browning lever 243

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Bodo

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I am thinking of buying a browning lever action in 243. would like some input on the rifle. like what kind of groups you get and how good is the aluminum resiver.thanks for your help if any body has this rifle.
 
I have hunted deer with the browning blr chamberd in 308 ,but not 243. It doesn't have boltgun bench accuracy, but for hunting purposes you can't go wrong. Its light wieght and offers quick follow up shots if need be. I don't know much about the aluminum reciever but mine has never given me troubles.
 
I have a pre81 BLR in 243 and found it to be a pretty accurate rifle. Not to the extent a good bolt gun is, but for length and quickness (if you need to be quick) it is a good choice.
 
I sited in and hunted some with a friends BLR in .243. I found it be better than any bolt action to bring to the shoulder, but the barrel heated quickly and groups fell off to about 3 1/2 inches ( at 100 yards) when in rapid fire. I also didn't like the trigger. Still, if Browning ever makes one in .338 Federal, I'll sell a Remington 700 and buy one.
 
I bought my wife (lefty) a BLR long action in 270 and had it professionally rebarreled to 6.5mm Swede. It shoots 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards with plain Remington factory ammo. But handloaded Sierra Pro Hunters group between .5 to 1.25. The rifle action is plenty rigid and its rotating bolt is quite ingenious.

243 is a favorite of mine. I've toppled stack of mulies and 'lopes with my older Remington slide action rifle. Very accurate, very fast bullet, good lethal performance.

I'm certain you'll enjoy your Browning lever action. I wouldn't be concerned about (tempered) aircraft grade aluminum as receiver material. It is quite rigid and strong indeed!

TR
 
I have a BLR Lightning 81 in 7mm-08 that'll shoot just under 1 MOA. They're great rifles, especially if you're going to carry one all day long. If you're into still hunting and your shots are 100 yds or less, try putting a red-dot scope on it. I don't think you'll find a faster, more pointable gun for brush and woods hunting.

The trigger does need some help, though. It's a very workable trigger, but nowhere near the great triggers they put on the A-Bolts. I'm about to send mine to Browning to lighten it and take out some of the creep. I'd like to try it myself, but I've never worked on a BLR and I'm not sure of all the gotchas in it. I'm going to see what Browning can do with it first. Hope this helps -- good luck!
 
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