BAR Lighweight: Accuracy with FACTORY ammo?

[Big Paulie]

Dear Guys,

  I am considering getting one of the new BAR lightweight carbines, in .308.  I have read alot of posts on the new BARs, and people are very quick to point out that they can be very accurate with the right hand load.  My problem (issue) is that I don't hand load.  

   So, what I am wondering is, what type of out of the box accuracy are people getting with 150 grain factory ammo (especially the standard stuff like the Remington Core Locks, and the Winchester silver tips).

   All replies are well appreciated.  (Please, no bashing on the failure to hand load point.  I have attention span problems, and get easily frustrated, so I am far more likely to double load a shell than you may imagine.  I tried hand loading years ago, and it made me so tense that I got migraines.)

Best Regards,

Big Paulie

[Big Paulie]

Dear Guys,

   As follow up info on the foregoing question, . . . I would not be getting the BOSS system.

Thx, Big Paulie

[Squeeze]

Big Paulie,
 
I just purchased a Browning LW Stalker, in .308 Win, this last October.  I love the thing!
I topped it with a 2x7 Bushnell 3200 Elite, with the best look under rings I could find, and
now I have the sweetest swinging Whitetail brush gun that I have ever owned.
Accuracy wise, I can't speak to factory ammo, since I don't EVER shoot it.  But,
for this gun, I just threw some loads together that are very close to what  
Winchester would put in the silver box.  They were 150 gr. Hornady SPBT bullets,
with a factory safe charge of IMR 4064, in Winchester brass, with WLR primers.
I seated to the cannelure, and crimped.  Pretty plain jane stuff, not tuned for  
any rifle.  I loaded them to basically zero the iron sights, and the scope.  I intended
to do my usual chamber measurements, and load work, for this rifle, but when I  
got the scope zeroed, I was delighted to find tight groups of .30 cal holes in
the target, that measured right at 1 MOA.  Given that I had a very busy Fall schedule,
I decided to forget all of that load development work, and just hunt my plain jane
loads, until I had more time to really dial this gun, and ammo, in.  I only hunted the
gun one day, for management deer, and the one shot I did take, at a trotting  
doe, resulted in a clean miss, due to an unseen tiny oak sapling, about 10 yards  
from the deer.  But it was right were I shot :grin:.  Now your milage may vary,
but my .308 BAR is a keeper.  I am already looking forward to hunting it  
next year, and I hope to get a 130 gr. Barnes X bullet load worked up for it.
I am going to go out on a limb here, and say I am pretty sure this will be a  
sub MOA combo when I get done.
 
Squeeze

[pastorp]

Big Paulie, The only BAR I've owned was a 338. My friend had a 270, and his cousin a 308. They all functioned reliably. As far as accuracy, just buy a box of each brand and bullet weight you can find, and I bet you will find a winning load.

I would start with a box of 150 and a box of 180 gr corelocks. Regards, Byron

[Ditchdigger]

I've got a old Belgium made 7Mag,and it shoots The cheap Rem. ammo into 1.25" at 100 yds. Very little recoil,and the 140's chrono. at 3245 fps. I hav'nt took time to tune some reloads for it yet, but will later on. Digger

[Squeeze]

Big Paulie,

Here is more hope for an accurate BAR.  I mentioned that I was going to work a
load, with a 130 gr Barnes X Bullet up for this BAR.  Well on a whim, I took
some 130 gr. X bullet loads, developed for a Savage Striker, out to the range,
and tested them in the BAR LW.  These loads are hot(1 grain over published max,
but no signs of excessive pressure) and are seated for the Striker chamber.
It was windy, with a steady 10 mph, gusting to 15 mph quartering into the bench.
I only had enough ammo for one 3 shot
group, since I used some of these rounds up on a miserable T/C Encore.  Another
story.  Anyway, even in tough shooting conditions, I had just under a 1" group,
at 100 yards, with all three holes almost touching.  There was a bit of horizontal stringing,
which I will blame on the wind, but still plenty accurate for 200 yard whitetail shooting.
Load development for this gun is too easy.  Given the frustration I am currently
having with a .308 chambered T/C Encore, this was a pleasant surprise.  Each time
I shoot the new BAR LW Stalker, it impresses me even more.  That is two loads
now that shoot 1 MOA without any tweaking.   Evidence is mounting, that this
is not an ammo sensitive gun.  Oh, that Encore...It is not ammo sensitive either.
It hates everything :roll:

Squeeze

[firstshot]

Evidence is mounting, that this is not an ammo sensitive gun.
Squeeze

Big Paulie,

If you are looking for hunting accuracy in a semi-auto, I don't think that you can do any better than a Browining BAR.  I have a BAR in 30-06 and although I don't shoot factory ammo in it, I have to agree with Squeeze as my BAR isn't ammo sensitive either.  I'm getting sum MOA groups with 180Grn Nosler Ballistic Tips, 180Grn Sierra Game Kings and 165Grn Nosler Partitions.

Just curious why you wouldn't consider the BOSS (or CR) system.  (Other than I don't think it is offered on .308) Although I don't have a BOSS on my gun, I've read a lot of comments from guys on various forums that swear by them.  Seems to me that if they work like folks say they do, it would be an ideal option for someone that does not handload.

firstshot
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