuck Hawks article, too.

Browning BAR Mk. II Rifle

 

[CajunBass]

I'm not a rifle guy, but for $349.00 I think I might have taken that one.

 

[BAM-BAM]

$349 how can you go wrong..........

Will it take 20 rd mags????????

 

[CH4]

I would have bought it for that price and flipped/traded it. Great gun, had a few throughout the years, but a little heavy for my tastes.

 

[ColbyBruce]

My father owned one in 7mm Rem. magnum. As someone has already mentioned, it was heavy but accurate. The price is way below what I see used BARs around here.

 

[muddocktor]

I have an older brother that's had a Mark I in 30-06 since the early 70's and he likes it a lot. It's been a long while since I've seen the gun, but I think his is a grade III with some decent engraving on the receiver and nice wood.

 

[Grayfox]

Former co-worker of mine has one in .270. Absolutely swears by it and gets deer every year.

 

[silentflyer]

Hard to go wrong with anything that has Browning stamped on it.

 

[ACP230]

Good price on a good rifle.
Mine is a Grade II and the second most accurate
rifle in my collection.

Took my first deer, first (only) bear, and only coyote
with mine. Dad took it out to Wyoming and killed
an antelope with it.

Planned to buy one in .338 Magnum for years but never
had cash when one turned up.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

Have absolutely no need nor want for one-however at that Price, I'd probably buy it just because-Always have liked them

 

[andyinlz]

My father purchased one in .30-06 within months of their release in the late 60s. His is a higher-level model with some nice engraving.

Terrific long-range whitetail gun. Almost too much gun for close-in wooded scenarios.

My son hunted with it for the first time last fall.

Replace the recoil absorbing bumper and the main spring that closes the bolt.

Also add a sling.