FN PBR Owners?

[geojap]

I just bought an FN PBR XP with a 20" fluted barrel from Buds Gun Shop. I searched all over the internet researching this rifle, and finally chose it over a Remington 700 and CZ 550 6.5x55. I'm planning on putting a Super Sniper 10x42 scope and Harris Bipod on it. I'll be using it to shoot from 100-300 yards at paper, and out to 600 yards or so if I can find a good shooting spot. I may have to head to some public land in west Texas to find a clear 600 yard shooting lane.

I'm planning on starting this rifle out on a diet of South African surplus and the Lithuanian .308 that just came into the country. I may start to reload, just for this rifle.

Is there anything I should look out for on this rifle? What slings do you like for it? Are there any odd replacement parts that you recommend (besides the firing pin, extractor and springs), and are they easy to come by? What scope did you choose? Any other recommendations? Thanks much.

 

[chauncey]

I am not very familiar with this weapons platform, but if you are looking for long-range accuracy I believe you will have to do better than military surplus ammunition. the brands you list, in my experience, are not noted for their accuracy.

I would instead suggest you use high-quality commercial rounds such as Hornady, or surplus 7.62x51 sniper rounds manufactured by Lake City, if you want to capitalize on your investment and the accuracy it is capable of attaining.

 

[geojap]

I would instead suggest you use high-quality commercial rounds such as Hornady, or surplus 7.62x51 sniper rounds manufactured by Lake City, if you want to capitalize on your investment and the accuracy it is capable of attaining.

Yes, definitely. I've always been a mil-surp ammo shooter, so I'll have to step up and buy some nicer ammo for this rifle. Thanks for the recommendations. Like I said, this rifle is probably what will get me to start reloading.

 

[USSR]

geojap,

I've got the PBR's big brother, the SPR. As previously mentioned, you will not get out of the rifle the accuracy that the rifle is capable of with cheap ammo. Get yourself some Federal Gold Medal Match and you should see some sub-1MOA groups at 100 yards. Judicious handloads can bring some sub-.5MOA groups at 100 yards, and save you some $$$ besides.

Don

 

[TIMC]

I have had my PBR rifle for several years.

Never had a sling on mine just the Harris bipod. Mine is in .308 with 20" medium heavy barrel and topped with a Leupold VXIII 4.5-15x50mm, the action is a winchester mod 70 type action so it is a tried and true reliable action. Spare parts are readlily available but I wouldn't worry about stocking up on any, I think I have had mine 6-7 years now and had no trouble with it. They are nice to shoot, I run reloads through mine and it is a tack driver with 125 grain bullets.

Enjoy you have yourself a nice rifle.

 

[Myles]

Nice rifle, I've been curious how well they perform.

As an aside, I couldn't resist making this when I got the first mental image.

 

[geojap]

Well, I got the rifle and put an IOR Valdada 2.5x10-42mm scope on it. I thought I would post some pics. They are large, so you will optimally need your monitor to be at 1600x1200 resolution to view them. After handling this rifle, I'm really impressed with it. It feels like it is very well made. I know it weighs 9 pounds without the scope, but even with the bipod and scope installed, it doesn't feel very heavy. It actually is very handy, especially with the 20" barrel. It actually feels lighter and points better than my Sig 556. It is one of the best pointing rifles that I own, along with my Springfield 1903A3 and M1 Garand. The scope feels very solid (it's a milled steel 30mm tube) and has really nice glass. I really like the mil-system reticle. It uses mil-lines, not mil-dots.

http://www.codemonkeyx.com/images/fnpbr1.jpg
http://www.codemonkeyx.com/images/fnpbr2.jpg
http://www.codemonkeyx.com/images/fnpbr3.jpg

I have a question, what sling have you found works well on this type of rifle? I use a Blue Force Gear - Vicker's Combat Applications sling on my carbines and I think its fantastic. I haven't found a really well-functioning sling for bolt action rifles like this yet.

I'll hopefully get this printed on paper tomorrow and I'll post some range pics then.

 

[Quack]

just picked up a PBR today. was looking for another 308 bolt this weekend at a gunshow, but decided to wait. i stopped by a gun shop on the way home from a job, and found a used PBR with Burris Fullfield II & Harris bi-pod on the rack. looks like a low round count because there is little/no wear on the bolt and it very clean. the whole package is less than the rifle alone at the gunshow. well here she is...