Hayden Lee
Inactive
I’m writing this to hopefully help anyone who is having trouble with their BAR .
I have a 1970 Browning BAR in 30-06 that would not cycle more than two rounds and would not shoot less than a 5 inch group. I did extensive research, talked to friends that owned them, and did some trial and error to eventually end up with one of the best rifles I own.
When I first bought my BAR I could not get it to cycle more than two shots in a row. The cases would “stovepipe” after the first or second shot without fail. I disassembled the rifle with help from a YouTube video titled “Browning BAR Assembly & Disassembly” (link at bottom). I replaced the buffer pad, recoil spring, and ejector spring, still it did not cycle. I cleaned the gas system and lubed all of the associated parts other than the gas piston (to prevent sticking). I removed the carbon deposits from the gas port using a #55 drill bit rotated by hand, it was the only thing that worked. I used the same drill bit for the gas regulator, I’m not sure that it would work for all models as some of the regulator holes are smaller or larger. After all of that it still would not cycle.
I was about to give up when I stumbled across an article about the scope ring tightening knob hitting the shells and knocking them back into the breach, and the scope base screws protruding into the breach contacting the bolt. I ground down the scope ring knob and base screws until they were flush with the chamber. I went out and test fired the rifle and with a sense of accomplishment, the BAR functioned flawlessly. I shot a few groups to sight in the rifle and discovered it would only shoot 5+/- inch groups. I was so disappointed that I left the BAR in the back of my safe for almost a year.
Eventually I decided to resurrect my old rifle and see if anything could be done. I free floated the forearm stock (or as close as you can get with a BAR), and found out the forearm screw must be tightened to roughly 55lbs. I sanded down the forearm stock until about 1/8 of an inch separated the barrel from the stock. My torque wrench wouldn’t fit the forearm screw on the BAR so I went old school on my tactics. I tightened the screw until I thought it held the stock securely then shot a 3 round group. The group was about 5 inches. After that I tightened the screw about 1/8 of a turn and shot a 3 round group, 1/8 of a turn 3 round group, 1/8 of a turn 3 round group and so on until I got to a 1.25” group at 100 yards. I called it good at that, although I think I could have done better. Now it is one of my favorite rifles.
I hope this helps anyone out there, and that anyone with similar dilemmas can comment on this with their own experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afvhm_Gvhew
I have a 1970 Browning BAR in 30-06 that would not cycle more than two rounds and would not shoot less than a 5 inch group. I did extensive research, talked to friends that owned them, and did some trial and error to eventually end up with one of the best rifles I own.
When I first bought my BAR I could not get it to cycle more than two shots in a row. The cases would “stovepipe” after the first or second shot without fail. I disassembled the rifle with help from a YouTube video titled “Browning BAR Assembly & Disassembly” (link at bottom). I replaced the buffer pad, recoil spring, and ejector spring, still it did not cycle. I cleaned the gas system and lubed all of the associated parts other than the gas piston (to prevent sticking). I removed the carbon deposits from the gas port using a #55 drill bit rotated by hand, it was the only thing that worked. I used the same drill bit for the gas regulator, I’m not sure that it would work for all models as some of the regulator holes are smaller or larger. After all of that it still would not cycle.
I was about to give up when I stumbled across an article about the scope ring tightening knob hitting the shells and knocking them back into the breach, and the scope base screws protruding into the breach contacting the bolt. I ground down the scope ring knob and base screws until they were flush with the chamber. I went out and test fired the rifle and with a sense of accomplishment, the BAR functioned flawlessly. I shot a few groups to sight in the rifle and discovered it would only shoot 5+/- inch groups. I was so disappointed that I left the BAR in the back of my safe for almost a year.
Eventually I decided to resurrect my old rifle and see if anything could be done. I free floated the forearm stock (or as close as you can get with a BAR), and found out the forearm screw must be tightened to roughly 55lbs. I sanded down the forearm stock until about 1/8 of an inch separated the barrel from the stock. My torque wrench wouldn’t fit the forearm screw on the BAR so I went old school on my tactics. I tightened the screw until I thought it held the stock securely then shot a 3 round group. The group was about 5 inches. After that I tightened the screw about 1/8 of a turn and shot a 3 round group, 1/8 of a turn 3 round group, 1/8 of a turn 3 round group and so on until I got to a 1.25” group at 100 yards. I called it good at that, although I think I could have done better. Now it is one of my favorite rifles.
I hope this helps anyone out there, and that anyone with similar dilemmas can comment on this with their own experience.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afvhm_Gvhew