FN Browning Portugal BAR .243 Winchester 22″ Semi-Automatic Rifle, MFD 1980

SOLD FOR: $1225

LSB#: 220411AL016

Make: Browning, Made by FN Belgium & Assembled in Portugal

Model: BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle) High Power Rifle

Serial Number: 137PM15420

Year of Manufacture: 1980 (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_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 chamber ring is marked with the serial number.

Barrel Length: 22″

Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to a checkered, ramped base screwed to the front of the barrel. The base is slotted for a hood that is not present. The rear sight is missing leaving two drilled and tapped holes on the top of the barrel. The top of the receiver is equipped with a one-piece Redfield rail for mounting an optic (not included).

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a pistol grip, straight comb, black synthetic Browning buttplate, and sling swivels studs front and rear. The wood shows some sparsely scattered shallow compressions and faint lines. Notably, there is a series of compressions on the top of the comb. The checkering is sharp. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate, which shows no significant wear or damage. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine-Excellent 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 no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. The barrel has taken a pleasant plum hue. There are some light scratches on the left side of the receiver. Otherwise, there are just a few faint handling marks and light operational wear. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine-Excellent 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: This rifle comes in its original serial matching box with the original rear sight in a Redfield ring box and the original Redfield rail piece box.

Our Assessment: The Browning BAR rifle was produced starting in 1967. This is an example from 1980 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!

FN Browning Portugal BAR .243 Winchester 22" Semi-Automatic Rifle, MFD 1980
FN Browning Portugal BAR .243 Winchester 22″ Semi-Automatic Rifle, MFD 1980