BAR action vs bolt for accuracy

[Dave816]

considering selling my belgium made BAR in 30-06, because of a perceived lack of accuracy(on my part) vs a bolt action, like a rem 700 bdl or ruger m77 mk2, mostly worried for ELK hunting in COL where distances could be 200-300 yds. everyone tells me bolts are better.
Just don't seem confident with that BAR that far. Maybe I need more practice...different cartridge? been using ballistic silvertips 180gr
any opinions?

 

[rbernie]

I've known folks that had BARs that were plenty accurate. Each rifle tends to have an ammo preference - try shooting different brands/types of ammo to find the load that your rifle likes best before getting rid of it.

 

[NYHunter]

I had 2 BAR's, an '06 & .300 Mag. both shot very well. I just picked up a new synthetic stocked BAR carbine in .308 which I have not shot yet. Semi-auto's can be just as accurate as bolt actions. You just have to spend the time, and $$, to find what load your rifle likes best. I've been lucky with not having to look beyond Federal or Remington. Both brands shoot well in all my rifles and they're easy to find especially if you're hunting away from your local area.

Once you find a load, suitable for Elk, that your rifle likes your comfort level should increase. Then it's a matter of practice. When you can consistantly put all your shots into a pie plate sized target at 200-250 yds., you're ready to go Elk hunting. Chances are you won't shoot much beyond that distance. I've only hunted Elk once. This is just some of the advise I was given when I was preparing for my trip.

IMO...you have a good rifle in a good all around caliber, don't give up on it so soon.
Good luck. NYHunter

 

[robctwo]

I have two BAR Stalkers, .308 w/o Boss & 300 WSM with Boss. The 300 can be tuned to shoot tighter groups off the bench than the .308 or any of my bolt guns.

The real difference to me is the follow up shots with the BAR and I'm pretty quick with both my 243 & 270 Win Mod 70 Featherweights. Not as quick as the BARs by about a deer or three.....

 

[browningguy]

I hunt with BAR's in .270 and '06, and for me they are plenty accurate for hunting, both are 1.25"-1.5" guns. I enjoy mine and recommend them.

But lets be honest, it's much easier to get a bolt action shooting well, if we compare similar quality levels in both semi and bolt. The Boss system does seem to change the equation a bit, but even then I would expect to tune a Boss equipped bolt gun more accurately than a BAR. It's mostly physics, all that mass moving to and fro has an effect, even though it may be small.

If you find a load your gun likes it will definately be up to the task. But this might provide be a good excuse to buy another rifle.

 

[Dave816]

when the NRA show was here this spring, I spent some time with the ballistics reps at several booths. while they didnt come out and say that a .300 is better than my 30-06. they pointed out that with the big game hunting out west, that in the wind the .300 faired better. now I agree, but I already own the 06 and its a good older BAR, guess I need to follow some advice here and get a couple different kinds of ammo and start shooting.
If I was in the market for a new rifle with some xtra $$, then I prob would go and get a .300

 

[Professor Gun]

For years I hunted with Browning bolt action rifles and envied the quick follow up shots offered by semi-autos, but the common wisdom was always that semi-autos could never be as accurate as bolt guns. I finally got a Browning Lightweight Stalker BAR in 7mm Mag and was amazed at it's accuracy. I ended up with some of the same rifle in .270 for my sons to hunt deer and they are equally accurate. We tried a lot of different loads and bullets with the worst giving us 2" groups at 100 yards and the best giving us 3/8 to 1/2" groups at 100 yards (three shots). They are just as accurate as my Browning bolt action guns.

 

[Smith357]

I had a .30-06 BAR MKII with the BOSS thingy, topped with a Redfield 6x and a custom .200 grain partition bullet I got sub MOA 3 shot groups from a rest.

 

[ArmedBear]

A bolt action can be made more accurate. A bolt action will give you better accuracy for less money: it's a simpler design with no parts that move when you fire it.

However, we're not talking about accuracy that MATTERS in a .30-06 hunting rifle, especially on elk at 200-300 yards. The BAR can shoot better than a human can in the field, and for elk hunting, it doesn't matter a whit whether your groups are 2" or 3"!

If you are talking about PRACTICAL accuracy, in a hunting scenario, with a gun of reasonable weight and with good balance, you won't be giving up anything if you trade the boltie for the BAR, except an extra wad of cash. In return, you get a really nice autoloader if that's what you want/need.

 

[CB900F]

Dave;

I've lived & hunted here in Montana & Wyoming most of my life. That hunting stuff started in the early 1960's. If you have a Belgium BAR, keep it. It's highly likely that if you get serious about learning the gun & work with it, it'll reward you with outstanding accuracy. It probably won't win any bench competitions, but it'll certainly do for elk at 300 yards.

The .30-06 is entirely capable of cleanly taking elk at 300 yards, given proper shot placement. An ideal boiler room shot on a broadside elk is a target area approximately the size of a normal picnic type paper plate. If your gun will hit the plate at 300, I'd say your worries are groundless. If you get into reloading, & tuning both the gun & load, shooting a paper plate at 300 is going to seem like child's play. Another good 300 yard target is the 1 gallon milk jug full of water. For all practical purposes it's the same area & more fun when you get hits. It's just more of a PITA to have to keep running out 300 yards at the range & putting out more jugs.

900F

 

[Dave816]

Thank You all for your always insightful comments, this is some of the most valueable info I could ever hope to have regarding this so called "dilema" I have. If I go to the any of the local gun shops here, they all want to just sell you something. A few are willing to chat, but overall, I can't ever get this kind of info anywhere else in the world.
TY again, and I think I will keep it and learn it. I have already done the same with my .44 PRE-BAN S & W
that I use for whitetail here......