Browning Belgian BAR Barrel Replacement

[x101airborne]

I have posted about the Browning Belgian BAR I bought with a chopped off barrel for cheap cheap. I have found replacement take off barrels at Numerich for around 150.00. Does anyone here know the intricacies of removing the old barrel and installing a new one? I have been using my pea-brain to think on what surfaces may have to be set back to insure timing to the action and re-cutting the chamber for headspace and since I dont rebarrel anything much anymore I am left with more questions than answers. 

Setting the barrel back a thread sounds fairly straight forward, but getting the gas system to line up after doing so may be a deal breaker but I dont know. I would like someone who knows or has books on the weapon itself and the barrel replacement issues to kinda set me straight. I have fired the rifle as is and it is such a gently recoiling weapon for a 300 Winchester Magnum I would really like to get this put back to as original as possible for deer hunting. The fired cases barely go a foot upon firing and all land on top of each other. Even if it turns out to be a 1.5 inch grouping weapon that is still useable for me for coyotes, hogs and deer out to 300 yards. Any knowledge, opinions or advice are appreciated. 

[x101airborne]

I take it not many people have had the need to mess with a BAR? Are the rifles that uncommon or are repairs that uncommon?

[pacecars]

I know they are (or at least were) very popular with the dog hunting crowd down here in Florida. They only took 2nd place to the Remington autos because of their price and it was kind of a prestige symbol to have one. Not a whole lot of rebarreling in the redneck dog hunting crowd though. Please don’t take this as disparaging dog hunters or rednecks as I love running dogs and did it for a 20 years and as Jeff Foxworthy said about rednecks “I are one”.

[bradshaw]

Trey.... agree, to restore a BAR .300 Win Mag with 16" barrel to sensible use it must be rebarreled. Browning traditionally put heavy barrels on its FN bolt and gas operated rifles in 7mm Rem, .300 Win, and .338 Win Mag, making the rifles heavier than for cartridges ninth .30-06 family and its descendants (.308, etc). I really enjoyed the plain receiver .338 Win Mag I toted for a while. I’ve encountered more .300’s than 7mm or .338, from swamps in the deep south to the North Country, and would seek to rebarrel as original. Main attribute is much softer recoil than from a manual breech. Annalogous to M-1 Garand recoil vs Springfield 03.

I’d call Browning technical and services departments. And Jack Huntington, in case he might have a lead. I’ve long considered the BAR a natural offhand rifle.
David Bradshaw

[x101airborne]

I called Browning and they said the weapon was too old for them for work on. They referred me to Midwest Gun Works. Called them and the robo menu thingy would not connect me to any department. Kept saying for any questions please email us. Cant even take my call.

Called Jack Huntington and left a message. Within 5 minutes he called me back and talked to me. He said he was already on the road and to call him this AM and he would be able to give me a price estimate. Good man that Jack.