modern BLR users?

I've put over 100 rds thru my current production stainless takedown BLR. Other than when I feed it out-of-spec reloads,
no function issues. The factory chamber is tighter than either of my custom-barreled .308 bolt guns.
That isn't a problem with good ammunition. It's not a rifle that forgives marginal brass resizing,
but that is a known foible for the breed. With the takedown model, it's trivial to use the chamber as a final-check gage
for any ammunition to be used. The springs are strong enough to reliably ignite NATO-spec 7.62 cartridge primers,
which is better than some bolt guns - kudos.

Other than the excessively heavy trigger, I'm still very impressed with it.
My unit's trigger weight is 8+ lbs, factory spec is 4.5 lbs. I would be satisfied if it had a 4.5 lb trigger {sigh}.
Since warranty depots don't deal well with fitted parts,
I am reluctant to let them tinker with a rifle that otherwise works fine.
My fear is that I would end up with a less useful result than I started with.
(Like a lighter trigger with intermittent primer ignition.)

My search for a Canadian gunsmith who has successfully reworked BLR triggers *and* would be willing
to accept one for rework has so far come up empty. I'm in negotiations with a local gunsmith on the topic,
if I go that route it would be after the conclusion of his hunting season rush. (probably December).

The search for perfection continues.
 
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I have a few in different calibres, the trigger pull doesn't bother me but I love the clip feed and general reliability. I probably wouldn't buy it in 223 but in larger calibres. for 223 i would go with the VZ 58

I have

243
308
325 wsm
450 marlin
 
They don't seem to tune them at the factory, there are a few select gunsmiths who are:

(a) Capable of correcting the trigger pull
(b) Are accepting orders for such work.
 
I recently shipped my 2013 production BLR to a Canadian gunsmith who is reported to be capable of such work,
has a good reputation *and* is accepting jobs for same.

Gunsmiths:

Good, fast, cheap - you may pick only two.
 
I do believe David Jennings to do such BLR adjustments.
My BLR81 in 358win has a five pound trigger.
It sure had me fooled when I tested the trigger at the gun show.
I never would of guessed it to be in that number.
Feels more like a three pound pull.

geologist said:
Why do the BLRs have such heavy trigger pulls and can it be corrected by a gunsmith?
Click to expand...
 
I'm on my second BLR, an 81 takedown in 30-06 that I just bought not three weeks ago and the trigger pull on my 30-06 is greatly improved over my older BLR.
If they say the pull is 4.5 pounds, I believe it. The trigger is still a bit creapy, but overall it's vast improvement on the old triggers. The trigger pull was my main
##### and cleaning from the muzzle end was second on my ##### list; both problems are solved with new takedown 30-06. I am very happy and very impressed
with the new BLRs. Now if I can just talk browning into putting fiber optic front posts on all BLRs and get them to chamber one in 6.5 mm.
 
I have the BLR in 243.I handload for it and have taken many Mulies,Whitetail and a few Black Bears.Toss up whether I like it or my Ruger # 1 light sporter the best.My BLR is one of the older ones but still shoots great.
 
My BLR is in .243 and I have used it to kill two of my biggest deer. 100 grain Nosler Partition hand loads shoot very well and drop deer like bricks.
 
I have a straight stock, takedown BLR in 7mm-08. The action is so smooth and I haven't noticed any change in accuracy after taking it apart. The whole thing got pretty wet hunting whitetail in Saskatchewan in November, and the blued metal held up fine. The wood is a little scuffed up after two years of use but it gives it character. I put Leupold quick release scope rings on it, so I can use the iron sights if need be. No real change in accuracy from those when I put the scope back on. It would have been nice to find a stainless version but I found this one on sale and couldn't pass it up. I'd recommend a takedown BLR to anyone who goes canoeing. Super convenient.
 
I received my takedown BLR receiver+buttstock back from Wise Choice Sporting Goods & Gunsmithing.
My measurements say the trigger was reduced from 8.8 to 4.5 lbs, a very substantial improvement.
(Sad I had to pay out of pocket to get the unit tuned to meet the factory trigger pull spec).
Rob Wise notes that no work was done to the hammer spring, my manual testing tends to confirm that.
That is important for primer ignition reliability.

I'm scheduled to function test on the range soon. I'm not expecting any issues based on my manual testing.
My post-gunsmithing testing will include NATO-spec ball ammunition, which have hard primers by design.
My earlier prior testing with my BLR using NATO-spec ball ammunition had 100% ignition reliability.


Total cost for shop work, return ground shipment via Canada Post and taxes was $157.50, charged to my VISA account.
No parts required, he tunes the existing parts. Off-season-peak turnaround was prompt.

I would definitely recommend his BLR trigger work to others based on my experience to date.
 
Very interesting !! I started to read this thread because I own a blr 81 non takedown straight grip in 308. I was told by a fellow that worked at Elwood Epps about a gear timing problem He attributed it to having the gun bouncing around on his four wheeler while he rode too fast over rough terrain. I wonder if in 450 marlin it would simulate such a condition. I like the smooth action. The gun does not come up comfortably for me to "eyes sight". Pull your gun up with eyes closed, then open. You should be looking right through the sights. If you struggle to get on target you have a problem that needs attention. I found a low profile scope rectified the problem , but then there wasn't enough cheek contact to put me in the centre of the rettical. Also the length of pull on these guns is about 14 inches. Seems as though it was designed for someone with arms like a gorilla and no neck. The trigger is like undoing a rusted spark plug from a lawnmower. Lucky I kept reading... Wise Choice is but 10 minutes away.
 
I have long arms so no "normal" production LOP gives me issues :)

I'm using a comb raising kit and a stock pack with the BLR, so I have tuned comb height to my liking.
I'm using comb raising kits of one kind or another for most of my long guns
having learned the comb height fit is important if you want to shoot a long gun well.

It's a mild tradeoff between having the comb height tuned for the irons and tuned for the optic on the BLR.

I *highly* recommend this video for anyone who wants to max out an optically sighted long gun:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COoXVpGfXQE&list=FLMujIfeQsEAZ8k7dKJyaNsw
 
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Thanks , I will definately check that out. I found with the scope it is too far away. Even with the set back rings. So I'm going to cut the stock an inch or so. And angle it to my shoulder shape. I will also cover the sticky rubber recoil pad with pig skin. Midway usa has a good little piece on that process. I like their stuff on u-tube.
 
Unfortunately for me I sold my BLR81 to my hunting partner. I had it for 25 years, and in our eastern woods, there's nothing faster handling and harder hitting on whitetails than a BLR308. If you hunt mainly from a blind or treestand and set up for 200yards and out, then a nice lightweight, accurate bolt-gun with big glass is in order, but for general stalk and sit type hunts, the BLR is superb. Mount a nice fixed 4 power wide angle and you are good to go. Not the most accurate rifle I've owned, I could never get groups better than 2.5-4.0" with factory on the bench rest, and with a pet handload developed for it, I could get 1.25 to 1.5". My Marlin 336TS would outshoot it for groups @ 100yds, but then again we are talking a 100 yard rifle at best versus a 300y+ in similar configuration and handling.

I haven't followed the BLR's model line up in many years, but this year I looked them over again and I think a LW compact with 18"bbl and green laminate is in the future. I'm tiring of carrying longer bolt guns and a heavy semi-auto so I need to go back to the bread and butter eastern Deer Rifle, the BLR. It might spark my interest again in Still Hunting, which requires 100% patience, good bino's and a hard hitting, fast handling, carbine. A BLR perhaps, and god forbid, maybe even a .358Win this time, but I know I'd probably regret that choice in the long run, when the .308 really does it all in a BLR.!!
 
If you are going to rework the stock with a different recoil pad setup, check out the Pachmyer SC100 units.
They have a slick face for a fast shoulder mount...
 
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Tested my reworked BLR trigger/receiver today. Hammer spring reliably ignites hard NATO-spec 7.62 primers
and more sensitive one too :) (Rob Wise says he didn't touch the hammer spring).

The new trigger weight makes trigger manipulation much less noticable issue
when firing from offhand or rested positions. I'm thrilled!
 
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