Blr 358
- Thread starter m1978
- Start date
Just sold mine. Was a good gun in the bush. - dan
I have. What's worse, I have struggled to find the definite cause and cure and I've worked on a lot of BLR's. My first guess is always timing but some which have shown this sort of misfire are timed perfectly. It is always troubling when the cause and effect are not obvious.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
There is a guy on YouTube that says if your bolt is fully home and in battery he found out that there was gunk interfering with the firing pin fall.
Enough to cause light strikes.
I think he used a solvent to free it up.
Another possible cause oil and gunk accumulating on the main spring. Access it by removing the butt stock.
YouTube handle OldGuyDIY
Maybe
I owned one for a FEW Years - Great Rifle ! - Triggers are NOT the Greatest BUT ok ! RJ
I have had one similar to Hoyt's pictured above for 17 years, set up with the same scope in Leupold QR rings and bases. These rifles are a lot of fun to hunt with!
It has been my go to back up guiding, archery hunting and saddle/atv rifle. It has taken its fair share of game over the years ans has never left me wanting.
The triggers can be terrible, but with practice you will learn exactly where yours will break. I have gotten used to mine and it will shoot MOA groups with handloaded 220 gr Speer Hot-Cor bullets. It also shoots the newer Hornady ammo to similar sized groups. My daughter took her first big game animal (mule deer) with it 10 years ago when she was 15.
A friend's BLR would put 3 shots into .3" groups at 100 yards...not bad for a levergun!
For the thick brush hunter who rarely stretches shots at game out over 250 yards, this rifle/cartridge combo will handle everything from deer to grizzly bears! (should people get to hunt them again).
It has been my go to back up guiding, archery hunting and saddle/atv rifle. It has taken its fair share of game over the years ans has never left me wanting.
The triggers can be terrible, but with practice you will learn exactly where yours will break. I have gotten used to mine and it will shoot MOA groups with handloaded 220 gr Speer Hot-Cor bullets. It also shoots the newer Hornady ammo to similar sized groups. My daughter took her first big game animal (mule deer) with it 10 years ago when she was 15.
A friend's BLR would put 3 shots into .3" groups at 100 yards...not bad for a levergun!
For the thick brush hunter who rarely stretches shots at game out over 250 yards, this rifle/cartridge combo will handle everything from deer to grizzly bears! (should people get to hunt them again).
I’ve got a late ‘70’s BLR in .358 as well, wears a 2-7 VX2, Leupold.
200gr Hornady SP’s and a full dose of Varget, just makes stuff die!
Accuracy is not so terrible either, with 3 shot groups hovering in the 1”-1.25” range at 100yds.
200gr Hornady SP’s and a full dose of Varget, just makes stuff die!
Accuracy is not so terrible either, with 3 shot groups hovering in the 1”-1.25” range at 100yds.
Ive got one, takedown stainless .358, I like it never had a problem, reasonable accuracy.
My grips, with all the BLRs I've had, are a poor trigger, and stock is kind of clubby,
My grips, with all the BLRs I've had, are a poor trigger, and stock is kind of clubby,
One'ear.
Not sure why I need tuh lawb them bigg'un bullets at critters though.
Beats thuh snawt owt oh dem 88's.
Bit more refined and less cumbersum.
It's the bawtum one warin the chastitty belt, just in case...………………….
Not sure why I need tuh lawb them bigg'un bullets at critters though.
Beats thuh snawt owt oh dem 88's.
Bit more refined and less cumbersum.
It's the bawtum one warin the chastitty belt, just in case...………………….
One'ear.
Not sure why I need tuh lawb them bigg'un bullets at critters though.
Beats thuh snawt owt oh dem 88's.
Bit more refined and less cumbersum.
It's the bawtum one, just in case...………………….
Because them bigg'un bullets beats thuh snawt outa dem critters!!
[/QUOTE
I have no way of knowing how many BLR's I've worked on but I've re-barreled a couple dozen. Usually, the source of a misfire is easily determined but I have seen a couple which had intermittent light strikes for which I could find no definite cause. I just did everything I could think of then fired a full box through them and assumed they were fixed. While they worked OK, my confidence was somewhat shaken because I could not determine the cause in the first place.
I like BLR's in general; lever action speed and intuitive handling, good accuracy, good ergos (for me at least), detachable box mag for safe use of nice pointy bullets, easy to scope.
I love the takedowns; all the same advantages as the regular model, but superfast tool-free assembly/disassembly with excellent return-to-zero. I can't think of any other rifle that offers such easy takedown convenience for anywhere near the price. Outstanding rifle for the travelling hunter. If I had to pick a nit, it would be the takedown lever that projects awkwardly on the disassembled rifle and invites damage...but when you consider that the entire rifle costs about the same as just an extra barrel on something like a Blaser or Merkel it puts it in perspective. Plus, the BLR literally comes apart in the middle, making for a super-short compact package. A lot of other takedowns just remove the barrel from the stock, leaving you needing a case that still accommodates the entire length of the stock itself; not nearly as tiny a package.
But...those triggers. They are very inconsistent from rifle to rifle, and the worst of them are very bad indeed. I've had a bunch of BLR's over the years, and only one of them had what I would consider a good trigger. To my mind, it's the only really negative thing about this gun.
A takedown stainless BLR, in .308 or .358 (oh, yeah!) or even .325WSM...if you can find one with a good trigger, or have a not-so-good trigger fixed...makes for a near-perfect hunting rifle, IMHO.
I love the takedowns; all the same advantages as the regular model, but superfast tool-free assembly/disassembly with excellent return-to-zero. I can't think of any other rifle that offers such easy takedown convenience for anywhere near the price. Outstanding rifle for the travelling hunter. If I had to pick a nit, it would be the takedown lever that projects awkwardly on the disassembled rifle and invites damage...but when you consider that the entire rifle costs about the same as just an extra barrel on something like a Blaser or Merkel it puts it in perspective. Plus, the BLR literally comes apart in the middle, making for a super-short compact package. A lot of other takedowns just remove the barrel from the stock, leaving you needing a case that still accommodates the entire length of the stock itself; not nearly as tiny a package.
But...those triggers. They are very inconsistent from rifle to rifle, and the worst of them are very bad indeed. I've had a bunch of BLR's over the years, and only one of them had what I would consider a good trigger. To my mind, it's the only really negative thing about this gun.
A takedown stainless BLR, in .308 or .358 (oh, yeah!) or even .325WSM...if you can find one with a good trigger, or have a not-so-good trigger fixed...makes for a near-perfect hunting rifle, IMHO.
I have a takedown straight stocked blued and walnut BLR in 358, I would also like one of the stainless straight stocked takedowns in 7 08 or 308. I have too many years pulling wrenches, a good trigger is wasted on me, I don't think I know a good one from a bad one.
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
A situation forced me to to sell off some rifles a few years ago. That being said one of them was a BLR in 358, it is the only one I have regretted having to move along.
I currently don't need a rifle like that but what does need have to do with most of the guns that I currently own.
If you want one don't past up the opportunity to have one. You will be glad you did.
David
I currently don't need a rifle like that but what does need have to do with most of the guns that I currently own.
If you want one don't past up the opportunity to have one. You will be glad you did.
David
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
This thread reminds me of the book The Bear Hunter.
In it he and a co-worker are professional guides for grizzly bear hunting I think Wyoming or Montana 1980s or thereabouts.
There's one tense moment the client with his 340 Weatherby flees an attacking bear he's wounded.
I can't remember the primary guides rifle caliber but he and his buddy end it. Him with his empty 629 and his buddy with a Savage 99 in 358 at almost bad breath range.
It's a great story.
In it he and a co-worker are professional guides for grizzly bear hunting I think Wyoming or Montana 1980s or thereabouts.
There's one tense moment the client with his 340 Weatherby flees an attacking bear he's wounded.
I can't remember the primary guides rifle caliber but he and his buddy end it. Him with his empty 629 and his buddy with a Savage 99 in 358 at almost bad breath range.
It's a great story.
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