Browning BLR thoughts... red dot or no red dot

Jeronimoe83

Jeronimoe83

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Prince George, BC
Purchased meself a 7mm-08 in Browning BLR featherweight. Great shooter, love the caliber, love the fit of the rifle. I find myself wanting to reach out a bit farther Iron sights arent cutting it for me, and I dont like how scopes look on these levers. ‘My eyes arent the greatest, but I am considering putting a burris or vortex red dot on a rail that might help me aim a little better.
Anyone have experience with a set up like this?
 
had a aimpoint micro 2moa dot on mine. Worked well, but looks a little silly if that type of thing bothers you. took it off because one of the places I hunt the owner only wants us to use open sights, so the BLR was the logical choice based on my selection of firearms to choose from. In terms of reaching out further, not sure of the magnification on the vortex or Burris, but the aimpoint has no magnification. So for me the sight picture was fantastic but I still wouldn't be taking any shots more than 125 or maybe 150 YRDs while hunting.
 
Try a low power scope ie: 2-7 or 2-8 power. Low power for close up shots even with 2 eyes open and max magnification of 7 or 8 gives you decent long range ability. As well, they are fairly compact size wise. A red dot on that rifle is a waste.
 
I prefer a 1-4x scope with a 30mm tube on my BLRs. the 1x is effectively an awesome open sight, the 4x allows reaching out further with confidence. The 30mm tube give a big wide field of view. Best of all worlds. I agree, the 'looks' aren't the best, but the functionality is amazing.

Here's my .358 with a 1-4x Trijicon.

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With a 7-08, you might be better served by a compact scope, as red dots are more suited to moderate ranges, and a 7-08 is very capable at extended ranges. That said, if most of your shots are 150 yards or less, a red dot can sure work great.

I was shooting my Mares Leg with a red dot and my Mdl 94 Trapper with XS peep sight (both 45 Colt) the other day and was thinking how I should put a rail and red dot on the Trapper, too. The Mares leg was easier and faster to acquire targets with. I can't use iron sights as well as I used to when I was younger, but the red dots definitely make a difference. Todays red dots are robust and batteries last forever, they sure fill the short range shooting option better than irons these days.

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I ran a “test” with my Aimpoint micro T1 with 2MOA dot. On a solid 1/2MOA rifle, shot two 5 shot groups ..one at 100M and one at 300M ...each day over 15 days...so each distance used 15 groups for the Agg. Result was 1.2” agg at 100M and 6” agg at 300M.
 
I have used a Leupold VX-III 1.5-5 on my BLR in 358 Win for over 15 years and it looks good and functions very well. Slim, light and handy. Rugged and reliable. Have it mounted in Leupold QR rings and bases just in case, but have never needed to take the scope off and use the open sights. Under numerous tests, it does return to zero when taken off and remounted. It has seen many miles in a backpack for back up for archery hunting, guiding, and in scabbards on horses and atv's.
 
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