i ttraded into a beat-up BAR this last weekend, its a 7 rem mag, i don't like 7 mags, but it was cheap... <$300.... and older gun, marked japan, ... wood is the pale, blond that the BAR's have from this era...few dings, but good straight grain... it's a donor rifle for the time being... can it be chambered and rebarreled for a .458 win mag???.. or maybe a .458 x 2"??/ or is the .458 too much for the action???.. i don't intend to shoot 510 gr loads, but would like the 350's, and maybe some cast 405's....if it won't work/bad idea, it'll turn into a .338.. thanks..jim

I think Jack Lott converted one back in the 70's and it was written up in G&A. It worked but I think the recoil was more than the stock could handle.

I still have that magazine around somewhere-- I remeber it was Guns & Ammo. The gun functioned well after the "bugs" were worked out, but it was difficult to get it set up correctly.

i don't mind shooting reduced loads... and i've seen composite stocks.... it'll just be a south texas pig gun....so parkerize it, and glass stock it also...

It should make a pretty good ham smasher. good luck and keep us posted

I recall the articles in the magazine, during the mid '70s but didn't remember which magazine had it.
IIRC the conversion was done over several issues, not covered in one issue.
The bolt thrust should be the same as found on a 7 Mag, I would think, but you might have to tune the load to get the correct port pressure to cycle the action.

416 taylor is a FAR better choice. recoil is not as bad as the 458, will feed somewhat easier, and does have a bottle neck, so you can move pressure around, with powder/load to get it to feed

jeffe

When Browining first cam out with there BAR in Magnum calibers,they rushed this gun into the market.And even there own shops admitted that it needed mor R & D before it was put on the market.this action worked fine in standard calibers,but in mag calibers,a lot i have seen had problems from the get go! If i were you,and you wanted to save monies,find another project. van

Jack Lott Guns & Ammo Sept 1974. Bill Atkinson did the barrel. sleeeved from a 7mm Mag. It wouldn't feed from the mag too well.

Rich

How about a .375 Ruger?