Browning BAR question

[jogar80]

My cousin got himself a really nice used Browning BAR, apparently at a great price. It's chambered in 30.06, scoped, and is pretty darned accurate. Anyway, the only thing he doesn't like about it is that it's 30.06. For some reason, he is enamored with .308 win. I have explained to him in every way I can think of, that they are pretty much the same, and how in some cases the '06 may even be better. He just won't budge. And since I told him the .308 was developed from the '06, now he's asking if there is some way he can modify his BAR to work with .308. That is something I just dont know for sure, although i'm pretty sure the answer is "no". Still, I thought I'd ask you guys before I go see him again, lol.

 

[rcmodel]

No.

The BAR is built on three different action lengths.

One for .308 length calibers such as .308 & .243.

One for "standard length" calibers such as 30-06, .270, 25-06, etc.

And one for Magnum length calibers such as 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, etc.


Tell him you'll put knots on his head if he even thinks about it anymore.
He already has the best hunting caliber there is for your part of the world.

rc

 

[bainter1212]

+1 to RCmodels comment. .308 is short action vs .06 long action. You'd have to change the barrel AND the reciever, which means an entire new gun. IMHO, the best solution is for you to offer him a price he might be happy with, that also would make it a great deal for you. At least YOU might enjoy that very fine rifle.

 

[jogar80]

Thanks guys, that's what I thought but had to be sure.

Hmmmm..... haggle the cuz for a terrible rifle in a bad caliber that he ISN'T happy with...... Now THERE'S a good idea I hadn't tought of....

 

[panhead58ak]

Rc you could not have said it better!

 

[Haxby]

Why would a 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, require a longer action than a 30-06, .270, 25-06?

 

[bainter1212]

I believe it has to do with the pressures involved with magnum rounds. Might not be longer action, just designed to handle higher pressures. I'm no BAR expert tho.

 

[SwampWolf]

And since I told him the .308 was developed from the '06,

I'm not sure this is the case (pun intended ).

 

[Fremmer]

Tell him there's not a lick of difference performance-wise between the 2 calibers for hunting.

 

[Abel]

Your cuz deserves for you to buy it from him at a rediculously low price. $300 sounds fair. Or $200.

 

[dogrunner]

I own a couple of 'em, gave my old steel framed '06 version to a good friend, kept the lightweight MK2 tho............it's also in '06, snappiest handling rifle I have ever owned. Far as caliber goes, yes the .308 IS a derivative of the older battle cartridge, but it has NO advantage in terms of performance over it's daddy!.............Load 'em the same, they'll perform the same, BUT, you can stoke that '06 with heavier bullets, and with the same weight projectile you can literally smoke ANY .308 load.....

I'd add that you MIGHT be able to convert that rifle by the chamber insert method, ala the Navy Garand. You'd likely also need to insert a block in the existing mag. or try a .308 version & see if it'll latch and feed...........Really don't think a conversion would be much of a problem for a competent smith.

You may or may not have to adjust the gas feed, depending on model that would amount to either a valve screw or a bleed off screw..........like I said, it'd take a bit of tinkering but I'm sure it could easily be done.

 

[rcmodel]

Why would a 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, require a longer action than a 30-06, .270, 25-06?

It wouldn't.

I should have said a Belted Magnum size action.
Not a Magnum length action.

But, I didn't.

rc