BLR Capability

[9x56MS]

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.

Mine is the lightweight takedown model with pistol grip and is a takedown model. Maintenance is no different than any other rifl with the exception of canned air to clean out trigger assembly once every 3-5 years. Takedown feature makes barrel and chamber cleaning a breeze. The rack and pinion are not difficult to get at but unless you walk around with the the lever down and carry it upside down allowing debris to get into the gears there is no need to access it. I have had mine 8 years and have cleaned the trigger assembly once and only thing I have ever done with gearing is add a little oil once a year. Hope this answers your questions on maintenance issues. Good hunting.

 

[Newtosavage]

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 came across a nice one with the monte carlo stock in 7mm-08 last year. I was very excited to get it because I have wanted a BLR in 7mm-08 since the early 90's. I also got it for a killer price.

As excited as I was to get it, I didn't own it very long. I know the BLR's have their fans, but growing up a life-long Win94 user, the lever action on the BLR seemed stiff, clunky and too long a throw to be practical. It might have broken in over time, but I just couldn't get on with that rack and pinion action at all. Also, the trigger was worse than horrible. Yes, there is "a guy" who does BLR trigger jobs, from what I understand, but it sounded like a major PITA to mail him the gun, pay a couple hundred bucks, and wait for him to mail it back. Accuracy was "okay" for what it was - a lever action rifle with a barrel band. 1.5" was pretty routine. That said, I considered it a 300-yard gun tops, and more likely a 250-yard gun. So in a 7mm-08, that's plenty for deer and elk so long as you don't ever need to shoot further than that.

But the final deal-breaker for me was the weight. Even with a lightweight scope, it was the heaviest hunting rifle I owned at nearly 8 lbs. I just couldn't get on with it and didn't enjoy using it, as nice as it looked. So I sold it for a pretty nice profit to someone on a ranch in MT and they were more than happy to get it. I honestly haven't ever missed it since.

 

[9x56MS]

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...

You need to send yours to Neil Jones in Erie PA. He is the man on BLR triggers. Got mine down to 3lbs no take up or creep. Breaks like glass. Damn trigger was 9 lbs when I bought it.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’ve never measured trigger pull weight but I know it’s nowhere near 9#

It might have been when I first got it back in the early 80’s, but I was ignorant of what a good vs bad trigger was.

 

[Speedo66]

I don't know if mine was an anomaly or if the very early two year only Belgium model I had was different, but I thought the trigger was actually pretty good. Never took it apart, only cleaned the barrel.

I recently sold it as the state I'm currently in only allows straight wall hunting cartridges. It certainly held its value as I tripled my original outlay.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Between cost of shipping two ways, cost of trigger job;
I can think of better ways to spend $250...
No thanks...

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

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.

Back in the day a friend of mine got a empty ctg. stuck in the chamber. It was locked up solid and he ended up breaking one of the gears. He bought a gear from Browning and ended up sending them the gun as he was unable to get it back in time. I would not take one down at all. The lop is 14 inches which is too long for me, even with a t shirt.

 

[cdb1]

Between cost of shipping two ways, cost of trigger job;
I can think of better ways to spend $250...
No thanks...

I’d do it.

 

[d2wing]

A couple buddies had them and liked them, As far as lever action accuracy, I had a buddy that made a one shot kill on a running buck shooting a Winchester 88 chambered in .284 Winchester. I saw it happen.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I “fixed” the length of pull on mine by removing the 1/2lb block-of-bumper-rubber Browning calls a recoil pad and fitted a Boyd’s 1/2” black rubber pad. It looks like it “grew there” and allows the gun to be shouldered with hunting clothes on. Also noticeably reduced weight and improved balance. I believe the pad was a blemished I bought for little or nothing with a couple of blemished stocks I bought from Boyd’s.

I’ve heard how bad the .358win is supposed to recoil. However, my .358 isn’t that bad imo. It’s about like the Marlin .338MX which is about like my Remington 700 ADL synthetic in .270. Or, like the proverbial .30/06.

 

[Nature Boy]

I’ve heard how bad the .358win is supposed to recoil. However, my .358 isn’t that bad imo

You probably heard that from me as I was complaining about it on one of my load development threads. It's uncomfortable to me, but I sill have that stock "bumper rubber" pad on mine.

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I “fixed” the length of pull on mine by removing the 1/2lb block-of-bumper-rubber Browning calls a recoil pad and fitted a Boyd’s 1/2” black rubber pad. It looks like it “grew there” and allows the gun to be shouldered with hunting clothes on. Also noticeably reduced weight and improved balance. I believe the pad was a blemished I bought for little or nothing with a couple of blemished stocks I bought from Boyd’s.

I’ve heard how bad the .358win is supposed to recoil. However, my .358 isn’t that bad imo. It’s about like the Marlin .338MX which is about like my Remington 700 ADL synthetic in .270. Or, like the proverbial .30/06.

I had a gunsmith cut off 1/2" back in the day. I wish I would have have him take off 1 1/2". I'm thick in the shoulders/arms.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Actually NB, it was none other than Jack O’Conner.
I was 12 or so, and remember him giving shade on some rifle. Can’t remember the rifle (maybe a Winchester M70 FW). My mother bought me and my older brother a subscription to Outdoor Life magazine. He wrote the shooting column. It was there that I first remember the .358 mentioned.