looking at a Browning BLR lwt Stainless 81 takedown. question of accuracy

happykal

happykal

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I keep wanting to get a new rifle for hunting, but still unsure of what I want. I'm looking at two different rifles right now, both browning. Everytime I go on the browning sight I always end up on the blr page looking at this beautiful stainless laminate blr 81. It's gorgeous and I keep looking at it. I already own a BLR 81 in .308. It was my grandpa's moose rifle. I love the rifle, but It will always be my "grandpa's moose rifle." Don't get me wrong I love the gun and it will always have a place in the field, but I'd like a new gun. One that I can call my own. I talked about this with my wife and while trying to make up an excuse she said "yeah I understand, it's your grandpa's rifle and you want your own go order one"....:sok2 God, I love my wife. So yeah I'm thinking of ordering one in 308, 270 or 270wsm. Caliber to be decided.

One thing that has me hesitating though is the question of accuracy with it being a "Takedown". Has any CGN members had experience behind a BLR takedown and what was your results?
 
For a while I thought that I wanted a BLR too .. but then I checked out the trigger. Bought another bolt instead.

(however, I still would like to own a quality lever action rifle ... and 'Im hoping to find a Sako Finnwolf).
 
The lock up on a BLR takedown is very strong and I have had no issues with repeatability with my 243. I just bought a 325wsm but it is still just wearing Irons
 
If you have no need for the take down option, why go for it?
Buy from a reputable gun shop that has a gunsmith and negotiate
the trigger adjustment on the sale price?
You don't need to replicate the same caliber as your inherited one.
Go for the 358 win or some other nawty caliber.
 
kamlooky said:
If you have no need for the take down option, why go for it?
Buy from a reputable gun shop that has a gunsmith and negotiate
the trigger adjustment on the sale price?
You don't need to replicate the same caliber as your inherited one.
Go for the 358 win or some other nawty caliber.
Click to expand...

They don't make a blr stainless/laminate that isn't take down.

I can see you concern about the trigger, but i've used mine enough blr enough to get a feel for the trigger creep. so i'm not concerned about it.

What's a naughty caliber? Like a wildcat cartridge? The one reason i was looking at the 308 stems from my love of the 308 round. Also muscle memory of using another 308 blr. Low recoil and short action. Not to mention the pile of ammo, magazines and reloading supplies i have for the 308. But i was looking at a 270. Canada has some restrictions on caliber in some places. "No caliber greater then .275 may be" blah blah. The .270, although .277, from is legal in those areas. Good ballistics and a manageable recoil. If I want a short action rifle then a 270 wsm will fit the bill.
 
I have a Stainless Laminate 243 takedown.

Shoots 2 same hole, then the third a little off. If I let it cool it shoots right on all the time. I've taken it down and put it together, even the QRW rings, and it goes right back to zero. Trigger on mine doesn't seem to be an issue? It's just right. Mags snap in and out great.

I'd recommend one to anybody that want a nice lever with a detachable mag.
 
happykal said:
They don't make a blr stainless/laminate that isn't take down.
Click to expand...

Sure they do, I've got a BLR 358 Stainless laminate non-take down sitting in the safe right now. Just bought it 6 months ago new. Had the trigger done by Rob Wise and clean breaks at 4lbs. Gonna shoot 250gr RN out of it.
 
i've got a 300 wsm BLR pistol grip take down with a zero magnification red dot sight. my best grouping (5 shots let cool in between) at 100 yards is just under an inch with hand loads- i was a bit lucky. Yes, the trigger sucks. As for accuracy, it's exceed my expecation. I keep contemplating putting a standard scope on it to see what it will really do for accuracy.
 
I have a take down 358 no scope just a peep with a williams fire Sight, accuracy seems fine not moa with the sights, but I am very confident to 150 yards maybe 200 yards the limitation being the terrain and my eyes.
 
well looks like the blr take downs are accurate, now to choose a caliber. My trusty goto short action round of the .308. Or the foreign contender the 270wsm.

.308
Pros. have all the reloading gear (200 new brass because of a misunderstood order, bunch of .308 bullets), 3 extra mags, not a foreign round, i'm confident with the 308. I have muscle memory with the .308. If I have to travel .308 rounds can be found at any mom & pop store if I were to forget ammo. 4+1 round capacity.

Cons. I already own one. Some places restrict caliber to be under .275. (FYI I live 6+ north of Thunderbay so it's not a huge concern. Large exit wound on smaller game. ei coyotes.

270WSM

Pros. comparing a 308 150grain to a 270wsm 150grain. referencing federal ammo factory stats the 270wsm is 267 f/s faster at 100 yards and has 485 more foot lbs in energy that the .308. It is still a short action and the bullet has a flat trajectory.

cons. the barrel is 2" longer and More recoil, 3+1 capacity, ammo is more expensive, harder to find, not nearly as much variety. Have to buy more casings, bullets and dies.

A lot to think about.
 
Unless you're planning on spending time in Leafs Land, don't worry about the caliber restriction. As for the accuracy and "Why a takedown" question, I have no problem with my 308 takedown after removing and re-attaching the barrel. I have a 3x9 40mm Redfield Reveloution mounted on the receiver as opposed to the barrel (the takedown is drilled and tapped for both) and MOA at 150 yrds is not a problem for the first 2 (3rd shot as stated by an earlier post always floats out a bit). Now for the takedown plus...since the bolt should never be removed by anyone less than an absolute expert, cleaning the barrel and bolt face is a piece of cake. Just my humble opinion.
 
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I would give the .358win some real consideration if I were you. Unless you are shooting out past 400 yards quite frequently, the 358 is a great caliber. Ammo is not available everywhere but it sounds like you reload so that solves that problem. You have lots of 308 brass and with one pass through a 358 die you now have lots of 358 brass.
Sorry for getting off topic, I know you didn't ask what caliber BLR you should get,lol. Anyway,, I did alot of reserch on the take down BLR also and from what I have read it sounds like they hold zero after being takin apart and put back together, plus, unless you are going to travel alot and need to pack the gun in a small case, the only time you will need to take it apart is for cleaning a couple times a year. Also, being able to take it apart for cleaning is a nice advantage, and makes cleaning alot easier.
 
Mrwired said:
Unless you're planning on spending time in Leafs Land, don't worry about the caliber restriction. As for the accuracy and "Why a takedown" question, I have no problem with my 308 takedown after removing and re-attaching the barrel. I have a 3x9 40mm Redfield Reveloution mounted on the receiver as opposed to the barrel (the takedown is drilled and tapped for both) and MOA at 150 yrds is not a problem for the first 2 (3rd shot as stated by an earlier post always floats out a bit).
Click to expand...

Leafs land is about a 22 hour drive so not really planning on going that far south.The idea behind the 270wsm had more to do with the flat trajectory, higher velocity and smaller projectile. Smaller projectile with higher velocities = smaller hole and less stitches in the pelt. Good for long distance shots on wolves, but can also drop a moose.

Also it's great to hear that the BLR takedowns are really accurate. My old blr 81 .308 had a fixed 4 power old bushnell banner scope, but I ordered a VX1 2x7x33 with a LR Duplex and new leupold QRW medium rings. I use #54 weaver bases that have the middle milled out so with out a scope you can use your irons.

Mrwired said:
Now for the takedown plus...since the bolt should never be removed by anyone less than an absolute expert, cleaning the barrel and bolt face is a piece of cake. Just my humble opinion.
Click to expand...

I see your point on the ease of cleaning. My BLR 81 is a pain to clean some times.


The stainless/grey laminate is a beautiful rifle and I do intend to buy one. I've never owned a new rifle, except for my sr22. Always bought second hand. We hunt with quads in our area and a kolpin gun boot liner will strip the finish off a gun like sand paper. Thats why 2 years ago i bought an enfield 303 for like 250 bucks. Its my rough conditions rifle to take on the quad. If I bought the blr stainless it would be a walking, stand or truck rifle much like the .308 blr I own now. This of course prompted another conversation with the mrs. We figure the best course of action is to hunt this year with my .308 BLR 81, if I still want a 308 blr stainless laminate after the season I'll jump on it. But she suggested I buy an bolt action 270 in stainless synthetic to replace the 303 or she calls it "your friken heavy war gun." Do you see why I Married this woman?
 
Stainless Stalker X-Bolt 270WSM,.....now your talkin. You already have a BLR, so you should add the X-Bolt. A couple of guys I know have the Stainless Stalkers in 300WSM and they are one of the best feeling rifles I have ever shoulderd, they feel better than the wooden X-Bolts.

Your wife should have some flowers and candy by the way,,lol.
 
I have a stainless Laminate takedown in .308 (also a stainless pistol grip in 358). Both fine rifles. Not bolt action tack drivers, but you can get it quite accurate. It may take you a little bit to sort out what ammo & optic work for you....While very reliable and easy to shoot I find there is a MAJOR re-sighting required with every ammo change. I have a Leupold 2.5x IER mounted on a forward scout rail. The modest fixed magnification (1.8x) gives me some extra reach in and around the thick stuff where I hunt.
 
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