Loading for a new BAR mk4?

[cjmac]

If i get this new browning BAR Mk4 . Ill probably get the 308 as im set up to load it .. where do I find load data for loading for a automatic? Have looked everywhere and no one list "automatic" any suggestions?

 

[Rat44]

Load like any other 308 load.
Be a good idea to use a small base die for your reloading duty.
I have a MK II 30/06 and its like any rifle,it prefers some loads over others.
They are good rifles.
I use mine more than my bolt gun these days .

 

[joshb]

Whether it’s a bolt gun or an automatic, you still have to test for the load your gun likes.
The only time I’ve seen a specific load data for automatics is with 223 and 308 loads for “Service Rifle”. Ya might look at those in your manual.

 

[Doug Casner]

If they still put a boss on them, you can dial it in with that . My 300 win. mag will shoot. Doug

 

[cjmac]

Load like any other 308 load.
Be a good idea to use a small base die for your reloading duty.
I have a MK II 30/06 and its like any rifle,it prefers some loads over others.
They are good rifles.
I use mine more than my bolt gun these days .

Ill have to get a small base die , if I can get 1.5in groups at 150 yards im happy ..
I heard the mk3 was a 50/50 on accuracy. The barrel was not threaded into the receiver it was 'bolted' ..
I heard some people had to send them back to the factory.Have an inch cut off the barrel and it was solved the problem. That was part of the reason I never bought one..

 

[cjmac]

Load like any other 308 load.
Be a good idea to use a small base die for your reloading duty.
I have a MK II 30/06 and its like any rifle,it prefers some loads over others.
They are good rifles.
I use mine more than my bolt gun these days .

I have LOT of varget . Ever tried it in yours ?

 

[cjmac]

Whether it’s a bolt gun or an automatic, you still have to test for the load your gun likes.
The only time I’ve seen a specific load data for automatics is with 223 and 308 loads for “Service Rifle”. Ya might look at those in your manual.

Mine only list 223 service rifle for some reason . I wouldn't know where to start

 

[cjmac]

If they still put a boss on them, you can dial it in with that . My 300 win. mag will shoot. Doug

Thay dont offer the boss on them anymore unfortunately. I could have barrel threaded and add one . Heard thay help a lot

 

[msalm]

I load for two of the Mk3’s in 308, the gas system seems quite forgiving and I didn’t have any issues with any of the published load data.

Also, threading the muzzles on those is a major PITA.

 

[cjmac]

I load for two of the Mk3’s in 308, the gas system seems quite forgiving and I didn’t have any issues with any of the published load data.

Also, threading the muzzles on those is a major PITA.

What kinda accuracy you getting at 100 yards out of them? . Ever tried varget ?
Thay have a few mk3 left at local shop for 1350$ . The mk4 medallion is what I want tho lol pretty gun

 

[msalm]

My first one (synthetic MK3 DBM) was certainly MOA or very close w/ 150gr Lapua Mega sp’s, I just bought another this last winter (wood MK3 DBM) and set that up and just zeroed with the same load. It seemed to be about the same and after sighting in it proceeded to kill stuff with it with no issues. 2730 fps out of the 18” bbls does a number on any medium game. Shot whitetail and several cull red deer with it so far. Incredibly handy rifles on running game and is the go to rifle for an annual deer drive some friends and I do. Out of the 11-12 guys that take part, 6 of us use the BAR MK3 DBM’s now.

 

[cjmac]

My first one (synthetic MK3 DBM) was certainly MOA or very close w/ 150gr Lapua Mega sp’s, I just bought another this last winter (wood MK3 DBM) and set that up and just zeroed with the same load. It seemed to be about the same and after sighting in it proceeded to kill stuff with it with no issues. 2730 fps out of the 18” bbls does a number on any medium game. Shot whitetail and several cull red deer with it so far. Incredibly handy rifles on running game and is the go to rifle for an annual deer drive some friends and I do. Out of the 11-12 guys that take part, 6 of us use the BAR MK3 DBM’s now.

The ones im looking at is the 22in barrel. Never got to handle the other ones

 

[Doug Casner]

You said a mouthfull on running game. Dont have to take it down to bolt. Doug

 

[David Milisock]

Whether it’s a bolt gun or an automatic, you still have to test for the load your gun likes.
The only time I’ve seen a specific load data for automatics is with 223 and 308 loads for “Service Rifle”. Ya might look at those in your manual.

You'll need to add the ARC cartridges to your list of specialized loads for self loading rifles and don't forget the M1 Garand.

 

[RegionRat]

I have never owned one, but have done the load development work for several.

All of them ended up doing much better with handloads tuned to them than they did with factory ammo.

I started most of them with a tangent ogive bullet at magazine length and ran a ladder just to study the ejection limits and patterns. After some quick tests, I switched to the owner's desired hunting bullets and about half of those worked, but half wanted a different bullet to really shine.

Once I knew the limit levels of the action and learned the chambers, the rest was straight forward.

Each one showed a wide zone where the action was reliable and where the groups and zero were stable. By that same token, they all showed where they didn't like to run as well.

Leave yourself margin for doing the load work during the summer but expecting to hunt in the cold.

They were all good rifles but I didn't like cleaning them. Make sure you pay attention to the lube and run good quality synthetic so you don't have issues in the cold and keep the chamber very clean and dry. YMMV

 

[cjmac]

You said a mouthfull on running game. Dont have to take it down to bolt. Doug

I have had many a times where I could have had 2 deer because I shot the first one. And the other one stood there, staring at me for a few seconds but not going to happen with a bolt action

 

[msalm]

You said a mouthfull on running game. Dont have to take it down to bolt. Doug

I’ve never handled a better tool for driven game than these DBM BAR’s. I put a 1-6x 30mm tube scope on them and at 1-2x w/ a lighted MOA dot in the center of a duplex reticle it just plain works. And the recoil impulse on that rifle is incredibly soft to boot. I would imagine the Stalker model w/ 22” barrel would do as well but the 5 shot mag a limiting factor when several groups of deer come running and the goal of the day is a numbers/reduction hunt. We shot 17 this year in one day

 

[cjmac]

I have never owned one, but have done the load development work for several.

All of them ended up doing much better with handloads tuned to them than they did with factory ammo.

I started most of them with a tangent ogive bullet at magazine length and ran a ladder just to study the ejection limits and patterns. After some quick tests, I switched to the owner's desired hunting bullets and about half of those worked, but half wanted a different bullet to really shine.

Once I knew the limit levels of the action and learned the chambers, the rest was straight forward.

Each one showed a wide zone where the action was reliable and where the groups and zero were stable. By that same token, they all showed where they didn't like to run as well.

Leave yourself margin for doing the load work during the summer but expecting to hunt in the cold.

They were all good rifles but I didn't like cleaning them. Make sure you pay attention to the lube and run good quality synthetic so you don't have issues in the cold and keep the chamber very clean and dry. YMMV

What powders you recommend for one in 308?

 

[Doug Casner]

I had better luck in mine, worked the action better, with fast burning powder. I shoot imr 4064 in a 300 mag. Wasnt having any luck with magnum powders remembered I saw an old load for .30 cal. ball up at lake city. For an MI. with IMR 4895 and it wasnt hot but worked. Just a single shot with slow burning powder . These new BARS are probably different. Doug

 

[msalm]

I worked up a load with leverevolution…don’t ask me why, I just thought it was ideal w/ the 150’s in the 308 and 18” barrel. It works very well.