Question re early 70s Belgian BAR semi-auto rifle

[bbroerman]

My son recently acquired a Belgian made Browning BAR semi-auto rifle (Grade 2) and is having issues with it. I will not fire. I was looking at it today (he left it with me when he shipped out to Ft. Drum) and noticed that it is not going into battery with a 30-06 casing. I would almost swear the markings on the barrel say "30.06" but it could also be ".30.08" Tried zooming in with my camera on my phone but that didn't help... On a hunch, I tried a 308 round, and it does go into battery with that. I have not tried shooting a .308 for obvious reasons... My question is: Have any of you seen this before? Could this be a 308 and I'm mis-reading the markings? I have attached an image of the markings for reference...

 

[DangerRanger]

I’m 99% that’s just 30.06 markings that have been weathered to look like an 8. The pattern and spacing is exactly like Belgian 30.06 I’ve seen.

308 should chamber fine in any 3006

 

[riflewoman]

Is this factory new ammo or a resized case? BAR s. We’re chambered tight and RCBS made some “BAR sizing dies to allow people to reload. BAR dies were tighter than regular “Small Base” dies.

 

[rockrat]

I would try a factory '06 round and see what happens

 

[joshb]

I’d send a borescope down the barrel and chamber to check on it’s condition.
Corrosion might be preventing the round from chambering. The stamping looks like 3006 but corroded.

 

[Mikemontminy]

Here is a picture of my Belgian made 30-06 from early 60’s foe reference. I run factory ammo and reloads made with RCBS full length die. Never had a problem with ammo chambering.

 

[Nick Caprinolo]

If you are using 30-06 brass that has been fired in a different rifle, you should be using a SB die to resize the entire case. This is especially important on semi-auto.

 

[matthias]

You should check the side of the bolt. There is a shark fin that keeps the gun from firing out of battery. I have seen several break the hardened pin that it pivots on , with that break bolt can't rotate properly. Then the rifle will act like you described.

Timing latch and pin

 

[1shot]

I you are still wondering if it's an '06 or .308, load up a piece of 308 brass using the COW method. It's a whole lot safer that a live round and will tell you what your chamber actually is.

Lloyd

 

[Lesloan]

How about doing a chamber cast?

 

[Ggmac]

The BAR s were chambered tight not all fns were . Had a few issues with people returning them at the gunshop. Norma ammo back in the late seventies and early 80s would run flawlessly and the other was the browning made ammo .

 

[jepp2]

I have attached an image of the markings for reference...

Here is mine. You can also check the distance to the tip of the bullet in the lands. No need to cast the chamber.

 

[AckleymanII]

Magazine lengths are different on the 308 and 30/06. Magazine may have the caliber stamped on it.