Browning Belgian BAR

[x101airborne]

I brought it home but really cant explain why. Browning Belginan BAR in 300 Win Mag, no scope, beautiful wood, exceptional bluing.... but someone for some reason cut the barrel to 16.2 inches with what looks like a hacksaw. I guess I like ugly dogs also. 

I thought about getting another 300 Win Mag barrel and rebarreling it.

I thought about loading it to 308 performance, provided it feeds and functions, then using it as is for a truck gun. 

Then I thought about how handy it would be at 308 performance with a suppressor on it. 

I need to scope it yet and shoot it. I dont want to use the loads for my 03-A3 26 inch 300 WM as I believe the concussive blast would be enough to kill me. It has not been re-crowned, but for that I thought buying the tool from Brownells and doing it at home would be good enough. There is a precision rifle shop about an hour from here but I have not checked to see "if" they would do it or turn around time. I just dont understand what was going through someone's mind as to why they would do this to a weapon. I can not figure it. I did buy it for 400.00 plus tax, so I am not hurt either way. 

If a new barrel is needed I thought of a 26 inch Kreiger, Bartlein or Shilen in heavy barrel contour would make a nice semi auto hunting rifle. Anyone have any experience with the hunting BAR? I differentiate between the hunting and military style of same named rifle. I am also curious if there is a quick detach magazine conversion available for it if anyone knows. The bluing and the stock finish are immaculate. This weapon looks like someone had it in the safe for years and someone inherited it or stole it and chopped the barrel. I did do a 4473 on it and it is registered to me so I know it is legal at least that much. Opinions and thoughts wanted.  

[bushog]

I had and hunted exclusively with a .30-06 BAR for my teen years and on until I moved out West and bought a .300 Win. And others. Great rifle. My buddy who outfits in AK keeps one in .30-06 in his truck for a truck gun. I only own a .243 gradeII now as the 30-06 got burned up in the fire. Never hunted with the .243…in fact, never even shot it. My Dad heard me talking about one so he bought one for each of us…

[sixshot]

I know those are some beautiful guns with outstanding wood on the ones I've seen & handled. Over 40 years ago me & 2 of my brothers (both deceased now) were elk hunting in the Selway country just west of the Montana border in mid September, back when that country was full of elk & very few hunters, it was an elk hunters paradise. We had packed into a place called Thompson Flats...no relation, and there were 3 guys already camped there, and they only had one horse between them, yikes! When you go into that country it's most common for everyone to have two horses each, one to ride & one to pack your gear.
These guys were packed a long, long ways from the nearest road & it was going to be a real problem if one of them shot an elk, this was extremely rugged country. We visited a while & found out that 2 of them were Browning Arms executives & the third guy was a young fellow that owned Kolpin Sporting Goods from Berlin, Wisconsin. They were in for a rough trip. They were testing all new Browning hunting gear, knives, tents, sleeping bags & Browning Bar rifles. One was a 300 Win. mag, one was a 338 Win. Mag & I can't remember what the third one was but I believe it was a 30/06.
I can't remember for sure but I don't think they ever put the 338 on the market, might be wrong. To shorten the story just a bit the young fellow from Wisconsin, Ron Kolpin, killed a bull towards the end of the hunt & I was going out the next day with a couple of elk & told them I would help them get their elk out if they wanted some help. We loaded half on their one horse & the other half on one of our horse & started the long trip down the trail to Macgruder. We had only went about a mile & the meat on their horse, along with the horns slipped under the horse & one of the tines from the elk rack went through the front hock of the horse, breaking it's foot.
I tied off my pack string & went back & started cutting the meat & pack saddle off of the horse because we were in a really bad spot along the Selway River. As I was working the horse kicked me & I landed out in the river. It was swift & I had to swim down stream 20 yds or so to find a place to get out, and I was mad! We got the meat & horns off & lead the crippled horse back up to camp & lead it off into some heavy timber & shot it. Nothing more we could do, it was done for.
Now they were stranded, after I packed my brothers out I stayed an extra day & packed out the guys from Browning & Ron Kolpin. A month or so later I got two pairs of Browning boots in the mail & two really nice, lined Browning gun cases & two Browning knives. Kolpin Sporting Goods made a lot of the Browning products & put the Browning name on them. One of the Browning big shots name was Tom, can't remember his last name. He came back to Idaho the next year & shot a really nice Big Horn ram with a Browning rifle. They made some really nice guns for a very long time. I visited their plant once in Morgan, Utah.

Dick

[brant]

I may be wrong but I believe the BAR was made as a 338 win mag. I went hunting with a group of Cajuns in a South Louisiana swamp once. We were hog uniting from air boats. One guy would drive us around to little islands that they had electric feeders set up on and we would get in the most rickedy stands you ever saw to sit in until he came back after dark to get you. 3 of those guys were carrying BARs and I remember one was supposedly a 338 win mag and the other 2 were 7mm rem mag and a 300 mag. They thought I might be underpinned with my little 284 Winchester and cautioned me not to get off stand until someone was there to “cover” me. If they were trying to scare me it worked. I wasn’t worried about the pigs but very worried about those 3.

I asked to go out with another group the next day!

[x101airborne]

Great stories and experiences! I have never had a hunting BAR before but have title to a full auto WWII BAR (my Father's). I dont think I did bad for the price I paid but Lord almighty I wish it wasn't chopped to 16 inches being a 300 Win Mag. I actually want to start a controlled burn with this thing just to say I did.

[bushog]

Jul 14, 2024 17:21:40 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

Great stories and experiences! I have never had a hunting BAR before but have title to a full auto WWII BAR (my Father's). I dont think I did bad for the price I paid but Lord almighty I wish it wasn't chopped to 16 inches being a 300 Win Mag. I actually want to start a controlled burn with this thing just to say I did.

I would try to find a replacement barrel for it. Not sure if it’s the right part but Numerich has a 300 win barrel for one. Some 7mm REM too.

[sixshot]

I said the third caliber was a 30/06 but now I remember, it was a 7 magnum, my mistake & thanks for reminding me of the grand old 7mm magnum.

Dick

[brant]

I would shoot it, at least a magazine full.
I have always wanted A 308 win.

[pacecars]

For giggles have JES rebore and rechamber it to .458 Win Mag and thread the barrel and recrown. Awesome bear stopper

[x101airborne]

I love the 458 conversion idea!!!

I shot it today and it kicks softer than any bolt 308 I have ever fired. Now the sound?.... Well, it is a 16 inch 300 Win Mag. LOL. I have heard incoming mortars that were more sound suppressed than this thing! Gawd almighty Henry! LOL!

[squawberryman]

SEND IT SOLDIER!