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Rebarreling a BLR to 458 Win Mag
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Picture of Mike_Dettorre
posted
An acquaintance is wondering if you can re-barrel a BLR to 458 win mag?

Given, they make them in 300 win mag I assume the answer is yes

3 questions:

1) is yes correct?

2) could they start with a standard 473 bolt face if they had a spare one around - meaning can the bolt face be opened up?

3) Any body know of BLR guru gunsmiths or could any competent gunsmith do this? - Any volunteers here to take on the job?


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10181 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
Moderator
Picture of jeffeosso
posted Hide Post
1 yes
2 yes but would add more to the price, I would start with a magnum action, less things to sort out BECAUSE
3 hard to say, as it's a very niche and tricky platform

Unsolicited- might i offer BLR in 450 marlin
https://www.omahaoutdoors.com/browning-450-marlin/


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
 
Posts: 40215 | Location: Conroe, TX | Registered: 01 June 2002Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
I wonder if it would feed?
 
Posts: 536 | Location: South Africa | Registered: 28 April 2020Reply With Quote
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Picture of Mike_Dettorre
posted Hide Post
I suspect feeding would not be an issue because it is a detachable box magazine and adjusting feeding is a matter of bending or trimming the magazine lips.

I am sure others more knowledgeable will inform me of my ignorance Big Grin


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10181 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
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I think it was Jack Lott who re barreled A Browning semi-auto to 458. He wondered if it would cut recoil. He said getting it to feed was a pain, and any recoil reduction was unnoticed.
 
Posts: 7533 | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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The BLR would lend new meaning to recoil, and yes it could be done and has been done I'm told.. Id recommend weight in the butt and a muzzle break..


Ray Atkinson
Atkinson Hunting Adventures
10 Ward Lane,
Filer, Idaho, 83328
208-731-4120

rayatkinsonhunting@gmail.com
 
Posts: 42295 | Location: Twin Falls, Idaho | Registered: 04 June 2000Reply With Quote
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Picture of sambarman338
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quote:
Originally posted by theback40:
I think it was Jack Lott who re barreled A Browning semi-auto to 458. He wondered if it would cut recoil. He said getting it to feed was a pain, and any recoil reduction was unnoticed.


At least one guy over here converted a BAR to 458 Win. for use on sambar in the thick bush. As I recall the reports on it, his worked OK.
 
Posts: 5186 | Location: Melbourne, Australia | Registered: 31 March 2009Reply With Quote
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Picture of dpcd
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Sure, I can do it. Feeding; not an issue.
I would contour the barrel to have a one inch muzzle OD so the recoil wouldn't kill you.
 
Posts: 17437 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009Reply With Quote
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Picture of Sabretooth
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I, myself, am curious if one would need to make modifications to the magazine and receiver in order to accommodate the larger cartridge ...?
 
Posts: 660 | Location: Texas, USA | Registered: 10 March 2017Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
The BLR with aluminum receiver the barrel is pressed in. The steel receiver it is screwed in and can be removed.
We did a replacement on a pressed in barrel by cutting off the barrel a few inches in front of the receiver, boring it out and threading inside.
It’s a nightmare to do and if it’s not perfect it becomes $$$ junk.
 
Posts: 1248 | Location: Arizona | Registered: 09 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Using a takedown BLR in 300 win mag, I built 2 additional barrels. One 338 win mag and the other the 375 Taylor (aka 375/338).

Since you asked for some opinions here we go. Rather than open up the bolt face, you might consider just buying a magnum bolt head.

A cheap way, would be to buy a 7mm rem mag takedown BLR. Just send the barrel off for a bob to 20 inches and a rebore. That should leave about 0.176 inches of steel at the muzzle, maybe a little thin to your taste. The forearm would still fit with no mods.

Staying with the takedown you could also buy an additional 450 Marlin barrel, then take off the barrel extension, and reface the barrel to headspace on the 458 win mag. Then with some threading and a rechamber you should be ready to go. The forearm would need some work, or maybe a purchased 450 Marlin forearm would work. I hear that the barrel extension is a bear to get off.

As to feeding. The 375 Taylor and the 338 win mag will not feed from a 300 win mag magazine. However, they should feed from a 7mm Rem mag magazine. I have two. One feeds like grass through the goose, and the other does not feed at all. They are both marked for 7mm Remmy, and differ only in the follower. Browning built at least versions.

Let us know how it works.
 
Posts: 374 | Registered: 11 March 2006Reply With Quote
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Starting with the take down is definitely the best option
 
Posts: 1248 | Location: Arizona | Registered: 09 January 2005Reply With Quote
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Picture of dpcd
posted Hide Post
Yes, I would start with a TD; however, a reboring or rechambering job will leave you with a 7.5 pound 458, which might not be the optimal weight.
Not for me at least.
IE, the recoil will be brutal; I know, AR members can take it.
 
Posts: 17437 | Location: USA | Registered: 02 August 2009Reply With Quote
Moderator
Picture of jeffeosso
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
Yes, I would start with a TD; however, a reboring or rechambering job will leave you with a 7.5 pound 458, which might not be the optimal weight.
Not for me at least.
IE, the recoil will be brutal; I know, AR members can take it.


7.5# before scope is pretty okay for a bolt 458 winmag -- but i wince at the thought of THAT stock in 458 winmag ..

my baby son, even full grown he's not 175#, asked me to build him a winmag 18-20years ago .. it's rather light - he loves it


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
 
Posts: 40215 | Location: Conroe, TX | Registered: 01 June 2002Reply With Quote
One of Us
Picture of Mike_Dettorre
posted Hide Post
Yes, but Texans are a separate sub-species


Mike

Legistine actu quod scripsi?

Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.




What I have learned on AR, since 2001:
1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken.
2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps.
3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges.
4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down.
5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine.
6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle.
7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions.
8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA.
9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not.
10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact.
11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores.
12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence.
13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances.
 
Posts: 10181 | Location: Loving retirement in Boise, ID | Registered: 16 December 2003Reply With Quote
Moderator
Picture of jeffeosso
posted Hide Post
Mike,
lolz- you've met him - he's the little crazy that thought shooting my 500 jeffe was THE definition of a good time


opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club

Information on Ammoguide about
the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR
What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR.
476AR,
http://www.weaponsmith.com
 
Posts: 40215 | Location: Conroe, TX | Registered: 01 June 2002Reply With Quote
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