308 BLR Problem Please Help!

[hgeo33]

Hello

At deer hunting camp this year one of my hunting partners was having problems with his Browning BLR. He had trouble ejecting casings after he fired. I took a look at his fired cases and noticed a rather unusual extracter mark.

There is a raised portion of brass in the shape of what i call the plunger (the small spring loaded cylinder on the bolt face that pushes against the back of the case).

On my remington 700 I have seen indentations in this shape when working up handloads when the pressure has become to high. It is usually an indentation though with a scrape mark caused by the case being rotated as it is ejected.

This is actually a noticably raised area of brass.

If you look at the side of the case you can see that the rim has actually been bent up slightly where the mark is.

My guess would be that he has a headspace issue and needs it adjusted or the chamber re-done.

Anyone here know BLR's and can suggest what the problem is?

 

[guntech]

To my eye it appears to be a pressure problem... or soft brass... excessive headspace does not cause brass to flow into the ejector hole.

Sometimes you will get factory ammo loaded a bit too hot... I have experienced it.

In the BLR hot loads eventually damage the initial camming areas inside the bolt head and make it even harder to open after firing.

If he is loading, reduce the load.

If it is factory ammo, contact the manufacturer.

 

[hgeo33]

It is factory ammo. Regular Federal 180 gr soft points.

He mentioned that he did have an issues with the gun when it was first bought (hard to eject). It was sent back to Browning and they re chambered or headspaced it. This was some time ago and the problem was resolved. This is the first time it has started to do this again.

Should he bring it in to a gunsmith and have it looked over?

 

[guntech]

It is factory ammo. Regular Federal 180 gr soft points.

He mentioned that he did have an issues with the gun when it was first bought (hard to eject). It was sent back to Browning and they re chambered or headspaced it. This was some time ago and the problem was resolved. This is the first time it has started to do this again.

Should he bring it in to a gunsmith and have it looked over?

I would complain first to Federal.. show them the fired case and tell them it is a factory Browning BLR and see what they say... also try some other ammo and see if it does it too... it is unknown at this point if it is this box of ammo at fault ...

 

[6.5x55swm]

BLR are junk, that's the problem

 

[gunasauras]

I have heard tell of BLR's with receiver stretching issues that led to excessive headspace. This being said, that sure looks like a pressure issue with the ammo,....

 

[Russ]

I have a '81 BLR in 308.....It does the same thing if I load it to hot...Hard to extract and leaves similar marks on the case head...

180 is a big chunk of lead for the 308....I load 150gr. speer grand slams...Use that for everthing...Has worked on deer,elk,and moose...

Try a lighter bullet and see if you have the same issues...If it's still hard to extract the receiver may be stretching.

Russ...

 

[hgeo33]

Thanks very much for the help. I will get him to try some different ammo and see if that helps.

We will also talk to Federal.

If we dont get anywhere with that I will get him to bring it in and have the reciever/cams looked at.

 

[Tick]

Blr 308

6.5X55swm that was ignorant

 

[RePete]

BLR are junk, that's the problem

Totally uncalled for and non contructive. You aren't contributing to this thread.

I would go with guntech, Federal brass is soft and quite often contributes to what appears to be high pressure/headspace problems.

I suggest that your friend tries a box of Winchester ammo before condeming the gun.