FN Browning Portugal BAR .243 Winchester 22″ Semi-Automatic Rifle, MFD 1983
SOLD FOR: $1,556
WOA#: WY231122CB017
Make: Browning, Made by FN Belgium & Assembled in Portugal
Model: BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) High Power Rifle
Serial Number: 137 PX 10959
Year of Manufacture: 1983 (https://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/bar-high-power-rifle.html)
Caliber: .243 Winchester
Action Type: Semi-Auto Rifle with 3 Round Box Magazine Clipped Into the Magazine Floorplate
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “BROWNING ARMS COMPANY MORGAN UTAH & MONTREAL P.Q. / MADE IN BELGIUM BY FABRIQUE NATIONALE HERSTAL-ASSEMBLED PORTUGAL” and at the receiver with a Belgian proof mark and an inspection mark. The right side of the barrel is marked “BAR CALIBER 243 ONLY / BROWNING PATENTS”. THe left side of the receiver is marked “BROWNING / BAR”, “137 PX 10959”. The bottom of the trigger guard is marked with a Browning Logo. The buttplate is marked “BROWNING”.
Barrel Length: 22″
Sights / Optics: The barrel is drilled, tapped, and filled for front and rear sight options. The receiver is mounted with a Leupold M8-4X scope.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a semi-pistol grip, straight comb, black synthetic Browning buttplate, and sling studs front and rear. The wood shows some scattered compressions, scratches, scrapes, and drag lines. Some of the checkering is marred on the forend. The LOP measures 13.75″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows some wear. The buttplate screw heads have corrosion present in the slots. The top of the grip at the rear of the receiver has a chunk missing. Overall, the stocks are in about Fair condition.
Type of Finish: Blued, Black alloy trigger guard and floorplate.
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is some faint scattered erosion throughout.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. There are scratches throughout the metal. The barrel has some more noticeable scuffs especially in between the front sight provision holes where there is some deep scratching. There is some light operation wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. There is a cross-bolt safety behind the trigger. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Browning BAR rifle was produced starting in 1967. This is an example from 1983 and it has a 22” barrel which has a bright bore and sharp rifling. The rifle looks to have seen little use in the field, retaining about 97% of its metal finish and strong mechanics. This semi-automatic rifle is chambered for 243 Winchester. The .243 Winchester is a popular sporting rifle cartridge. Developed as a versatile short action cartridge to hunt both medium game and small game alike, it “took whitetail hunting by storm” when introduced in 1955, and remains one of the most popular whitetail deer cartridges. It is also commonly used for harvesting blacktail deer, pronghorns and mule deer with heavier rounds, and is equally suited to varmint hunting with lighter rounds. Please see our photos and good luck! -L.S.
