The First is a Belgium Browning Grade I .22 Auto Takedown model, the serial dates it to 1968. It has a Weaver .22 scope on it and looks like it was built yesterday. The second is a Belgium Browning BAR in 30.06. From it's serial number I have found out it was built in the first year of production, 1967 and it was the 4004th one built. It has a very cool vintage Leupold 2x7 variable scope. Other than some minor scratches in the stock it also looks like it was bought yesterday... I'm more into AK's or Ar's and such and have not decided if I'm going to keep em' or flip' em. Anybody have any experience with these?
I've owned a few of the .22s and they can be quite accurate. The triggers were never really crisp, but the guns functioned very well.
My running buddy in grade school and high school hand one of those Browning Autos. I had a cheap-o single shot, no name bolt gun back then. He went trough way more ammo then I did. If you decide to sell that let me know. I might be interested at the right price.
The older Brownings tend to be more quality than the newer ones, but I've never seen a BAR be all too accurate. They are good enough for hunting though. Both the guns look good.
The BAR we are talking about is the semi-auto hunting rifle made by Browning. It's along the same lines as the original M1918A2 "BAR", but it's more subdued, lightened, and made to look more like a hunting rifle than a military LMG. It does have detachable magazines, but they are flush mounted.
Yeah, the FN for one has a much shorter action which improves the strength of the receiver, a heavier barrel, and better thermal control. Most of the BAR's I've shot have had crappy, cheap, ammo with them. They tend to shoot about 2 MOA. I suspect with a proper match grade .30-06 round they'd tighten up to be fair enough.