Browning BAR SEMI-AUTOMATIC HIGH POWER RIFLE User Manual

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Browning Model

Serial Number

Caliber

Purchase Price

Purchased From

Date of Purchase

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Printed in USA • PP890 73.5

We

are pleased that

Browning BAR Rifle.

you

have chosen

a

In its manufacture, we
have endeavored to incorporate the very finest
in materials and craftsmanship, and with just
reasonable care, this gun should provide you
with many years
service. Please

if

you have any observations regarding its

of

pleasure and dependable

feel

free to write

us

immediately

performance and operation.

Also

please take a moment to complete and
mail in the brief attached marketing survey card
found on our back cover. It helps

us

considerably in our constant effort to provide

you with better service.
Thank you.

1

Please let us remind you that, as a gun owner,
you accept a set of responsibilities of the most
demanding nature. Firearms are, and should
always be considered as, dangerous products and
should be handled accordingly.

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE
FOLLOWING PROPER HANDLING AND
INSTRUCTION PROCEDURES OUTLINED
BELOW IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE USING

YOUR NEW FIREARM.

OF

ALWAYS KEEP THE MUZZLE
FIREARM POINTED IN A SAFE
DIRECTION

the rifle

even though you are certain

is

unloaded. Never point any

YOUR

firearm at anything you do not intend to
shoot. Be extremely alert and aware of all
persons and property within the range

of

your ammunition.

DO NOT RELY TOTALLY ON YOUR
FIREARM’S MECHANICAL ‘SAFETY’’
DEVICES.
MEASURE ALWAYS ASSUME THAT A
GUN CAN BE FIRED WITH A SAFETY
ON.

AS

AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY

The word “safety” describes a gun’s

2

blocking or disengaging mechanism for the
trigger, sear, hammer and/or firing pin.
Although mechanical devices place your
gun in a SAFER status, no guarantee can
be made that the gun will not fire even
the “safety” is in the “on safe” position.
Safe gun handling does not stop with your
gun’s mechanical “safety” devices. It starts
there. Always treat your firearm with the
respect due a loaded, ready

-to-

fire gun.

if

WHENEVER
OR HAND IT To SOMEONE, ALWAYS
OPEN THE ACTION IMMEDIATELY,

YOU

HANDLE A FIREARM,

and
visually check the chamber, receiver and
magazine to be certain they do not contain
any ammunition.

DO NOT TRANSPORT YOUR FIREARM
LOADED, WHETHER IN A SCABBARD,
GUN CASE, OR OTHER CONTAINER.

HUNTING FROM ELEVATED SURFACES
SUCH

AS

TREE STANDS

DANGEROUS

and may increase the risk of

IS

handling a firearm. The following rules
should always be observed by you and
those you hunt with: Always make certain
that the stand being used

is

safe and
stable. Always make certain that your
firearm is unloaded when it is being taken

3

up and down from the stand. Always make
certain that your firearm

is

not dropped
from the stand, or dropped while it is
being taken up or down from the stand.
Remember, a loaded firearm may discharge
when dropped, even with the safety on.

4

BEWARE

OF

BARREL OBSTRUCTIONS

for the safety of both your gun and
yourself. Mud, snow, and an infinite variety
of other objects may inadvertently lodge in
a barrel bore. It takes only one small
obstruction to cause dangerously increased
pressures that may damage your gun and
cause injury to yourself and to others.

BEFORE CHECKING FOR A BARREL
OBSTRUCTION, BE CERTAIN NO LIVE

IS

ROUND

THAT THE MAGAZINE AND FEED
MECHANISMS ARE COMPLETELY
EMPTY. PUT THE SAFETY IN THE “ON

SAFE”

instructions on unloading). After assuring
yourself that the firearm is completely
empty, again, open the action and look
through the barrel to be sure it is clear of
any obstruction. If an obstruction is seen,
no matter how small it may be, clean the
bore with a cleaning rod and patch as
described in “Cleaning Suggestions” on
page 31.

IN THE CHAMBER AND

POSITION

(See page 19 for

ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR GUN WHEN
NOT IN USE.

Your responsibilities do not
end when your firearm is unattended.
Store your gun and ammunition separately
and well beyond the reach of children.
Take all safeguards to insure your gun does
not become available to untrained,
inexperienced, or unwelcomed hands.

USE THE PROPER AMMUNITION.

The
barrel and action of this rifle have been
made with substantial safety margins over
the pressures developed by established
American commercial loads. Nevertheless,
Browning assumes no liability for accidents
which occur through the use

of

cartridges
of nonstandard dimensions or which
develop pressures in excess of
commercially available ammunition which
has been loaded in accordance with
standards established by SAAMI (Sporting
Arms and Ammunition Manufacturer’s
Institute).

AMMUNITION MALFUNCTION.

BE ALERT

TO

THE SIGNS

If

OF

you
detect an off sound or light recoil when a
cartridge is fired,

ANOTHER CARTRIDGE INTO THE
CHAMBER.

DO NOT LOAD

Open the action and remove
all cartridges from the magazine, chamber
and action areas. Glance down the barrel
to make sure that a bullet or other

5

obstruction does not remain in the barrel.
Completely empty the barrel before

loading and firing again.

EXAMINE EVERY CARTRIDGE YOU PUT
IN YOUR GUN.

Browning cannot assume
any responsibility through the use of
unsafe or improper arms and ammunition
combinations. It is your responsibility to
read and heed all warnings including those

that appear in the instruction manual and

on ammunition boxes and to secure the
most up-to-date information on the safe
handling procedures for your Browning

gun.

DO NOT SNAP THE FIRING PIN ON AN
EMPTY CHAMBER-THE CHAMBER MAY

NOT

BE EMPTY!

Treat every gun with the
respect due a loaded gun, even though you
are certain the gun

KEEP YOUR FINGER AWAY FROM THE
TRIGGER WHILE UNLOADING,

LOADING OR UNTIL YOU ARE READY

TO SHOOT.

BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND
BACKSTOP,

periods.

Know

is

unloaded.

particularly during low light

the range

of

your ammunition.

Never shoot at water or hard objects.

6

DROPPING A LOADED GUN MAY
CAUSE
EVEN WITH THE SAFETY IN THE “ON

SAFE”

AN ACCIDENTAL DISCHARGE

POSITION.

Although safety
mechanisms are designed to make a gun
safer, the owner or user should be
extremely careful while hunting or during
any shooting activity, to avoid dropping a
loaded firearm.

ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR FIREARM’S

CHAMBER BEFORE CROSSING A

FENCE, CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING
A DlTCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER
OBSTACLES.

Refer to page

19

of this
instruction book for instructions on the
unloading of your firearm. Never place any
firearm on or against a fence, tree, car, or
other similar object.

IF YOUR GUN FAILS TO FIRE, KEEP

THE MUZZLE POINTED IN A SAFE

DIRECTION.

minimum

Hold this position for a

of

30

seconds. Never assume
that failure to fire means that the gun is
empty or unloaded. Carefully open the

If

action and remove the cartridge.

the
primer or rim is indented, the cartridge
should be disposed of in a way that cannot

If

cause harm.

the primer or rim is not

indented, your firearm should be examined

7

by a qualified gunsmith and the cause

of

the malfunction should be corrected before
further use.

WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION
WHEN SHOOTING.

exposure to gunfire can cause hearing
damage. Wear ear protectors (shooting ear
plugs or muffs) to guard against such damage.
Wear shooting glasses to protect your eyes
from flying particles. Also, wear eye protection
when disassembling and cleaning your
shotgun to prevent the possibility of
springs, spring
other agents from contacting your eyes.

BE DEFENSIVE AND ON GUARD
AGAINST UNSAFE GUN HANDLING
AROUND

timid when it comes to gun safety. If you

observe other shooters violating any of
these safety precautions, politely suggest
safer handling practices.

EDUCATE AND SUPERVISE FIREARMS
SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR
FAMILY,

YOU

especially to children and non

Unprotected, repeated

-

tensioned parts, solvents or

AND OTHERS

Don't be

­shooters. Closely supervise newcomers to
the shooting sports. Encourage enrollment

in hunting/shooting safety courses.

8

NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
OR TAKE ANY TYPE OF DRUGS

BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING.

Your

vision and judgement could be dangerously

impaired, making your gun handling

unsafe to

you

or to others.

READ AND HEED ALL WARNINGS

in
this instruction book and on ammunition
boxes. It is your responsibility to secure the
most up

-to-

date information on the

safe

handling procedures for your Browning
gun. Browning cannot assume any responsi
bility when unsafe or improper arms and
ammunition combinations are used.

PERIODIC MAINTENANCE—

UNAUTHORIZED SERVICING.

Your gun
is a mechanical device which will not last
forever and, as such, is subject to wear and
requires periodic inspection, adjustment,

and service. Browning firearms should be
serviced by a Browning recommended
service station or by Browning’s service
facility in Arnold, Missouri. Browning
cannot assume any responsibility for
injuries suffered or caused by unauthorized
servicing, alterations or modifications of
Browning firearms.

DANGEROUS TO ALTER THE TRIGGER,
SAFETY OR OTHER FIRING
MECHANISM OF ANY FIREARM.

IT CAN BE VERY

-

9

In conventional gun terminology the position
and movement of gun parts are described as
they occur with the gun horizontal and in
normal firing position; i.e., the muzzle is forward
or in front; the buttstock is rearward or to the
rear; the trigger is downward or underneath; the
sights are upward or on top.

10

Your new Browning is a gas operated, semi
automatic repeating rifle. With cartridges in the
magazine and the chamber and the safety in the
OFF SAFE or FIRE position, the rifle will fire a
single round with each successive pull of the
trigger until the magazine and chamber are
empty. When the last round has been fired, the
bolt will be held in its rearward, or open,
position by the magazine follower. To close the
bolt, pull slightly to the rear on the operating
handle and at the same time unlatch the floor
plate, allowing the magazine
swing downward and forward. Then release the
operating handle and allow the bolt to move

forward to the closed position under its spring

pressure. During this operation, exercise care

that your fingers do not enter the ejection port
in the receiver.

CAUTION: THE “SAFETY** SHOULD BE KEPT
IN ITS “ON SAFE” POSITION AT ALL TIMES
EXCEPT WHEN ACTUALLY FIRING THE
RIFLE.

The crossbolt type safety is conveniently

-

floorplate unit to

-

located on the trigger guard just rearward of the

11

trigger. (See Figure 2) This is an ideal location
for easy manipulation of the large safety head
with the index finger of either hand.

With the safety pushed completely to the right
the rifle is ON SAFE and rearward movement of
the trigger is completely blocked.

With safety pushed completely to the left the
rifle is OFF SAFE and ready to fire. In this FIRE
or OFF SAFE position a band of RED is visible
on the safety where it projects beyond the left
face of the trigger guard.

Whenever a cartridge is chambered the rifle

12

should be ON SAFE until it is ready to be fired.
Note: If a left hand safety is installed these
directions are reversed; i.e. the safety is pushed
to the left to place the rifle ON SAFE and to the
right to place the rifle OFF SAFE.

CAUTION: Keep your fingers clear of the

ejection port at all times when the bolt is locked
open. The bolt will close with considerable force,
if you should depress the magazine follower.

The Browning semi
utilizes a unique detachable box magazine. The
capacity of the magazine is four rounds (three
rounds for Magnum calibers). Another cartridge
may be carried in the chamber, providing a total
rifle capacity of five rounds (four rounds for
Magnum calibers.)

To ready the rifle for loading, first insure that the
cross-bolt safety is in the ON SAFE position.

Next, hold the rifle in a natural position with the

barrel safely pointing at the ground. If the bolt is

in its closed position, use either hand to hold the
rifle at the forearm. Then, pull rearward on the
magazine latch with the index finger of the

opposite hand, allowing the hinged floorplate

magazine unit to swing downward.

-

automatic high power rifle

-

13

In the event the bolt is in its open position, a
slightly different technique may be used to swing
the magazine open and close the bolt at
approximately the same time. Again, the first
step is to insure that the safety is in its ON SAFE
position. Next, hold the rifle with the muzzle
pointed in a safe direction, with the left hand at
forearm, as described before. Then, hook the
thumb of the right hand over the operating
handle and pull it slightly rearward while at the
same time releasing the magazine latch with the
right index finger. (See Figure 3) The hinged
magazine

-

floorplate unit will swing downward.

14