BLR - What to to look for?

ninepointer

ninepointer

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
45   0   0
Location
Central Ontario
I have an itch for an easy-carrying, straight-stocked BLR in .308, but I'm not particularly familiar with the pros and cons of the various versions (e.g. Belgian vs. Miroku, steel vs. aluminum, etc.). I would be grateful to the BLR gurus if you could please educate me. Thanks!
 
IMO, look for a Pre-81 BLR, with the hang mag, steel receiver, and the best era for the 3-F's (fit, finish, feel). You should be able to find an excellent one for under $700... just don't loose the mag... they are approaching $300 on the used market.
 
Hi!
I had a BLR in 270 with a steel receiver and I loved the rifle, well made gun. Never had a problem with it, owned it for 20 years.
I hunted and target shot the rifle, but it was a heavy rifle. So I traded it last week for a 1938 Winchester model 94, and men what a difference.
I needed a bush rifle more then my BLR.

Hope that helps

Best Regards, DH
 
I would suggest an early model 81 with steel receiver. They will have 227 after the two date stamp letters.
EX. 12345XX227.
This will help with serial #'s identification
http://www.browning.com/support/date-your-firearm/blr-lever-action-rifle.html

I am not a big fan of the hang down magazine, for me they are uncomfortable to carry.
The 227 series have a flat bottom magazine that is almost flush with the receiver.

David
 
Last edited:
They are all good rifles no matter the style,...... I have 3 short action BLRs,.. 2 Model 81 steel receivers, 1 Pistol Grip alloy receiver, and I love all 3,.. but I do prefer the Model 81 steel receivers just a bit more than the alloy. I have never handled the pre 81 so I can not give my personal opinion for them, other than the hang mag, ( fish belly mag ), seems it would make it a little awkward to carry compared to the flush mount mag models.

IMO short action is the best choice for an easy carrying BLR, so your choice of 308win is a good one,.. also,.. if you come across a steel receiver Model 81 chambered in 358win,.. grab it, it is an awesome round.
 
Owned two BLR rifles .. First one was a 308 and it would shoot good but then the lever would not open ,, sent it back too Browning and got it back and the same #### happened again ,, sold it and bought a long action in 30-06 ,, the lever part worked good but the casing would stay in the barrel ,, so sent it back too and they got the casing out and it was suppose too be fixed .. hunted with it for a while and another casing stuck in the barrel again ,, Both these guns only shot factory loads and both were not reliable too hunt with ,, Both were post 81 guns
 
I used a pre 81 .358 for years, very accurate, very reliable, great build quality for the money and a joy to carry. At least six of my hunting partners bought these ( all .358, two were the BLR 81 ) based on the performance of mine, none were disappointed. As a gereral moose/bear/elk/deer rifle in BC they were near ideal. I let a good friend's wife sweet talk me out of mine, she's been putting game down with it for 20 years and still won't sell it back to me! The 308 is much easier to find and less money than the .358 and will serve most people just fine, the .358 is at it's best potential when reloaded. The protruding magazine on the pre 81 isn't really much of an issue for carry but it must be loaded (charged) carefully to prevent feed failures. The 81 mag is no issue. Great rifles!
 
mike Crawford said:
Owned two BLR rifles .. First one was a 308 and it would shoot good but then the lever would not open ,, sent it back too Browning and got it back and the same #### happened again ,, sold it and bought a long action in 30-06 ,, the lever part worked good but the casing would stay in the barrel ,, so sent it back too and they got the casing out and it was suppose too be fixed .. hunted with it for a while and another casing stuck in the barrel again ,, Both these guns only shot factory loads and both were not reliable too hunt with ,, Both were post 81 guns
Click to expand...


I don't think this is a common problem,... very rare IMO,.. the BLRs are a great rifle. I have done some extensive research on these rifles and never heard of this problem. BLRs are some of the slickest working guns on the market.
 
I have 5 the from a pre 81 Belgium parts assembled in Portugal to a newer Miroku 325 wsm and I love them all, They are all fairly accurate but they are hunting rifles not bench shooters and apparently some people aren't strong enough to pull the trigger
 
Great guns, newer ones are high quality; I have straight gripped takedown in .308 in stainless / laminate and pistol gripped .358 stainless / laminate. Had a pre 81 .308. More accurate than I am, very easy to handle, lots of rails / scope rings etc available. Sure the trigger pull is a little heavy but its not a precision rifle, its a handy woods carbine. I particularly like the folding hammer / half #### safety on the more recent models.

Here is a really cool, thorough review of the BLR: https://youtu.be/1SyZFhv9FUw

Here are my babies:
VSbtg9N.jpg

XH6kOLC.jpg
 
The Browning BLR is an outstanding rifle no matter the iteration. The action is very strong and it is often compared to a bolt rifle in this regard. The aluminum alloy receiver on the 81s is not an issue as the bolt locks into the barrel. Also, it has steel inserts in the receiver for scope mounting screws. I highly recommend the BLR in every respect. Your only choice, IMO, will be a straight stock or the pistol grip. For me, ergonomically, the straight stock fits like it was custom made. In terms of accuracy, my BLRs have always produced near inch groups with any factory or hand load I ever tried.
 
contaucreek said:
Are they reasonably accurate shooters?
Click to expand...


The three I have are plenty accurate, 1" groups at 100yrd and sometimes a bit better, sometimes a bit worse, depending on ammo . My Pistol Grip 358win is the most accurate of the 3, but I shoot mostly hand loads out of it, and have only shot factory ammo out of the other 2, (7-08, 284). The BLRs are as accurate as most bolt action guns.

The triggers are a bit creepy and a little heavier than some bolt action triggers, but aren't as bad as some people say they are, or at least mine aren't anyway, I don't mind them at all.

This is a 3 shot group at 75yrds from my 358win,... I know it only looks like 2 shots but it is 3.

hbkRV41.jpg
 
I'd love to see off hand at a stationary with that trigger. Bench maybe bareable. Running where you slap the trigger ok. Stationary deer 300 out no rest. OMG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom