BLR Capability

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snowplow

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Hey guys, first post here but long time looker. For whatever reason l'm jonesing for a Browning BLR. I feel like this is a gun that doesn't do anything best but everything really well.

There's tons of calibers offered, some with potential long ranges.

My question is how far is the platform itself capable of?

For instance, if the gun itself won't hold a tight group past 200 yards, there would prob not be a benefit to chambering in .300 win.

Thanks for the help!
 
I have a BLR in 358 Winchester with a 4x Leupold scope that I use for deer and elk. For the bullets I use, effective range is 225 yards, so I consider it a 200 yard gun. Accuracy wise, it could be a 400 yard gun.

Made in Japan, pre 81 model, to be specific. I have a Williams peep sight for it as well. With the peep, it almost carries as well as a Marlin or Winchester, but not quite.

It kicks more than my Winchester M70 in 7mm Mag. I’ve replaced the butt pad for this reason.

View attachment 956120
 
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If you don't mind me hijacking your thread, how hard is maintenance on them? I've heard they are a nightmare to take apart and clean. How much of that is necessary/true? I've had an on and off desire for one and there is a steel one for sale not far from me.
 
Ru4real said:
I have a BLR in 358 Winchester with a 4x Leupold scope that I use for deer and elk. For the bullets I use, effective range is 225 yards, so I consider it a 200 yard gun. Accuracy wise, it could be a 400 yard gun.

Made in Japan, pre 81 model, to be specific. I have a Williams peep sight for it as well. With the peep, it almost carries as well as a Marlin or Winchester, but not quite.

It kicks more than my Winchester M70 in 7mm Mag. I’ve replaced the butt pad for this reason.

View attachment 956120
Click to expand...
Man does that bring back memories. Had the same gun caliber in the 80’s. Hunted deer in Canada. My club only has a 100 yard range and I’ve never hunted anywhere a 200 yard shot was likely, more like under 50 so can’t comment on accuracy beyond that. I used Winchester silver tips. I allowed a “friend” to trade it away from me with the condition that when he grew tired of it I’d buy it back. Never happened. Not friends any longer.
 
BigBlue 94 said:
I would say to stay away from the magnum rounds. Lever guns are meant for quick follow up shots at short and medium ranges.
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Lever guns might excel at making quick, follow-up shots (as opposed to the typical bolt-action rifle) but that doesn't mean that they're limited to short and medium ranges requiring speedy repeat shots. A BLR rifle (or Winchester Model 88 or Savage Model 99 or Sako Finnwolf for that matter) chambered in the appropriate cartridge (.308, .284, 7mm Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, etc.), topped with a good scope, are completely capable of making relatively long-range, accurate shots. It depends more on the shooter and the cartridge than it does the rifle action-type.
 
I've got an early Belgian made one in .308, and while I find it to be quite accurate, my shots were taken at only a 100 yard range.

For my hunting purposes, it was a terrific gun, light, short, and accurate. Great woods gun, but with the ability to reach out if necessary unlike most lever actions.

Words of caution, don't take it apart, don't lose the magazine. Both will cause expensive regrets. lol
 
The BLR actually two different rifles.
One is the original steel receiver for short action cartridges.
An intermediate version is the BLR-81. Steel receiver also.
Second is the long-action aluminum only receiver in full length cartridges to include 7mmRemMag and .300RemMag.

Mine is a .358Win. Quite accurate off a bench, but atrocious trigger limits it’s usefulness.
It’s also too pretty to hunt with. But it’s a killing machine. Three shots, three dead deer, right there...
I had to replace the original butt pad with a Boyd’s 1/2” pad. It dramatically reduced weight, length of pull, and improved fit/handling of the rifle.

The long actions (there are also short actions w/aluminum receivers, and take-down models) but long actions all have pistol grip stocks and are unwieldy. IMO.
My gun, except for a 2-7x Leupold, is a clone of Nature Boys.

Be aware, my 4 magazines are worth much as the gun is. And aren’t compatible with newer rifles...
 
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I would be torn between a BLR and a Long Ranger. If I bought a BLR the first thing I’d do is send it to Neil Jones for trigger work. I also don’t care for the fact that the trigger moves with the lever on a BLR.

I wouldn’t mind a Long Ranger with iron sights rebored to .338 Federal or .358 Winchester. I also wouldn’t turn down a steel receiver BLR in .35 Whelen.
 
Crosshair said:
If you don't mind me hijacking your thread, how hard is maintenance on them? I've heard they are a nightmare to take apart and clean. How much of that is necessary/true?
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I don't know if I would say "nightmare", but at least on my 1985 crenelated pins are used, which must be driven out to the correct side. When they are inserted, their tiny ridges must match the grooves. Too risky. So, I didn't take mine apart for 30 years. I just clean the barrel and call it done. Of course, a soft rod must be used.
 
My dads old pal had one way back, in .243 win. It was VERY accurate.

A buddy of mine has one in .308 and he says it shoots great. Hes buying a 2nd one.
Loves the BLR.
 
I picked one up this spring from an old friend in 7mm-08; 90's vintage '81 I believe. Beautiful little gun. Trigger is terrible; I joked to the former owner that I'm amazed as his ability to shoot deer with it while using two hands to pull the trigger. Planned to send it to Neil Jones after the first of the year, but whitetail season started started 10 days ago with temps in the low teens. I discovered that I can't put a gloved hand into the loop or the trigger guard: not much use to me for still hunting, tracking or driving deer. Be OK for a stand where I had time to remove a glove, but I have a preferred rifle for that role. Don't know what I will do with it now. I'm not one to keep a gun I can't use as intended.
 
In 1986 into 87 I loaded for my BLR in 358 Winchester. My logs from those years show a 180grain Speer FN In Winchester case over 44.7 grains of Hercules #7 powder. Remington # 91/2 primer. Notes indicate a 5 shot group of 3 inches, receiver sights at 100 yards. 3 shot groups under 1 1/2 inches are also noted. Velocity 2600fps

A 200 grain Hornady RN was loaded over 40 grains of the same powder. Notes indicate sub 2 inch group same distance. For this bullet Id written that lower velocities were more accurate. Velocity 2225
Seems I shot some 420 rounds all told.

A good deal of the brass was once fired from Winchester’s silver tip rounds.

As noted earlier I let the rifle get away from me.
 
JumboJVT said:
I picked one up this spring from an old friend in 7mm-08; 90's vintage '81 I believe. Beautiful little gun. Trigger is terrible; I joked to the former owner that I'm amazed as his ability to shoot deer with it while using two hands to pull the trigger. Planned to send it to Neil Jones after the first of the year, but whitetail season started started 10 days ago with temps in the low teens. I discovered that I can't put a gloved hand into the loop or the trigger guard: not much use to me for still hunting, tracking or driving deer. Be OK for a stand where I had time to remove a glove, but I have a preferred rifle for that role. Don't know what I will do with it now. I'm not one to keep a gun I can't use as intended.
Click to expand...
How much is it worth?
 
daniel craig said:
How much is it worth?
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That's a good question. The old friend sold it to me below market around here, which would be about $800. The obvious answer is to sell it for what I can get, but it came from an old, cherished friend that won't be around forever... So whether to sell it at all is my quandary. I don't keep guns I can't use, emotional reasons being the exception. The ties that bind, you know.
 
@JumboJVT

With regards to getting a gloved finger inside the trigger guard... what I've done is to take a razor and make a cut down the index finger of the glove to the tip of the finger. It let's you wiggle the finger out pretty easy. I'd suggest trying it on a cheap pair of gloves first, getting the cut "just right" takes a little trial and error. When you get it right though, it works pretty well.
 
The .358 is a gun I’ve lusted after for a few years.

I’d also take one in 7-08.

I’d take any TBH...

Enjoy!
Greg
 
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