BLR - Some gun smiths won't touch em

BullOnParade

BullOnParade

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I've heard it maybe a dozen times in my shooting career, which is not very long, "the Browning Lever-action Rifle is a real b to reassemble and even some gunsmiths won't work on em". I've done a lot of reading about the BLR over the years, so maybe I'm overexposed to the claim compared to most non-owners, but I'm starting to think it's internet/fudd BS

I'm looking for verification of this claim. I'm not asking someone to confirm the BLR is challenging to work on internally, any gear work with that fine of teeth will be a test of patience and skill. But if you have ever been denied service by a gunsmith, because the rifle in need was a BLR, I want to hear the story. Even better, if you're a professional smith (licensed, insured, etc) who doesn't work on these guns, let me know. I may have my foot in my mouth, but I can't see any business man turning down a paying customer, so long as that customer is agreeing to an hourly or (appropriate) flat rate for such work.
 
BullOnParade said:
I've heard it maybe a dozen times in my shooting career, which is not very long, "the Browning Lever-action Rifle is a real b to reassemble and even some gunsmiths won't work on em". I've done a lot of reading about the BLR over the years, so maybe I'm overexposed to the claim compared to most non-owners, but I'm starting to think it's internet/fudd BS

I'm looking for verification of this claim. I'm not asking someone to confirm the BLR is challenging to work on internally, any gear work with that fine of teeth will be a test of patience and skill. But if you have ever been denied service by a gunsmith, because the rifle in need was a BLR, I want to hear the story. Even better, if you're a professional smith (licensed, insured, etc) who doesn't work on these guns, let me know. I may have my foot in my mouth, but I can't see any business man turning down a paying customer, so long as that customer is agreeing to an hourly or (appropriate) flat rate for such work.
Click to expand...

WHY ?? just wondering ! lol RJ
 
I had one smith adjust the trigger on my wife's BLR and he agreed to a flat fee, when I picked it up he told me he was ready to through in the towel several times. The difficulty is in timing the rack and pinion system, our own Guntech published a simpler but still not easy way to time the action. I have the service manual for them and after reading the assembly instructions several times I knew I wouldn't attempt it. The hourly rates a smith needs to survive and the likely hood of several hours to work on one makes it a losing proposition to the smith and customer.
 
I know of one, original owner, barrel is actually loose....and he still shoots it...gunsmith wont touch it...

That said I own a '79 Belgium Grade IV BAR in .243 which is amazing, and local smiths in AB enjoy working on them...when needed which is rare...
 
I used to tackle every job that came to me... I did that for over 40 years... many of those jobs ending up costing me money if I charged $10 an hour.

In the last 10 years or so I became semi retired... I still work 6 months of the year but I also do not do everything I used to do... no more bluing, refinishing, or general repairs. No more pad installs. I kind of specialize in bolt action accuracy work. I used to do trigger jobs on the BLR and re time those that some one incorrectly assembled. (They can be ever so slightly out of time and seemingly function but with misfires).. but I don't need challenges and working on BLR's is one that I don't miss.
 
Rebarreling a BLR is pretty straightforward. Contour has to be close to original, because of the way the forend fits and is attached. You can rebarrel a BLR without stripping the action.
The good thing about a BLR is that the action is smooth, and they tend to shoot quite well.
They are not a good choice for rugged day in, day out work rifle. They can develop misfiring problems. The design of the mainspring system contribute to this, and servicing the hammer system requires removal of the stock and mainspring housing (stock bolt screws into the mainspring housing).
As far as detail stripping of the action goes, don't.
Guntech's system for reassembling earlier model BLRs was published by Brownell's in one of their Kink's books.
Newer ones with the articulated levers are worse.
I did work on customers' rifles. Really disliked doing it. Wouldn't own one myself.
 
remington jim said:
WHY ?? just wondering ! lol RJ
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Why do I want to know if it's urban legend or why do I want it taken apart?
I don't necessarily want to take one apart, I just think it's fishy that a gun with this many iterations, that's been around this long, has a reputation of unf***withable.

Maybe the countless generations contribute to so many complex nuances that memorizing them all is impossible.

I'll take a look for Guntech/Brownells publication on the matter.
 
Complete Gun Repair here in St John's has been doing them for years.

I believe that are the only gun shop around here that does them; like you said, most won't touch them.

A tangly job for sure.

The older ones were bad, the newer ones are worse; more moving parts.

Unfortunately, these rifles can go out of sync from regular use, not just from taking them apart.
 
BullOnParade said:
Why do I want to know if it's urban legend or why do I want it taken apart?
I don't necessarily want to take one apart, I just think it's fishy that a gun with this many iterations, that's been around this long, has a reputation of unf***withable.

Maybe the countless generations contribute to so many complex nuances that memorizing them all is impossible.

I'll take a look for Guntech/Brownells publication on the matter.
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Bull - Doesn't sound as if you own one. Do you have a friend with one? Offer to give it a complete cleaning and servicing. Detail strip it, clean and lubricate it. Reassemble it and return it to him.
Let us know what you think of the design when you are through with it.
 
Sounds like a challenge for the sadist. Buy one and become an expert before your head turns to mush. Not my cup of tea, stress reduction is a life goal for me.
 
The earlier ones, with one piece levers, used a couple of splined drive pins in their assembly. The splines are an interference fit in the holes in the receiver.
How many times can you remove and replace a driven splined pin before it won't hold securely any longer? The holes in the receiver are being distorted every cycle.
When you drive them out, don't drive the splined end right through the receiver and parts.
This is a really Mickey Mouse design.
The later ones used push pins secured with a little cap screw at the ends. Avoids the spline issue.
John Moses would be embarrassed to see his name on these mousetraps.
 
I have worked on a bunch and am happy, at this point, to avoid them. The newer ones are worse. I have seen trigger issues which are very difficult to resolve. The bolt timing thing is just annoying. When I work on one now, it is just as a favour for a friend.
 
Interesting. I've always liked the idea of the BLR, a lever gun that can take 308cal power cartridges... But maybe I'll avoid this particular model and stick to the classic levers, leave the 60k psi cartridges to the bolt guns...
 
Another problem was with rifles that shot a lot of heavy loads... they developed little indents inside the bolt head where initial extraction takes place... causing extremely hard extraction... if that happens the bolt head needs to be replaced. It can't be repaired.
 
I'd compare it to watches.... a Marlin is like your Timex- simple, reliable, easy to take apart and reassemble. The BLR is like a fine Swiss watch... and the Geek Squad tech at your local Best Buy isn't going to open one up for you, most likely.
 
Except a fine Swiss watch is a fine Swiss watch. A BLR isn't in the fine Swiss watch category of firearms.
 
guntech said:
Another problem was with rifles that shot a lot of heavy loads... they developed little indents inside the bolt head where initial extraction takes place... causing extremely hard extraction... if that happens the bolt head needs to be replaced. It can't be repaired.
Click to expand...

Are we talking hot hand loads, or would factory ammo be enough to cause this issue with time?
 
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