Browning BAR-22 Grade I .22 LR Semi-Auto Rifle, Steel Receiver, 20.25 in Barrel, 15+1, Made in Japan
This Browning BAR-22 Grade I is a 1970s rimfire semi-automatic made in Japan by Miroku, featuring the early steel-receiver configuration with a pistol-grip walnut stock. It combines a 20.25-inch barrel, a 15+1 tubular magazine, and the BAR-22's distinctive round, serrated top-mounted charging knob. Type code 166 identifies this as the Grade I configuration, with factory markings including "MADE IN JAPAN" and Browning Arms Company locations.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Overall Condition: Good - Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Bore Rifling: Good Rifling - Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
Specific Condition Notes: The metal surfaces show moderate, honest handling wear with light finish thinning and minor surface marks, and no significant corrosion observed. All factory markings remain clear and legible. The gloss-finished walnut stock and long beavertail forearm display typical handling impressions and light wear, with no major cracks or structural damage noted.
What’s Included
- Browning BAR-22 Grade I .22 LR semi-automatic rifle
The BAR-22 Grade I pairs a steel receiver with Browning’s classic walnut furniture, including a pistol-grip stock with cut checkering and a Browning buttplate, plus a long beavertail forearm for steady rimfire handling. The early configuration noted here precedes the later update, adding collector and enthusiast interest.
Controls are straightforward, with a cross-bolt safety and the model’s distinctive round, serrated charging knob located on top of the bolt. The rifle uses a semi-automatic blowback system tailored to .22 LR, feeding from a tubular magazine with a brass loading port and a knurled magazine cap.
Sighting is iron-focused and practical: a ramped blade front pairs with a barrel-mounted adjustable open rear sight for clear alignment over the 20.25-inch barrel. The setup complements the rifle’s full-size format and 13.5-inch length of pull.
Capacity is listed at 15+1, offering ample rimfire runtime between loads. Production by Miroku in Japan for Browning, with markings stating "MADE IN JAPAN" and Browning’s Morgan, Utah & Montreal, P.Q. addresses, underscores its period-correct origin and quality.