Acceptable group from a BAR?

[Chad280]

5 shots @100 yards. Out of a 7mag BAR. Do you think there’s room for improvement?

 

[JEFFPPC]

A lot enters into that question. If all 4 shots shown were same load, same sight setting, fouled barrel , shot in the same condition, and at 100 yds I would not be satisfied. If there is a reason to disregard the shot out of the group and viewing this as a 300 yd hunting rifle I would regard it as adequate if it will repeat. My requirements for a 300 yd deer rifle are far different than want I want for an 800 yd deer rifle. I do not view a BAR as an 800 yd deer rifle.

 

[Chad280]

It only my elk gun for 200 yards in thick timber. And yes all are 5 shots are the same load same time. It’s an automatic gun. It’s not going to get bolt gun accuracies

 

[piute]

I also have BAR 7MM Mag. Wouldn't like that far right shot. Would want to know if it was the rifle or the shooter?
They are nice rifles!

 

[rardoin]

The bars I hang around in have no acceptable groups.

Oops....,misread the question

 

[shoot4fun]

I would ask which of the five shots took that detour?
First?
Last?
Somewhere in the middle?
Also, would like to know if that group repeated itself often of was an anomaly.
Lastly, with a hunting rifle, I don't care about small groups nearly as much as cold bore POI.

 

[JEFFPPC]

It only my elk gun for 200 yards in thick timber. And yes all are 5 shots are the same load same time. It’s an automatic gun. It’s not going to get bolt gun accuracies

Oops, missed that fifth shot. I would reshoot the same load. Now if one always goes out determine why. If it's the fifth shot I would not be to concerned. If it's the first shot on a clean barrel, no problem, shoot a fouler before you hunt.

 

[Chad280]

I would ask which of the five shots took that detour?
First?
Last?
Somewhere in the middle?
Also, would like to know if that group repeated itself often of was an anomaly.
Lastly, with a hunting rifle, I don't care about small groups nearly as much as cold bore POI.

Third shot took the detour

 

[Chad280]

This load repeats itself when I go out and re shoot. I am thinking it has to do with which side of the magazine it’s being fed from. I need to do a little testing.

 

[searcher]

Also - I will say that I was on a mission several years back to find the most accurate loads out of my three different 7 Mags, two bolt guns and one BAR. I went through all the manuals (and I mean ALL of them) and tried most all powders using a number of bullets in the 120 to 168 grain range, focusing mostly on 120, 140, 150 and 168 weights. I didn't try any of the real heavy numbers or bullets that would also not be good hunting bullets. Reloader 22, IMR7977, IMR 4350 and Win. 760 worked far better than anything else in all of the rifles. I really wanted to use powders like H1000 but a lot of the touted newer powders just didn't give the accuracy I was wanting. Velocity yes.

 

[shoot4fun]

Third shot took the detour

If that is repeatable then all you have to do is kill that elk with the first two shots.

 

[Chad280]

If that is repeatable then all you have to do is kill that elk with the first two shots.

It’s usually done in 1 shot. Reason for a BAR. Is second follow up shots quick if needed . As we hunt in thick timber.

 

[Chad280]

Also - I will say that I was on a mission several years back to find the most accurate loads out of my three different 7 Mags, two bolt guns and one BAR. I went through all the manuals (and I mean ALL of them) and tried most all powders using a number of bullets in the 120 to 168 grain range, focusing mostly on 120, 140, 150 and 168 weights. I didn't try any of the real heavy numbers or bullets that would also not be good hunting bullets. Reloader 22, IMR7977, IMR 4350 and Win. 760 worked far better than anything else in all of the rifles. I really wanted to use powders like H1000 but a lot of the touted newer powders just didn't give the accuracy I was wanting. Velocity yes.

that’s good to know. But which of them powders are temp stable? One day I’m in 60 deg weather and the next it could be in the teens. Been there with unstable powder for temps and it makes a difference.

 

[searcher]

One can always load to the expected conditions by bumping your RL22 up just a bit if expected to be in lower 50 degree temp difference. Out to 500 yards - you can simply aim a few inches higher, depending on how far out. Within 300, I'd not even worry about it. That said - the IMR7977 is a great choice if not wanting to do that, though they all are going to change impact to some degree.

 

[riflewoman]

Well, it is a HUNTING rifle. Maybe it is something mechanical like something from this last shot from the magazine? If I recall the bolt locks back and sometimes there’s a pressure on the bolt latch that causes this?? Have you tried a different magazine?.?.?

 

[ebb]

My friend had BARs he hunted with most of the time, he knew the guns and the market and was constantly in the looking mode for Belgians and German Weatherbys. He had a bar 30-06 that shot bad and sent it back to Browning it shot a lot better when he go it back and I asked "what did they do?" All told they cut some off of the barrel. We knew this because the case he used for it was tough to get the rifle in and close the zipper before but not after. Shortly after they came out with the BOSS system.

 

[searcher]

My rifle is a Belgian model made at the FN plant. Don't know whether they are much better than those not made there - though they are more collectible. The BOSS might help a small bit with a load that already works. I shot a LOT of really crappy loads in my 7 Mag BAR before I finally found the powder/bullet combos that worked well. Interestingly - those same combos were favored by my BAT and Ruger bolt guns in 7 Mag

 

[284winner]

5 shots @100 yards. Out of a 7mag BAR. Do you think there’s room for improvement?

One thing about semi auto sporting rifles is they aren't inherently accurate. You can work up some loads and will probably find the slower loads to be more accurate than the faster loads. My .270 BAR shoots about 2" groups at 100 yards. It will put 2-3 in a clover leaf but all 5 will represent the accuracy of the gun. 10 shots will be closer to 3". I won't use it past 200-250 on deer. Max. I really don't own it for it's accuracy but rather it's follow up abilities in timber when deer are moving. I've hit running bucks at under 100 yards moving fairly fast behind a doe with 1-2 rounds from a magazine where I never could have followed up with if I had a bolt gun. That's where my BAR shines

 

[Chad280]

And that’s why I have mine for elk

 

[HTSmith]

It will put 2-3 in a clover leaf but all 5 will represent the accuracy of the gun.

It is your rifle and you can define accuracy any way you like, BUT if I had a semiauto in a hunting caliber that would knot up the first 3 I'd be ecstatic. IMHO 3 shots is plenty for any hunting rifle, especially a semiauto. Set forth with confidence.