Provisioning BLR in .308 Win w/Scout optic+irons

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rodregier

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I'm posting this to hopefully save at least one other person the time and money I spent getting the correct front sight height sorted out.

If you want to install the Browning Scout mount on a BLR *and* want a backup iron sight capability, here are the SKU's you'll need for one of the better iron sight systems plus a forward mounted optic. A taller front sight is needed to to work with the taller rear, and it also permits an unobscured
sight line between the rear and the front *over* the Scout rail.
All my testing was done with a 2013 production stainless takedown BLR chambered in .308 Win.
(#034015118)
ht tp://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=003B&cid=034&tid=015
I would presume that the barrel exterior is similar dimensions for the .223 Rem and the other .308 parent cartridge chambering variants (.243, 7mm08), which would determine the required
sight height.


1 - Browning Scout mount - short action - #12327 (.308 or .223)

1 - Set Leupold QRW "low" rings matte - #49853

1 - Leupold FX-II Scout 2.5x28mm Duplex matte - #58810

Brownells:

1 - 962-564-380WB - Williams Rifle Fire Sight red 450N

1 - 962-027-250WB - Williams .250 Riser Block

1 - 962-100-750WB - Williams WGRS BAR (rear)

1 - 962-000-082WB - Williams 1/4" WGOS Slide/Ghost Ring

1 - 962-050-000WB - Williams front sight pusher (optional tool).

Configuration update:

Remove Browning rear barrel-mounted iron sight assembly

Install Browning Scout mount rail on barrel (I blue Loctite'd the screws)

Install Williams WGRS rear sight at the back of the receiver close to the hammer.

Replace included Williams rear peep insert with WGOS Slide/Ghost Ring

Remove Browning Williams Fire Sight (Red) factory .410 front sight.
(This is where the Sight Pusher is handy)

Install front .250 riser block (I blue Loctite'd the set screw)

Install front .450 sight (I blue Loctite'd the set screw)
(Sight pusher again)

n.b. total front sight height now .700 above dovetail slot.

\\

I used a rear butt stock pack along with the .500 plus .250 foam spacers from Beartooth comb raising kit to ensure better comb height for the taller irons and optic for fast target acquisition. The stock pack can be used for spare ammunition storage and handy tools too.

Secured the foam spacers with tape, and covered them with the stock pack.

Eagle or Tac-Ops stock pack will do the trick.

ht tp://www.tacticalworks.com/Tactical-Operations-Ammo-Cheek-Pad.html - #TOPS1

ht tp://www.eagleindustries.com/products/detail.aspx?id=91 - #350000

ht tp://www.amazon.com/Beartooth-Stock-Comb-Raising-Kit/dp/B002L9JQ4E

Test on range for 50 meter zero for irons and optic, adjust rear windage and elevation for a zero.

Optic have to be removed to access the iron sights. That's fast with the QRW mounts.

BLR tool kit:

Broken shell extractor for chambering (Brownells 080-000-530WB for .308 Win)
Rapid Rod kit (Brownells 002-110-000WB )
.500 nylon brush (chamber, chunky bore cleaning)
.308 bronze brush
cotton patches

Stubby driver with driver bit storage

Driver bits - 3/16 slotted
.120 slotted (Brownells 080-120-120WB)
Wiha 74033 Slotted Power Bit 2.5mm (Amazon and others)
T-15 Torx
2mm hex
 
Thanks for the insight. Doing a similar thing with a 30-06 BLR 81 take down, but I was considering Skinner Express sight for the rear and replacing the existing front post
with a higher Marbles fiber optic front post, although I am uncertain about the height I would need. I am also considering the XS Sights "low weaver backup," but
here too I am not certain it would attach Brownings scout rail properly - I intend to email them about it.

I think I would rather have something permanently attached to the rifle ( I can't forget to bring it that way - referring to the low weaver backup ) and I would want to sight it
in for 100 meters so I don't think the front post would have to be as high as yours - but I won't know until I try.
 
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The iron setup I described has the rear elevation adjustment about mid-range between the upper and lower limits.

Given the modest drop from 50 to 100 meters for the chambered cartridges that "should" still be within the
adjustment range of the setup I described.

The one wildcard with your setup compared to mine is that the .30-06 receiver will be longer, which will
mildly change the sight geometry.
 
rodregier said:
The iron setup I described has the rear elevation adjustment about mid-range between the upper and lower limits.

Given the modest drop from 50 to 100 meters for the chambered cartridges that "should" still be within the
adjustment range of the setup I described.

The one wildcard with your setup compared to mine is that the .30-06 receiver will be longer, which will
mildly change the sight geometry.
Click to expand...

Ya, going with the 30-06 meant the overall length of the rifle would be 43 inches, rather then the 40 inches of a .308 version (and I was strongly leaning towards the .308), but I don't
think it will make much of a difference in determining the height of the front post. Time will tell. Well I bit the bullet and ordered the Skinner sights - two actually, one for my BL-22 as well.
I guess I'll be repeating the process you just went through. :)
 
Getting the trigger job done here:

Rob Wise
Wise Choice Sporting Goods & Gunsmithing
1364 11N Hwy
Kilworthy Ontario P0E 1G0
Canada

(705) 689-9473

My understanding is that Rob Wise, of Wise Choice Gunsmithing, is Ellwood Epps grandson. His shop is located just a couple of miles north of the Epps store and he currently operates as a gunsmith.

Wise Choice was established in 1994
 
If you can get a proper trigger job on a blr you will instantly become the "Best Friend" of many many blr owners. Please pass along the results once you get your baby back.
 
My unit has been tuned and return shipped by Mr. Wise. I'm impatiently waiting for Canada Post to do their thing to completion :)

There will be a report.
 
I received my takedown BLR receiver+buttstock back from Wise Choice Sporting Goods & Gunsmithing.
My measurements say the trigger was reduced from 8.8 to 4.5 lbs, a very substantial improvement.
(Sad I had to pay out of pocket to get the unit tuned to meet the factory trigger pull spec).
Rob Wise notes that no work was done to the hammer spring, my manual testing tends to confirm that.
That is important for primer ignition reliability.

I'm scheduled to function test on the range soon. I'm not expecting any issues based on my manual testing.
My post-gunsmithing testing will include NATO-spec ball ammunition, which have hard primers by design.
My earlier prior testing with my BLR using NATO-spec ball ammunition had 100% ignition reliability.


Total cost for shop work, return ground shipment via Canada Post and taxes was $157.50, charged to my VISA account.
No parts required, he tunes the existing parts. Off-season-peak turnaround was prompt.

I would definitely recommend his BLR trigger work to others based on my experience to date.
 
131215BLRforward_zps1498b4a5.jpg

131215BLRfront_zpscfe41b21.jpg

131215BLRscope_zpsb967294e-1.jpg

131215BLRrear_zps65cc40b1-1.jpg
 
Nice gun...I am trying to convince myself that I "need" one just like it, but probably in .358. :) And thanks for the tip regarding BLR trigger work.

...but, wow...that front sight is way outside my comfort zone! It looks like it came off the barrel of an AR. Does it really need to be that high just to clear the scout mount? Does that rail have a groove down the center, or is it flat-topped?
 
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The sight needs to be that high to work with the rear. It just so happens that it also clears the groove in the scout mount too :)
The Bill of Materials lists the exact SKU's.

The reason why the original sight can be much lower is because the original rear is much closer to the bore line,
being mounted on the barrel (Not the receiver).

If I was willing to accept a poorer rear sight that sits lower then the front could have been lower too.
 
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