Browning Levers and accuracy ?

powdergun

powdergun

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I know Browning makes a solid product in their BLR's and I like the idea of a DM rather than the tube feed of the Marlins or Winny's. My question for those of you that have shot them is:

1) How accurate are they ? I know they are not meant to print .25" groups but will they shoot 1.5" or maybe even better with factory ammo ?

2) Are they fussy to reload for ?
3) Is the action strong enough to take hot loads ? Not stupid stuff but max loads as listed in the books ?

I've got hankerin for one in 7-08 if they make them.
 
powdergun said:
I know Browning makes a solid product in their BLR's and I like the idea of a DM rather than the tube feed of the Marlins or Winny's. My question for those of you that have shot them is:

1) How accurate are they ? I know they are not meant to print .25" groups but will they shoot 1.5" or maybe even better with factory ammo ?

2) Are they fussy to reload for ?
3) Is the action strong enough to take hot loads ? Not stupid stuff but max loads as listed in the books ?

I've got hankerin for one in 7-08 if they make them.
Click to expand...

1, yes, 1.5" is easy

2, and this is speaking for one rifle only, it IS fussy. In that it requires small base dies, plus a trip through an RCBS file trim die to get it so it will absolutely chamber every round. Even a few factory rounds don't chamber without a good squeeze.

3, No, this particular BLR does not like max loads, in fact, this particular BLR, likes minimum loads, anything much over that, will show flattenned and even blown primers. It's been to the Browning service center, and came back basically unchanged in that regard.

I must spend some more time investigating the cause of this. Because it's a great rifle, my wife's, and she loves it.
 
I have the BLR 81 Lightweight in .270 WSM and it is truly a nice gun. I have taken deer with it no problem (bang - flop) and the WSM is nice since I can load it down to plain .270 Win specs or load it up to reach out if I need to. The only quirk, and it's been mentioned above, is the chamber dimension. Mine is cambered at the minimum spec for this cartridge and is very unforgiving if I don't do a good job of making sure I set my press/die up just right to get the maximum amount of resizing. I have even taken to camming the press two or three times just to make sure it will chamber. Factory ammo has never been a problem as I can tip the gun down and just drop them into the chamber easily.
Do I like this gun? Yes, very much. I handled the marlins, Mossbergs and some older Winchesters at the gun store just the other day and they all felt like children's toys compared to the incredibly solid quality rack and pinion feel of the BLR. I even handled a pre 1981 model at the same time and I think these new levers by Browning are simply the best lever gun out there IMHO.
My groups are all around 1 to 1.5 inches at 100 yards off the bench rest. These guns are very strong actions, particularly with the three lug locking rotary bolt design. I would feel confident using any recommended book maximum load (working up to it of course) with this gun, no worries. As far as I recall there is a 7mm-08 model. I own a 7mm-08 in another gun and this is a very good choice of caliber IMO. Very accurate, reduced recoil and suitable for any game in Ontario at least.
I do not plan to ever part with my BLR.
 
I have one in .308 and i love it. I usually groups around 4" at 100 with the irons. I'm sure it could be better especially if i scoped it but its my hunting gun so 4" groups are good enough for me. The other questions i can't answer since I don't reload but I will say they are great rifles and I would highly recommend them.
 
They are very accurate. Think of them more of a lever operated bolt action in terms of both strength and accuracy.
I have/had then in a number of calibers. My '06 iron sights kneeling it is common to have under 1" groups from 100yds, occassionally a bit of a cloverleaf on a really good(me) day.
My 450 I commonly have 2 shot groups of about 1.5-2.5", my third shot's always a flier, but I think it's me, and it's still within 4".
Our scoped blrs are as accurate as almost every bolt I've ever owned. (from 100yds)
I sold my 300blr, but I practiced at 450yds with it, and occassionally I can scare the heck out of my 450 yd target with my 450marlin. :D

Joking aside, while they wouldn't be my first choice for a 500yd hunting rifle, I think they're as good as anything on the "hunting gun" market, bolt or lever out to say 250-300yds. I've never had any reloading problems with one and they seem to shoot well with a variety of powders/projectiles.
But then I've always liked and alway's had blrs, too, so I'm biased.
 
They are great guns. I had a 308 81' and it was a fantastic shooter with 180 gr Silvertips. Terrible triggers though, but I got used to it. They are probably the nicest balancing, easiest carrying hunting rifle I have ever used. I regret selling mine and may end up with another. Cheers,


Patrick
 
My BLR 81 in 358 Win groups 1 1/4" 3 shots @ 100yds and I can hit a softball @ 300yds if I do my part. This is with MAX loads with a 225gr Nosler Partition @ 2470fps. My BLR 81 in 284 Win did the same with 160gr Speers @ 2600fps(max). I like them, a lot! Mine is older with the steel receiver. I have a Bushnell 2x7x32mm 3200 on it.
I went to the 358 Win. because I can hunt elk, moose and grizzly bears here otherwise I would have stuck with the 284 Win. That and the 358 Win is just plain cool ! :D
 
Furthermore, I believe it may even be socially acceptable to scope these lever rifles too. I mean, they are even drilled and tapped from the factory and the side eject is ideal for a scope. I know mine sports a Nikon Buckmaster and I like this combination very much. Comments about this gun being light, fast to shoulder and absolutely ergonomically perfect are quite true too. IMHO.
 
I gotta step in here with a comment, which all the BLR lovers will poo-poo. But here goes.

The Browning BLR was designed by a guy named Karl Lewis; it's not an actual Browning design.

The BEST lever action action ever designed, the M-1895 Winchester was designed by John M Browning.


I'll go away now...
 
My BLR 81 in .308 shoots very nicely. When scoped she can do about 1.5" groups at 100 yds easy, but better if I let the rifle cool between shots. My particular rifle will always put the second shoot 1" high and 1/2" left of the first shot at 100 if I don't wait about 90 seconds.

It handles very nicely and points very quickly - overall a very balanced rifle.
 
Demonical said:
I gotta step in here with a comment, which all the BLR lovers will poo-poo. But here goes.

The Browning BLR was designed by a guy named Karl Lewis; it's not an actual Browning design.

The BEST lever action action ever designed, the M-1895 Winchester was designed by John M Browning.


I'll go away now...
Click to expand...

No need to go away. I agree with your observation. I just think that of the newer currently available levers nothing holds a candle to the (bolt action in a lever design) BLR. I'd gladly trade it for an M-1895...
 
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