Originally Posted by hometheaterman (Post 3661047)

I'm interested to see for this thread as I'm trying to work up some loads for a BAR in 30-06. I've got a few loaded to try, but haven't gotten to the range to try them yet.

Originally Posted by steve4102 (Post 3662958)

Winchester uses Supreme 780 in their factory Supreme line of ammo. Supreme 780 has a burn rate slower than H 4831 and a bit faster than R-22, that's plenty slow for the 06. Nowhere does Winchester warn against their Supreme ammo in a Browning BAR.

Load whatever powder works best for you and your rifle.

Originally Posted by bigcountry (Post 3660984)

Getting ready to work up a load for a BAR. I know stalkingbear(neil) always warned about using slow burners in a 7400 and said he saw damage to the bolt rails after time.

Anyone ever have damage using 4831sc or other slow burners in a BAR?

I can't imagine I would. I mean its made for factory loads. And most factory loads use medium to slower burning powders for speed.

Originally Posted by Vapodog (Post 3663231)

Before we get to my post let me qualify.....I really do not have experience with reloading for the BAR....so now my opinion.....and that's all....an opinion!

It's been well documented that the Military Garand should be loaded with H-4895 as that's what the original powder was for that rifle. It is said that a faster burning powder has less pressure at the gas bleed off valve.....hot loads with slower powders have been believed to damage the Garand rifles!

If one looks at Hornady's reloading handbook he notices that loads for the .30-06 are different somewhat from loads specifically stated for the Garand! Hornady has separate load data for the M-1 Garand!

No where in any of their data does it say that the loads for the .30-06 should not be used in the autos.....especially the autos that are also chambered for the .270!!!!! but Hornady specifically labels the Garand separately!

I know folks that are reluctant to load to 60,000+ PSI in the .30-06 chambered in their Remington pumps.....but they reload the .270 in that same rifle very hot!!!....and it makes no sense to me at all.....

I was once asked if one can shoot light magnums in the Rem pump .30-06....my reply...Absolutely.....it's still to SAAMI specs.....and the pump holds a cartridge way over the .30-06 in load data!....and IIRC Hornady does not recommend against it's use in the Remington auto!.....here's the real issue.....if it's true that light magnums are acceptable in the Remington (and Browning) autos.....then you should be able to load H-4831 and slower powders in those guns as well.....

Light magnums are not higher pressure.....they mere;y hold the pressure longer....

take it from there.

If I owned a BAR, I'd load it like a bolt rifle!

Originally Posted by bigcountry (Post 3663240)

Ok, let me try to explain my question differently, to cut down on the confusion. Who here loads for a BAR and specifically 30-06? If you don't, move to the next thread.

I have every manual too. But trusted gunsmiths on this site, has warned about the gas system in a 7400. Sure, hornady does not warn about 7400, but I trust this gunsmith and so does many on here.

Luckily I was able to email stalkingbear and he aswered the question. I don't mean to sound rude, but if one does not have experience in something, they are just guessing. Possibly educated guesses, but still guesses. So I appoligize in advance for sounding like I don't want to hear the guesses.

Originally Posted by steve4102 (Post 3669292)

YES, I do have experience loading the BAR. I load for 30-06, 338 Win Mag and 300WSM BAR Safari and a 300WSM ShortTrac.



Maybe if you lost the attitude you could learn something. Winchester uses Supreme 780(it's a powder) in their factory Supreme Ammunition. Supreme 780 (it's a powder) has a very slow burn rate compared to most other powders recommended for the 30-06, down there with R-22 (it's a powder as well). Nowhere does Winchester guard against the use of their Supreme Ammo(slow powder) in any semi-auto let alone the BAR.

Now you tell me, what the hell does SAAMI chamber pressure specs have to do with Burn rate and "Port" pressure? Answer, NOTHING! If you know so much about handloading you would know that port pressure and chamber pressure are mutually exclusive. It is possible to have high chamber pressure and low port pressure and vise-verse.

Now I will take your ORDERS and move on, ASS FACE.

Originally Posted by Ridge Runner (Post 3669678)

Big, very little BAR experience but want to add this.
Rem. auto's unlock with recoil and then cycle by gas, BAR's are gas operated.
Now ya load with slow powders in a 7400, the recoil is too slow to unlock the bolt before the bullet passes the gas port so it ends up trying to jerk a locked bolt open, I busted a bolt carrier in a 742 shooting 4350 and 75 gr HP's (243 win.)
The absolute only problems I have ever heard of about reloading for a BAR is that brownings are notorious for having tight chambers so ya may need small based dies.
RR

Originally Posted by Chester Co. Deer Hunter (Post 3672113)

I have been reloading for my .30-06 BAR since around 1983. I have loaded lots of rounds of Hornady 150 gr. SP bullets with 57 gr. of IMR 4350 and for the 165 gr. loads I use 56 gr. of IMR 4350. The 150 gr. bullets travel at around 2,830 FPS and the 165 gr. loads at 2,770 FPS. As long as you tear your gun down periodically and clean the gas piston and system you almost never ever experience a jam. Take your slide bars out and lighty lubricate them and you are good to go. My gun was made in 1977 and I bought it used around 1980 for $200.00 from a friend who was choosing to quit deer hunting. It had less than one box of shlls shot in it when I bought it and had never even had a scope mounted on it. That was by far the smartest and best gun purchase I have ever made. That gun is a killing machine and I have taken tons of whitetails with it.