Browning Pistol Forum

showme 22 · #1 01-02-2011, 08:38 AM

Just got a NIB BAR 22, it is the first one I've been able to actually hold. Seen lots on Gunbroker and such but never been in the same room with one.
It's a grade 1 made in 1977,there were no papers but the box is in very good condition. Should I keep it this way or shoot it?

M2HB · #2 01-02-2011, 10:09 AM

I would keep it as a safe queen, but most folks on this forum will recommend that you shoot it. They weren't known for reliability but some fixes have been known to help them function.

bn12gg · #3 01-02-2011, 11:59 AM

Very nice rifle. Shoot it! .02 David

apachebrave · #4 01-02-2011, 12:24 PM

Showme22,
Nice little gun....Don't shoot it. I still have mine NIB....Actually I should tell you to go shoot it....so it makes mine more betterest. You'll just have to make up you own mind.... Shoot me!!!! or Don't Shoot me!! Ha!!! Enjoy!!!

Hairtrigger · #5 01-02-2011, 04:14 PM

Shoot it and enjoy it

M2HB · #6 01-02-2011, 05:33 PM

This is much closer than I expected. Usually, most of the folks say shoot it. If it was a recent production rifle I would say go ahead and shoot it. It has been out of production so long that keeping it NIB is what I would do. If you want a shooter, buy a shooter.

dlong · #7 01-02-2011, 05:40 PM

BAR 22 was the first gun I ever bought. Still have it. Stove pipes a lot and wouldn't say its the most accurate 22 around, but I will never part with it. Mine is still like new. Sorry I never bought a BPR in 22 mag. I wouldn't be surprised is Browning brings it back someday as a limited edition.

Range Junkie · #8 01-02-2011, 05:58 PM

If you bought it as an investment keep it NIB. If you bought it for fun then shoot it.

bn12gg · #9 01-02-2011, 06:11 PM

Ok, we have a $500 or so BAR 22, NIB. We put this rifle in the
safe for 20 years- AND, bingo, if we are still alive we might have
a $700 gun. For $200 we did not have the joy of shooting it, hunting
with it, letting our buddies at the club squeeze a few rounds thru
of it, blah, blah, blah. Heck, once you are gone, likely one of your kids
will just about give it away for $300 bucks because he needs part
of a down payment on a Corvette. Who knows-- enjoy the BAR.

Just my .02 but these are cheap guns that scream out SHOOT ME,
PLEASE SHOOT ME! LOL

Again, just my .02 David

groundhogsniper · #10 01-02-2011, 06:21 PM

I don't believe shooting that rifle will effect its value much as long as you don't scratch it up. I've got guns I've had and shot for years that still look near mint.
Now if it were an older Belgium gun nib, I don't think you'd want to be shooting it. Good luck with your new rifle.

RainDodger · #11 01-02-2011, 06:26 PM

Why own a gun and not shoot it? (unless it has some historical value like an original Wyatt Earp .45 or something... which this isn't... )

I have a similar vintage BAR-22 and it's in spectacular shape. I shoot it. About 10 years ago, I bought a NIB 1973 Belgian SA-22. On the way home, I stopped at a range and shot a box of 50 rounds through it, to make sure that I wasn't tempted to never shoot it! I'm glad I did... it's a great shooter and I see no reason to store a rifle just to look at. My 2 cents!

As for the reliability - I've had no problems with mine. It's an '82 and all steel. I don't know if or when there were aluminum receivers out there, but you'll hear all kinds of horror stories about them. Enjoy your new rifle and shoot it! I put a Leupold Rimfire Special scope on mine and it's a joy to shoot. It has the heft and feel of a larger center fire. Not long ago I used mine to whack a possum that had been disturbing my garbage cans regularly. It worked quite nicely.

Roger

Hairtrigger · #12 01-02-2011, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bn12gg

Ok, we have a $500 or so BAR 22, NIB. We put this rifle in the
safe for 20 years- AND, bingo, if we are still alive we might have
a $700 gun. For $200 we did not have the joy of shooting it, hunting
with it, letting our buddies at the club squeeze a few rounds thru
of it, blah, blah, blah. Heck, once you are gone, likely one of your kids
will just about give it away for $300 bucks because he needs part
of a down payment on a Corvette. Who knows-- enjoy the BAR.

Just my .02 but these are cheap guns that scream out SHOOT ME,
PLEASE SHOOT ME! LOL

Again, just my .02 David

David

Well said!

Plinkerton · #13 01-02-2011, 10:02 PM

I agree totaly..........

Camster · #14 01-02-2011, 10:26 PM

While I do have a number of unfired guns,I say "Shoot it".
Forget the "investment" nonsense-guns really aren't that great as such,though better than other hobbies,and sometimes aren't as liquid as we'd like to think.A well cared for gun that has been fired,isn't losing that much over unfired.
Frankly,if I fired it and if function wasn't 100%,I'd sell it.Rule #1 for me is that they have to work perfectly.

dbuffington · #15 01-03-2011, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bn12gg

Ok, we have a $500 or so BAR 22, NIB. We put this rifle in the
safe for 20 years- AND, bingo, if we are still alive we might have
a $700 gun. For $200 we did not have the joy of shooting it, hunting
with it, letting our buddies at the club squeeze a few rounds thru
of it, blah, blah, blah. Heck, once you are gone, likely one of your kids
will just about give it away for $300 bucks because he needs part
of a down payment on a Corvette. Who knows-- enjoy the BAR.

Amen.