Browning BAR in 338 win mag (opinions needed)

[nasem]

I wanted to get people's opinion on the Browning BAR in 338 win mag (safari grade rifle).... seems like a nice repeater and plus, 338 win mag....How does the rifle handle / shoot ? any jamming issues ? accuracy ?

thanks

[targshooter]

nasem,
There are several posts here concerning the performance of the BAR rifles in various calibers. I have not seen any specifically about the .338 WM though. If you glance through some of the posts it appears that the Browning BAR is very highly thought of, with few detractors. I was pricing the BAR Lightweight Stalker in .338 WM this past fall, and here in MN $820 before tax was needed to take one home.

[nasem]

yeh, thats about the same price around here in michigan, I know walmart sells the safari grade (wood stock with no BOSS) for 799.99, with boss goes up to 899.

My friend is offering me his 338 WM BAR for my winchester classic stainless 375 h&h (both rifles are almost brand new, not even 100 rounds through either one), so thats why I wanted to get people's opinion on it

[azmike]

There used to be a review of this rifle/cartridge combo at ChuckHawks.com, if I remember correctly.  I don't know if it is now on the subscriber-only section of the site, but it's worth a look.  A lot of good info on that site, IMO.

[targshooter]

nasem,
I own a Winchester Model 70 Classic Stainless in .375H&H. It has a Lyman peep installed.  It kicks too much for me now, although its heavier Model 70 Classic Express partner I own is scoped and heavier, so it does not kick too much. Was going to trade or sell it this past hunting season. I had settled on the BAR in .338 WM. Still own the 70 Stainless because the guy who originally agreed to get me a Browning BAR in .338 WM for it did not want to spend the $820. As of today, I bet he wishes he did it. He had ordered a new one for almost $1k, and he got his money back and no gun in December. I read your post in Bolt Guns forum and agree with some others advice, keep the Winchester 70. You will get a lot more for it in a year or two than the BAR .338WM will be worth then.

[nasem]

thank you for your post targshooter,

my other consern is, which one of the 2 rifles would kick harder, the BAR with 338 WM or the winchester 70 in 375 h&h (225 gr WM vs. 270 gr h&h)

I think the 375 would kick harder(by alot), but what do you think ?

[targshooter]

nasem,
Never fired a BAR Lightweight. My .375H&H Win Model 70 Stainless has a hard rubber buttplate and weighs about 7 3/4 lbs. It kicks. This weekend I was shooting my .338 WM Ruger 77 Sporter (9 lbs scoped) and a fellow was shooting a .338 BAR down the other end of the range. It is a little lighter than my Sporter, and from watching, I would assume it kicks about the same. Therefore, as the Sporter .338 kicks about the same as the Model 70 Classic Express I have (it is 1 lb heavier than the Sporter), I would say the .375H&H Stainless kicks more than the BAR Lightweight in .338. How's that for logic?

[nasem]

targshooter-

I also found this website, its very useless for the recoil of different calibers:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

If you have a 8.5 lbs 338 WM rifle, the recoil with a 250 gr @2700 is about 33 ft-lbs of energy

and if you have a 9 lbs 375 h&h rifle, the recoil with a 270 gr @2690 is about 36 ft-lbs of energy (and yes, this backs up your logic, the 375 h&h would kick harder)

don't forget, those numbers on the 338 wm are set up on a bolt action rifle, a semi-auto operated by gas has less recoil and of course, I will only shoot 225 gr rounds, so the recoil I would say would be droped down to about 30 ft-lbs (thats is pretty managable I think)

[nasem]

sorry, I mean to say "usefull"...... not useless  :-D

[tanoose]

With a good recoil pad the BAR safari kicks just a little more then a bolt 30/06  I had one in 338 it is a sweet rifle and i had it for two years before i sold it to my nephew  i had the barrel cut to 18" and its a great brush /atv rifle. In the two years i had it it never jammed.

[brianrull]

I've got the .300 Win. Mag. version and have run over 300 rounds though it, factory, reload, even high energy loads with no problems.  It's got the BOSS system which makes it considerably louder than my other guns.  Recoil is similar to a 12g field load in my autoloader shotgun.  Accuracy is on par with my Remington 700 bolt actions - not great, but pretty good considering it is an autoloader.   My gun likes 180-200 gr. bullets.

There used to be quite a few posts in this forum on the 338 version.  I don't recall anything negative.  I would have bought the 338, but I already had all of the equipment and components to reload 300 Win Mag.

[BNoz01]

I've had a 7mm BAR from 1988 to about 1999.  Never had a problem with it.  When an old college roommate bought it, I replaced it with a 338 BAR Mk II Safari model.  Initially, I couldn't get the BOSS muzzlebrake to stay tight.  So, I had to locktite it into place.  

After that I developed a load using a 225 Nosler Partition bullet.  Man, this rifle shoots!  It'll put two shots just within 1 inch consistently.  The third shot always flies left or right (I can't remember) another inch or so.

I bought aftermarket synthetic stocks (McMillian I think) to lighten the rifle up somewhat.  Turns out, the synthetics add about one-half pound to the rifle's weight.  

I can't say enough good things about this rifle.  Only drawback is the weight.

B. Noz.

[xHogHunter]

I owned a Belgium made BAR in the 338 win mag and shot it for several years with no problems. As with any automatic it must be keep clean. I really liked the Federal 210 Noslar loads for medium size game.  The recoil was nothing like a bolt gun in the same caliber. I can't seem to remeber any jams. Mine shot 2 moa or better with most factory ammo. Hope this helps. 

[tanoose]

Nasem i had the 338wm in the bar safari 24" with the boss  never had a jamming problem and used max loads with Hornady 225SP bullets  i later took off the boss and cut the barrel to 18 1/2  shes was  and still is a great shooter now owned by by nephew and recoil is not an issue with the 338 in the Bar. even with the 18" It was one of the most  accurate rifles i ever owned . i have to check my records but that rifle with the 24" grouped 2" or 2 1/2 i cant remember which,at 238 yards with those hornady 225's I guess mine had better protection against foul weather but i just never liked having to drop the floor plate to remove the clip , i would probibly still have it if they dropped out like the remingtons.