I would not base it on "fits you best" alone.
The stock measurements are exactly the same.
If fast handling in the timber, or snap shots at running game, or comfortable carry at the ready with the gun in your right hand is in the cards?
Straight grip.
If benchrest target shooting, or rested long range shots over shooting sticks are the norm?
Pistol grip.
It all boils down to the angle of the dangle of your wrest during typical use.
Makes sense. This gun wll probably end up doing both rested shooting and quick shots at fleeting hogs in brush country. It seems the straight grip is the more logical choice.
Well the steel version is stronger...but I don't know of any particular problems that can be attributed to the Al. receiver. IIRC they don't even make a blued chrome-moly steel receiver, so the steel one doesn't even look better IMO. I'd base the choice on weight...if you can handle a little more, steel...if not, aluminum. Unless you have some crazy things in mind for this levergun, I doubt that you'll be able to tear up either.
I bet either way won't make much difference for my purposes. Like I said earlier, I don't plan to use it like a kalashnikov.
Light weight would be nice, but in all honesty balance would mak more difference. I know steel reciver rifles are available on GB for about the same price, sometimes less, sometimes more. I'd have to feel for myself, I guess, but I don't see that happening. I'm a little wary about buying an used rifle, though. In the end quality beats out even balance. If the thing can't hold a wal-mart size group at 5 feet, it desn't matter how it handles, junk is junk. Or a group of less than two inches at 100 yards, for that matter.
They were thinner (hence strength of newer ones approaching the older), but the older ones had a different balance (more between the hands, less barrel heavy) and the wood was less "proud" on them. They were indeed trimmer and quicker handling.
If that's the case, then I'll have to investigate some GB auctions that have gone unbidden.
Getting down on irons on most rifles is a real pain in the cheek bone for me. I've been bruised by enough rifles that folks with thinner angular facial structures think are just fine. So for some of us, fit is really critical. Most others may not notice?
How round is your face? Once that face is behind the sights, which wrist feels better?
I have a melon for a head as well, but I've never had a problem getting down on the irons of any rifle at this point. As far as wrist comfort, I've never had a problem with straight grips, though a very tight curve like on most commercial bolt is slightly more natural. However, a curve with any wider circumfrence, and it gets awkward as all get-out. The straight grip has never given me trouble, but the wrong curved grip has posed some problems. I still find wide circumfrence pistol grips usable, but far from ideal. That curved BLR grip looks a little long, to me.
I like the straight grip in the BLR. I have BLRs in the 358, 284 and 243. All are in straight grip. Like GooseGestapo said there are some balance issue. I have the 243 in the older Belguim style and it is very well balance. The 358 and 284 took some working with and getting the right scope to have a proper blance.
Balance is everything.
Noted. It seems like the steel reciever is preferred by many. I want to know if there any who are strong proponents of the aluminum on THR. I'd like to weigh both sides of the stroy, so to speak.
I do have one problem w/ my .358 81. It will not shot a group smaller the 10" at 100yrds off a bench. Browning did say to send it back.
Is this the aluminum model? If so, how do you feel it handles? Sucks about the grouping though. How is Browning's CS?
