So I think I shot my best group with my Browning BAR tonight.

[hometheaterman]

So as many of you probably remember I've had accuracy problems with my BAR in 30-06. I've found my best groups are usually from Federal Fusions. However, the Federal soft points have a slightly larger group in most cases but also cost quite a bit more.

Anyway, I went shooting it some today to make sure it's still close for rifle season.

This is how it shot when I put it up with Federal 150 grain soft points


As you can see not that great.

So I shot it today with the Federal soft points again. The first shot was the green one. Not sure what happened maybe I pulled. The next 3 were the other ones that were lower. They seem to be right around 1". This is my best group I've had so far that I can remember at 100 yards. I've had better at 50 but never 100.


Overall, I was pretty happy. I ended up shooting a 4th one later that hit right there with those 3. Then a 5th hit lower but I think I pulled.

For some reason since I was shooting low I decided I needed to adjust the scope up. I did and it didn't move up so I turned it a few more clicks. It hit the bulls eye area twice then the next 4 shots or so never even hit the target. I finally figured out was hitting right at the top of the target. I mean the very top. I adjusted the scope down while watching the crosshairs come down quite a bit. I shot and it didn't seem to have moved at all as I still hit the top of the target.

After adjusting the scope some this is the group I got.


As you can see it sucks.

Anyway, since after adjusting it downward quite a bit and seeing the crosshairs move while I adjusted it I shot again and it still hit the top of the target. I can't figure out what the deal is here. So I turned it down quite a bit more. Similar to around how it was at first maybe even set for it to be slightly lower. I shot 5 more shots and this is how it hit.



I'm not sure if it was me or the gun on those two spread out there. Since I shot 5 all around there should I not worry about it and hunt with it? It just worried me when I adjusted it before and shot two that were fine then after that they started not even hitting the target.

Since all 5 were close should I leave it how it is? BTW I ran a few patches down the barrel with Wipe Out bore cleaner before the last 5 shots.

What do you think of my first group? I thought for this gun it was pretty great just a little low.

 

[Avenger29]

Like to know the info on your scope.

I've had cheap scopes give me a load of trouble.

And remember- it's a hunting rifle. Don't expect too much from it. The first groop looked pretty fine to me.

BARs generally have a good rep for accuracy, but they aren't precision rifles by far.

 

[hometheaterman]

The scopes is a Burris Fullfield II 3x9x40mm. It previously wore a Leupold VX-I in the same size that gave me trouble so I switched to this one.

I was was plenty happy with the first group and also plenty happy with the last group as it is a hunting rifle. I just hope it keeps shooting like in the last group. Just seemed weird how I'd move the scope and it wouldn't act like it would move the POI even though I could see it clearly moved the crosshairs quite a bit. Then in a few shots the rifle would start shooting way off. I've always had that issue with this rifle. I don't know why.

 

[Avenger29]

I was was plenty happy with the first group and also plenty happy with the last group as it is a hunting rifle. I just hope it keeps shooting like in the last group. Just seemed weird how I'd move the scope and it wouldn't act like it would move the POI even though I could see it clearly moved the crosshairs quite a bit. Then in a few shots the rifle would start shooting way off. I've always had that issue with this rifle. I don't know why.

Does this gun have irons that you could verify with it? That really sounds like the scope to me.

Maybe you just have extremely bad luck with scopes or their is a loose mounting component...I've never had luck with scopes, but am about to try them again.

 

[hometheaterman]

Nope it doesn't have iron sights. The mounts and rings seem tight and have tried more than one scope always with this issue. Seems like once you get it zeroed in it stays there. Just hard to get it zeroed in for some reason.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

That higher first shot may be your rifles "cold bore" or "clean bore" point of impact. You might shoot a few more groups to confirm this. If that's the case, split the difference between the two and you should be good to go. BAR's will shift impact a bit as they warm up, that's what I've experienced.

I had a running target once for a BAR 338 win mag. Something like 50 to 55 rds shot. The group size was a solid 3 inches at 100 yds. With was fine with me.