[makitaman60]

Purchased a BAR longtrac in 7 mm rem. Bought VX3 scope. Cant get it to group at all. Is tbeir any problems out their with this gun? Yes the mounts are tight and torqued,tried winchester, Hornady, and Remington. Nothing will group better than 6 to 8 ". Thats in a vice, sandbags, anyway you want to shoot. At 100 yrds the group is a little better not much. 200 yrds is where I need the zero for this rifle. Tried scope on another rifle no problems which was also a 7 mm. I'm beginning to believe the aluminum reciever is not stable. Any ideas, suggestions are more than welcome beautiful rifle, may soon trade in and grab a Sako, I've just always wanted a BAR thinking different now. Thanks

 

[hillestadj]

Check the crown look for burrs, dings, anything out of the usual. Is the rifle new or used? If used it could be an extreme case of copper fouling. What bullet weight are you using? Have you tried different bullet weights or just one weight in several different brands.

If all those suggestions still lead you to believe its something else then take it to a gunsmith with a bore scope for some definitive answers. Problem lies with the barrel, not the aluminum reciever--its more than adequate.

 

[fritz1]

That gun should be a shooter, something is deffinitely wrong. I have a older Belgium made BAR in 30-06 and it will shoot groups as good as most of my bolt guns. I love that rifle and would not take anything for it.

 

[dmsbandit]

Who says the gun is the problem? Maybe the shooter is the problem. have someone else shoot the gun and see what they get. Sounds like someone may be flinching due to recoil, noise, muzzle blast, etc.

 

[hillestadj]

Who says the gun is the problem? Maybe the shooter is the problem. have someone else shoot the gun and see what they get. Sounds like someone may be flinching due to recoil, noise, muzzle blast, etc.

I was trying to be a little more diplomatic with my answer, the same thought ran through my mind,lol.

I dont think he cares much anyway since he doesn't seem to have come back to the thread. Just popped in long enough to piss and moan.

 

[dmsbandit]

I just find it funny that so many people are so quick to blame the gun and not consider themselves as the problem. I have NEVER had a gun shoot that bad, and I've shot alot of guns, and own alot too. Any gun made will generally outshoot the owner, so if I have a gun giving bad groups I look to the ammo, or me.

 

[makitaman60]

Im back to piss and moan. The gun is in a vice. Its not moviing. The only way to get it to group is take the scope out of the picture. See if the rifle will group straight out of the barrel. Yes it does, now look thru the scope and put a mark where the crosshairs are on the target just like in the military. Now fire the rifle again look and see where the crosshairs are now they have moved over 2". Remember the rifle has not been moved neither have the scope adjustments. Now you think the scope must not be secure well it is and the scope shoots great on my weatherby 7 mag. I have since did some sear hing and their are others with this problem at least 2 other cases mine makes 3. Their all the same model rifle diffrent calibers. The reciever is all that's left that can be changing with each shot, which the scope is mounted too. Maybe the smaller calibers are not shifting but I for sure this magnum is. Please don't think I just went and bought my first gun yesterday and it doesn't shoot straight Im not the only one their in fact their were 7 people their really more but with a little sense only 7. Forgive my spelling I'm in a little bit of turbulence this morning not real crazy about small planes.

 

[smokinfz1]

you say that the only way to get the rifle to group is to take the scope out of the equation. How are you doing this because that rifle didn't come with iron sites? If your saying that your leaving it clamped and shooting five rounds trusting the rifle has not moved and its grouping then the rifle is fine. If when you have the scope mounted and rifle clamped then each time you fire it you look through the scope and readjust the rifle to make the crosshair center your target again then fire it again and your shooting horrible groups then the issue is with the scope or the mounting hardware.

A test you have already performed I think your just not reading the problem correctly. The rifle groups good without the scope, why? If the receiver was moving like you think it is, the rifle should shoot bad groups with or without the scope period. I am assuming your clamping on the stock.

mount the scope back on the rifle, put the crosshairs where you want on the target, fire a round and peer through the scope, don't make an adjustment, if the crosshairs are off the original point of aim so be it, fire a second round look again without making any adjustments continue with all five rounds. If it groups well and your point of aim is changing each time the issue is in the optics somewhere.

 

[big dan]

is it possible that you have a base screw that is projecting thru too far and touching the bolt? it about has to be something like that...

 

[2Bits]

There are far to many things that can be causing your problems with your Bar! I will only tell you that I have in the past owned 4 Browning Bars in the .270 cal, 30-06 cal. 25-06 cal and the .338 Win mag cal. All of these rifles shot under 1.5 inches at 100 yards off the bench. The .270 shot .685 with factory Federal 130 grain ammo!

You may need to send that rifle to the Browning company and let them look at this rifle of yours. It will be cheaper than most gunsmiths and Browning knows their products far better than most.

 

[smokinfz1]

I sure hope the OP comes back and lets us know how it turns out. I would like to have a BAR and if their is an issue i sure would like to know what it is beforehand.

 

[makitaman60]

Smokinfz1, I think you misunderstanding.Lock the gun down where you know it will hit the paper even if its a 4 X 8 sheet dosent matter leave the gun in place and go move the target over or whatever it takes so it hits,use no sights on the gun yet. The rifle groups like I said not perfect,because of some seating in the vice and it being a magnum load.Never use the scope for a reference till after the shots are fired.Now fire the rifle using the scope,make no adjustments.Mark each shot where the crosshairs are on the paper with a pencil not the bullet hole.Remember the gun has never been moved.Before second shot mark where crosshairs are on the paper.Fire again, rifle is still grouping just like before you used the scope,but mark where the crosshairs are on the target with a pencil again.Repeat this again,the pencil marks are not grouping understand. Its hard to explain till you see it done,think of it like this, if you could shoot your rifle from your hip,and put your rifle in the exact location everytime when you fire,would it matter if it had a scope or sights. The bullet has a flight path from where the gun is fired regardless,same exact location same path.Hope I didn't screw it up explaining it,or you will be really lost. This technique is great for suspecting crown or other barrel problems.You have to allow some error like I said due to the gun seating in the vice,but you can tell if their is a problem. I got a guy that wants to try something at the range gonna try and go next week,he thinks the reciever is moving too. Thanks guys,if anybody has any suggestions let me hear'em. I kinda want to know whats going on,could just tade it and move on,but it would leave me wondering and give someone else my problem which I hate to do.

 

[smokinfz1]

what I'm apparently misreading is that you typed that the rifle groups without the scope. I read that to mean you were happy with the group size without the scope. Your saying that even with the rifle clamped the best group size is 6-8"?

 

[dmsbandit]

You should have just bought a good bolt action if you wanted a 7 mag. You would be money ahead and not had all these issues.

There is something that just doesn't fit when you think of a magnum and a semi-auto. Semi-autos are usually chosen for a quick follow up shot, and not many magnums need a quick follow up shot.

 

[slim 60]

i used to shoot my guns while they were in a vice..i decided it just ask too much of the scope or any attached hardware as it seems a little give would be necessary..exception the 22 rifle an such..

 

[Goatwhiskers]

Could try tightening the buttstock. Eliminate all variables. Just saying. Goatwhiskers

 

[makitaman60]

You are correct dsbandit. Not sure if I'll trade this BAR in just yet, I want to know the problem. Got a 7 mag weatherby that will drive tacks with custom loads, factory ammo aint bad either, especially with Hornady.Think I'll put one of my extra scopes on the Bar and play with it a while. Gotta guy close by that thinks he can fix it said he seen this before, sounds pretty knowledgeable. Beautiful rifle hate to get rid of it. Its the new BAR Longtrac in Mossy Oak Break up.Browning only had 4 in stock when I ordered it not sure how many are out their may be a issue on all of them or just 1 in a 100 but when you cant talk to nobody at Browning youll never know.Have to wait and see,