Browning Bar Rifle Owners Manual

							To ready the rifle for
loading, first ensure
that the safety is in
the ON SAFE posi-
tion.
Next, hold the rifle in
a natural position
with the barrel safely
pointing at the
ground. Holding the
rifle at the forearm,
pull rearward on the magazine latch with the index finger of the op-
posite hand, allowing the hinged floorplate-magazine unit to swing
downward. The magazine is now ready to be loaded. (See Figure 3.)
If it is desired to load a round into the chamber prior to loading the
magazine, the following steps should be taken. First, be sure the safety
is in the ON SAFE position. Hold the gun on its side with the barrel
pointing safely downward with either hand at the rear of the forearm,
as described earlier. With the rifle held in this position the ejection
port in the receiver should be facing up. Next, with the magazine
floorplate open and the bolt locked open, insert one round into the
ejection port, allowing it to drop completely into the chamber. Then,
close the bolt by depressing the bolt release lever. The bolt should be
allowed to slam closed from its open position. If the bolt is not
allowed to close in this manner, there is the possibility that it will not
close completely, in which event the rifle will not fire.
It is safer to hunt with an empty chamber until in the presence of
game. In this situation, quietness in chambering a cartridge is some-
times of prime importance. To accomplish this, cycle the action slowly
and quietly by pulling the operating handle to its full rearward posi-
tion and releasing it while keeping the operating handle controlled.
You may want to first practice this with an empty chamber.
10
FIGURE 3
Pull rearward on magazine latch
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							It is both convenient and fast to load the magazine while it is attached
to the floorplate in the open position. However, some may prefer to
load the magazine after detaching it from the floorplate. Both meth-
ods will be described.LOADING THE MAGAZINE WITH MAGAZINE
ATTACHED TO FLOORPLATEAlways be sure the gun is ON SAFE, and the muzzle is pointed in a
safe direction, since there may be occasions when you will want to
load or replenish the magazine while a round is chambered. Hold the
rifle in a safe barrel down position, using either hand on the forearm
and pull rearward on the magazine latch to allow the magazine 
floorplate to swing downward. Each cartridge should then be carefully
inserted into the magazine against the pressure of the spring loaded
follower, until it is retained by the metal lips of the magazine body.
Care should be exercised in positioning each cartridge so that its base
is to the rear of the
magazine. If the
nose of a cartridge
protrudes beyond
the end of the mag-
azine, it could cause
feeding problems or
interfere with the
closing of the maga-
zine floorplate.
(See Figure 4.) LOADING THE MAGAZINE WITH MAGAZINE
DETACHED FROM FLOORPLATEOnce again, place the rifle ON SAFE and be sure the muzzle is pointed
in a safe direction. With the magazine-floorplate unit open, the 
magazine may be detached by merely pulling it away from the hinged
floorplate. To do so, grasp the sides of the magazine toward its rear
with the thumb and middle finger of either hand. Then, pull the 
11
FIGURE 4
Carefully insert each 
cartridge into the magazine
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							magazine away from
the floorplate while at
the same time bear-
ing against the 
projecting rear of the
floorplate with the 
index finger.
(See Figure 5.)
The rifle may be sup-
ported in its barrel
down position during
this procedure with the opposite hand at the forearm. Once the maga-
zine is detached it may be loaded with cartridges as described earlier.
To re-attach, insert the small tab on the front face of the magazine
into the matching groove in the forward end of the floorplate. Then
snap the rear of the magazine firmly into place. Extra magazines may
be carried loaded for rapid replacement of an empty magazine, using
this same procedure.
After loading the magazine, attach it to the floorplate. Swing the 
magazine floorplate into place until retained by the magazine latch. If
a round has not already been placed into the chamber, a round may be
chambered by depressing the bolt release lever and allowing the bolt
to slam closed.
Once a round has been chambered, the magazine-floorplate unit may
again be opened at any time desired for refilling to capacity.UNLOADING THE RIFLEWith the rifle ON SAFE and pointed in a safe downward direction
release the magazine-floorplate to its open position. Grasp the bolt
operating handle and move it to the rear, thereby extracting and 
ejecting any live round in the chamber. The magazine may then be 
detached and either kept loaded or the cartridges may be stripped
from it with the thumb of either hand. As is always good safety prac-
tice, visually inspect the chamber to be absolutely sure a round is not
still present. Once this is determined the bolt may be allowed to close.
12
FIGURE 5
Detach the magazine
from the floorplate.
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							To unload the magazine merely push forward on the base of each
round until it clears the retaining lips. The last step is to close the
floorplate either without the magazine or with an empty magazine in
place.TRIGGERThe trigger mechanism has been adjusted at the factory to provide a
short crisp pull, yet one consistent with safety. The trigger is a single
stage design with the weight of pull holding closely to 4 pounds. It is
recommended that no attempt be made to change the weight of pull
of the trigger.REMOVING THE TRIGGER GROUPThis procedure should rarely, if ever, need to be performed. However,
if the receiver area of your BAR should become excessively dirty it
may be helpful to remove the trigger group and expose the inner 
cavity of the receiver for cleaning.DO NOT ALTER OR ATTEMPT TO DISASSEMBLE ANY PART OF THE TRIGGER
GROUP OR REMOVE OR DISASSEMBLE THE BREECH BOLT MECHANISM.If any service of the trigger group becomes necessary, take your BAR
Mark II to a recommended Browning Service Center or send it to our
service center in Arnold, Missouri.DISASSEMBLY1 First, make certain the gun is totally unloaded and the safety is ON
SAFE.
2 Release the breechblock to its forward position by depressing the bolt
release lever. Swing open the magazine.
3 Push in the two trigger guard pins from either the right or left side of
the receiver. Use a drive punch or similar object, using caution not to
scratch the gun’s receiver. (See Figure 6.) Push the trigger guard pins
clear through the receiver.
4 Grasp the trigger guard and pull the trigger assembly out of the
receiver. (See Figure 7.)
13
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							5 Perform any clean-
ing of the parts
and receiver cavity
as necessary.DO NOT DISASSEMBLE
THE TRIGGER GROUP
BEYOND THIS POINT.TRIGGER
GROUP
REASSEMBLY1 Before reinstalling
the trigger group,
make sure that the
breech bolt is fully
forward and en-
gaged in the locked
position.2. Visually check the
safety on the trigger
guard to make cer-
tain it is still in the
ON SAFE position.3 Insert the trigger
group back into
the receiver, lining
up the holes in the
trigger assembly
with the holes on
each side of the 
receiver.
4 Re-insert the trigger guard pins from either side of the receiver and
gently tap them into place again using caution not to scratch the 
receiver. (See Figure 8.)
14
FIGURE 7
Remove trigger assembly.FIGURE 8
Re-insert trigger guard pins.FIGURE 6
Push trigger guard pins
entirely through receiver.
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							CLEANING SUGGESTIONSThe correct procedure for cleaning your rifle is as follows:
1
BE CERTAIN THE RIFLE IS UNLOADED AND THE SAFETY IS IN THE ON
SAFE POSITION.
Again, to unload your rifle, eject any live round in the
chamber by pulling the operating handle to the rear. Unload the mag-
azine by pushing forward on the base of each round until it clears the
retaining lips.
2
PULL THE BOLT FULLY REARWARD WITH THE OPERATING HANDLE.
It
will be held in this open position if the magazine is installed. If the
magazine is missing, open the bolt and manually push the bolt
release lever up to lock the action open.
3
USING A RIFLE CLEANING ROD WITH TIP AND PATCH LARGE ENOUGH
FOR SNUG FIT IN BORE,
insert rod and patch in barrel from the muz-
zle end and run back and forth several times. Caution should be exer-
cised to ensure that the cleaning rod or handle does not strike the
crown of the muzzle, as damage to this area can adversely affect the
accuracy of the rifle.
4
INSPECT THE CHAMBER AND BORE FOR POWDER FOULING.
A normal
amount of powder residue can be expected and is not serious. It can
usually be removed by repeating step number 3, using a patch satu-
rated with nitro-solvent. If or when fouling should become heavy, it
can be removed with a brass bore brush. Dip the brush in nitro-sol-
vent and scrub the chamber and bore until the fouling is removed. To
prevent brass bristles from breaking off, the brush should be pushed
completely through the bore before being withdrawn. Your BAR will
operate smoothly and reliably with a clean bore and chamber.
5
AFTER FOULING HAS BEEN REMOVED, THE BORE SHOULD BE WIPED
DRY.
Then pass a slightly oiled patch through it for preservation. A
fine, light gun oil like Browning Oil is recommended.
6
THE INTERIOR OF THE RECEIVER AND THE BOLT SHOULD PERIODICALLY
BE WIPED OFF WITH A CLEAN RAG.
This is best done with the trigger
group removed, see “Removing the Trigger Group”on pages 13 and
14, and with the magazine floorplate open and the bolt in its open
position.
15
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							Any dried oil in these areas and on the magazine follower should be
removed. Follow this cleaning by applying a very light film of oil on
the affected parts. Do not pour large quantities of oil into the action.
An excess of oil will run into the wood and cause it to soften or warp.
7WIPE ALL EXPOSED METAL SURFACES WITH AN OILED CLOTH, MAKING
SURE TO WIPE GUN CLEAN OF ALL FINGER MARKS.
Finger marks
should be removed because they provide a place where moisture can
accumulate. Ordinary good judgment will, of course, indicate that the
metal of the gun should receive a light film of oil any time the gun
has been exposed to adverse weather or handling.
8
THE WOOD SURFACES OF YOUR BAR CAN ALSO BE WIPED LIGHTLY
WITH BROWNING OIL,
or you can apply a quality wood or furniture
polish to the stock and forearm. Using one of these methods (not
both), will enhance the beauty and durability of your BAR.
9
CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS:
To ensure proper functioning of your BAR
it should be periodically inspected and cleaned. Any time when slug-
gish or incomplete operation of the action is experienced while using
commercial ammunition, the action should be cleaned. The following
procedure should be followed:
DISASSEMBLYNEVER ATTEMPT TO TAKE YOUR BAR APART FURTHER THAN EXPLAINED IN
THIS MANUAL. This is a specialized, finely fitted mechanism. You may permanently
mar it by attempting to disassemble the inner mechanism assemblies.
If further disassembly for service or cleaning is required, take your
gun to a Browning recommended Service Center or a competent gun-
smith, or send it to our Arnold, Missouri Service Facility as explained
under “Service or Repair” on the back cover.
1
BE CERTAIN THE RIFLE IS UNLOADED.With the rifle in the ON SAFE position and pointed in a safe down-
ward direction, release the magazine floorplate to its open position.
Grasp the bolt operating handle and move it smartly to the rear,
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							thereby extracting and ejecting any live round in the chamber. Re-
move all rounds from the magazine and remove it from the floor-
plate. Always visually inspect the chamber to make sure there are no
rounds present. (See page 12 for instructions on removing and
unloading the magazine.)
2 Remove forearm: Loosen and remove the forearm swivel eyelet with a
small wrench by turning in a counterclockwise direction. Care should
be taken to prevent scratching the forearm. Grasp the forward end of
the forearm and pull away from the barrel carefully until firm resis-
tance is felt. Then slide the forearm forward and off. (The forearm
must be pulled away from the barrel so that the forearm will clear the
bottom of the gas cylinder as the forearm is moved forward.) Note:
The forearm cannot be removed unless the bolt is locked open. In
order to lock the bolt open, pull the bolt back and manually engage
the bolt release
lever by pushing it
up. The bolt will
lock.
3Remove action
bars: Close the bolt
gently by depress-
ing the bolt release
lever and easing
the cocking handle
forward. To remove
the left action bar
pull the forward
end away from its
slot on the inertia
piece. Then lower
and pull the action
bar forward and
out of the receiver.
(See Figure 9.)
Remove the right
17
FIGURE 9
Pull action bar forward and out.FIGURE 10
Remove bolt release lever spring.
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							action bar by first
releasing the bolt
release lever spring
from the bolt release
lever and removing
the spring from the
receiver. (See Figure10.) Remove the boltrelease lever pin and
pull the bolt release
lever forward and
out of the receiver.
(See Figure 11.) You
can then pull the
forward end of the
action bar away
from the inertia
piece and lower and
pull the action bar
out of the receiver.
4 Remove gas cylinder
screw cap from the
forward end of the
gas cylinder: Turn
in a counter-clock-
wise direction. (See
Figure 12.) Use an
11/16 wrench for
this step.
5 Remove the gas pis-
ton: The inertia
block should be
pulled back toward the receiver until rear face of the gas piston can be
pushed forward out of the gas cylinder with a small soft drive punch.
(See Figure 13.) 
18
FIGURE 13
Remove gas piston.FIGURE 12
Remove gas cylinder screw cap.FIGURE 11
Remove bolt release
lever pin.
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							NOTE: An extremely dirty gas cylinder and gas piston may require
forcefully moving the gas piston forward with a hammer and soft
drive punch. Extreme care must be used to avoid scoring parts. If the
gas piston will not move with moderate force, place a couple of drops
of nitro-solvent around the gas piston, wait about 15 minutes, and
then try to push the piston out with the drive punch. If the piston
still will not move, apply more nitro-solvent on the piston and allow
it to set overnight before attempting to remove it.
6 Remove the inertia block, action spring, and action spring guide:
Tightly grip by hand the rear portion of the action and action spring
guide and pull forward toward gas cylinder until the action spring
guide is clear of its
recess in the receiv-
er. The rear end of
the action spring
guide can then be
moved to one side
of the receiver and
then rearward to
remove the action
spring, action
spring guide, and
inertia block. (See Figure 14.)
The gas cylinder can now be examined for accumulations of residue.
Residues in the gas cylinder and on the gas piston should be thor-
oughly removed with a good quality powder solvent or bore cleaner.
If residues are heavy, they can be removed by scrubbing the gas 
cylinder with a 20 gauge shotgun bronze wire bore brush and a good
solvent.
NOTE: the gas cylinder screw located on the gas cylinder is set at the
factory.
DO NOT CHANGE THE SETTING ON THE GAS CYLINDER SCREW.
Any changes to the gas cylinder screw may adversely affect the 
accuracy and operation of your rifle.
19
FIGURE 14
Lift out bolt 
release lever pin.
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