Browning Bar Rifle Owners Manual

QUALITY SINCE 1878
BAR RIFLEOWNER’S MANUAL
98355/BAR OM Cover  8/7/03  10:50 AM  Page 2 

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING 
A BROWNING BAR RIFLEThe BAR Mark II Safari incorporates the very finest in 
materials and craftsmanship. From the receiver and stock, to
the working mechanism — you can see and feel traditional
Browning Belgian craftsmanship. The BAR Mark II has been
designed with innovative features that result in improved
performance and operating convenience. With just 
reasonable care, this gun should provide you with many years
of pleasure and dependable service. Please feel free to write us...

2YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE 
FOR FIREARMS SAFETY As a gun owner, you accept a set of demanding responsibilities. How
seriously you take these responsibilities can be the difference between
life and death.
There is no excuse for careless or abusive handling of any firearm. At
all times handle your rifle and any other firearm with intense respect
for its power and potential danger.PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE CAUTIONS, PROPER HANDLING
PROCEDURES AND INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED IN THIS BOOKLET BEFORE
USING YOUR...

Safe gun handling does not stop with your gun’s mechanical “safety”
devices — it starts there. Always treat this rifle with the respect due a
loaded, ready-to-fire firearm.
3WHENEVER YOU HANDLE A FIREARM, OR HAND IT TO SOMEONE,
ALWAYS OPEN THE ACTION IMMEDIATELY,VISUALLY CHECK YOUR
RIFLE’S CHAMBER, FEED MECHANISM AND MAGAZINE.Make certain that they do not inadvertently contain any ammunition.
Always keep the chamber empty and the “safety” in the “on safe”
position unless shooting is imminent.
4DO NOT...

with a cleaning rod and patch as described in “Cleaning and Mainte-
nance Suggestions” on pages15 and 16. Before the first firing, clean
the bore with a cleaning rod and patch, and wipe away any anti-rust
compounds in the action/chamber areas.
7ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR RIFLE WHEN NOT IN USE. REFER TO PAGES 12
AND 13 OF THIS INSTRUCTION BOOKLET EXPLAINING THE UNLOADING
OF YOUR RIFLE.As a safety precaution, it is preferable to disassemble your gun for
storage. Store your gun and ammunition separately—well beyond...

12
ALWAYS UNLOAD YOUR RIFLE’S CHAMBER BEFORE CROSSING A FENCE,
CLIMBING A TREE, JUMPING A DITCH OR NEGOTIATING OTHER OBSTA-
CLES.
Refer to pages 12 and 13 of this instruction book for instruc-
tions on the unloading of your rifle. Never place your loaded rifle on
or against a fence, tree, car, or other similar object.
13
WEAR EYE AND EAR PROTECTION WHEN SHOOTING. 
Unprotected,
repeated exposure to gunfire can cause hearing damage. Wear ear
protectors (shooting ear plugs or muffs) to guard against such...

before disassembly, cleaning and reassembly. Keep ammunition away
from the cleaning location. Never test the mechanical function of any
firearm with live ammunition.
18TEACH AND SUPERVISE FIREARMS SAFETY TO ALL MEMBERS OF YOUR
FAMILY — ESPECIALLY TO CHLDREN AND NONSHOOTERS.
Closely
supervise newcomers to the shooting sports. Encourage enrollment in
hunting/shooting safety courses.
19
NEVER DRINK ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES OR TAKE ANY TYPE OF DRUGS
BEFORE OR DURING SHOOTING.
Your vision and judgment could be...

DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, ALTER THE TRIGGER, SAFETY OR
PARTS OF THE FIRING MECHANISM OF THIS OR ANY OTHER FIREARM.
FAILURE TO OBEY THIS WARNING MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO
YOURSELF OR OTHERS.
23 Discharging firearms in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning firearms, or
handling ammunition may result in exposure to lead and other sub-
stances known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm and other
serious physical injury.
HAVE ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.
Wash hands thoroughly after...

NOMENCLATUREIn conventional gun terminology the position and movement of gun
parts are described as they occur with the gun horizontal and in nor-
mal firing position; i.e., the muzzle is forward or in front; the butt-
stock is rearward or to the rear; the trigger is downward or under-
neath; the sights are upward or on top.GENERAL OPERATING PROCEDUREThe Browning BAR Mark II Safari and BAR Mark II Lightweight are
gas operated, semi-automatic repeating rifles. The Mark II Safari has a
steel blued receiver...

of the trigger. (See
Figure 2) This is an
ideal location for 
manipulation of the
large safety head with
the index finger of
either hand. With the
safety pushed 
completely to the
right, the rifle is ON
SAFE and rearward
movement of the trigger is completely blocked.
With safety pushed completely to the left the rifle is OFF SAFE and
ready to fire. In this FIRE or OFF SAFE position a band of RED is 
visible on the safety where it projects beyond the left face of the 
trigger guard. CAUTION: If your rifle...