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

hometheaterman · 11-10-2009, 07:40 PM

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.

srwshooter · 11-11-2009, 03:25 AM

i have a friend that has one of these rifles in 30.06 ,its a high grade BAR. you'd be lucky to hit a basketball with his at a 100 yds. i've been trying to get him to ship it back to browning,but i think he just likes a pretty gun,whether it shoots well or not.

semi · 11-11-2009, 04:37 AM

i would say you can hunt with this gun NO worries. Take a look at any of those holes. they are all within a kill zone. I have a gun that shoots a tad worse than that. i use it, and got a deer last year.

Camosteel · 11-11-2009, 05:21 AM

Sounds to me you have more of a scope problem than a gun problem at this point. If your scope can not repeat adjustments or the crosshairs don't move when you tell them to something is wrong. You could hunt with it but I like to have total confidence in my equipment while hunting, not sitting there worrying weither or not I can hit what I'm aiming at if/when the opportunity presents itself.

Swampdog · 11-11-2009, 05:27 AM

While I am no expert.It sounds like you might have some issues with the internal adjustments of your scope.Take it for what it is worth .I would start from the beginning..

1) Check all mounting hardware,base, rings screws, levelness,just to make sure nothing has worked it's way loose.

2) Check your M.O.A. adjustment.Some are 1/4" @100,Some are 1/2 @100,Some are 1/8 @100

3 ) Set scope accordingly calibrate your adjustment dial to 0 when you get it as close as you can.This will help if you should have to adjust in the field to get exactly how many clicks you need(This is a whole nother ball game of the scope dealings ,must know quite alot about trajectory and ballistics for this kind of adjustments).

4) if you are shooting 4" low @100 and you scope has 1/4 " moa adjustment turn the adjustment EXACTLY 16 clicks.When you do this take a screw driver handle or plastic mallet ( or what ever you have handy)and tap the top of the turrent ever so lightly to make sure the adjustment took .This should raise you exactly 4".If not you might have a problem with the scope.

5) Be sure you use the same ammo during all sight in sessions.when sighting in for business.After you get it where you want it shoot some other stuff so you can tell what is close if you cant get anymore of your sight in food.

Another possibility that I just thought of .Is/was this a new or used scope ,What brand is it?There is the possibility that if it is a used scope enough people have twisted on it ,that it may have ran out of adjustment.If you have time and the patience adjust the scope all the way right or left then go all of the way to the other side until you run out.BE SURE TO COUNT THE CLICKS.Adjust until you get back to center on your clicks.ie: if it takes 150 clicks to go from lock to lock adjust it 75 that should put you back at the center of your adjustment .Repeat process with the vertical adjustment.At least you will have the feeling that you are in the right ballpark.....LOL.If all of this does not work you may need a new scope .I always turn my scopes to center them even if they are factory new.I guess I am just anal about stuff like this.As long as it gives me piece of mind who cares ,right?Like I said this is just some of the things that I have ended up doing over the years, They might help or they might not.Never hurts to try .Hope I could help.There are many on here that are much more knowledgeable than me and can give you better information.Good luck with the Brownie.........Swamp

halfbakedi420 · 11-11-2009, 06:18 AM

sounds like a scope problem to me, i had a bsa deerhunter scope that did this exact thing to me a few years ago..what a pain in the a$$!!!jus get a different scope..i gotta burris blak diamon and everything is A-OK now

gl

hometheaterman · 11-11-2009, 06:28 AM

It's not the scope I'm 99% sure. The reason I say this is I've had different scopes on this gun and all have had this problem. The first was a Leupold VX-I and now this one is a Burris Fullfield II. If I sat the rifle on the sandbags so it was stead and turned the adjustment on the scope I could see the crosshairs move up or down whichever way I was turning the knob just like they should. It just seemed like I'd move them then shot and the POI wouldn't change much but I know the crosshairs on the scope moved as I watched them move while turning the dial.

I've never had a rifle that's as weird as this but for some reason it's always been weird. I spent a ton of ammo last year trying to figure it out as well as a new scope and making sure the rings and mounts were all tight.

Since I shot 5 shots close to the bullseye do you guys think it's safe to go hunt with it or should I shoot it again just to make sure?

Camosteel · 11-11-2009, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hometheaterman

It's not the scope I'm 99% sure. The reason I say this is I've had different scopes on this gun and all have had this problem. The first was a Leupold VX-I and now this one is a Burris Fullfield II. If I sat the rifle on the sandbags so it was stead and turned the adjustment on the scope I could see the crosshairs move up or down whichever way I was turning the knob just like they should. It just seemed like I'd move them then shot and the POI wouldn't change much but I know the crosshairs on the scope moved as I watched them move while turning the dial.

I've never had a rifle that's as weird as this but for some reason it's always been weird. I spent a ton of ammo last year trying to figure it out as well as a new scope and making sure the rings and mounts were all tight.

Since I shot 5 shots close to the bullseye do you guys think it's safe to go hunt with it or should I shoot it again just to make sure?

That's ahead scratcher. If it were me I would definately shoot it again before hunting with it. These problems are very frustrating indeed. Dumb question, is this a new rifle? If not you may want to look at making sure it does not have a bunch of cooper fauling built up in the bore. Good luck.

halfbakedi420 · 11-11-2009, 06:38 AM

shoot it again, but this time put your hand between the bags and your rifle and hold on to it from the forestock...i have experienced this with a friends rifle, and as long as we were holdin it from the forestock , not just lettin it lie on the bags with our hand on top of the chamber area or barrel, it did exceptionaly better....im thinkin we were changin the moa by puttin our hand on the top of the chamber or barrel...changin the vibration(moa) gl

hometheaterman · 11-11-2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Camosteel

That's ahead scratcher. If it were me I would definately shoot it again before hunting with it. These problems are very frustrating indeed. Dumb question, is this a new rifle? If not you may want to look at making sure it does not have a bunch of cooper fauling built up in the bore. Good luck.

Not a new rifle. It was made in 1990. It doesn't have any copper fouling I've seen. I use wipe out brushless bore cleaner and it gets a lot of copper out every time I clean it after shooting it but I clean until the barrel looks perfect.