FINISHED Custom Browning BLR Lightning Build

[Restoule]

Hello fellow gunnutz,

I picked up this BLR at an auction. Description of rifle was a bit off to say the least. I paid way too much for what this rifle is. Would of been a good deal if it was in decent shape. What's done is done. I accept my purchase.

7mm-08 Browning BLR Lightning.

I want to completely restore/upgrade/ modify this thing. I want to say that %100 of the work will be done myself. I didn't mention this soon enough in my other thread, that most people told me to scrap the project because it would cost more than buying a new one.

I wanted a BLR because it seemed to be the perfect rifle to track whitetails, bear and wolves with.

I made a previous post about this rifle titled "Browning BLR in ROUGH shape",

https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/browning-blr-in-rough-shape.2560715/

And I was mostly looking for opinions on what to do with the barrel. It has a bore that is beyond what I call acceptable for rust. Pitting the entire length, and the chamber is so pitted you can see it on fired casings. The only rifle I've seen worse, is an SKS that spent years shooting corrosive ammo.

Anyways, I've mostly made up my mind what to do with it now, so I figured I should start a build thread. Eventually I may swap the barrel out to a .338 Federal, or .358 Winchester, but for now, she's going to be 7mm-08 Ackley Improved.

 

[Restoule]

I've already removed the barrel. I have a new take-off remington 700 7-08 barrel that I will modify to fit, and re-chamber.

 

[tiriaq]

This will be interesting!

 

[struff55]

OMG
Bubba on full power
Asks for direction then just go' s on with the wrecking
Here is a thought for get about posting
threads do what u want to the gun then show as the end result
Do not be offended

 

[riversrest]

I like that the OP is posting progress of the build. I also think the barrel removal vid he posted earleir in the other thread is informative and shows knowledge/skill taking on this project.

Looking forward to updates...

 

[Restoule]

OMG
Bubba on full power
Asks for direction then just go' s on with the wrecking
Here is a thought for get about posting
threads do what u want to the gun then show as the end result
Do not be offended

Not offended at all.

I like following progress threads. You get to problem solve with other people, gain opinions and knowledge you may not have thought of, before finishing.

Come back in a couple weeks and you will see the end result!

 

[Restoule]

I'm going to attempt to free float the barrel as well. On this particular model, the forend mounts directly to the barrel with one screw.

There is a screw that holds the magazine catch spring in place on the front of the receiver. I think if I extend that screw, and drill a hole parallel with the barrel axis in the forend, I can then slide the forend over the extended screw and bolt to it instead of the barrel.

 

[riversrest]

I have a BLR which didn't like to shoot accurately with any factory loads from 139-160 grains in 7mm-08.

3 MOA was the best I was able to get from it, with stock iron sights. Scoped with brand new Loophole "optics" which were fried right out of the box it delivered 12 MOA groups.

I took the forend off and shot the gun on irons, resting on the mag instead of the forend to see if it would improve the situation. I couldn't find any visbile difference in doing so...

 

[Restoule]

I have a BLR which didn't like to shoot accurately with any factory loads from 139-160 grains in 7mm-08.

3 MOA was the best I was able to get from it, with stock iron sights. Scoped with brand new Loophole "optics" which were fried right out of the box it delivered 12 MOA groups.

I took the forend off and shot the gun on irons, resting on the mag instead of the forend to see if it would improve the situation. I couldn't find any visbile difference in doing so...

Jeez, sounds like a dud. Even my rusty *** barrel shot better. I got 2.5" at 100M with 145gr speers.

I hope I can get at least 1.5 MOA out of this thing.

 

[Restoule]

Threaded and chambered barrel.

Had to cut a ton off of the chamber end. The factory remington barrel was so poorly reamed, that after dialing the chamber(.0002" front and back), the muzzle was about .200" out. Wobbling horrendously in the spindle of the lathe. So I cut a bunch off, dialed as close to the rifling as I could, and dialed the muzzle in. Now it's reamed true with the axis of the bore. No wonder some factory rifles shoot great, and some are garbage. I bet this would of been garbage.

Need to match the contour still, and I may go with 22" long, not sure yet.

 

[Restoule]

Ground a long 17/32" HSS twist drill to try to mimic an auger brace bit.

Hopefully I don't destroy the forend...

 

[riversrest]

...

 

[Restoule]

Hole in the forend turned out great. Smooth and straight. All I could ask for. The drill cut very smooth.

Will make the extended mag latch spring screw next.

 

[Restoule]

Also, profiled the barrel. Need to trim to 22". If I don't like it at 22", I'll just trim her again!.

 

[kamlooky]

Jeeeesh, some peoples kids……..
Great photos on your restoration.

 

[Restoule]

So I finished all of the parts that I wanted to make for this.

-New cross pins from 5mm ground rod. O1 tool steel. Drilled and tapped for some torx plus screws instead of the slotted garbage.
- "new" barrel. Remington 700 take off, never fired, threaded and chambered to 708AI. 22" (may cut to 20")
-new mag catch "screw". Forend mounts directly to it. True free floated barrel. 6al4v titanium material so it didn't add too much weight up front.
- modified lever to a larger opening. For gloves and comfort. I would of never done this on a nice BLR, but on this one, why not?

I slapped it back together so I could shoot it this weekend. Loaded up some ammo with already fire formed cases from my other AI.

708 remington cases
Gm210m
49.5 gr H4350
145 speer hotcor
2900fps
1.2" 3 shot group at 100M.

I need to still play with seating depth. I just loaded what would fit in the mag.

I will post more pictures of the mods I did too, but forgot before I put it together. I still need to take it apart again to cerakote it. Here it is, assembled.

 

[DGY]

So I finished all of the parts that I wanted to make for this.

-New cross pins from 5mm ground rod. O1 tool steel. Drilled and tapped for some torx plus screws instead of the slotted garbage.
- "new" barrel. Remington 700 take off, never fired, threaded and chambered to 708AI. 22" (may cut to 20")
-new mag catch "screw". Forend mounts directly to it. True free floated barrel. 6al4v titanium material so it didn't add too much weight up front.
- modified lever to a larger opening. For gloves and comfort. I would of never done this on a nice BLR, but on this one, why not?

I slapped it back together so I could shoot it this weekend. Loaded up some ammo with already fire formed cases from my other AI.

708 remington cases
Gm210m
49.5 gr H4350
145 speer hotcor
2900fps
1.2" 3 shot group at 100M.

I need to still play with seating depth. I just loaded what would fit in the mag.

I will post more pictures of the mods I did too, but forgot before I put it together. I still need to take it apart again to cerakote it. Here it is, assembled.

Great work man! I think the larger loop looks better on this than the original one…

 

[riversrest]

Nice !

I like that shape of the modified lever, too.

Are you considering putting iron sights on it as well ? One could run a quick detach mount with the scope and have irons as backup, plus the BLR carries rather convenient around the receiver...

 

[Restoule]

Nice !

I like that shape of the modified lever, too.

Are you considering putting iron sights on it as well ? One could run a quick detach mount with the scope and have irons as backup, plus the BLR carries rather convenient around the receiver...

This one came with the irons already removed, so I'd have to source some.

The BLR shoulders for iron sights. When I open my eyes after shouldering naturally, I'm lined up at the top of the reciever.

I want to hunt with it a bit first, and see if I'd rather iron sights or a scope. I wouldn't do both, I've had a really bad experience with tip-off/qd mounts. I'm not giving them a second chance.

 

[kamlooky]

Details on the lever mods…….