BLR question..

1899

1899

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
34   0   0
Location
West
I've heard that the Browning BLR is quite a complex design and should not be taken down by the average enthusiast. It has a gear operated bolt, which I have heard can skip a tooth and cause headaches. The question is: How do you examine a used one to decide if it is in good mechanical condition? Do the gears wear, is that why they can skip?
 
the only blr i have owned that had a problem was stripped and cleaned by a gunsmith. another fellow at my range was having lockup problems, he too had been to a smith for a cleaning.i don't think there are a lot of problems with blr's as they are a quality built gun. as long as they are funtioning well leave em alone.
 
I have seen broken teeth on the quadrant and smaller gear wheel from trying to open one that was frozen/stuck/whatever closed. The mainspring is small diameter inside the steel tube inside the grip to which the buttstock is attached. Get crud in there and they will misfire. The main pins are splined on one end. Don't drive them through the wrong way, don't take the rifle apart too often. There is no real provision for field strippping. Having had to work on neglected ones, I personally don't like them, but that is only my opinion. I do not consider them to be a particularly rugged firearm. Their action is smooth, and they are accurate. Rebarreling one is also not a big deal.
 
tiriaq said:
I have seen broken teeth on the quadrant and smaller gear wheel from trying to open one that was frozen/stuck/whatever closed. The mainspring is small diameter inside the steel tube inside the grip to which the buttstock is attached. Get crud in there and they will misfire. The main pins are splined on one end. Don't drive them through the wrong way, don't take the rifle apart too often. There is no real provision for field strippping. Having had to work on neglected ones, I personally don't like them, but that is only my opinion. I do not consider them to be a particularly rugged firearm. Their action is smooth, and they are accurate. Rebarreling one is also not a big deal.
Click to expand...
Interesting! My pre-81 in .358 is still smooth but I've always heard they were a fairly tough rifle. One question, tiriaq:
Is there anything you don't know about guns? ;)
So what's the best lever for ruggedness? The Marlin 95 or the Win 94?
 
My BLR comments are based on my experience with them while running my little gunsmithing shop in Nunavut. Rifles were rode hard, put away wet. Under those circumstances, there were rifles that held up better than BLRs, and had fewer problems. I am quite sure that your rifle has given and will continue to give excellent service. It is also chambered for a superior hunting cartridge.
Just about every 99 Savage I've seen that received hard use has a crack running back from the upper tang. The wood in this area is hollow. Apply sideways pressure on the butt, and the stock will crack. A 99 also has a rather complicated lockup: the rear of the bolt, the cam track on the tail of the bolt, the lug on the lever, and the adjoining area on the receiver's lower tang. When they get worn, the rear of the bolt drops, and headspace grows. I like 99s and have two - a bubba'd MHG musket in .303 and and a '51 EG in .300. Been shooting, 'smithing and and doing a bit of hunting for 51 years.
 
Kris, taking apart a BLR is not for the novice, I am no gunsmith by any means, but I'll bet I own more of these guns then anyone else on the board, and I know enough to leave them to the pros unless its routine maintenance. What Tiriaq is saying is true, taking these babies apart, can lead to a load of problems. If you don't get them back together in the same way they came apart, you will end up spending a few dollars you wouldn't have had to otherwise.

To answer your question Kris, the easiest way to tell if the gears are wearing, is the action will feeel sloppy when you lever it and wil feel like it has excessive play. I have never had any gear issues before, but thats not to say it can't happen. The gears will last a lifetime if the gun has been taken care of, and the previous owner has not screwed around with it.
 
Last edited:
While I may not have as much experience with the BLR's as Houligan I have owned (and still own) a number of them. I have never had any problems with the gears and see no reason to take them apart as I have never had to. In short, if it's not broke, don't fix it!:)
 
We have one bLR, it has a tight chamber, and can be a pain to chamber at times. I have had it apart. I take everything apart!
It's not as complicated as the 1886 Winchester IMO, but, not as ruggedly built either. I can certaily see the reasoning in Tiriaq's remarks. The rifle is not designed to be taken down a lot, and I doubt it could handle a lot of dirt.
I got a Browning manual before I took this one down, just to be sure on the timing. Not a big deal with the manual.
 
I've done a few of these. First one I ever did, I had it apart 7 times readjusting the timing. I hate them, I really, really hate them:p
One that I had in for repair had the "tight" chamber, did not like Sellier & Bellot ammo, which the person provided. Threw a couple of my handloads in it, no problem.
Any body have any problems with the BLR Lightning model? I had one that had worn enough space in the top of the receiver to prevent it from cocking the hammer. Browning's answer-
Build it up with weld:mad:
 
BLR's are easy to take apart, just drive out the pins and remove the parts. Wash it all out and get it nice and clean. Then take it to someone who knows how to assemble it, so it is in time and operates properly. It will go together "out of time" and appear to function but if the gear engagement is out by one tooth you will get misfires or you won't be able to close the bolt on ammo.

There is a "trick" for lining the gears up correctly. It is published in "Gunsmith Kinks" volume III page 306.
 
More sage advice from guntech ;)

I had a pre 81 in .308. Nice little rifle. The secret with these things is to keep them clean. If you think of the corkscrew gear set up there is potential for a lot of friction if the thing is gunked up. Very easy to clean with a toothbrush and a can of G96 with a straw. Just set the rifle up so the gunk will flow away from other parts and blast away. Move the lever back and forth cleaning in all positions. Do this once in a while and you'll have a slick action.
 
I inquired one time to see if I could get the trigger lightened up on my lightning in .308 and the answer was a resounding "learn how to shoot it as it is because it easier than stripping it down and reassembling".
 
Ok guys, so if I am looking to eventually buy a BLR in .308, or 7mm-08; should I avoid the "lightweight" version, or is it OK?

Thanks for any help you can offer - Jeff.
 
Houligan said:
Jeff, you won't go wrong with the original, 81, Lightning, or Lightweight model. All the BLR's models are great guns. I acually prefer the Lightweight model the most.
Click to expand...

Houligan...I was thinking it would be very nice to have a few ounces shaved off. I had a pre 81' BLR awhile back, and it didn't seem heavy at all - so a Lightweight should be very nice I would think.

Thanks for your feedback - Jeff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom