While I do love my bolt guns, I do like myself a nice semi also. My AR308 is pretty hefty to be carrying in the woods and I have been thinking about the BAR Mark III DBM that comes with the 10 round magazine. I've handled the regular 22" version and it feels pretty handy, so this 18" version should be even handier. It will primarily be used for hunting as a bush gun up to 300 yards (realistically around 100 yards mostly where I hunt) and the occasional range sessions. Does anyone have any real life field and range experience with this rifle (feeding, extraction, accuracy)? Thanks in advance.
Browning BAR Mark III DBM 308 18" Barrel? -- Update
- Thread starter S3silver
- Start date
RegionRat
Gold $$ Contributor
Not lately, but a while back I've worked on several. I have never owned one.
They belonged to friends (big shots from work) who hunted with us in Colorado and they were having trouble when I was asked to help.
Most of their reliability issues were their choice of ammo, which was easy to fix.
One had some issues with the stock, which was also easy to fix.
Keep them very clean and only lubricate with synthetic lubricant that works in the cold if you are in high country when hunting. I am not familiar with the one you mentioned, but I think I heard that magazine is proprietary, so no opinion on this.
These all did much better with my hand loads than with any factory ammo.
I never worked one in 308, they were all 270, 30-06, 7 Mag, 300 Mag. They had a Browning tuner on the muzzle that worked pretty well. I had no trouble getting hand loads with hunting bullets into a fat minute at 300 yards. The belted mags needed to be collet sized above the belt, but that was no big surprise. Brass doesn't last long in the belted mags before the primer pockets gave up.
With 308 you may be able to find decent factory ammo, but since you are in CA you may need to develop a copper solid no-lead load.
They belonged to friends (big shots from work) who hunted with us in Colorado and they were having trouble when I was asked to help.
Most of their reliability issues were their choice of ammo, which was easy to fix.
One had some issues with the stock, which was also easy to fix.
Keep them very clean and only lubricate with synthetic lubricant that works in the cold if you are in high country when hunting. I am not familiar with the one you mentioned, but I think I heard that magazine is proprietary, so no opinion on this.
These all did much better with my hand loads than with any factory ammo.
I never worked one in 308, they were all 270, 30-06, 7 Mag, 300 Mag. They had a Browning tuner on the muzzle that worked pretty well. I had no trouble getting hand loads with hunting bullets into a fat minute at 300 yards. The belted mags needed to be collet sized above the belt, but that was no big surprise. Brass doesn't last long in the belted mags before the primer pockets gave up.
With 308 you may be able to find decent factory ammo, but since you are in CA you may need to develop a copper solid no-lead load.
Just wanted to post a quick update in case any one else out there is interested. I did find one locally for sale and picked it up for a decent price. It is a real soft shooter even with the heavies 180 class projectiles. So far no jams shooting 130-180 class projectiles out of 150 or so rounds. It has a very similar feel to a shotgun, the way it shoulders and the feel and break of the trigger. Ejects brass at about 4 o'clock and 4 feet away. The only issue I've noticed so far is with the bolt closed, it is extremely difficult to get the magazine seated properly with 10 rounds in the mag; even with 9 rounds, you really have to push it to get it to lock in. With the bolt locked open, the magazine slides right in and locks, no problem.
With little load workup it is shooting about 1" at 100 yards and 1.5" at 200 yards slinging the 130 ttsx at just a tad under 2900 fps. Pretty good for what I want it to do. Here are some data for you number guys.
18" barrel
Barnes 130 TTSX
Winchester brass
CCI 200
2.800" COL
Varget
3 shot group average, off bench, front & rear bag
45.0 gr 2700 fps 0.8"
46.0 gr 2792 fps 1.3"
47.0 gr 2835 fps 1.3"
48.0 gr 2878 fps 0.9"
49.0 gr 2902 fps 1.4"
As always, start low and work up.
With little load workup it is shooting about 1" at 100 yards and 1.5" at 200 yards slinging the 130 ttsx at just a tad under 2900 fps. Pretty good for what I want it to do. Here are some data for you number guys.
18" barrel
Barnes 130 TTSX
Winchester brass
CCI 200
2.800" COL
Varget
3 shot group average, off bench, front & rear bag
45.0 gr 2700 fps 0.8"
46.0 gr 2792 fps 1.3"
47.0 gr 2835 fps 1.3"
48.0 gr 2878 fps 0.9"
49.0 gr 2902 fps 1.4"
As always, start low and work up.
Vin81
Gold $$ Contributor
I have same exact rifle, and am loading this load as well. When I seat bullet (.020 off touch), the ribs on the bullet are still exposed. Is that normal? Also do I need to crimp, or is .004 of neck tension ok?
Adam in WI
Practically lives here
How does it shoot? Next time you shoot it, remove a round that was fed into the chamber during normal operation and measure the overall length. If you do this a couple times and the length doesn't change and the rifle shoots well, leave it alone. Exposed bands on Barnes isn't uncommon. Seat them to where they shoot best for you.
10XSHOOTER
Gold $$ Contributor
If hunting in Colorado. you can only have a 5 rd magazine! You would have to block it to 5 rds and prove it will only hold 5 rds, otherwise it's ticket city with the Fish Cops out here,
Ive got a bar in 300 win. mag. Ive got to run fast burning powder in it to get the action to work and some crimp. If I run 4350 or 4831 Ive got a single shot. Got to jack the action by hand to get the round out of the chamber. Put 4064 in it it runs fine. Shot .5 in. groups with 180s. Got the boss on the end of it. You get that boss set it really tightens em up. Doug
Vin81
Gold $$ Contributor
How does it shoot? Next time you shoot it, remove a round that was fed into the chamber during normal operation and measure the overall length. If you do this a couple times and the length doesn't change and the rifle shoots well, leave it alone. Exposed bands on Barnes isn't uncommon. Seat them to where they shoot best for you.
Barnes website is 2.735 as coal.
My coal is 2.910 (jam -.20) this is what it looks like at 2.910
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Ca is strict but at least we can still have a 10 round mag to hunt with.
I reload for my father in law's BAR 7mm rem mag. Same thing, it likes the faster powder so I use H4831 for it and it cycles great and the accuracy is great. His has the boss also and it doesn't even feel like a 7 mag.
Mine looks similar at 2.800 coal.
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