Reloading browning BLR- is it hard?

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GunNewb

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Ive only reloaded for bolt actions up till this point but Im pretty interested in picking one of these up. I hear that the action is pretty strong and can handle decent loads. Im interested in the 308 and wondering if theres any tricky things to it that I wouldnt be used to reloading for bolt guns.

Can I neck size only or will the lever action not close up like a bolt?
do I need to crimp after seatiing my bullets due to the lever action picking them up and pushing them around?
 
I reloaded for wife's 308 for 20+ years and had no problems. I did full length size and did not try neck sizing. It was not finicky and would produce 1 1/8" to 1 1/4" groups with most mid weight bullets.
 
You will not get away with neck sizing as the case bulges out one side due to the extracter holder it off center in the chamber. A small base full length sizing die will straighten out the brass, it squeezes out the bulge left from the firing. Rcbs makes the die set. Never crimped for blr's as the feed just like a bolt action.

Just what I have learned.
 
Silvertip13 said:
You will not get away with neck sizing as the case bulges out one side due to the extracter holder it off center in the chamber. A small base full length sizing die will straighten out the brass, it squeezes out the bulge left from the firing. Rcbs makes the die set. Never crimped for blr's as the feed just like a bolt action.

Just what I have learned.
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thanks gentlemen. I will look into those RCBC dies.
 
I reload for my BLR in in 300 WM. This round is best at near max loads. I only FS resize if new or bought / picked up 1F brass. Then they're NS from then on. I've never had a problem chambering them. The guys talking about SB FS dies for their 308 are talking about a 308 phenomenon and not necessarily a BLR issue. I've had this issue in 308, with certain makes of brass (Imp), in my 760 where a SB FS die would have been the solution. Shelving that brass and sticking to Win, Fed, or Rem brass did the trick there.
 
kamlooky said:
Run a couple into the action after you full length size them to make sure your die
is set up right for your rifle.
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Absolutely! I should have mentioned that. The OP did mention he was a bolt guy and the mag being the limiting factor for COAL in the BLR is not something he'd probably be used to.
 
Gunnewb;

I just wanted to add that the BLR is a sweet rifle. It's by far the most solid lever action around. This comes at a price though - the gearing is not easily taken apart and not something typical shooters should do. You can totally mess up the timing / headspace if you don't know how to put it back together. Browning recommends taking it to a certified gunsmith to have this kind of work done. With this in mind, you shouldn't usually need to be taking the action apart on this rifle.

Would I recommend the BLR? Absolutely! I love my BLR! But depending on your intended application, I might recommend a different cartridge though. I got mine for moose, bear, and occasionally for a deer backup and that's why I went with the 300WM. I'm not saying a 308 won't get the job done but if I were looking at a new BLR, I'd be looking at a different cartridge. But that's just me. If all you want is a 308 lever, you can get a Remlin in 308 for half the price.
 
My BLR in 308 also needed the small base FL dies (RCBS). I'd recommend that you try out some regular FL dies first just to see (or ask a buddy to FL resize some brass with regular dies, drop a bullet in without primer or powder to make a dummy round, and see if it will cycle).

I don't have a regular 308 FL die any more, but I'm sure someone here could do up a couple dummy rounds for you. It would save having to buy and potentially re-sell the regular FL die set.
 
Barnes_270 said:
My BLR in 308 also needed the small base FL dies (RCBS). I'd recommend that you try out some regular FL dies first just to see (or ask a buddy to FL resize some brass with regular dies, drop a bullet in without primer or powder to make a dummy round, and see if it will cycle).

I don't have a regular 308 FL die any more, but I'm sure someone here could do up a couple dummy rounds for you. It would save having to buy and potentially re-sell the regular FL die set.
Click to expand...

I use a regular FL Lee die for BLR, never had a problem.
Nice gun, first 3 shots usually group under MOA with 165gr Hornady.

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