With all the talk of impending gun bans, got me to just pondering the idea of getting an AR-15. Now I owned an AR a few years back and I know what to expect accuracy wise from a well made rifle with a floated barrel. The problem, outside of the cost, is that AR's are sometimes frowned upon, descriminted against if you will, by some farmers or people who simply see it as a high volume "assault" rifle instead of an accurate small caliber repeater (which it is).

So, still just pondering, looking at the .243 BAR. I'm wondering what kind of accuracy I could reasonably expect?

If you read the HR45 bill, it frowns upon all semi-auto anything, regardless of black or not. So I would not give a rats rear weather an AR is looked down on or not. And for the record, I have not met a farmer yet who cares what the rifle I carry on there land looks like. I guess what I’m trying to say is if you like AR’s get an AR. Also, pick up a pen and write to the jerks talking about gun bans and express your distaste for bans, public outcry is the only way to stop the nonsense.

Having said that. I don’t know about the .243 round per say, but I fired a BAR in a .270. I was not really impressed per say, but it was relatively accurate for a production semi-auto. I would group it in with my M1 Grand or my Remington 7400, but not anywhere near as accurate as my M1A.

Well that is my $.02

trust me, my typing finger is sore and I'm sure I'm probably on some watch list after all the e mails I've sent.

Back around 1980, I got a .30/06 BAR, and it was good for 1.5" loads without any real development at all. It would do it with just about any load, too, it was a steady shooting rifle, excellent for any deer hunting, those groups will kill just about any deer in any normal situation. It was heavy, though, and no fun at all to carry around, but it was a solid rifle.
I assume you're talking about the newer rifles, though, and they are even better according to most posts I read, and they are available with aluminum receivers now. It's a crapshoot, though. Most guys who buy the Brownings buy them because they are available in MAGNUM cartridges .

Not neccessarily. I was looking at an older Belgian steel receiver model. The new short tracks are spiffy too, but I personally like the older style.

1.5" might be acceptable.

I wish SOOOO bad that they'd make a smaller version for the 223'ish-cased cartridges. I agree in that I like the older style better.

My 2 cents is get an AR while you still can. Another option might be just to get a stripped lower (or 2) now and accessorize later. Hopefully the add-ons won't be banned.

Me too. I have the BLR, perhaps I need nothing.

Price wise, it's poor timing to go the AR route. From what I've seen dealers are getting top dollar for them while buyers run scared. If the same Clinton ban is reinstituted, AR's will be available and prices will come down.