I have a Lightweight Stalker, in .308 Win, and when I first got it,
I stripped it down, including the gas mechanism. I don't remember
having any problems. As I recall between the maintenance instructions,
and the parts breakdown, things went fairly smoothly. I do have
an fairly extensive background in small mechanical assemblies,
and without that experience, I probably would not have disassembled
it past the Browning's recommendations. After this initial inspection
and cleaning, I have put about 75 rounds through the gun. I will
probably wait until I get to about 200 rounds, and then tear it
down again, if it doesn't get sluggish before then.
When to clean the gas mechanism really is a function of how
clean your ammo burns. I try to stick with faster burning
powders in short barrel, semi-auto rifles, and that seem to
help with gas mechanism fouling. I know I can put a ton of
ammo loaded with Varget powder down my AR-15's before
I have to clean their gas tubes. In my .308 Win, rifles, which
are all short barreled firearms, I use W748 powder, and so
far there has been minimal fouling.
Yes one has to like the accuracy out of these new BAR's. My
brother has a older Belgium made BAR, in .30-06 SPRG. It has
always shot minute of deer well, but it has never been what
I would call a "tack-driver". My .308 Win, LW Stalker shoots
sub-MOA with a bunch of different ammo. It actually puts my
Thompson Center Encore, with a 15" .308 Win barrel, to shame.
Yup, I love my BAR LW Stalker.
Squeeze
