I've never had a Winchester semi-auto - their claim to fame is the lever rifle. But I've got a Browning Safari BAR in .30-06, and it's a dream to shoot. I doubt that you can go wrong with either brand, but I'd take another Browning over any other brand, any day.

 

I second the motion on the Browning over the Winchester.

 

Buying a Winchester anything today may get you a gun from around the world. Both use Miroku of Japan whose guns are beautifully made and finished. The same is true of Browning. In fact, both are owned by the Belgium Fabrique National (FN-Herstal). Browning and Winchester share some off site manufacturers. Also Browning has no factory of its own but outsources the guns. They are really just a gun importer/distributor but do control the design and quality of these off site manufactures. Winchester closed its USA plant due to labor union problems. I think they now share facilities with FN in the northeast????. Winchester and Browning levers are made by Miroku in Japan. I do not know of a semi-auto rifle available new today from Winchester. I believe the Browning BAR centerfire is made in Europe. I have a BAR in 7mm Mag which is a beautifully made gun that shoots well. I bought it around 1990.

LDBennett

 

Like LD posted i don't think Winchester makes a semi Center fire rifle today.

 

Here's the list of what Winchester does sell today lifted right off their web page (note: first two are bolt guns, the 1885 is a single shot,and the rest are levers):

• Model 70
• XPR
• Model 94
• Model 1892
• Model 1886
• Model 1885
• Model 1873
• Model 1866
  
  LDBennett

 

I would not hesitate to buy any Miroku weapon. I have a Charles Daly side by side and a Browning SS both made by Miroku. The Browning is a more sophisticated gun, but both are beautifully made.

 

I have several Miroku made Browning guns. They are tighter fitted, nicer finished, and smoother operating than the original Winchesters that they clone. I have both and have compared them closely. The newest Model 94's are Miroku guns as well as the new 92's. There may be others as well. The Model 70's, I believe, are FN made in America.

But Browning, Winchester, FN....same company.

LDBennett

 

I'd buy an H-K semi auto in .308 or .243 before a Browning. They are a bit expensive, and you don't see them used very often. People who buy them tend to keep them.

 

Bad comparison (H-K semi auto vs. Browning semi-auto)!!
The Browning. BAR is a beautiful made consumer gun meant for hunting. The H&K, as far as I know, is a tactical weapon, black and utilitarian in appearance. Some of us want more than a "hammer" looking gun. Guns can be beautiful, like the Browning BAR.

So if people keep them does the not mean they are desirable? There are a bunch of tactical rifles, all look utilitarian and some are just AR derivatives. I like my AR's but Browning BAR's are beautiful guns!

LDBennett

 

HK sporting weapons are top shelf. Winchester burnt their bridge with the 100 series and only one caliber was somewhat decent, time has removed that caliber from my brain. The Browning would be the safer and lesser costing with quality. Add a grand and HK will move squarely in your sights. HK in .308 pictured.

 

That's the rifle I mean, not a "Tactical" looking rifle at all. I had a couple of BARs, didn't like them. JMO. You have to pay for quality, the H-Ks will probably outshoot the Brownings. The Browning autos I looked at were well over $1,000,00....what's a few more bucks?

 

I don't know about you but $1000 is a lot of differential pricing to put the H&K even in consideration unless I absolutely wanted the H&K. Once gun prices get above $1000, I have to really want them to lay out that much cash. $2000 guns are not in MY future.

To be clear, all my post were in reference to new guns. The Winchester semi-auto is not a currently made gun. If you expand the conversation to used guns too, there might be other guns in the running.

LDBennett

 

The Model 100 was a fine rifle, maybe ahead of it's time. I've owned 3 of them speculating, a 308 and 2 different 243s. I shot the 308 some, it would have been a really nice deer rifle, I just prefer bolts. But a used 100 would be a fine choice.

 

The Model 100 was a fine rifle,

Seen pics of 100s, but never knew anyone who owned one to shoot it.

 

Seems like almost all pre 64 Winchesters are like the stock market. They just keep going up and up in value.

 

joe45c:

Collectors!!!!

They turn good shooting guns into safe queens, limiting availability, then scarcity makes for higher prices and shooters like us can no longer afford to buy them.

it has happened in spades to Connecticut made Hi Std target pistol, Lugers, Winchesters, Mausers are next, and many other guns and things. Collectors ruin it for the rest of us that want to shoot these remarkable vintage guns.

Sorry, that is the way I feel after 30+ years of gun purchases, both new and vintage.

LDBennett

 

I have managed to be able to purchase 6 pre 64 Win. over the last 5 or 6 years, but they weren't giving them away. Just bought my last one for a while a 1885 single shot in .32-20. Lots of fun to shoot.

 

LD is right, collectors drive the prices up and keep an awful lot of great guns out of the field.

 

Thinking about it I may have a few guns that would/might fall in the “Collectable” category however because they aren’t pristine, maybe a stock had been refinished or were chambered for an unknown caliber I was able to afford them, something a true collector wouldn’t really want. Nothing super fancy mind you but still nice, don’t think I paid over $2K for the fanciest of the bunch.
Guns like:

Holland & Holland Rook Rifle
T&S German Cape Gun
US M1917
1903 Springfield
03A3
Winchester Model 42
Browning Trombone

There are others but this gives you an idea of the level of gun I’m able to put in my safe. To be honest I can’t afford high end guns and don’t think I’d want one if I could, probably be too afraid to shoot it and I don’t want to have anything I won’t shoot. I understand where you’re coming from, just saying there are lots of cool guns out there that can be had if you’re willing to put in a little work.

 

Same here firpo. None of mine with maybe of my 63 would be considered high end collectible But they are all fun to shoot and i don't feel too uneasy about taking any of them to the range.

 

Don't get me wrong, nothing wrong with collecting, to each his (or her) own. My statement was just factual, collectors do drive up prices and often their guns don't get used. Besides, I want some of those old guns for my collection

 

The responses to this thread have confirmed what I already had on mind, I will trade in my Remington 750 for a Browning BAR, most likely the Stalker.

 

Looks like a good trade.

 

Long time since this thread started...but maybe you haven't made your selection yet. If you did, I'd be interested in what you chose, and what your thoughts are now. If you didn't, I have the .270 Browning BAR MkII Safari w/BOSS, which has been my go-to deer rifle for over 20 years, and which I have loved dearly (also comes in .30-06, with or without the BOSS accurizing/muzzle brake system). I also have the H-K 630 (5.56) and the 940 (.30-06) sporting semi-autos that a previous poster sent a picture of. They are great shooters, but the recoil is a little heavier because of the roller-lock recoil system compared to the gas system of the Browning. I use the 630 most often now for varmints. Lastly, I have two Winchester Model 100's in .308 from the early and mid-'60s that I got last year. I have fallen in love with the Model 100 and can't say enough good about it. They are 1 MOA shooters with the softest recoil (gas action) of any of my deer caliber rifles, and are a dream to shoot. They are readily available on the on-line sites starting at $475 or so (pretty rough) and going up to $1000 or so depending on condition (many do have scopes, though). I was going to give the .308's to my daughters to use for deer hunting, mostly due to the soft recoil and ease of follow-up shots, but I want one for myself, so I'll have to get another one for me. I have redone the stocks (hand-rubbed oil finish), reblued them (Ox-Phos) and put scopes on them, and worked up sub-MOA hand loads for them (150 gr Hornady SST/44.0 gr IMR 4064).
So, in conclusion, don't rule out a used Winchester Model 100, but you will love the Browning BAR too, if you're going to buy new. The H-K is interesting, reliable, accurate, but could be more expensive, and will also be a used gun. I'm curious to see what you do/have done and any thoughts.

 

I found 2 used H-K's at a LGS. Both are beat to heck, wood all scarred up and bluing worn off....I didn't check the innards. They want around $900.00 each for them, one a .223 and the other a .308. Pretty steep for the urine-poor condition they're in. They've been there for a couple 3 years already, you'd think they'd entertain a semi-lowball offer just to move them.

 

I have a bolt action .30-06 Rem 700 from the 70s and a Springfield Garand in .30-06 from the 40s. I am covered