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Old 02-06-2021, 02:27 PM
Maghunter Maghunter is offline
 
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Default BLR Accuracy

How accurate is your BLR? I'm getting 2" groups at 100 yds. With mine shooting 150gr Balistic Tips. Is this normal normal or can it be better?
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  #2  
Old 02-06-2021, 02:33 PM
renegadeg2 renegadeg2 is offline
 
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Hand load or factory rounds

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Old 02-06-2021, 02:42 PM
elkhunter11 elkhunter11 is offline
 
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I have seen a 308 shoot sub moa, so some will shoot well with the right load.
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Old 02-06-2021, 03:32 PM
brewster29 brewster29 is offline
 
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The crappy trigger is usually the biggest handicap to good accuracy with a BLR.
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Old 02-06-2021, 03:43 PM
Phil Phil is offline
 
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Default Blr

My 308 Pre 81 BLR will shoot a number of loads at MOA or less if I'm doing my part.

Are you shooting a Pre81 or the 81BLR?

Phil
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  #6  
Old 02-06-2021, 05:19 PM
mstefoniuk mstefoniuk is offline
 
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Default had mant BLRs

2 Moa at 100 is definatly average, some shoot slightly better, lots shoot much worse...they are not inherently accurate rifles overall.
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Old 02-06-2021, 05:24 PM
renegadeg2 renegadeg2 is offline
 
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It's all about loads or finding the right factory cartridge I think. My simple marlin 4570 shoots moa at 100m all day long. Since you don't reload, try a few different brands/cartridges out.

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Old 02-06-2021, 05:31 PM
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Dick284 Dick284 is offline
 
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Which model BLR?
-Pre ‘81?
-81?
-Aluminium receiver?
-Take down?

What cartridge?

What sort of bench and style of rests are you using?

Can you get accuracy in other rifles with similar recoil?

Has another person tried this BLR?
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Old 02-06-2021, 06:15 PM
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What’s with the ‘81 BLR?

Cause that’s what I’ve got....
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Old 02-06-2021, 06:27 PM
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Dick284 Dick284 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bessiedog View Post
What’s with the ‘81 BLR?

Cause that’s what I’ve got....
Not a thing, I’m just trying to get a sense of the situation.
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Old 02-06-2021, 06:32 PM
riden riden is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brewster29 View Post
The crappy trigger is usually the biggest handicap to good accuracy with a BLR.
Ya, mine has a lot of slop in the trigger.
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Old 02-06-2021, 06:42 PM
skidderman skidderman is offline
 
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Earlier pre 81 had a much better trigger. Later models have a trigger from hell. No way to shoot accurately with a 7 pound trigger pull. My early 81 was very accurate & had a good trigger. I regret selling it.
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Old 02-06-2021, 06:54 PM
pgavey pgavey is offline
 
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I have a pre 81 also shoots 1 inch groups at 100 m
What year did start producing the BLR?
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  #14  
Old 02-07-2021, 05:01 AM
eric2381 eric2381 is offline
 
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I have a 243, 22-250, and a 308. All surprised me by how accurate they are with handloads. Under moa
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  #15  
Old 02-07-2021, 06:50 AM
decker1 decker1 is offline
 
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I have a 270 win BLR take down. My groups are 1.5 to 2". I blame the trigger. but I guess that means I am not doing my part on the trigger pull lol
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  #16  
Old 02-07-2021, 07:30 AM
Maghunter Maghunter is offline
 
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It is an 81. I have tried about 6 different hand loads without much different success. Thx for all your responses.
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  #17  
Old 02-07-2021, 07:45 AM
graybeard graybeard is offline
 
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I have owned 3 BLR's in the past. Two 308's and one .243....I shot all factory ammo.....It looks like others have had good luck with hand loads...

Long story short: I no longer own them. I wished they shot as good as they look......

Good luck
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Old 02-07-2021, 08:27 AM
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Dean2 Dean2 is offline
 
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The BLRs are highly variable in the accuracy area. I have seen them shoot from just over an inch to 5 inches, depending on the gun The pre 81s benefited from removing the barrel band and glassing the rear stock and forestock but those were not simple jobs. I managed to get a couple to shoot much better that way.

Working up hand loads helps but keep the pressures relatively low and they are one of the few rifles I always FL resized the brass for, using a small base die. Chamber dimensions and barrel quality also varied a great deal. There was a couple that had to be re-barrelled to get them to shoot, the factory barrel had few rounds down them but you just could not get decent groups. As mentioned, the triggers are far from great. There used to be a couple of places that would tune them, a quite complicated process, but I don't know of anyone who still will do it.

The BLR works fine for its intended purpose of being a fast handling rifle, good for 250 yards or less, but it was never designed to be a long range specialist. The odd one would shoot under .75, but even with that accuracy, the gun is not laid out well as a long range platform.
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Old 02-07-2021, 08:36 AM
Battle Rat Battle Rat is offline
 
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I free floated the barrel on a pre 81, 308 and reduced the group to 7/8" from 1 1/4".
Managed to get the trigger weight down to an acceptable 3lbs.
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  #20  
Old 02-09-2021, 01:08 PM
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I have always had MOA or better on my newer model BLRs. That said, out of one using my choice in Federal ammo I get great results. Out of the other that same ammo is terrible. I wish manufacturers would put out cheaper boxes of 10. It's hard to blow $80 on a box of 20 only to find it doesn't work for your rig.
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Old 02-16-2021, 01:10 PM
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Gade81 Gade81 is offline
 
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I have a takedown in 308. Tried several factory loads in 150 gr and all were of the 2-2.5” variety. Blue box federal 180’s right around 1”. The only heavier load I tried but quite accurate for me. And yes crappy trigger
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Old 02-16-2021, 01:56 PM
Drewski Canuck Drewski Canuck is offline
 
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I have a BLR "Lightning" which has the alloy receiver (supposedly titanium - aluminum??) It is in 7 MM Rem Mag.

I also have a Browning A Bolt in 7 MM Rem Mag.

the BLR is a bit to get used to, but the triggers were improved considerably in that design over its predecessors. It is not a take down model which may make a difference for accuracy.

Both the BLR and the A Bolt, on a proper rest at the range, with a shooting pad on my shoulder, have done 1 inch groups (loonie to be exact) out to 300 yards, with no wind blowing on the ribbons set out on the range.

The BLR has a rotating locking lug receiver, so it is a very solid action.

Trouble is the BLR is very fancy wood and I am afraid to hunt with it. It does a good job, but it is not very light.

Perhaps try hand loads and play with your bullet seating? You may also have damaged the crown of the barrel with a cleaning rod as you have to clean from the end of the barrel. Re crowning may restore the accuracy for you.

Drewski
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  #23  
Old 03-01-2021, 12:58 PM
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Wisebuck Wisebuck is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maghunter View Post
It is an 81. I have tried about 6 different hand loads without much different success. Thx for all your responses.
I use 180 gr Nosler ballistic silver tips with 4320 and Winchester brass cc’ing primers get 3/4 moa. Try the heavier bullets as my blr in .308 prefers them. Good luck.
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Old 03-01-2021, 01:52 PM
OldNewGuy OldNewGuy is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gade81 View Post
I have a takedown in 308. Tried several factory loads in 150 gr and all were of the 2-2.5” variety. Blue box federal 180’s right around 1”. The only heavier load I tried but quite accurate for me. And yes crappy trigger
I also have a BLR takedown (BLR Lt Wt) stainless/laminated, bought in 2012. Had a heck of a time dialing it in, until I (1) installed a Leupold EER (Extended Eye Relief) 2.5X scope to the barrel so it wouldn't need adjusting if I took it down for storage or transport with a receiver-mounted scope, and (2) played with the load development a lot more than usual.

I finally settled on a bit under 46Gr of IMR4064 with a 150 grain Interlock, and my groups tightened up considerably, between .9" and 1.5" @ 100. Interesting thing about my rifle is that the first two shots group tight, but 99% of the time the third shot from a still-warm barrel would always be a flyer, running perhaps .75" to 1.25" further out from the first two shots impact point. For hunting purposes, though, this works for me.

And, yeah, the trigger isn't great (it's "liveable" since this is my back up rifle when I'm at the camp with my 444S Marlin).

O.N.G.
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  #25  
Old 03-01-2021, 02:15 PM
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Dean2 Dean2 is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OldNewGuy View Post
I also have a BLR takedown (BLR Lt Wt) stainless/laminated, bought in 2012. Had a heck of a time dialing it in, until I (1) installed a Leupold EER (Extended Eye Relief) 2.5X scope to the barrel so it wouldn't need adjusting if I took it down for storage or transport with a receiver-mounted scope, and (2) played with the load development a lot more than usual.

I finally settled on a bit under 46Gr of IMR4064 with a 150 grain Interlock, and my groups tightened up considerably, between .9" and 1.5" @ 100. Interesting thing about my rifle is that the first two shots group tight, but 99% of the time the third shot from a still-warm barrel would always be a flyer, running perhaps .75" to 1.25" further out from the first two shots impact point. For hunting purposes, though, this works for me.

And, yeah, the trigger isn't great (it's "liveable" since this is my back up rifle when I'm at the camp with my 444S Marlin).

O.N.G.

The take down feature is an issue in maintaining POI. It wasn't in the good old days when we used barrel mounted open sights, but with receiver mounted scopes or peeps it is. You see this on the Browning semi- Auto 22s as well. That said, the barrel lockup is pretty tight on a BLR, so it should not affect the groups, just where they hit after you take it apart. Now I have never seen a take down lever that grouped quite as good as the exact copy in non-take down model. Blaser, Heym, Mannlicher take down bolt guns group great but they are a whole different animal.


My advice remains the same as what I posted earlier, Make sure the butt stock is properly fitted to the gun, that the barrel is glassed fully to the forearm and that the forearm to action joint is perfectly mated or shaved so it is stress free. Getting the trigger cleaned up helps a bunch too, but realistically, even after modification, if you can get one to shoot 1.5" consistently that is about the best you can regularly hope for.
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  #26  
Old 03-02-2021, 11:16 AM
spazzy spazzy is offline
 
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My blr newer model in 308 win came with a horrible 8.5 lbs trigger with lots of travel and creep . The best i could get even after numerous tries loading for it was 1.5 inch groups at 50 yards , open sites . I was lucky a guy I worked with dad was a gunsmith Jr gunsmithing out of pouce coupie. He was able to rework my trigger down to 4 lbs and almost eliminate the creep and brought the travel to an acceptable level . Now I get 1 inch or better at 50 yards with nosler acuebonds , good enough for me and its intended purpose close tight bush deer rifle . I'm looking at getting some high vis sites installed . If this rifle did not get the trigger work or pulled up and fit so nice for me I would have sold it already or traded for a marlin in 45 70
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