Browning BLR

gramps73 · #1 12-21-2009, 08:55 PM

Who has one and you thoughts on them good or bad
thanks
gramps

redranger15 · #2 12-21-2009, 10:09 PM

Got one in .243. Great little gun , zero problems with it ,had it for 20 years.I'd buy another .

TreeGuy · #3 12-21-2009, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redranger15

Got one in .243. Great little gun , zero problems with it ,had it for 20 years.I'd buy another .

X2. 1964 to be exact. Bench accuracy was always poor, but consistantly killed stuff in the field. Weird gun that way. One complaint would be the lack of clearance between the top of the hammer and the scope. Tried to cock it down one time many, many years ago with an akward glove on and it made a crater 3" from my right foot! Lever lesson learned.

Tree

Cappy · #4 12-21-2009, 10:55 PM

I've had my .308 for about 15years now. It will shoot 1.5" on a regular basis with the right handloads. I contemplate selling it now and then, but can never it do it. It's a handy rifle for tight cover, but can still reach out if the need arises.

decker1 · #5 12-21-2009, 10:58 PM

I have one in a 270 pistol grip takedown model. I haven't had it long or shot it much. It cycles smooth and seems to be pretty accurate I am using the iron sights and I hit a 2 inch by 2 inch target two out of four shots at 50 yards ( the other two were 6 and 8 inchs off

) with a rest.

rugatika · #6 12-21-2009, 11:08 PM

Just picked up a 308 pistol grip this fall...action smoothed out after a few dozen cycles and seems to be fairly accurate although I haven't done a lot of shooting with it yet (just under an inch off a rest using iron sights at about 40yds)...I've since added a VXII leupold 2-7X33 that is yet to be sighted in. Nice handy lever. Kind of wished I had picked up a 7-08 or a 243 since I already have a couple 30/06 bolts but I guess it leaves room for another acquisition in the future.

Seems to be typical browning...well finished, nice checkering, decent wood.

Dean2 · #7 12-21-2009, 11:21 PM

Have a belgiun made one in 308 that I have had for 30 years. Keep it mostly as a loaner gun. Shoots around 1.5" at 100 with Winchester factory loads and, will do better with handloads. It has killed a lot of game in the hands of quite a few different people. Great looking, can be used by leftys or right handed shooters, simple to use, good handling, well built rifles. Zero problems in 30 years despite the wide variance in the experience of the various users.

gramps73 · #8 12-22-2009, 08:58 AM

thanks for the replies guys, i am leaning toward the 7-08. I all ready have one in a tikka but i need a lever.

shooter55 · #9 12-22-2009, 06:43 PM

i had a BLR in 308 I bought about 27 years ago..It was a beautiful gun, great wood and finish and probably the strongest lever action out there....it never fit me nor the boy well and while we did kill moose/deer with it, it was never my favorite gun..I eventually traded it off after getting a Tikka deerhunter in 3006 and a Rem700 270 mountain gun.....can't really explain..I found it didn't shoot all that well (it could of been me of course).
If I was to get another, it would be a 450 marlin or large bore such as that...

Cappy · #10 12-22-2009, 10:41 PM

If I was to get another one it would be in 338Fed or
325WSM, short and light. Loaded with heavy bullets they would be great thumpers on moose/elk in tight cover and they are both very capable of reaching out to 300+ yards.

harv3589 · #11 12-22-2009, 10:44 PM

I had one in the .243 and another in a 30-06. Loved the .243 and hated the 06. I found that the 06 was so heavy to pack all day and it had alot of muzzle jump. Sold both and regret selling the .243 but thats the way it goes sometimes.

RUM · #12 12-22-2009, 10:50 PM

Have one in 308, and a fantastic quick handling little gun it is. My father bought it new near 30 years ago and it was my big "step up" rifle after starting on the old 32 Special. Never had any issues with it over the years.... and you got me thinking that I should take her out this fall for some long overdue attention

Battle Rat · #13 12-22-2009, 11:05 PM

First gun I owned.
Shoot 1.5" groups since new in 1977.
Two years ago free floated the barrel and made some gap in the barrel band.
Now it will keep 3 shots in 7/8".

lilsundance · #14 12-23-2009, 12:38 AM

I have one in 30-06 pistol grip, Got it the first year they came oout with it 3 yrs ago. I shoot the Hornady interbond handloads and the only problem I have found is if I lever the shell to fast it goes under the feed ramp. When that happens I have had to move the shell back by hand as I couldn't remove the clip. I think with round nose bullets or any that are not as sharp a point it would feed ok. My cousin has one, 15 yrs, in 308 and he has never had a problem with it feeding no matter how fast he levers it.

Svejk · #15 12-23-2009, 04:10 PM

I have and hunt a straight stocked Japanese BLR in .308 with Weaver 4x. Shoot 150 (or was it 165?) Core Lokt for deer.

Overall, I love it: good looks and works in the Field. Not that I don't occasionally lust for a Ruger #1 or a Savage 99.

Carries well, and points quick ( I like to bust brush). I am thinking a semi pistol grip version will be slower.

Did have some problems with feeding from the Mag but I fixed it. Also make sure the Rounds are fully seated to the rear.

Despite being tall, I tend to have my forward hand to close to the Action which makes me short stroke the Lever. Also, My scope is mounted pretty low so, with gloves on, the Hammer can be tough to click back if unprepared. I must get a hammer extension or clip. Haven't lost the Detachable Box magazine yet: but I do carry 2.

A friend of ours (new to firearms) shot my BLR and my brother's Tikka and prefered the Tikka.

I think it is a great buy: $400 used.

uglyelk · #16 12-24-2009, 12:19 AM

I've one in .308, nice bush gun, good deer rifle. It doesn't get enough use as I have many in this caliber. It's a joy to shoot and carry, cycles smooth and shoots tight. Hmmm Think i just talked my self into carrying it more often.

u_cant_rope_the_wind · #17 12-24-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramps73

Who has one and you thoughts on them good or bad
thanks
gramps

i had two of them,both in 308, one of the originals, wth the clip that wasnt flush,it was made in belgium, which was kinda un comfortable to carry,but it was very reliable and acurate, i had to sell it to make ends

meet, so then i bought a new one a few years later, twas made in japan, and i found the metal to be cheap,and it seemed very tinny, it had head space problems,and you know the story on warrenties on guns,so i traded it for a sako, and never looked back, but as for a fast , handling bush rifle,yup twas the gun to have,

gramps73 · #18 12-24-2009, 09:14 PM

thanks guy for the help
now they only problem is what caliber to get

gitrdun · #19 12-24-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramps73

thanks guy for the help
now they only problem is what caliber to get

They're a sissy lever. No tubular feed, not made by Marlin, not offered in .444, they look like a sissy shiny bling gun.....

pffffttt.

gitrdun · #20 12-26-2009, 06:55 PM

Seriously though, I had one in 7mm-08 many years ago. It didn't really grow on me. It is a pretty nice looking rifle, I'll give you that and yes the clip is a nice option. But having a pretty good idea of what calibers you currently have, I think that there are only a couple of calibers in it's line up that would fit in nicely. That would be the .358 Win and .450 Marlin, if you're after a good thick cover caliber. The only draw back with the .358 Win is that it isn't a good choice for those who don't reload. I could only find one listing in Winchester Super-X at 200gr. Thus the .358 is a good option for reloaders, but not factory ammo shooters. Anyways, just my opinion of course.

gramps73 · #21 12-26-2009, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitrdun

Seriously though, I had one in 7mm-08 many years ago. It didn't really grow on me. It is a pretty nice looking rifle, I'll give you that and yes the clip is a nice option. But having a pretty good idea of what calibers you currently have, I think that there are only a couple of calibers in it's line up that would fit in nicely. That would be the .358 Win and .450 Marlin, if you're after a good thick cover caliber. The only draw back with the .358 Win is that it isn't a good choice for those who don't reload. I could only find one listing in Winchester Super-X at 200gr. Thus the .358 is a good option for reloaders, but not factory ammo shooters. Anyways, just my opinion of course.

I have a good friend that reloads but if we are talking about big bores then it would have to be the .444 in the Marlin.
g

gitrdun · #22 12-27-2009, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gramps73

I have a good friend that reloads but if we are talking about big bores then it would have to be the .444 in the Marlin.
g

That would be my choice....but you already know that.