Browning BAR or A-bolt rifle

[lakel]

I am having a hard time deciding on which rifle to purchase for deer hunting. I have always shot a semi auto BAR in 30-06 but have heard a lot of good things about a bolt action. Any input that would help me decide would be appreciated.

[Squeeze]

Lakel,

I saw this post a few days ago, and started to reply, and got interrupted.

The gist of my recommendation is you really have to decide what you want out of
this gun purchase.  I have a .308 Win chambered BAR LW Stalker, with a 2-7x32
Bushnell 3200 Elite, scope mounted with look under mounts.  This is the finest
brush country deer gun that I have ever owned, and I have owned a bunch.
It is very accurate(sub MOA for several different 150 gr. loads), it has been
perfectly reliable in cold wet hunting conditons, in northern Wisconsin, and
it is a pleasure to carry.  

But, I also have a number of bolt action rifles that I would opt to use for
long range hunting, varmint hunting, and target shooting, over the BAR.  As
for the A-Bolt, I have never been impressed with this Browning offering.  They
are over priced, and mediocre accuracy wise.  Also, for the money, they should have
less slop in their bolts.  Maybe that has changed since I last fondled one,
but the ones that I have handled have come up wanting.  Value wise, I
see Tikkas, and Savages, as better values.  I do not intend to insult Browning
A-Bolt owners.  I myself have a number of Browning rifles, shotguns, and pistols.
The A-Bolt can be a decent rifle, but there have been a number that I have
shot, and helped A-Bolt owners with, that have been less than impressive,
and the price that they ask for them, can not be justified in my mind.  But if
one wants Browning stamped on their rifle, and is willing to roll the dice, some
will be shooters.  I have two friends that have nicely accurate A-bolt rifles,
so there are accurate A-bolts out there...Just not enough to get my recommendation.
I will give the A-Bolt a tip of the hat for looks...It is a "purty" rifle.  Beauty to
me is itty bitty groups, so I can even love what some call an "Ugly" rifle, like the
Savage.  The Savage is so simple it is beautiful, to me...And they sure do shoot
itty bitty groups.  If I want a "purty" rifle, and I want itty bitty groups, I buy a
Tikka.  My Tikka Whitetail Hunter Stainless/Laminate is almost too "purty" for
me to drag around the woods...But it puts .25 cal. bullets into .4 MOA groups,
so it regularly goes for walks with me.

Squeeze

[lakel]

Squeeze,

Thanks for the reply. I will be using the gun primarily for hunting deer in thick pine wood forest in south Georgia and an occasional trip to Texas. Most of my shots will be 200 yds or less. I am more comfortable shooting the BAR because I grew up shooting one. I will probably purchase the BAR.

[firstshot]

lakel

I've got a BAR Safari in 30-06 and hunt with it here in NW Arkansas.  Most of my hunting is in timbered mountain forest but there is the occasional long shot opportunity in clearcuts, fields, power lines, etc.  Virtually all shots are 250 Yds or less with the vast majority at 100Yds or less.

The Browning BAR's can be very accurate, especially if you hand load.  I handload for mine and so far have worked up loads for the Noslers 165Grn Partitions, Sierra 180Grn Game Kings, and Noslers 180Grn Ballistic Tips.  My BAR will shoot all of these sub MOA @ 100 Yds.  My overall average is about 3/4".  

Because most of my shots are 100Yds or less, but with the "opportunity" for a 200-300 Yd shot, I put a Burris 3-9x with Ballistic Plex reticle on it.  You sight this scope in "dead on" at 100 Yds (where you get the most shots) and the recticle has "hash marks" on the virticle cross hair for 200, 300, 400 & 500 Yds.  

Sighted in dead on at 100, I'm hitting about a 1/2" low at 200Yds using the first hash mark and although I haven't been able to test it yet, I should be about 1/3" high at 300 Yds using the second hash mark.

As far as I'm concerned, the 30-06 BAR + the Burris Ballistic Plex scope is the perfect "versitle" hunting rig.  For "Woods" hunting, use sighted in dead on at 100Yds, scope on 3X for quick acquisition, semi-auto for "immediate" follow up shots (if needed) and knock down power of 30-06.  For those "long range" oppertunities, crank scope up to 9X and use the hash marks as needed.  Doesn't get any beter than that!!!!

I'm obviously biased, but for the type of hunting you and I are both doing, I don't see how you can possibly go wrong with a 30-06 and since you are already accustomed to shooting a BAR then seems to me that would be the obvious way to go.

Good Luck

firstshot
---------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

[lakel]

Thanks for the input. I purchased a Browning BAR in 30-06 last week and took it to the range the day after. This gun literally shoots sub MOA groups at 100 yds with factory ammo - Remington 150 gr core lokt soft points.

I hunted in South West Arkansas (Sheridan) for 5 years while I lived in Little Rock. That is where I purchased my first BAR and took 4 to 5 Deer per year with it. I have since passed that gun to my son and he is currently seeking his first deer with it.

[Squeeze]

Lakel,

Congratulations on the new BAR.  It sounds as if you have a good shooter there.
I know I love my .308 Win BAR Stalker LW.  I believe it will be the last deer rifle
I carry, in the northwoods of Wisconsin.   Growing up, the rifle to own, in deer
camp  was a BAR.  I use to think it was snob appeal, that generated that notion.  
Now I get it!  Accurate, lightweight, and reliable, all mean more to me than pretty
lines, or swirling grain walnut wood.  This black BAR can sit in the rain, and snow,
be shouldered, and be expected to go BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG, and BANG,
if need be.  And be expected to put bullets in less than 1 MOA of where it it aimed.
In deer rifles, it just does not get any better than that, IMHO.

Squeeze

[lakel]

Thanks for all of the input. How often do you BAR owners clean the gas port in your semi auto

[Squeeze]

Lakel,

My gas port cleaning really depends on the firearm, and how easily it cleans.  On my
gas operated shotguns, since it is easy, and probably more critical, every time I clean it,
I push a wire through the gas ports, in the barrel.  In my AR-15s, I only tear it down
to the gas tube, when it starts to have trouble cycling.  In my BAR, or previously
owned other semi-auto hunting rifles, I usually clean the gas mechanism at the end
of the season, or if I have cycling problems, it is part of my first things to do checklist
for that issue.  Unless you shoot very dirty ammo, usually gas mechanisms can shoot
a lot of rounds before they start to cause cycling problems.  Since I load my own ammo,
I do pick powder, and loads, that burn clean.  Actually I probably error way on the
conservative side of cleaning gas mechanisms, but my military experience taught me
to keep my rifle clean and well maintained, and that habit has been REAL hard to
break.
 

Squeeze