Tell me why I shouldn’t get a Browning BLR in .308.

Don't know if the Browning BL-22 has much in common with the .308 version, but if so, here's my experience. I bought a new BL-22 and shot one box of shells thru it. I hated the trigger/lever assembly design and couldn't wait to get rid of it. I sold it immediately and bought a Marlin 39A which worked 10X better than the BL-22. Another concern I would have is a .308 in a light rifle is going to kick like a Missouri mule.
 
Played some with the BLR at the store we sold them at. Never dry fired it so I have no opinion on the trigger. Downside for me is how the trigger dropped with the lever when the gun was cycled. That’s not a legitimate fault of the product but just a personal peeve of mine.

The gun is a typical Browning product. Smooth to cycle. Well put together with pleasing aesthetics and a company that will back up its products if it’s ever needed. Nice that you can use Spitzers in a lever which will max the .308’s FPS performance.

Point made in another post above was the Henry Long Ranger (HLR). I’d have to take a long hard look at the BLR side by side with the HLR. The one HLR I saw in a rack recently looked VERY attractive. I did not handle it.

As mentioned by the OP as an option….Savage 99’s are cool. Have one in .243 and one in .358 Win. I consider the .358 the Rodney Dangerfield of the .30 cal class. Good luck on your search.

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Seriously. What are all the drawbacks of this rifle? I have plenty of guns these days, but I keep looking. Thankfully, guns are not women because if they were, I’d be embroiled in a devastating cat fight every given day.
I’ve had two for what seems like forever from back in the days when we deer hunted with dogs and can’t even guess how many they’ve taken. .243 and 7mm-08. Man they took a beating and ran like a Timex. Those were the days.
 
As mentioned by the OP as an option….Savage 99’s are cool. Have one in .243 and one in .358 Win. I consider the .358 the Rodney Dangerfield of the .30 cal class. Good luck on your search.
I've had access or owned Savage 99's in .250 Sav, .300 Sav, and .308...all were outstandingly accurate. Currently my across the bean field gun is a .300 Savage that'll keep its first three rounds in one inch with a 4x scope mounted. An old tip for Savage 99 owners is to use a 3/16" neoprene gromet threaded on the fore end screw between the bbl. and the wood. Slight tension there with the screw will give outstanding results.

Son #2 has a Sav 99 "Brush Gun" in .358...a bona fide thumper on both ends...but good enough out to 200+ yds as an elk rifle. With 200 gr RN Sierras, Hornady's or Remington's, it's a short trail up deer rifle.

YMMv Best Regards, Rod
 
Seriously. What are all the drawbacks of this rifle? I have plenty of guns these days, but I keep looking. Thankfully, guns are not women because if they were, I’d be embroiled in a devastating cat fight every given day.
I bought mine in 1970 (Belgium made) as my primary deer hunting rifle and have never regretted it; The action is glass smooth and the trigger has minimal take-up with a nice crisp break. To top it all off it's a really good looking rifle. Buy it... you won't regret it!!
 
I owned a Browning BAR in 308 several years ago so and I have some idea of what a BLR is like. First, if you are an eastern woods hunter who isn't used to shooting a bolt action rifle with a good trigger the BLR will probably work for you. If you are shooting deer at 200 yards a good bolt action with an adjustable trigger would be better. I have also hunted with a Savage 99E and I can say the same thing about one of them.

Another thing that I could never get around on a Browning rifle is the shiny plexiglass looking finish. It just doesn't fit in the deer woods. A good satin oil finish is much better. The Savage 99E I uses had a good satin finish and I liked it much better. Anyone with bow hunting experience will usually shy away from shiny hunting gear.
 
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Seriously. What are all the drawbacks of this rifle? I have plenty of guns these days, but I keep looking. Thankfully, guns are not women because if they were, I’d be embroiled in a devastating cat fight every given day.
As a Browning BLR .308 Winchester owner, I have a list of why you should get one.

1. Buy one.
2. Seriously, buy one.
3. What are you waiting for? Buy one.
4. Why are you still here? You should be buying one right now!
5. Okay, I'm going to have to file a Red Flag Order against you if you don't buy one.

There you go, those are the reasons why you shouldn't own one.

I love my BLR, it is a handy rifle for my hunting needs. A handy, lightweight, lever-action chambered in .308 Winchester with a smooth action. What's not to like?

I have a non-takedown stainless model similar to the one shown in the picture.

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