... or you could just get a Savage 99.
BLR - Some gun smiths won't touch em
- Thread starter BullOnParade
- Start date
... or you could just get a Savage 99.
Good point! More affordable too!
BullOnParade
CGN Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
See, I liked the idea of the BLR for a takedown, mag fed rifle. I think the majority of posts in this thread have scared me off of the design completely.
If I were to own one, I'd be interested in a large loop for cold weather shooting. Ideally, I'd find a second loop, and modify it, then exchange it with the original, so that the original might be put back if I ever change my mind or sold the rifle.
If I were to own one, I'd be interested in a large loop for cold weather shooting. Ideally, I'd find a second loop, and modify it, then exchange it with the original, so that the original might be put back if I ever change my mind or sold the rifle.
BattleRife
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- of No Fixed Address
I don't get it. I've only worked on one BLR, mine, but it wasn't bad.
I, along with a friend, bought out all the guns, ammo and accesories of an elderly fellow who was done with shooting and hunting. There were several signs that this guy was a reckless handloader, for example both of his SKS rifles had mushroomed piston heads due to high port pressures resulting from using slow powders.
Then there was this BLR, which was the rifle I was after. It was a steel receivered .30-06, one of the very first long action BLR rifles made. When I tried to shoot it I found that sometimes the bolt wouldn't go into battery. The lever was closing, but the bolt was improperly indexed. Sometimes it was fine. So I took it apart and found that several teeth on the pinion gear were severely deformed. I tried seating some of the gent's reloaded rounds in the chamber and quickly noticed that some of them were oversized and wouldn't seat easily. I guess the fellow overcame this by simply forcing the lever to try to crush the rounds into the chamber, and had partially stripped the gear, so it sometimes slipped when under load.
I found a new pinion gear somewhere, and honestly didn't have much trouble getting it all together. I would simply trial fit the rack and pinion, mark which teeth were mating, then note if it looked to be long or short from mating properly, and estimate how many teeth it might be out. Then refit based on the marks. Four or five iterations and I had it.
Maybe other versions are more of a pain, but I was honestly surprised how straightforward it was. I had heard the stuff about some gunsmiths refusing to work on them, so I was expecting an awful time.
I, along with a friend, bought out all the guns, ammo and accesories of an elderly fellow who was done with shooting and hunting. There were several signs that this guy was a reckless handloader, for example both of his SKS rifles had mushroomed piston heads due to high port pressures resulting from using slow powders.
Then there was this BLR, which was the rifle I was after. It was a steel receivered .30-06, one of the very first long action BLR rifles made. When I tried to shoot it I found that sometimes the bolt wouldn't go into battery. The lever was closing, but the bolt was improperly indexed. Sometimes it was fine. So I took it apart and found that several teeth on the pinion gear were severely deformed. I tried seating some of the gent's reloaded rounds in the chamber and quickly noticed that some of them were oversized and wouldn't seat easily. I guess the fellow overcame this by simply forcing the lever to try to crush the rounds into the chamber, and had partially stripped the gear, so it sometimes slipped when under load.
I found a new pinion gear somewhere, and honestly didn't have much trouble getting it all together. I would simply trial fit the rack and pinion, mark which teeth were mating, then note if it looked to be long or short from mating properly, and estimate how many teeth it might be out. Then refit based on the marks. Four or five iterations and I had it.
Maybe other versions are more of a pain, but I was honestly surprised how straightforward it was. I had heard the stuff about some gunsmiths refusing to work on them, so I was expecting an awful time.
BullOnParade
CGN Regular
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
I've worked with gears a fair bit. I just assumed a good witness mark would take you a long way in this adventure.
Yeah, and it would be a Savage 99 and it a BLR ��
Being as how I like to fix things till they break....
I leave well enough alone.
Interesting topic this afternoon/evening.
Rob
This got me interested in acquiring a BLR in .308 that someone has given up on... Can't make it work? Can't find a gunsmith who'll take it on? I'll take a chance for, say, $150, but not the $900 or so that things are going for in EE. That way if I can't make it work, I'm not out that much.
I have had 3 or 4 different smiths work on BLRs that I have owned. They tried but did not fix the problems. I then sent them to Browning in Quebec to the smith that they use. The rifles all came back working 100%. His name was Alain Bouchard in Ulverton , Quebec
the BLR works great I until they are broken, or the owner expects them to do the same thing as an accurate bolt action gun, which won't happen. I have had them come to me assembled and teeth missing off a gear, as well as I thought i could fix this and a ziploc bag full of parts. Sure, i put them together but neither client wanted the invoice for actual time spent working on their gun, so who compromised to get paid and get the gun and the client out of the shop? The joys of experience is deciding to say no to certain projects. The BLR is one of them.
I usually buy what is supposed to be very nice condition used rifles. The BLRs were very nice cosmetically but the mechanics!! needed some repair. A couple were out of time. Would not fire all the time( someone tried to clean by taking apart) One tried to do a trigger job and filed the small lever that operates with the trigger and the other had fired heavier hand loads (was sold saying only factory fired) and wore the pins on the bolt head causing hard extraction. All were properly retimed and new parts installed as necessary. Alain did a great job and would use again.
Worked on a few. A pain in the butt. But doable, just slow and careful and pay close attention. Wouldn't take one on in a business that had to make a profit though. - dan
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
This thread brings to light one fact in our current gun market. There are few options for 223 based varmint cartridges outside of single shot or bolt action rifles.
Both the Remington 760 and BLR in 222 are just a memory now. An expensive memory at that.
Both the Remington 760 and BLR in 222 are just a memory now. An expensive memory at that.
Funny you should say that I started on watches now, Did my first BLR yrs ago, with out a clue what the hell I was doing, figured it out, a swiss watch is simpler. just need smaller screw drivers and itybity hammer.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Myself I am much like many others here and feel the need for complete tear down at required times to maintain functionality of my rifles.
However it seems there's enough long term BLR owners here with sound advice keep them working in the hunting fields. But with a minimal teardown. (If any)
What do you folks think about what I just said ?
curious....
However it seems there's enough long term BLR owners here with sound advice keep them working in the hunting fields. But with a minimal teardown. (If any)
What do you folks think about what I just said ?
curious....
I think if one simply removes the wood and flushes the action thoroughly several times with solvent and uses compressed air to blow it all out that would suffice for cleaning the majority of actions without disassembly. If disassembly is required bite the bullet and use an experienced smith.
If one neglects how it is used, lets it fill up with old oil and debris and even rust, for years ... one deserves all the associated problems.
If one neglects how it is used, lets it fill up with old oil and debris and even rust, for years ... one deserves all the associated problems.
