FINISHED Custom Browning BLR Lightning Build

[Thunderhog]

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.

I love seeing the work that craftsman like you can do. Thank you for sharing!

Absolutely incredible work!.........

 

[Restoule]

Details on the lever mods…….

It's all done by hand. It would of been awful to video. But I should of taken pictures of the process...

You need soft jaws for a vise. By soft jaws, I mean smooth jaws, either mild steel or aluminum. I'll take a picture of it in the vise how I had it, but basically you clamp the portion of the lever that is against the stock, heat the loop up red hot, and use a smooth pry bar against the top of the vise jaws and pry up on the loop that's glowing.

It takes a while. Keep the other portions of the lever cool, keep taking it out and dunk the not heated side in water to slowly cool the rest of it. I'm not sure what its made from, but the lever loop is soft, so if it is heat treated, it's only the front portion that interacts with the gun.

Keep adjusting the loop further into the vise so you have the right amount of purchase with the pry bar. It's key to take your time and not go too far, otherwise the sides will look wavy. This took me about 12-14 hours just on the lever. Between the heating and prying, filing and sanding. Re-heating and prying the slightly low spots, and repeating.

Also, I will note. THIS IS ONLY POSSIBLE ON THE CURVED LEVER. If you try this on the straight one, you will end up shortening it and curving both sides. Not good. You could cut the loop on one side and bend it, then tig weld a piece in though.

 

[riversrest]

One can check out the loops on the DBM Henry "Superior". Maybe take a Looky Look ? !...

 

[Restoule]

One can check out the loops on the DBM Henry "Superior". Maybe take a Looky Look ? !...

Yea! That is almost identical to what I did.

The curved one can do it, you're just bending it the opposite way.

I'm surprised the BLR doesn't have more of a following like the SBL...

 

[Restoule]

This is how I had it in the vise.

I realize these are hard jaws(it's in there very gingerly), this is just to show how I had it clamped.

 

[Restoule]

First Pic shows a slight bend still on the edge. It's annoying to me, but functionality means nothing.

To get all the small little bends in the edge that were left, I didn't heat it back up.

I put it on a flat peice of aluminum and just hammered a brass punch onto it.

Last Pic is it straight enough to polish out.

 

[kamlooky]

Ahhh ARRR, yer a brave soul.

 

[Restoule]

Updates!

 

[Restoule]

Sorry it took so bloody long. Had to figure out a way to sandblast it for coating. Ended up making a makeshift one lol.

Here is the extended mag screw for mounting the forend. Made from gr5 titanium.

 

[Restoule]

Blued lever.

Took a little while to get the curve even so I could blue it and it would still look good.

 

[Restoule]

Smoothed out and re blued the mainspring housing/rear stock mount.

 

[Restoule]

She's done. I think It turned out decent.

I couldn't TiN coat the bolt and trigger like I wanted to, no one wanted to touch it because its firearms related...

Can't wait to take a bear with it in a couple months!

 

[hunterhenderson]

what a beautiful job!!!

 

[riversrest]

There is some nice wood underneath that Browning finish as well. I like that way better than from factory.

Thanks for sharing all the pics. It looks great !

 

[cptseawolf]

Awesome

 

[kamlooky]

Great job on making that ouch shine.

 

[Hand Skills]

One of a kind!

Looks like a Browning and a Marlin had a baby. Congratularions, and thanks for bringing us along!

 

[Hunter John]

Great job.

 

[WKAYE]

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

You should see the finished rifle. Now you can feel like a proper twerp.

 

[Peecos]

A vision, determination and skill! Very well done sir. Thanks for sharing.