Scoping a Browning BLR

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Captain Ron

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A friend has just purchased a takedown BLR and is in the process of mounting a scope. I bought a Leupold Picatinny rail and Leupold QD rings for mounting the scope. He thought he could use the rifle with the scope in open areas and remove it to use the open sights in tight bush conditions. The problem is that when the scope is removed, you can not see the rear site due to the height of the Picatinny rail.
Have any of you guys who use the BLR come up with a method to be able to use the open sights when there is a Picatinny rail mounted?
The Leupold rail seems to have two lugs under the rail that keeps the rail about 1/8th of an inch above the receiver so there is a gap there. My thought is to grind off the lugs so it fits snugly to the receiver, but there are probably other rails that might fit better and I have seen rails that have a deep grove down the center that allow the shooter to see the rear site.
Any ideas?
MM
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On my 308, I went with Weaver 2pc bases and run a round file in the middle to form a bit of a groove
then the rear sight gets screwed up higher to get the right sight picture
then it is impossible to do the t/d with the scope mounted so went to qd rings

the lowest 2pc bases I've seen are the Talley bases for their qd rings
 
It's a shame to scope a classic lever action of any brand.
I have seen see thru rings but then the scope is ridiculously high and a decent cheek weld becomes a feat a contortionist would have issues with.

But it enables you to miss with your choice of scope or irons.
 
I can see my iron sights over the weaver style 2 piece bases on my BLR SS/TD. I doubt I'll ever remove the LPVO though. Much better than the iron sights.
The OEM fibreoptic front sight on the SS/TD fell off during my last hunt, so the back-up sights failed but I've never had a scope fail.
 
I mounted my scope on my BLR in Leupold QR rings and bases.
I have only ever once removed the scope to use irons in the past 21 years.
QRs can be remounted and maintain zero.
Trying to find an optio where you can use irons with scope still in place create the issue of not having a good cheek weld and eye alignment behind the scope that will cause comfort and accuracy issues, as already mentioned.
With the likelihood of never removing the scope to use irons, except where the scope fails, plan for best scope mounting option w/ QR/QD type rings. You'll be happier for it over the years!.
 
Captain Ron said:
Is that Browning really a CLASSIC?
I have never seen a classic leaver action with a detachable magazine. And stainless to boot! With a laminate stock!
I kinda think it is a modern leaver rifle and deserves modern sights.
Click to expand...
Savage 99 is a classic with detachable mag.

Still not sure I'd call the Browning a classic lever gun... IMO they're one of the best options if a scoped lever action is the goal though.
 
We found a set of Weaver bases that allow the Leupold QD rings to work with a splendid open-sight view. We do get into some pretty thick stuff, and having the ability to remove the scope is handy. Also, this is a takedown model and will be stored in a compact case, making it easier to transport. As for the cheek wield, I make a leather riser that lines your eye to the scope, and it can easily be taken off when the scope is removed.
Besides, ya kinda feels like James Bond when yer setin' er up! :ninja::cautious:
 
Forget the open sights. BLR sights are crappy. I'd buy a small scope that goes to 1.5x on the low end. That will be a far better aiming device than open sights any day of the week. BLRs have very low combs so a straight tube scope in x-low rings would put the scope low to the bore.
 
I’ve only had one experience with a takedown BLR, so take my word with a grain of salt, but you may find the accuracy so dismal that it doesn’t warrant mounting a scope at all…

Mind you, the rifle still allegedly shot “within spec” according to Browning… but I’ve seen smoothbores hold tighter groups at 100 yards.
 
Leupold 2-7 compact would do it for me, if I was looking to scope one.

I've owned 3 different BLR's in .308 Win in the past. Probably wouldn't buy one again, though.

------------
NAA.
 
I have shot open sights for most of my life, (I am 83) for 45 of those years I have won many matches with open sites, I have 20-20 vision and I can still outshoot offhand most shooters using scopes. Open sights are definitely faster, most of the time in speed matches I don't try aligning the sights I just look over them almost like shooting a shotgun. My stock is modified so that I can look at the target, close my eyes, shoulder the rifle pointing at the target, and then open my eyes and the sights are aligned on the target. You try this and see how your sights line up.
I was taught the above method by a stockmaker who worked all his life for Holand and Holand. He fitted hundreds of clients with custom stocks.
 
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