Cartridge change for BAR

[RASelkirk]

Hi All,

Just curious to see what all is involved in changing a BAR from .30-06 to 7.62 x 51 NATO., as the ought six is getting scarce and expensive. Carts are similar except for length, unfortunately the ought 6 is 12 mm longer which would mean either a custom barrel or some black magic on an existing barrel. Aside from the barrel, any other concerns?

Russ

Information

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[browningautorifle]

If you found one of those chamber inserts from years ago, would work. I did an M1 with one and couldn't get it to fail no matter what.

I'd think the best way is to have a barrel made by one of the groups that makes the semi auto guns and have a barrel made very short chamber so you can finish it up in a .308 chamber.

If you turn a quarter inch off the barrel, you nave to change piston, and gas tube...and the breech end is not simple.

[RASelkirk]

An old Ohio Ordinance catalog shows they made a barrel in 7.62. Not sure if that barrel will swap into a completely USGI select-fire rifle, though. I'm not sure what-all Bob modifies to build a semi rifle for the retail market. No, I don't have an original, but if my IRA ever recovers from Bidenomics, it'll be a possibility...

Russ

[MAC702]

Am I the only one questioning if this is worth it? I guess we shoot so much .30-06 AND .308 that making ammo for both is just something we all always do around here. We do have a BAR in the group, but most of our '06 is through bolts and semi-autos. Our .308 goes through everything, including a M1919.

Is it just the concern of using reloads in a BAR?

We constantly hear that we'd rather have old original finishes than making something more modern, so it seems odd to me to even think about a rebarrel job. How much do you actually shoot it to consider the difference in ammo availability?

[RCS]

what magazine would you use in converting the BAR to 7,62mm

[browningautorifle]

I've never had huge quantities of .30 cal ball for anything and when I had BAR I loaded ball for it. Getting bullets was easy enough and the military powder was IMR 4895, primers was easy...brass was whatever was available. They all ran perfectly. I shot until I ran empty... At the time I was loading for BAR, Johnston, M1903 so I had to load for all of them.

[RCS]

US Ordnance worked on the conversion of the M1918A2 BAR to fire the 7,62mm cartridge, the conversion was called the T34.

The magazine used was from the experimental T28 rifle, also chambered for the early 7,62mm cartridge.

US Ordnance discontinued these tests and conversions in 1950 as being not feasible to convert to 7,62mm

The BAR is best for the cartridge it was designed to use the 30-06 just like the M1 rifle also in the same caliber

[browningautorifle]

The BAR is best for the cartridge it was designed to use the 30-06

Probably. The last BAR I had was a NESA that had been converted by cutting the barrel stub off the back and reattaching it. Ream to 7.62 and put a block in to move the mag forward, used FN mags. Gas cylinder and piston had to be shortened as well. It worked...probably as well as the ones USA trialed and rejected. Eventually before I sold it I obtained an original .30 barrel and turned it on. That was what the new owner wanted, I haven't heard of it since.

[RCS]

Many years ago I did some shooting with a friends Swedish Model 1921 BAR in 6,5x55 cal, really nice weapon to shoot and nice
with the pistol grip.

I understand some of these were converted to 30-06 years ago too

[RASelkirk]

Am I the only one questioning if this is worth it? I guess we shoot so much .30-06 AND .308 that making ammo for both is just something we all always do around here. We do have a BAR in the group, but most of our '06 is through bolts and semi-autos. Our .308 goes through everything, including a M1919.

Is it just the concern of using reloads in a BAR?

We constantly hear that we'd rather have old original finishes than making something more modern, so it seems odd to me to even think about a rebarrel job. How much do you actually shoot it to consider the difference in ammo availability?

I'm not a shooter, mainly a prepper (gotta be somewhat careful everywhere, lots of haters out there). I have maybe, 300 rds of .06, but several thousand rounds on 7.62. Were I to ever get a BAR (my favorite rifle), I'd want it to shoot carts that are readily available mainstream...

Russ