The Browning BAR MK3 Delivers the Goods, Semi-Automatically

These days, when we consider a semiautomatic rifle for hunting big game, some flavor of AR probably comes to mind. But over most of the past 50 plus years, that crown would have gone to a different rifle, one that is still very much relevant today: the Browning BAR. Browning’s BAR Mk 3 Ovix is proof that this age-old design isn’t going anywhere.

The original BAR (Browning Automatic Rifle), also known as the M1918 and M1918A2, was a workhorse carried by American troops during both world wars and beyond. That BAR was designed by John Moses Browning. His son, Val, actually traveled to France to help train U.S. troops in its operation.

The sporting BAR was the brainchild of John Moses Browning’s grandson and Val Browning’s son, Bruce. In 1966, Bruce Browning brought together a talented team of design engineers to develop a sporting rifle befitting of the BAR name.

The project was code named “Carbine 66” until the rifle was officially launched in 1967 as the new BAR. The BAR was and is a gas-operated semiautomatic rifle that feeds from a detachable magazine.

Origins

The rifle was marketed as being well-balanced, rugged, strong, simple to operate, accurate, safe and with “pleasant recoil.” All those attributes turned out to be true, and the BAR was an immediate success. It was the first popular semiautomatic offered in magnum chamberings and remained so for decades.

Browning has continued to evolve and improve the design over the years. The BAR Mark II was released in 1993 and the Mk 3 announced in 2016. The Mk 3 has more modern lines than the more traditional Mark II, but the most important difference is a receiver made of aluminum instead of steel. The Mk 3 Ovix combines many of the mechanical attributes of the classic BAR with design elements we’d expect from the latest bolt-action hunting rifles. One might say it is the least traditional among the current BAR offerings.

The Mk 3 Ovix, named after Browning’s proprietary camouflage pattern that adorns the stock, is the semiautomatic equivalent of the rifles in the Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed line. The Mk 3 Ovix is available in six chamberings from .243 Win. to .300 Win. Mag. Regardless of cartridge length, all the rifles are built in a long-action configuration. My test rifle came chambered in 7mm Rem. Mag.

The heart of this rifle is its receiver, which is machined of an aluminum alloy to minimize weight. On the Ovix model, the receiver and barrel are treated with Smoked Bronze Cerakote.

Design and Operation

Inside the receiver is where the magic happens. The BAR employs a seven-lug rotating bolt that locks into recesses in a steel barrel extension. The bolt assembly is operated by a short-stroke gas system housed under the rifle’s fore-end. Propellant gases redirected from the bore actuate a gas piston that, in turn, cycles the system and reloads the rifle. Although it has been tweaked over the years, the basic operating system remains true to the 1966 design.

The Mk 3 Ovix uses a hammer-forged steel Sporter contour barrel with six gentle flutes that run most of its length. The muzzle is not threaded and the crown is recessed. Barrel length varies from 22 to 24 inches depending on the chambering; my 7mm Rem. Mag. sample was fitted with a 24-inch barrel. The twist rate is 1:9.5, and the chamber is chrome lined.

The Mk 3 Ovix features a manual crossbolt safety located at the rear edge of the trigger guard, where you’d expect to find it on many semiauto shotguns. The trigger is a single stage. My sample broke right at three pounds, which is just about perfect for a hunting rifle.

In terms of controls, there are also a right-side charging/operating handle and a bolt release that sits on the right side of the receiver below the ejection port. The magazine release is on the forward edge of the trigger guard.

Feeding System

The magazine system is sort of a hybrid between a traditional hinged floorplate and a detachable box. The magazine is attached to the floorplate, and when the release is actuated, it swivels downward for loading. The box can be removed from the hinged assembly by pulling it directly away from the floorplate.

A spare magazine, available from Browning, can be carried and the rifle reloaded in this manner. Capacity is three rounds for magnums and four rounds for non-magnums.

The synthetic two-piece stock on the Mk 3 Ovix is printed with the Ovix camouflage pattern and features overmolded textured surfaces on the grip and fore-end. The recoil pad is a soft Inflex design that you’ll also find on many Browning shotguns.

Given the BAR’s hunting role, which often involves fast offhand shooting, stock fit can be vitally important. To that end, six shims that allow you to customize cast on/off and raise or lower the comb are included with the rifle. Front and rear sling swivels come installed on the stock.

Going Hot

While the Mk 3 Ovix is usually loaded via the magazine, it is possible to drop a single round into the chamber. As with any semiauto rifle, it is important that the bolt seats fully during the loading process. If it doesn’t, the rifle won’t fire.

The easiest way to ensure that the bolt closes fully is to load the rifle with the bolt locked to the rear and use the bolt release lever to let the bolt assembly slam forward. This makes quite a bit of noise, though, and isn’t ideal for all hunting situations.

In scenarios where more stealth is required, a hunter may want to ride the charging handle forward so the bolt does not audibly slam into battery. The Mk 3 Ovix has a small red dot, known as the “bolt forward indicator,” painted on the lip of the ejection port. If that dot is visible, the bolt is fully forward and the rifle should fire.

Since the receiver is aluminum, threaded steel bushings are installed on top of the receiver to facilitate scope mounting. I used Talley lightweight aluminum alloy rings Browning provided to mount a Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40mm scope.

Recoil and Optics

When zeroing the scope, I ran out of windage adjustment but got things close enough to be on target. This ailment usually indicates a misalignment between the mounting holes on the receiver and the axis of the bore, but I had no way to properly diagnose the problem. It wasn’t the scope’s fault, but an optic with a 30mm tube and more erector travel could have been helpful in this scenario.

The rifle was very ammo-sensitive when it came to group size. The Barnes Vor-TX and Federal Fusion loads showed respectable dispersion. But the groups from the Remington Premier CuT ammo, which uses monolithic copper alloy bullets, were substantially larger. I initially suspected a scope/mount failure, but I switched back to the Fusion load and ruled that out. The bottom line is that this rifle and that Remington load simply didn’t get along. It happens.

Although the gas system no doubt lessens recoil, physics still applies. A midweight rifle chambered in a magnum cartridge is going to kick a bit, no matter how much inertia is redirected to the operating system. When shooting from the bench, I would completely lose the target in the scope during recoil. Many years ago, some custom BARs were chambered in .458 Win. Mag. I’m sure those were a handful!

You may notice from the accuracy table that the velocity spreads during testing were fairly significant, with an average standard deviation of 28.9 across the 30 rounds measured. I believe this variation was caused by the gas system since it bleeds propellant gases from the bore. Slight variations in the amount of gas traveling through the port will influence muzzle velocity, something that we are not used to encountering if we only shoot bolt actions. This isn’t an issue in most real-world hunting scenarios, but it is something interesting to observe.

Accuracy and Reliability

The rifle functioned as intended most of the time, but on two occasions the bolt failed to snap fully back into battery after firing a shot and would not fire until I ran the charging handle manually. I shot the Mk 3 Ovix just as it came out of the box, and I suspect insufficient lubrication was the problem. If I were headed back out to the range, I would certainly lube the bolt’s locking lugs.

Although I own and shoot many semiautomatic rifles, I do most of my hunting with a bolt action. Unless I am hunting feral hogs or predators, the ability to fire a quick follow-up shot isn’t something I value. That said, hunters who participate in drives or hunt with dogs often seek out repeating rifles. In parts of the South where driving deer with dogs is common, the BAR is an extremely popular choice.

One might question why a hunter would choose a BAR over an AR-15-style rifle. To me, that choice is clear. As much as I love ARs for certain applications, they are bulky, poorly balanced and don’t point well. At more than 46 inches long, the BAR Mk 3 Ovix isn’t compact, but it handles like a shotgun. For a repeating rifle that is slick, well-balanced, portable and points well, the BAR is hard to beat.

In many circles, the Browning BAR is the epitome of a hunting rifle. For those who value the attributes of this classic design but would prefer a more updated look and improved ergonomics, the Mk 3 Ovix just might be the perfect rifle. Given the available chamberings, this rifle is suitable for most hunting applications in North America. Whether you pronounce it “BAR” or “B-A-R”, the Mk 3 Ovix has a great deal to offer.

Browning BAR MK 3 Ovix Specs

• Type: semiauto centerfire
• Caliber: .243 Win., .270 Win., 7mm Rem. Mag. (tested), .308 Win., .30-06, .300 Win. Mag.
• Capacity: 3+1 (as tested)
• Barrel: 24 in., 1:9.5 twist (as tested), fluted
• Overall Length: 46.125 in.
• Weight: 7 lb., 8 oz.
• Finish: Smoked Bronze Cerakote
• Stock: two-piece synthetic, w/shims to adjust cast and drop
• Sights: none; drilled and tapped
• Trigger: gold-plated lever; single-stage, 3 lb. pull (measured)
• Safety: crossbolt
• MSRP: $1,980 (as tested)
• Manufacturer: Browning, browning.com

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